the children say. I hope I shall be appointed to a three-decker! They are well built, well manned, and their strength is our protection."

"What else do you think is your protection?" quietly rejoined Mrs Vane.

He made no reply: though quite conscious what she

meant.

"When I spoke to your papa of the danger, my boy, he reminded me that the same God who has hitherto watched over you on the land, will watch over you on the sea. Ah, Harry! you talk of the ship's strength being your protection. What protection could there be in a few frail boards, unless He held them together?" "Mamma, I was speaking only of man's strength." "I know. Listen to me, darling. The sea is a hazardous life, more so than common: take you heed, therefore, that you abide always under God's good care. Morning after morning, night after night, commit yourself to Him. Never omit it; never forget it.

Try and find God. Try and realize the fact that He is

powerful Protector, so Amidst the hurry and

ever present with you, your long as you trust to Him. bustle of a sea life, steal a moment sometimes for Him; in the silent deck watches, let your heart be often lifted up to Him. Trust yourself wholly to God: let your ever-recurring daily prayer be, 'Lord, my time is in Thy hand: do Thou undertake for me!' And then you may rest assured that, whether He shall see fit to spare you, or to take you, it must, and will, be for the best. Do you think you can realize this, Harry?" "I can hope for it," he answered.

"Hope and strive. Your prayers will not ascend

alone. For every one that you breathe, I shall offer up its fellow. It is a pleasant belief, that which some of our divines have given utterance to-that the urgent prayers of a mother for her child are never lost. Void they may be, for a time-dormant the answer may seem to lie but the fruit appears at last. I often think that no prayers can be so urgently fervent, as those sent up by a mother for her boy at sea."

"What was it papa wanted with me?" inquired Harry, after a pause, turning to a lighter subject.

"To inform you of the news; and to let you know that you would have but a few days longer at Whittermead. You may go on your fishing expedition now."

CHAPTER IX.

THE MIDDY IN EMBRYO.

THE fishing expedition, all-important as it was before, had faded into nothingness. What was that trifling pastime in comparison with these great tidings? Boiling over with excitement, scarcely knowing whether he stood on his head or his heels, Harry Vane hunted out his glazed sailor's hat-the article he had invested a certain Christmas-box in the previous Christmas—and proceeded to the linen-draper's shop. There he went in trust for four yards of blue ribbon, wound it round his hat, leaving the ends flying, and proceeded to show himself in the village. "I am going to sea! I am going at last!" was his salute to everybody. At length he reached Mr Allair's.

“Give me joy, William!" he cried, bursting in, and waving his hat in triumph. "The long lane has at

length had a turning."

"What on earth do you mean?" asked William Allair, staring at the ribbons.

"I am off in a few days; off to Woolwich, or some of those places, and in six months join the navy-the best middy it ever had, if it will only appreciate me." "You have gone deranged, I think."

"It's with joy, then. Why, I am telling you nothing but sober fact. The governor-like a sensible governor that he is—entered my name for the navy long ago,

though he never spoke of it; and to-day my appointment arrived. Of course he had to speak of it then." "In the navy!" repeated William, rather overwhelmed with the news that had broken upon him.

"Is it not prime? I had made up my mind, if I did get to sea, to have a hard working life of it, on board some obscure trader perhaps, -like Gruff Jones's, -and now there's this glorious prospect opened to me. Oh, I am so heartily glad! I shall be as happy as the days are long."

William sighed a sigh of envy. Mrs Vane say?" he questioned.

แ "But what will

"She is a dear mother, and has shown out sensible too. She says it is evidently my appointed sphere of usefulness in life; and so she'll oppose it no longer, but send me away with a God speed."

"Well, I'm sure I wish other mothers and people would show out sensible," cried poor William-discontent and envy uncommonly rife in his heart just then. "What have you tied those blue things round your hat for?"

"To let the public in general know of my luck," said Harry, with a laugh. "I shall hang a flag out at my bed-room window when I get home. I say, I am in no mood for fishing to day. I must race about to spread the news-going to Lady Sayingham first. I know she'll be glad."

"Who cares for fishing?" returned William. "I don't. I don't mind if I never go fishing again. I wish I was you, Vane! Some people do get all the luck of

it in this world."

Harry Vane laughed good-naturedly. "Never was such luck as mine."

"Why,

"Well, this is a change!" repeated William. "

it was only yesterday you were saying your hope of sea was further off than ever."

"I thought it was. But, look you, I did not despair of going some time or other."

66

Suppose they had still held out against it-your father and Mrs Vane-what should you have done?

"What rubbish! Gruff Jones asked me that, one day. As if I should take the reins into my own hands in that way! No good comes of defying your father, when they are good fathers, you know, as ours are. Besides, it's not gentlemanly to play the runagate."

"Then what should you have done," persisted William, "supposing they had held out in denying you the sea ?"

แ

Stopped on land, and made the best of it, always hoping that something or other would turn up to subdue their prejudices. I did not think my mother would come-to, yet awhile, at any rate; and I never would have gone in opposition to her. She is my mother, you know, Allair, and a regular good mother, too; and I'd not have turned against her. I shall look out for luck and happiness now. And that's what I never should have had, if I had gone in opposition to my mother."

William sat drumming on the table. "I wish fathers and mothers could see with our eyes!" he impulsively cried.

"I had been casting about in my mind what I could do-what employment would be the least distasteful to me, hopes of the sea being at a discount," went on