ring it right
to take the only young lady under her chaperonage, advised her after
breakfast to remain below and work with her. Bluebell was of a grateful
disposition, and acquiesced, but secretly thought it rather dismal, so,
when Mr. Dutton came down and begged her to go on deck, as they were
passing through some magnificent icebergs, she willingly pocketed her
tatting and went up. The young lieutenant got a couple of rugs and
arranged her comfortably. Certainly the roll of the ship was much more
bearable on deck.

Mr. Dutton remained to amuse her, and, both being young, they speedily
became confidentially communicative. She learnt from him that he had just
been promoted out of his ship, and was going home till he got another.
"At least," he amended, "it is more my home than any other. I am going to
stay with my uncle, who would like me to give up the service, and remain
with him altogether."

"Is he so very fond of you?"

"Why, yes, in a sort of way. You see he has got no one else. He never
wished me to go to sea, but when I was at school a brother of one of the
fellows came, who had just passed as naval cadet, and he had such a lot
of tuck, and tin, and presents, that we were all wild to go too. My
governor had some interest, and I never ceased tormenting him, till at
last he got me appointed to the 'Sorceress.' After I had been a month
at sea I had had quite enough of it; but we were on a five years' cruise,
and by the end of that time I liked the life as well as any other."

"Then why should your uncle want you to give up your profession?"

"Because," blushing slightly, "he always says I shall be his heir, and he
wishes me to take an interest in the estate, and learn to be a country
gentleman. But after I have been on shore a month or so the monotony of
it is awful, and I feel as if I must do something desperate if I stop
quiet longer."

"I thought English country gentlemen found plenty of excitement in
hunting and shooting."

"Not all the year round," with a smile; "and, besides, I can't ride! Now,
Miss Leigh, if you were an English girl, you would never speak to me
again! I don't fear the obstacle, and would ride anything anybody likes
to trust me with; but I know, and the _horse_ knows, he could get rid of
me at any minute. I hunt sometimes, and go straight if the quad. I am
on is fond of jumping; but I cut a voluntary as often as not, and then
some fool is sure to come up and say,--'You had no business