Lady Harriet sighed when she read the letter, and looked paler all that day, but she knew that it was right and necessary for Frank to go, therefore she said nothing to distress him on the occasion, only in her prayers and explanations of the Bible that evening, there was a deeper tone of feeling than ever, and a cast of melancholy, which had rarely been the case before, while he spoke much of that meeting in a better world, which is the surest hope and consolation of those Christians who separate on earth, and who know not what a day, and still less what many years, may bring forth. Major Graham tried to put a cheerful face on the matter also, though he evidently felt very sorry indeed about parting with Frank, and took him out a long walk to discuss his future prospects, saying, "Now you are an officer and a gentleman, entitled therefore to be treated with new respect and attention, by all your brother officers, naval or military, in his Majesty's service." Frank himself, being a boy of great spirit and enterprize, felt glad that the time had really come for his being afloat, and examining all the world over with his own eyes; but he said that his heart seemed as if it had been put in a swing, it fell so low when he thought of leaving his dear happy home, and then it rose again higher than ever at the very idea of being launched on the wide ocean, and going to the countries he had so often read of, where battles had been fought and victories won. "Frank!" said Peter Grey, who was going to join the Thunderbolt, in about a fortnight afterwards, "you have no idea how beautiful I looked in uniform to-day! I tried mine on, and felt so impatient to use my dirk, I could have eat my dinner with it, instead of employing a common knife." "You never forget to be hungry, Peter," said Frank, laughing. "But now you are like the old Lord Buchan, who used to say he could cook his porridge in his helmet, and stir it with his broad-sword." "I hope," said Major Graham, "you both intend to become very distinguished officers, and to leave a name at which the world grows pale." "Certainly," answered Peter. "All the old heroes we read of shall be mere nobodies compared to me! I mean to lose a leg or an arm in every battle,"---- "Till nothing is left of you but your shirt-collar and shoe-strings," interrupted Frank, laughing. "No! No! What remains of me at last shall die a Peer of the realm," continued Peter. "We must climb to the top of the tree, Frank! What title do you think I should take?"