, is it not
shocking that such a beautiful frigate should be turned into a pig-sty,
and that her main-deck should smell worse than a muck-heap?"

"But how does his wife like the idea of living only upon hog's flesh?"

"She! Lord bless you, Peter! why, she looks as spare as a shark, and
she has just the appetite of one; for she'll _boil_ a four-pound piece
of pork before it's well put on her plate."

"Have you any more such pleasant intelligence to communicate, O'Brien?"

"No, Peter, you have the worst of it. The lieutenants are good
officers, and pleasant messmates; the doctor is a little queer, and the
purser thinks himself a wag; the master, an old north-countryman, who
knows his duty, and takes his glass of grog. The midshipmen are a very
genteel set of young men, and full of fun and frolic. I'll bet a wager,
there'll be a bobbery in the pig-sty before long, for they are ripe for
mischief. Now, Peter, I hardly need say that my cabin and everything I
have is at your service; and I think if we could only have a devil of a
gale of wind, or a hard-fought action, to send the pigs over-board and
smash the _piano_, we should do very well."

The next day I went on board, and was shown down into the cabin, to
report my having joined. Mrs To, a tall, thin woman, was at her piano;
she rose, and asked me several questions--who my friends were--how much
they allowed me a year, and many other questions, which I thought
impertinent; but a captain's wife is allowed to take liberties. She
then asked me if I was fond of music? That was a difficult question,
as, if I said that I was, I should in all probability be obliged to hear
it; if I said that I was not, I might have created a dislike in her. So
I replied that I was very fond of music on shore, when it was not
interrupted by other noises. "Ah! then I perceive you are a real
amateur, Mr Simple," replied the lady.

Captain To then came out of the after-cabin, half-dressed. "Well,
youngster, so you've joined at last. Come and dine with us to-day: and,
as you go down to your berth, desire the sentry to pass the word for the
butcher; I want to speak with him."

I bowed and retired. I was met in the most friendly manner by the
officers and by my own messmates, who had been prepossessed in my favour
by O'Brien previous to my arrival. In our service you always find young
men of the best families on board large frigates, they being considered
the most eligible class of