Jack had spilt his tea and knocked over a chair in his hurry to get to his father; but what did that matter? So there they stood looking at each other for a moment, the tears in both their eyes. Maybe the old general was a trifle ashamed of such weakness, for next moment he burst into a merry laugh. "Why, Jack, my brave boy," he cried, "there are only two arms between the pair of us. But yours will get well; mine, alas, is in the grave!" Flora came up now, and Jack seemed delighted to see her. "And here," he said, "here, Flora, is the best friend I have in the world--Tom Fairlie.--Nay, never blush, Tom, my brother.--He it was, Flora, who helped to take me below after I got hit; and when even the surgeon--grand old fellow M'Hearty! father, you shall know him--gave me up, Tom stuck to me, and he has been nursing me ever since as if I were a child. Ah, Flora, there is no friendship on earth so true, and no love either, as that man bears for man." Jack looked at his sister as he spoke, and that glance told her he knew all. "Father, I had almost forgotten to tell you of my espousal." "Espousal, Jack! You astonish me; it can't be true!" "Oh, but it is." He picked his sword off the couch as he spoke and held it out to his father. "Let me present my bride," he said, laughing. The general himself could laugh now. "So pleased, so pleased! But, 'pon honour, you young rascal, you pretty nearly took your old father's breath away. Married! bless my soul, talk about that thirty years hence; and blame me, Jack, but that itself might be too soon. "So you knocked the French about a bit? Well done, Jack; and well done, Lieutenant Fairlie." "Oh," said the young sailor, laughing, "they always call me Tom." "Well, Tom," said the general, holding out his hand, "you and my brave lad fought nobly; but bless my heart, he wouldn't be a true Mackenzie if he couldn't fight. So you gave it to the Froggies hot, eh? I knew you would. Second only to the British army is the British navy, lads." "And second only to the British navy, father, is the British army." "Bravo! _esprit de corps_. Well, I like it. But I've news for you, Jack. Why, your old father, you young dog you, is going to take command again. Ha, ha! sword arm all right, and head-piece in glorious form." "O father, I'm so delighted!" "Yes, boy, and there is one thing I look forward to--ay, and pray for--and that is for you and me, Jack, to be in the same field of battle, and drubbing the French as only British sailors and soldiers can." "Father, you've made me happy.--Why, Tom, this all but reconciles me to the loss of the love--" Jack stopped, looking a little confused. "Love--love? Why, Jack, my lad, what is this? Love of whom, boy?" "Oh, only a pet spaniel, father. No, not dead. Lost though; enticed away--with a bone, I suppose."