O'Brien was sorry for the death of his father, but he could not feel as most people would have done, as his father had certainly never been a father to him. He was sent to sea to be got rid of, and ever since he had been there had been the chief support of his family: his father was very fond of whisky, and not very fond of exertion. He was too proud of the true Milesian blood in his veins, to do anything to support himself; but not too proud to live upon his son's hard-earned gains. For his mother O'Brien felt very much; she had always been kind and affectionate, and was very fond of him. Sailors, however, are so estranged from their families, when they have been long in their profession, and so accustomed to vicissitudes, that no grief for the loss of a relation lasts very long, and, in a week, O'Brien had recovered his usual spirits, when a vessel brought us the intelligence that a French squadron had been seen off St. Domingo. This put us all on the _qui vive_. O'Brien was sent for by the admiral, and ordered to hasten his brig for sea with all possible despatch, as he was to proceed with despatches to England forthwith. In three days we were reported ready, received our orders, and at eight o'clock in the evening made sail from Carlisle Bay. "Well, Mr Swinburne," said I, "how do you like your new situation?" "Why, Mr Simple, I like it well enough, and it's not disagreeable to be an officer, and sit in your own cabin; but still, I feel that I should get on better, if I were in another ship. I've been hail fellow well met with the ship's company so long, that I can't top the officer over them, and we can't get the duty done as smart as I could wish; and then, at night, I find it very lonely, stuck up in my cabin like a parson's clerk, and nobody to talk to; for the other warrants are particular, and say that I'm only acting, and may not be confirmed, so they hold aloof. I don't much like being answerable for all that lot of gunpowder--it's queer stuff to handle." "Very true, Swinburne; but still, if there were no responsibility, we should require no officers. You recollect that you are now provided for for life, and will have half-pay." "That's what made me bite, Mr Simple; I thought of the old woman, and how comfortable it would make her in her old age, and so, d'ye see, I sacrificed myself." "How long have you been married, Swinburne?" "Ever since Christmas '94. I wasn't going to be hook'd carelessly, so I nibbled afore I took the bait. Had four years' trial of her first, and finding that she had plenty of ballast, I sailed her as my own." "How do you mean by plenty of ballast?" "I don't mean, Mr Simple, a broad bow and square hulk. You know very well that if a vessel has not ballast, she's bottom up in no time. Now, what keeps a woman stiff under her canvas is her modesty." "Very true. Swinburne; but it's a rare commodity on the beach."