fighting, it shall be with
cutlasses or boat stretchers. Do they think sailors are accustomed to
handle their little pop-guns, and practise to commit murder with a
steady hand? But seriously, my dear Morton, what do you wish?"

"To abide by God's laws, Captain Calder, and to set at nought those of
men," answered the lieutenant.

"Spoken like yourself, Morton, and I have no fear that discredit will be
brought on the service if we all so act," said the captain. "And now
let us collect our forces, and beat a retreat to our quarters."

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

PARTY AT MRS. EDMONSTONE'S--INTRODUCTION TO COLONEL ARMYTAGE--VISIT TO
THE "OSTERLEY"--THE "THISBE" ORDERED TO BOMBAY.

Morton had been anticipating a delightful day: he was to have called,
with Glover, on Mrs Edmonstone, and he hoped to have met Miss Armytage,
who was staying with her; but his first thought on waking was the
disagreeable circumstance which had occurred at the conclusion of the
previous evening, and the still more disagreeable events to which it
would in all probability give rise.

He was well aware how much the line of conduct he intended to pursue
would be criticised, how the story would be garbled and misrepresented,
and how, in all probability, he would be accused of showing the white
feather. Under ordinary circumstances he would have been very
indifferent to what was said of him: he could well afford to allow idle
tongues to prattle forth slander about him till weary of the occupation,
but he could not bear to fancy that Mrs Edmonstone, or rather her
friend, should hear anything to his disadvantage which he might not be
present to refute; still, happily, he had not forgotten Bertha Eswick's
remark, impressed on his mind in childhood--"Do what is right, lad, and
never mind what men say of thee."

The temptation of meeting Miss Armytage was at last too strong to be
resisted, and with his captain and brother officers he repaired in the
evening to the house of Mrs Edmonstone. Their hostess received them in
the most friendly manner, and introduced them to several of her friends,
so that they at once felt themselves at home. Morton's eyes ranged
round the room in search of Miss Armytage; she was nowhere to be seen.
He longed to ask Mrs Edmonstone where she was, but he was withheld by a
feeling of bashfulness very unusual with him. Numberless fears entered
his mind. Was she prevented by illness from appearing--had her father
heard who