Henry, laughing. "They are not such
severe judges as Ogle and Bush, and Marline and our other shipmates."

"To be sure--to be sure," said True Blue in a compassionate tone. "Now,
Miss Julia, please marm, strike up and off I go."

True Blue did go off indeed, and with the greatest spirit performed a
hornpipe which deservedly elicited the admiration of all the spectators.
Miss Julia's fingers were tired before his feet, and, having made the
usual bow round to the company, throwing back his hair, he stood ready
to begin again.

The applause which followed having ceased, he laughed, exclaiming, "Oh,
it's nothing, ladies--nothing to what I can do, Sir Henry will tell you;
but, you see, there's a good deal of difference between the forecastle
of a man-of-war, and this here drawing-room in big London City." The
tone of his voice showed that he gave the preference to the forecastle.

That evening Lady Elmore and her son had a long discussion.

"But are you certain, Henry, that we are doing the best thing for the
brave lad?" she said.

"Oh, he'll polish--he'll polish rapidly!" answered her son. "He has no
notion of concealment, or that it is necessary for him to assume
shoregoing manners, now that he has got over his bashfulness at finding
himself among strangers. He says exactly what he thinks and feels. The
outside husk is rough enough, I own, but, depend on it, the jewel within
will soon take a polish which will shine brightly through the shell and
light up the whole form. Not a bad notion for a midshipman, mother!"

"Oh, you were always poetical and warm-hearted and good and
enthusiastic, Henry," said Lady Elmore, pressing him to her heart. "Do
as you think best, and I have no doubt our young sailor will turn out a
shining character."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

It had been arranged that True Blue should visit Paul Pringle and his
other friends at Emsworth before returning to his ship. The day for his
leaving London was fixed. He had seen all the sights and been several
times to the play; and though he thought it all very amusing, he was, in
truth, beginning to get somewhat tired of the sort of life. As to Lady
Elmore and her daughters, he thought them, as he said, next door to
angels, and would have gone through fire and water to serve them.

One morning he awoke just as the footman walked in with a jug of hot
water, and, leaving it on the washhand stand, retired without saying a
word. Sir Henry had dir