ortugal
or Spain they are, she does not tell me, but I will write and ascertain.
There is a bare possibility of our being some day in the neighbourhood;
and, judging of your wishes by mine own, I am sure that you would like
to meet Mrs and Miss Armytage again, though you may wish to stand clear
of the colonel."

There is a happy familiarity among messmates which seldom exists between
other people.

Morton thanked Glover, and acknowledged, after a moment's thought, that
he should be delighted again to meet Miss Armytage.

"Am I bound to obey her father, who discards me simply because he
believes me to be of inferior birth to his daughter? I feel convinced
that I am her equal. I have at all events gained the rank of a
gentleman; I may some day obtain the fortune to support it, and to
maintain her as well as her father can do. No; I feel that I am bound
by no laws, divine or human, to yield to his unjust demands. If she
loves me still, and I can win her, I will."

Glover, who was fully acquainted with his friend's feelings, and to whom
part of these remarks were addressed, highly applauded his resolution,
and promised to afford him all the aid in his power.

The "Pallas" was found to have received so much injury that her repairs
would take a long time. Lord Claymore and his officers and crew were
accordingly turned over to another frigate, the "Imperious," and ordered
to proceed forthwith to the Mediterranean.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

RONALD JOINS THE "IMPERIOUS"--CHASE OF A FELUCCA--THE MARQUIS DE MEDEA--
THE SPANISH PRIEST--RONALD ASTONISHES THE PRIEST.

The "Imperious" had been some time in the Mediterranean. She had not
been idle, nor had her crew; that was not likely under such a captain as
Lord Claymore. She had been up the Levant, and cruising among the
Ionian Islands, and then back to Gibraltar, and had returned to Malta;
and her blue-jackets and marines had landed on the Spanish and French
coasts, and, as they had done before on the Biscay shores, had captured
forts, destroyed barracks, and other public buildings, and burnt a town
or two, and cut out merchant-men and armed vessels of all sorts; indeed,
had done as much mischief as they possibly could. In all these
proceedings Ronald Morton had greatly distinguished himself, and his
captain promised him that he would not rest till he had obtained for him
his rank as a commander.

Morton was in better spirits than he had been for a long time.