re you are; but--you are as thin as
a rake, and still rather shaky, apparently. My _dear_ madam, _pray_
excuse me; upon my honour I never perceived you until this moment. I
trust you are well, and your esteemed husband, also. Thank God, old
fellow, I see you something like your old self once more."

The skipper rattled on until he was fairly out of breath, and then
gradually subsided into his usual quiet and self-possessed manner. The
"Astarte," he told me, had arrived the previous day, and he had seized
the first available moment to run out and see me, the admiral having
acquainted him with the news of my recovery and removal. At the earnest
invitation of my host and hostess he consented to remain over the night,
his presence not being very particularly required on board the frigate
until next day. In the course of the day I told him what Dr Musgrave
had advised, and of the decision I had made to follow it.

"Well," said he, "if the doctor advises it, I have no doubt it will be
best for you; still, it is a thousand pities, for I believe, if you
could but hold on a little longer, we should all be able to go home
together. I fancy it will not be very long before the frigate herself
is ordered home."

He left next morning, after an early breakfast, promising to return
again in a day or two, when, according to arrangement, I was to go back
on board with him for a day and renew my acquaintance with my old
shipmates.

On the day but one following, he reappeared in almost as excited a state
as before.

"Hurrah!" he exclaimed, as he entered the room. "We are ordered to
proceed home at once and payoff, so we can all go together. The frigate
has had a very successful time of it while she has been out here; we
shall go home with our pockets well lined; and I think I must seize upon
the opportunity which the paying-off of the ship will afford, in order
to get spliced. I should think Florrie will never have the heart to
send me to sea a bachelor again, will she?"

"Upon my word, sir, I don't know," I replied. "Girls are very curious
in their notions sometimes, and occasionally require a great deal of
persuasion to bring them up to the mark. However, your persuasive
powers seemed to be pretty effective with my sister when you last tried
them upon her; and, as in duty bound, I will of course do all I can to
promote my captain's success."

"Ah, you rogue," rejoined he. "You are fast recovering, I see. There
is n