chaperon, besides which she would
come, whether I liked it or not. I am frank with you, Captain Rogers;
but I am frank by nature."

"Would you like to walk on deck, Major Bubsby?" asked Jack, not wishing
to make any remark in the presence of the lady, aware that every word he
uttered would reach her ears.

"Yes, indeed, I would," answered the major; "a little fresh air would
greatly restore me. These fits are apt to unman me for a time, but I
quickly recover, and soon resume the command of my amazon forces."

Jack heard another scornful laugh from within, as the major hurried into
the main cabin. The captain good-naturedly paced the deck with him for
some minutes, listening to the account of his domestic woes, arising
from Mrs Bubsby's somewhat uncertain temper.

"She is in the main, however, a charming creature, charming when I
married her--a perfect angel. Still charming, though less angelic, I'll
allow, at times."

Jack could not help smiling. The major observed him.

"You doubt my assertion! Wait until you have been married as long as I
have, thirty years or more, and you'll understand what's what. You are
not married, I conclude, Captain Rogers?"

"I have the happiness of being so, although we poor sailors are not
allowed to carry our wives and families with us, as you military men
have the privilege of doing."

"That will be a disappointment to Eugenia and Angelica," observed the
major, apparently speaking to himself. "They fully speculated on your
being a bachelor. You have some bachelor officers, however, captain?"

"Oh, yes," answered Jack laughing; "my three lieutenants are all
unmarried, and so are the rest of the officers, with the exception of
the doctor and paymaster."

"That's some consolation, at all events. If there's one thing I have at
heart more than another, it is to see my charming daughters well
married."

"I wish you every success in so laudable an object," said Jack, "but it
is a matter in which I should decline to interfere with respect to my
officers. Indeed they are all too young to take upon themselves the
responsibilities of married life. In my opinion a naval officer should
not venture to fall in love until he is thirty at least, if he intends
to get on in the service, and it would be much better to wait a few
years beyond that."

"Ah, but my daughters would not consider them too young," said the
major. "Angelica once engaged herself to a young gentleman of
se