"Yes, Miss Gertrude." "It is best over," she murmured to herself as Smith left. She touched the bell, and next minute she was seated before a tall mirror, at each side of which burned a star of candles, and her maid was dressing her hair. "Mary," she said, as she rose and smoothed out the folds of her blue silk dress, "do I look my best?" "Oh, Miss Keane, you look 'most like a fairy--the low-bodied blue, and the pink camellia in your hair. You are so beautiful that if _I_ were a knight I should come for you with a chariot and six, and carry you away to my castle, and have a real live dragon o' purpose to guard you--I would really, miss." "Do you think, Mary, I could act well?" "Oh, Miss Keane, how you do talk! Actors is low. Miss Gerty, always look your best; but acting--no, no, miss, I won't have she." And Mary tossed her head regardless of grammar. Mary was a little Essex maid that Miss Keane had had for years, and had succeeded in spoiling, as children are spoiled. "Ah dear," said the girl, "and to think that to-morrow is Jack's coming o' age, and he won't be here! You don't mind _me_ a-callin' of him Jack, does ye, Miss Gerty? Heigh-ho! didn't he used to chuck me under the chin just, the dear, bright boy? 'Mary,' he says once, 'when I comes of age I means to marry you right off the reel.' And I took him in my arms and kissed him on what Tim would call the spur o' the moment. Then Jack ups with a glass o' ale--it were in the kitching, miss--and he jumps on to a chair and draws his navy dirk. 'Here's the way,' he cries, 'that they tosses cans in the service. And I'll give you a toast,' he says. 'I drinks 'To the wind that blows, And the ship that goes, And the girl as loves a sailor, Hip, hip, hooray!' But run away, Miss Gerty. Only _no_ acting, mind. Oh dear, oh dear! I wish poor Jack would come." * * * * * "Ah, Jack, my bo'," cried Tom, meeting his friend on the quarter-deck just after divisions, "let me congratulate you. You've come of age this very morning. Tip us your flipper, Jack. Why, you don't look very gay over it after all. Feeling old, I daresay--farewell to youth and that sort of game. Never mind; I'm going to see the surgeon presently. Old M'Hearty is a splendid fellow, and he'll find an excuse for splicing the main-brace, you may be sure. Why, Jack, on such an eventful occasion all hands should rejoice. Ah, here comes the doctor!--Doctor, this is Jack's birthday, and he's come of age, and--" [Illustration: _"Tom, I shall not survive this battle."_ Page 26.] "Sail in sight, sir!" It was a hail from the mast-head--a bold and sturdy shout that was heard from bowsprit to binnacle by all hands on deck, and that even penetrated to the ward-room, causing every officer there to spring from his seat and hurry on deck.