"He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne.

"What do you know of little Billy, young man?"

"And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's quite tired of
sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly."

"Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed the
lady in a rage.

"But," said Easy, "I am happy to say that, with pay and prize-money,
during his short absence, he has brought home nearly five hundred
pounds."

"Five hundred pounds--you don't say so, sir?" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly;
"are you sure of that?"

"Quite sure," rejoined Gascoigne.

"Five hundred pounds!--Well, that is comfortable--dear me! how glad I
shall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so
unhandsome a way--but all's for the best in this world. What a dear,
nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy--but I won't intrude--I beg pardon.
Where is the brig, Mr Easy?"

"Now coming into the harbour," replied Gascoigne: "if you bargain you
can get off for twopence."

"Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now
appeased.

"By all power, she no fool of a woman dat," said Mesty, as she retreated
curtseying; "I tink Mr Oxbelly very right sleep tingle."

We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures; that afternoon
they all started for Forest Hill, where everything was ready for their
reception. The _Rebiera's_ men were paid off, and were soon distributed
on board of his Majesty's ships; the vessel was sold, and Mr Oxbelly
retired to Southsea, to the society of his wife and little Billy.
Whether he obtained from his wife a divorce _de thoro_, is not handed
down.

Our hero, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles of home to
balls and dinners; became a great favourite, kept a pack of hounds, rode
with the foremost, received a deputation to stand for the county on the
conservative interest, was elected without much expense, which was very
wonderful, and took his seat in parliament. Don Philip and Don Martin,
after two months' stay, took their passage back to Palermo, fully
satisfied with the prospects of their sister as to competence and
happiness. Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes; she
conformed at once to the religion of her husband, proved an excellent
and affectionate wife, and eventually the mother of four children, three
boys and a girl.

Mesty held his post with dignity, and proved himself trustworthy.
Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservativ