"Father's always finding out some mare's nest or another; and because there is some likeness to the captain, he has, in his great wit, made an important discovery. It's quite evident that he's wrong, as he generally is. It's not very likely that Captain Delmar should have had an intrigue with the wife of a marine officer, and her sister married also into the corps. The widow has brought him down herself, it is true, but that proves nothing; who else was to bring him down, if it was not his mother? and the very circumstance of her going away so soon proves that she felt it improper that she should remain; and, in my opinion, that she is a modest, interesting young woman, in whom Captain Delmar has taken an interest. I wish father would not come here with his nonsensical ideas, telling us to make much of the boy." "Very true, Medea," replied the mother; "you might have saved that cake and wine." Thinks I to myself, you have not pumped me, and I never felt more delighted than at having outwitted them. I thought it, however, prudent to walk away from the window. Shortly afterwards, Mr Culpepper returned, accompanied by one of the numerous Portsmouth fitting-out tailors. I was summoned; the tailor presented a list of what he declared to be absolutely necessary for the outfit of a gentleman. Mr Culpepper struck out two-thirds of the articles, and desired the remainder to be ready on the Friday morning, it being then Wednesday. The tailor promised faithfully, and Mr Culpepper also promised most faithfully, that if the articles were not ready, they would be left on his hands. As soon as the tailor had gone, Miss Medea asked me if I would not like to take another run in the garden. I knew that she wished to speak to her father, and therefore had a pleasure in disappointing her. I therefore replied, that I had been there nearly the whole day, and did not wish to go out any more. "Never mind whether you wish it or not; I wish you to go," replied Miss Medea, tartly. "Medea, how can you be so rude?" cried Mr Culpepper; "surely Mr Keene may do as he pleases. I'm surprised at you, Medea." "And I'm surprised at you, papa, finding out a mystery when there is none," replied Miss Medea, very cross. "All you said this morning, and all your surmises, have turned out to be all moonshine. Yes, you may look, papa; I tell you--all moonshine." "Why, Medea, what nonsense you are talking," replied Mr Culpepper. "Medea's right," croaked Mrs Culpepper; "all moonshine." "So you need not be so very particular, papa, I can tell you," rejoined Miss Medea, who then whispered in her father's ear, loud enough for me to hear, "No such thing, nothing but a regular marine." "Pooh, nonsense," replied the purser, in a low voice; "the boy has been taught to say it--he's too clever for you, Medea."