appen
to me and rob me of my anticipated bliss. From that day I was as one of
the family, and finding the distance too great, took up my abode at
apartments contiguous to the house of Mr Drummond. But the course of
other people's love did not run so smooth, and I must now return to Mary
Stapleton and Tom Beazeley.

I had breakfasted, and was just about to take my wherry and go down to
acquaint the old couple with the bad success of my application. I had
been reflecting with gratitude upon my own happiness in prospect,
indulging in fond anticipations, and then, reverting to the state in
which I had left Mary Stapleton and Tom's father and mother, contrasting
their misery with my joy, arising from the same source, when, who should
rush into the dining-room but young Tom, dressed in nothing but a shirt
and a pair of white trousers, covered with dust, and wan with fatigue
and excitement.

"Good heavens! Tom! are you back? then you must have deserted."

"Very true," replied Tom, sinking on a chair, "I swam on shore last
night, and have made from Portsmouth to here since eight o'clock. I
hardly need say that I am done up. Let me have something to drink,
Jacob, pray."

I went to the cellaret and brought him some wine, of which he drank off
a tumbler eagerly. During this I was revolving in my mind the
consequences which might arise from this hasty and imprudent step.
"Tom," said I, "do you know the consequences of desertion?"

"Yes," replied he, gloomily, "but I could not help it. Mary told me in
her letter that she would do all I wished, would accompany me abroad;
she made all the amends she could, poor girl! and, by heavens, I could
not leave her; and when I found myself fairly under weigh, and there was
no chance, I was almost mad; the wind baffled us at the Needles, and we
anchored for the night; I slipped down the cable and swam on shore, and
there's the whole story."

"But, Tom, you will certainly be recognised and taken up for a
deserter."

"I must think of that," replied Tom; "I know the risk I run; but if you
obtain my discharge, they may let me off."

I thought this was the best plan to proceed upon, and requesting Tom to
keep quiet, I went to consult with Mr Wharncliffe. He agreed with me
that it was Tom's only chance, and I pulled to his father's, to let them
know what had occurred, and then went on to the Drummonds. When I
returned home late in the evening the gardener told me that Tom had gone