dinner upon the table, and out jumped Mr Annesley. I was
delighted to see him, and forthwith introduced him to my father and Sir
Peregrine, both of whom gave him a most cordial welcome. My mother and
the girls were dressing for dinner at the time.

On dinner being announced, our newly-arrived and self-invited guest took
my sister Florrie in tow, and, having convoyed her safely to a chair,
brought himself to an anchor alongside her, playing the agreeable so
effectively that he quite absorbed Miss Florrie's attention during the
meal. On the departure of the ladies, the object of his visit came out.
He had, in just recognition of his services, been appointed to the
command of a new frigate, named the "Astarte," which was then fitting-
out at Portsmouth for the West India station; and he had hunted me up to
see if I would go with him. I at once frankly told him there was
nothing I should like better; and, as my uncle also approved of the
proposal, the question was settled then and there.

I learned, with a great deal of pleasure, that he had secured as his
first lieutenant, Mr Flinn, our quondam "second" on board the "Juno."
Bob Summers and little Smellie were also going to be with us once more,
so that we promised to be quite a family party. Mr Flinn, it appeared,
had already joined, as well as the second lieutenant, Summers, Smellie,
and another midshipman; the former, assisted by Smellie and the new mid,
being engaged in superintending the fitting-out of the ship, while the
second lieutenant and Master Bob were getting together a crew. The two
latter were taking their time about this business--Captain Annesley
being very anxious to have a thorough picked crew--but they had
succeeded in securing some five and twenty of the primest seamen lately
paid off from the "Juno," as well as about forty other good men. My new
skipper was kind enough to say that I need be in no hurry to join, as he
would write and let me know when my services were required.

These matters settled, we joined the ladies, and, as it seemed to me,
the skipper was again very attentive to Florrie, turning over the pages
of her music, joining her in a duet or two, and reeling off small-talk
by the fathom between whiles.

Next morning, after an early breakfast, we--that is, Captain Annesley,
my uncle, and I--started for Portsmouth; the former to remain there and
watch the progress of work on board the "Astarte," my uncle and I to
just take a look