, she has invited both of you, with Larry, to come up and
stay with us till you can go home. You'll be much better off than in
lodgings, or stopping at an inn, even though you may find it somewhat
dull."

Tom at once accepted the invitation, and persuaded me to do so, though I
wanted to see some of the fun of Plymouth, which my other shipmates had
talked about. I won't describe the scenes which took place on board,--
the noise and uproar,--the characters of all descriptions who crowded
the ship, eager to take possession of the sailors, or rather of the
money which lined their pockets. I saw very much the contrary of fun in
it. We had then a midshipman's paying-off dinner on shore, to which
some of the ward-room officers were invited. The wine flowed freely.
Healths were drunk and sentiments given, and in a short time most of the
party became very uproarious, those who were sober enough on shore being
as bad as the rest.

"Come, Paddy," said Nettleship, "we have to get home to my mother's
house to-night, and I can't introduce you, remember, if you're not quite
yourself."

Tom Pim was ready.

"So am I," I said. "I'll not take another drop."

Our intended departure being discovered, we were assailed with hoots,
and shouts, and groans.

"Never mind them," said Nettleship. "If we were to be moved by that
sort of stuff, those very fellows would be the first to laugh at us
another day."

On seeing us gaining the door, several jumped up, intending to bring us
back.

"Run for it, Paddy; run, Tom," cried Nettleship. "I'll guard your
retreat. They'll not stop me."

"Hands off," he shouted, as Grumpus and some others attempted to seize
him. "I have made up my mind to go, and go I will, though every one in
the room were to jump up and try to bar my passage."

Tom and I got safe into the street, where we were joined by Larry, who
had been waiting for us; and Nettleship came up, saying that he had got
clear off, at the cost of flooring two or three of his assailants.

"Not a satisfactory way of parting from old friends," he said, "but the
only one which circumstances would permit."

We at once set off, walking briskly, to get as soon as possible away
from the scene of our shipmates' revels. We at length reached a pretty
little cottage, a short way out of Plymouth, where Mrs Nettleship and
her daughter received us in the kindest manner possible. I was struck
by the appearance of the two ladies, so nicely dre