ts of money. Next to his lass, every sailor
loves a spree; and mine, instead of emptying, shall fill the locker.
With this disgusting peace on, and no chance of prize-money, and plenty
in their pockets for a good spell ashore, blue-jackets will be scarce
when Sir Duncan Yordas sails. If I can get a decent berth as a petty
officer, off I go for Calcutta, and watch (like the sweet little cherub
that sits up aloft) for the safety of my dear papa and mamma, as the
Frenchmen are teaching us to call them. What do you think of such filial
devotion?"

"It would be a great deal more than he deserves," Mary answered, with
sweet simplicity. "But what could you do, if he found out who you are?"

"Not the smallest fear of that, my dear. I have never had the honor of
an introduction. My new step-mother, who might have been my sweetheart
if I had not seen somebody a hundred times as good, a thousand times as
gentle, and a million times as lovely--"

"Oh, Robin, do leave off such very dreadful stories! I saw her in the
church, and she looked beautiful."

"Fine feathers make fine birds. However, she is well enough in her way;
and I love her father. But, for all that, she has no business to be my
step-mother; and of course it was only the money that did it. She has a
little temper of her own, I can assure you; and I wish Sir Duncan joy of
her when they get among mosquitoes. But, as I was going to say, the only
risk of my being caught is from her sharp eyes. Even of that there is
not much danger, for we common sailors need not go within hail of those
grandees, unless it comes to boat-work. And even if Miss Janetta--I beg
her pardon, Lady Yordas--should chance to recognize me, I am sure she
would never tell her husband. No, no; she would be too jealous; and for
fifty other reasons. She is very cunning, let me tell you."

"Well," cried Mary, with a smile of wisdom, "I hope that I may never
live to be a step-mother. The way those poor things get abused--"

"You would have more principle, I should hope, than to marry anybody
after me. However, I have told you nearly all my news, and in a few
minutes I must be off. Only two things more. In the first place,
Mordacks has taken a very great fancy to me, and has turned against my
father. He and Widow Carroway and I had a long talk after the trial, and
we all agreed that the murder was committed by a villain called 'John
Cadman,' a sneak and a skulk, whom I knew well, as one of Carroway's
own