advice till a formal consultation
had been held by all his sponsors and their mates. Still True Blue
thought that he seemed inclined to recommend him to do what he himself
wished.

Paul was rapidly getting better, and in less than ten days who should
appear at the hospital but Sir Henry Elmore himself. He went round the
wards and spoke separately to each of the wounded men belonging to the
_Ruby_, and then he came to Paul Pringle and had a long talk with him.
Paul thought that in a few days he should be sufficiently recovered to
leave the hospital and get as far as his own home, at the pretty village
of Emsworth, and he had proposed that True Blue should accompany him.
Abel Bush and Peter Ogle both lived there, and had families, among whom
their godson would pass his time pleasantly enough.

"I daresay he might," said the young baronet, to whom Paul had mentioned
this; "but I have the first claim on him. I have come now expressly to
carry him off, so let him pack up his traps and accompany me."

Paul offered no further opposition to this proposal; so True Blue,
having tied up a clean shirt and a thin pair of shoes, with a few other
things in a handkerchief, announced that he had his clothes ready and
was prepared to accompany the baronet.

The midshipman looked at the bundle, but said nothing. He knew well
enough that a ship's boy was not likely to have any large amount of
clothing. He had a coach at the door, and he ordered the coachman to
drive to the George Hotel at Portsmouth. On the way he asked his
companion whether he would not prefer dressing in plain clothes, and
that, if so, a suit forthwith should be at his service; but True Blue so
earnestly entreated that he might be allowed to wear the dress to which
he had always been accustomed, that his friend gave up the point.

They found a capital dinner prepared for them at the George, in a
private room; and the gentleman whom True Blue had seen on board the
_Ruby_ was there to receive them, and talked so kindly and pleasantly
that he soon found himself very much at his ease, and was able and
willing to do ample justice to the good things placed before him.

As Mr Leslie, Sir Henry's uncle, was obliged to return to London that
night, they set off by the mail. Mr Leslie went inside; but the
midshipman and True Blue, who disdained such a mode of proceeding, took
their places behind the coachman, the box seat being already occupied by
a naval officer. Mai