a
disgust of the midshipmen's berth; the very smell of pitch and tar has
become odious to me. This is all wrong; I must forget you and all our
pleasant cruises on shore, and once more swelter in my greasy jacket.
When I think that if our pretended accidents were discovered, I should
be dismissed the service, and the misery which that would cause to my
poor father, I tremble at my escape. The Governor is right, Jack: we
must part, but I hope you never will forget me."

"My hand upon it, Ned. Command my interest, if ever I have any--my
money--what I have, and the house, whether it belongs to me or my
father--as far as you are concerned at least, I adhere to my notions of
perfect equality."

"And abjure them, I trust, Jack, as a universal principle."

"I admit, as the Governor asserts, that my father is as mad as a March
hare."

"That is sufficient; you don't know how glad it makes me to hear you say
that."

The two friends were inseparable during the short time that they
remained together. They talked over their future prospects, their hopes
and anticipations, and when the conversation flagged, Gascoigne brought
up the name of Agnes.

Mesty's delight at leaving the service, and going home with his patron,
was indescribable. He laid out a portion of his gold in a suit of plain
clothes, white linen shirts, and in every respect the wardrobe of a man
of fashion; in fact, he was now a complete gentleman's gentleman; was
very particular in frizzing his woolly hair--wore a white neckcloth,
gloves, and cane. Every one felt inclined to laugh when he made his
appearance; but there was some in Mesty's look, which, at all events,
prevented their doing so before his face. The day for sailing arrived.
Jack took leave of the Governor, thanking him for his great kindness,
and stating his intention of taking Malta in his way out to Palermo in a
month or two. Gascoigne went on board with him, and did not go down the
vessel's side till it was more than a mile clear of the harbour.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

MR. EASY'S WONDERFUL INVENTION FULLY EXPLAINED BY HIMSELF--MUCH TO THE
SATISFACTION OF OUR HERO, AND, IT IS TO BE PRESUMED, TO THAT ALSO OF THE
READER.

At last the packet anchored in Falmouth Roads. Jack, accompanied by
Mesty, was soon on shore with his luggage, threw himself into the mail,
arrived in London, and waiting there two or three days to obtain what he
considered necessary from a fashionable tailor, ordere