ad passed.

As my father conducted Virginia home, she said to him, "Why do you call
him _sir_, and her _lady_?"

"Because they are quality people, child. He is a barrownight, and she
is Lady Hercules."

"Are all barrownights and ladies so much bigger than other people are in
general?"

"No, child, they don't go by size. I've seen many a lord who was a very
little man."

My mother was very much pleased when we narrated what had happened, as
she considered that Lady Hercules might prove a valuable patron to
Virginia, whom she did not fail to have ready at the time appointed;
and, dressed in our very best, we all walked together to the Sun, at
which Sir Hercules and his lady had taken up their quarters. Let it not
be supposed that my mother had forgotten the unceremonious manner in
which she had been dismissed from the service of Lady Hercules,--it was
still fresh in the memory of a person so revengeful in her disposition;
but she considered that as Lady Hercules had forgotten it, it was her
interest to do the same; so, when we were ushered into the room where
sat Sir Hercules and her ladyship, my mother was all smiles and
courtesies, and gratitude for past favours.

There was an old gentleman, with a bald powdered head, dressed in black,
standing with his back to the fire when we entered; he was the only
other person in the room beside Sir Hercules and his lady. Lady
Hercules first obtained from my mother a short history of what had
happened since they had parted; and really, to hear my mother's
explanation, it would have been supposed that she and my father had
always been the most loving couple in the world.

"Well," said Sir Hercules, "and what do you intend to do with your boy,
Saunders?"

"May it please your honour, I've been thinking of bringing him up as a
channel pilot," replied my father.

"Very good," replied Sir Hercules; "I can see to that; and with my
interest at the Trinity Board, the _thing is done_, sir;" and Sir
Hercules walked pompously about the room. "Saunders," said Sir
Hercules, stopping, after he had taken three or four turns up and down,
and joining his fingers behind his back, "I thought I perceived some
difference in you when you first addressed me. What has become of your
tail, sir?"

"My tail, your honour?" replied my father, looking as much a delinquent
as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been guilty of some
misdemeanour, "why, please your honour Sir Hercules-