flurried ever since the great explosion, which laid him on his
back among his own cannon.

"A friend," cried the other, "and a great admirer of your valour,
Captain, but not a worthy object for its display."

"My dear friend Shargeloes!" replied the Captain, a little ashamed of
his own vigilance. "How are you, my dear sir? and how is the system?"

"The system will never recover from the tricks that infernal Carne has
played with it. But never mind that, if the intellect survives; we all
owe a debt to our country. I have met you in the very nick of time.
Yesterday was Guy Fawkes' Day, and I wanted to be married then; but
the people were not ready. I intend to have it now on New-Year's Day,
because then I shall always remember the date. I am going up here to
make a strange request, and I want you to say that it is right and
proper. An opinion from a distinguished sailor will go a long way
with the daughters of an Admiral. I want the young ladies to be my
bridesmaids--and then for the little ones, your Maggy and your Kitty. I
am bound to go to London for a month to-morrow, and then I could order
all the bracelets and the brooches, if I were only certain who the
blessed four would be."

"I never had any bridesmaids myself, and I don't know anything about
them. I thought that the ladies were the people to settle that."

"The ladies are glad to be relieved of the expense, and I wish to start
well," replied Shargeloes. "Why are ninety-nine men out of a hundred
henpecked?"

"I am sure I don't know, except that they can't help it. But have you
heard the great news of this evening?"

"The reason is," continued the member of the Corporation, "that they
begin with being nobodies. They leave the whole management of their
weddings to the women, and they never recover the reins. Miss Twemlow
is one of the most charming of her sex; but she has a decided character,
which properly guided will be admirable. But to give it the lead at the
outset would be fatal to future happiness. Therefore I take this affair
upon myself. I pay for it all, and I mean to do it all."

"What things you do learn in London!" the Captain answered, with a sigh.
"Oh, if I had only had the money--but it is too late to talk of that.
Once more, have you heard the news?"

"About the great battle, and the death of Nelson? Yes, I heard of all
that this morning. But I left it to come in proper course from you. Now
here we are; mind you back me up. The Lord May