honoured with an interview.

In due time was received

an answer, and an early date named.

"Punctually to the appointed moment I arrived, but I was kept waiting quite two hours in the ante-room. This I did not mind, for the time passed pleasantly enough in the contemplation of my future fortune.

"At length the usher showed me into the august presence; he was a little man, very stout, with a short neck, a pimply face, and a very red complexion. While I was producing my snuff-box, another gentleman entered the room from an opposite door; he was very tall and thin, and had an exceedingly bald head and an aquiline nose. As soon as he made his appearance, the First Lord called out, 'Ah! your Grace, just in time; you are actually, I may say, in luck. Lieutenant Swan (making a gradual motion of the head towards me) has brought with him from abroad a new snuff, the most delicious and refreshing that has ever been introduced into the country.' To get a First Lord was something, but with a Duke for a patron, my fortune was assuredly made."

"Look here," said the Captain, "just halt a bit; I have two reasons for asking you to do so. In the first place, I want to have a quiet laugh in anticipation; secondly, Don't you think it advisable we should fill our glasses?"

"

Certainly I do; for if we fill them now they will be ready for use when I have finished my yarn."

That important operation having been performed, and the worthy Captain having resumed his gravity, Lieutenant Swan continued his narrative

"I carefully opened the box which had previously been highly perfumed. The First Lord took it, smelt, and handed it to his Grace, who did likewise. 'A very pleasant flavour,' said the one. 'Extremely,' said the other. Then each took a pinch. For a few seconds both appeared highly pleased with the result; but soon one, then the other, commenced to sneeze, gently at first, but as time lapsed more and more rapidly and violently, till both continued giving vent to one incessant series of sneezes. The First Lord buried his face in the sofa; his Grace threw himself back in an armchair. From one I flew to the other. The former was black in the face, the latter covered with perspiration, and still they kept up the most incessant sneezing. What to do I knew not. There was no water in the room; I was about to ring the bell for some, when in trooped a dozen of servants. I heard the First Lord say, with a sneeze between each word, 'Secure the scoundrel.' Such a hint was not to be neglected. I seized my hat, darted from the room, rushed down the stairs, taking three at a time, and never looked back till I was across Westminster Bridge. Indeed, I did not feel safe then, and for weeks after I expected daily to hear that I had been deprived of my half-pay.

"Since that day I have never been inside the Admiralty, and if I live a hundred years I never intend to be, although my snuff-box, a very handsome one, which had been the property of my grandfather, is there, for aught I know, to this day.

"My kind friend the Admiral wrote to me in terms such as implied that I had betrayed his confidence. I

was much grieved at this, and sent him an apology, which he was good enough to accept.

"I could not understand how my admirable snuff, which I still esteem so valuable a discovery, became so pungent. To put it to the test, I wished to discover if it had the same effect on others; so I gave the landlord of the Ship and Anchor' a pinch. He was a very tall and stout man, and I can assure you that his sneezes were so terrific that they shook the ornaments off the mantelpiece, and they were so protracted that his wife rushed into the room to learn the cause. When she had done so, she attacked me with a broom; the boots and waiter came to her support. I was again obliged to fly, and my wounded pride has compelled me ever since to give up a favourite haunt.

"To this moment I am confident it is prejudice that has done it all, and nothing more. It does not make

me sneeze so."

"No, Swan, it does not, for your nose, I suspect, is copper-lined; but, Lord bless your soul, I should like to have seen you between the First and Second Lords, and afterwards coming down the staircase."

And the Captain of Marines and the Lieutenant of the Navy laughed, and laughed again, till it was pronounced time to fill up their glasses.

CHAPTER II.

BOYHOOD'S DAYS.

WHEN the reader of the preceding chapter is informed that the narrator is the only son of Lieutenant Swan, he will not be surprised to learn that I had been completely spoiled by my father and his bosom friend the Captain, and that I got generally my own way in everything. It is true that I had been for some time a pupil of the grammar school, but my attendance was almost nominal, for if it was spring or summer, and the day was suitable for fishing, by the river side I was certain to be found; if winter, and there was shooting or ice, I would be in the company of the neighbouring Baronet's gamekeepers, or doing the intricacies of inside and outside. turns upon my skates. At length my want of attention to my classes became so glaring that the dominie, good man, thought he ought to remonstrate with my father on the subject, especially as it was setting such a pernicious example to the other scholars. With this intention, he interviewed the old gentleman, and stated his reasons for doing so. However, Mr Swan could not see matters in the same light, and informed the worthy schoolmaster that my mother, who died a long time ago, had been consumptive, and that he was afraid I had the germs of the same disease.

"Consumption!" exclaimed the schoolmaster indig

66

nantly. Consumption, do you say, fiddle-sticks! more likely he is suffering from over-consumption of victuals."

Now, this was about as unfortunate an answer as could have been made to my father, for he saw in it not only an attempt to dictate how I should be brought up, but a slighting insinuation levelled at the sufficiency of his knowledge of the world. So, ringing the bell, he ordered the servant to open the door for Mr Rudiman, and informed the zealous advocate of education that his school should no longer be troubled with my presence.

Shortly after this a council was held between Captain Cinnamon and my father as to what steps should be taken for the furtherance of my education.

"A boarding-school," suggested the former.

“No;” answered the latter. "No; that would never do."

"Why?" interrogates the Captain.

"For this reason; you see he is a high-spirited lad, so half the time he would be engaged in licking his companions, or getting licked by them; to the former I would not object—to the latter I do most decidedly."

"No; it would never do for our Jack to get licked— never do. I have it. Sergeant Trenchman, late of the Royal Engineers, that fine specimen of an old soldier, who has lately come to reside in the village, would make the youngster a capital tutor; the non-commissioned officers of his corps are a very intelligent, well-educated body of men."

"Yes; but he's a soldier. Now, if he had been a blue jacket, I would say done with you."

"Or a marine," quietly insinuated the Captain.

B