-and getting
reduced to the Classical shape, so that I can put one arm round him."

"My darling," said the Admiral, though proud at heart of the
considerable reduction of his stomach, "you should not say such things
to me, to remind me how very old I am!"

Fathers are crafty, and daughters childish, as behoves the both of them.
The Admiral knew, as well as if he had ordered it, what Faith would do.
And she must have perceived his depth, if only she had taken a moment to
think of it. Because when she plumped, like a child, into his arms, how
came his arms to be so wide open? and when two great tears rolled down
her cheeks, how sprang his handkerchief so impromptu out from beneath
his braided lappet?

"Tell me what harm I have done," she asked, with a bright smile dawning
through the dew of her dark eyes; "what have I done to vex you, father,
that you say things fit to make me cry? And yet I ought to laugh,
because I know so well that you are only fishing for compliments. You
are getting so active that I shall be frightened to go for a walk or
a ride with you. Only I do love to see you look fat, and your darling
forehead smooth and white."

"My dear child, I must get up my substance. This very day I begin in
earnest. Because I am to be a great man, Faith. How would you like to
have to call me 'Sir Charles'?"

"Not at all, darling; except when you deserve it, by being cross to me;
and that never, never happens. I wish there was more chance of it."

"Well, dear, if you won't, the other people must; for His Majesty has
been graciously pleased to turn me into a Baronet. He says that I have
earned it; and perhaps I have; at any rate, he put it so nicely that
without being churlish I could not refuse. And it will be a good thing
for Frank, I hope, by bringing him back from his democratic stuff. To
myself it is useless; but my children ought to like it."

"And so they will, father, for your own dear sake. Let me be the first
to salute you, father. Oh, Dolly will be in such a rage because you told
me, without telling her!"

"I never thought of that," said the Admiral, simply; "I am afraid that
I shall get in for it. However, I have a right to please myself, and you
need not tell her until I do. But that is not all my news, and not by
any means the best of it. The King was reminded, the other day, of all
that he and his family owe to the late Sir Edmond Scudamore, and better
late than never, he has ordered your governess,