not too early to shock my moral sense, and therefore only gave me
glimpses of the scenes to which I have alluded. We were at Naples for
some months. As my father had begged the captain, whenever duty would
permit, to give me every opportunity of seeing all that was to be seen
in the places we visited, I constantly got leave to go on shore, and
being under charge of so old and staid a Mentor as Owen, I was allowed
to remain away from the ship for several days together. Night after
night we went to the opera; then to some billiard or gambling-rooms; and
finally repaired to some place to sup, when Owen took care to order the
richest viands and the best wines at my expense. He drank hard, though
he did not get drunk exactly, and he encouraged me to drink, telling me
that it was a manly thing, and that after a little time I should be able
to drink as much as he could with impunity. One day I returned on board
feeling and looking, I doubt not, very ill. While Owen was on deck,
Pearson, who was always very kind to me, took me aside, and asked me, in
the gentlest and most friendly way, how I spent my time on shore. I
told him exactly how I had been employed.

"Take my advice, youngster, and follow a better leader than Owen seems
to be, or rather act as your own sense of right and duty would prompt
you," he said, in a kind tone. "I most heartily wish you well, and
admire the spirit which prompted you to come to sea, when you might have
lived luxuriously on shore. You have everything before you which can
make life pleasant, but if you follow the course into which it is very
clear Owen intends to lead you, your life itself will be shortened, and
you will be incapacitated from enjoying the advantages you possess."

I felt the truth of what Pearson had said, and told him that I would
follow his advice. The next day I was engaged to go on shore with Owen.
I did not choose to refuse to go, but resolved to be cautious how I
complied with any of his proposals. He had told the captain that we
were to ride out to visit some spot of interest in the neighbourhood,
and I had fully intended going. When we got on shore, he declared that
he had hurt his leg, and could not ride, and proposed resorting to a
billiard-room. To this, as I did not know what to do with myself alone,
I did not object, but after playing for some time, he declared that it
was very slow work, and suggested that we should go to a gambling-house
near at hand, w