ut of his trifling remainder, to pay my
debt. This is what has made me so unhappy. I can not bear to tell him,
because I feel convinced that he is so honorable, he will pay it
immediately. I am mad with myself, and really do not know what to do. I
do nothing but reproach myself all day, and I can not sleep at night. I
have been very foolish, but I am sure you will kindly enter into my
present feelings. I waited till you came home, because I thought you had
better tell my father the fact, for I feel as if I should die with shame
and vexation."

"Look you, Harry," replied Alfred, "as for outrunning the constable, as
we term it at sea, it's a very common thing, and, all things considered,
no great harm done, when you suppose that you have the means, and intend
to pay; so don't lay that to heart. That you would give your right hand
not to have done so, as things have turned out, I really believe; but,
however, there is no occasion to fret any more about it. I have received
three years' pay, and the prize-money for the last eighteen months, and
there is still some more due, for a French privateer. Altogether it
amounts to L250, which I had intended to have made over to my father,
now that he is on a lee-shore; but it will come to the same thing,
whether I give it to you to pay your debts, or give it to him, as he
will pay them, if you do not; so here it is, take what you want, and
hand me over what's left. My father don't know that I have any money,
and now he won't know it; at the same time he won't know that you owe
any; so that squares the account, and he will be as well off as ever."

"Thank you, my dear Alfred; you don't know what a relief this will be to
my mind. Now I can look my father in his face."

"I hope you will; we are not troubled with such delicate feelings on
board ship, Harry. I should have told him the truth long before this. I
couldn't bear to keep any thing on my conscience. If this misfortune had
happened last cruise, I should have been just in your position; for I
had a tailor's bill to pay as long as a frigate's pennant, and not
enough in my pocket to buy a mouse's breakfast. Now, let's go in again,
and be as merry as possible, and cheer them up a little."

Alfred's high spirits did certainly do much to cheer them all up; and
after tea, Mr. Campbell, who had previously consulted his wife, as soon
as the servant had quitted the room, entered on a full explanation of
the means which were left to them