sty a valuable officer," replied the captain. "I am afraid
his mother will feel it in more ways than one--he supported her, I
think."

"He did, sir: will you not give an acting order to one of the young
gentlemen?" (It was the third-lieutenant over whom they were
lamenting.)

"Yes, make it out for Mr Robertson."

"He's in the list, sir."

"What! killed? So he is, poor fellow! Well, then--Mr Wheatley--let it
be made out for him."

"Ay, ay, sir."

It was not until the ensuing day that the loss of the enemy could be
ascertained. Crowded as were her decks with troops, it was enormous.
Not only the first and second captains, second-lieutenant, and seven
junior officers of the frigate had fallen, but eleven officers of the
detachment of soldiers sent on board of her. The total loss appeared to
be one hundred and forty-seven killed, and one hundred and eighty-four
wounded, out of an aggregate of nearly nine hundred men.

In a few days the _Aspasia_ and her prize arrived at Plymouth, the
English colours proudly waving over the tricoloured flag of her late
opponent, and both vessels ran into Hamoaze amidst the cheers of
thousands of spectators assembled upon Mount Wise and Mount Edgecomb to
greet their gallant and successful defenders. Captain M--- immediately
proceeded to London, where the representation which he made of
McElvina's conduct was followed by an order for his immediate release,
and McElvina, taking an affectionate leave of Willy, with a parting
injunction to "_be honest_," set off to report to old Hornblow, and his
daughter Susan all the circumstances attending the capture of his
lugger, and the events which had subsequently ensued.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

So; poverty at home, and debts abroad,
My present fortune bad; my hopes yet worse!
What will become of me?
SOUTHERON'S ISABELLA.

The gentleman who had supposed himself the next heir to the entailed
property, vacant by the demise of Admiral De Courcy, and whose hasty
visit and departure from Hall we have mentioned in a previous chapter,
was a third cousin of the deceased. His history is short. He had
squandered away the personal property left him by his father; and his
family estate, which was of greater extent than value, was mortgaged for
even more than it was worth. He had lately subsisted by borrowing large
sums of money at exorbitant interest, upon the expectancy of succeeding
to the property of Admiral De Courcy. The result