the pleasure of
your friendship when you are tired of remaining with us."

Jack made his politest bow, and then with a shrug of his shoulders,
looked down upon his habiliments, which, to please Gascoigne, he had
torn into ribands, as much as to say, We are not provided for a
lengthened stay.

"My brothers' clothes will fit them, I think," said Agnes to her father;
"they have left plenty in their wardrobes."

"If the signors will condescend to wear them till they can replace their
own."

Midshipmen are very condescending--they followed Don Rebiera, and
condescended to put on clean shirts belonging to Don Philip and Don
Martin; also to put on their trousers--to select their best waistcoats
and coats--in short, they condescended to have a regular fit-out--and it
so happened that the fit-out was not far from a regular _fit_.

Having condescended, they then descended, and the intimacy between all
parties became so great that it appeared as if they not only wore the
young men's clothes, but also stood in their shoes. Having thus made
themselves presentable, Jack presented his hand to both ladies, and led
them into the garden, that Don Rebiera might finish his long story to
Gascoigne without further interruption, and resuming their seats in the
pavilion, he entertained the ladies with a history of his cruise in the
ship after her capture. Agnes soon recovered from her reserve, and Jack
had the forbearance not to allude again to the scene in the cabin, which
was the only thing she dreaded. After dinner, when the family,
according to custom, had retired for the siesta, Gascoigne and Jack, who
had slept enough in the cart to last for a week, went out together in
the garden.

"Well, Ned," said Jack, "do you wish yourself on board the _Harpy_
again?"

"No," replied Gascoigne; "we have fallen on our feet at last, but still
not without first being knocked about like peas in a rattle. What a
lovely little creature that Agnes is! How strange that you should fall
in with her again! How odd that we should come here!"

"My good fellow, we did not come here. Destiny brought us in a cart.
She may take us to Tyburn in the same way."

"Yes, if you sport your philosophy as you did when we awoke this
morning."

"Nevertheless, I'll be hanged if I'm not right. Suppose we argue the
point?"

"Right or wrong, you will be hanged, Jack; so instead of arguing the
point, suppose I tell you what the Don made such a long story abou