shipman;--and he quitted the room, looking as grave as if the
misfortune had happened to himself. I got up with a heavy head, and
heavier heart, and as soon as I was dressed, I asked the way to the
George Inn. I took my letter of introduction with me, although I was
afraid it would be of little service. When I arrived, I asked, with a
trembling voice, whether Captain Thomas Kirkwall Savage, of H.M.S.
_Diomede_, was staying there. The waiter replied, that he was at
breakfast with Captain Courtney, but that he would take up my name. I
give it him, and in a minute the waiter returned and desired that I
would walk up. O how my heart beat--I never was so frightened--I
thought I should have dropped on the stairs. Twice I attempted to walk
into the room, and each time my legs failed me; at last I wiped the
perspiration from my forehead, and with a desperate effort I went into
the room.

"Mr Simple, I am glad to see you," said a voice. I had held my head
down, for I was afraid to look at him, but the voice was so kind that I
mustered up courage; and, when I did look up, there sat with his uniform
and epaulets, and his sword by his side, the passenger in the plaid
cloak, who wanted to open my letter, and whom I had told to his face,
that he was no _gentleman_.

I thought I should have died, as the other midshipman did upon his
chest. I was just sinking down upon my knees to beg for mercy, when the
captain, perceiving my confusion, burst out into a laugh, and said, "So
you know me again, Mr Simple? Well, don't be alarmed; you did your
duty in not permitting me to open the letter. I give you credit for
your conduct. Now sit down and take some breakfast."

"Captain Courtney," said he to the other captain, who was at the table,
"this is one of my youngsters, just entering the service. We were
passengers yesterday by the same coach." He then told him the
circumstance which occurred, at which they laughed heartily.

I now recovered my spirits a little--but still there was the affair at
the theatre, and I thought that perhaps he did not recognise me. I was,
however, soon relieved from my anxiety by the other captain inquiring,
"were you at the theatre last night, Savage?"

"No; I dined at the admiral's; there's no getting away from those girls,
they are so pleasant."

"I rather think you are a little--_taken_ in that quarter."

"No, on my word! I might be, if I had time to discover which I liked
best; but my shi