"Well then, Brail, may the devil fly away with you and your dearie both, for, since you must know, I was not in love after all--I am sure I was not, although I confess being at one time very near it--so all happiness to you, my darling. Do you know, Benjie, that I have been quizzing you all this while?" I did not know it, nor did I believe it, but, by way of letting him down gently, I said nothing; and that very day, I took an affectionate leave of my excellent old friend Sir Oliver, who was that day to drop down under the Moro, preparatory to sailing; of my worthy cousin Dick Lanyard, Mr Sprawl, and the other Gazelles and Midges, who had been kind to me; and next morning I secured my passage in a Kingston trader, that was to sail for Jamaica that day week. CHAPTER V. THE MOSQUITO. The short interval between the period when I resolved upon this step, and of putting it into execution, was passed in a state of mind little enviable--in a strange mixture of pleasure and pain, of joy and grief. At one moment both Helen and myself were buoyed up with the most joyous anticipations; at another a weight hung on our hearts, that we could not ourselves account for. With us, however, the chances of happiness seemed to preponderate; but it was far otherwise with poor De Walden and Sophie Duquesné, who, children as they both were, had also tumbled head over heels in love, before they were aware of it. For several days the young midshipman had been kept on board attending to his duty; it was the last evening but one that I was to spend at Havanna, when, against Mrs Hudson's wish, and, I need not say, most diametrically opposed to Helen's and mine, old Mr Duquesné had invited some friends in the evening; and, having dined at the usual hour, the girls were having their hair dressed in the boudoir already described, while we, the male part of the family, were enjoying our wine in the room that had been my bedroom. "Now, Mr Duquesné," said I, "I really am quite ashamed at the trouble I must have put you all to lately; why" (looking round me) "I seem to have actually dispossessed you of your dining saloon for some time. I was not aware of this before." "Poo, it does not signify none at all, my dear sare--de happiness and obligation were all mine. I cannot wish you were wound again--oh _certainement_, I could not do dat sing; _mais_ I happy would be, you should sprain your foot, elbow, or head, or any leetle fingare--so as you were to stay here some time less--more I mean--_assurément_ you cannot maintain your resolution to leave us yesterday?--put off your depart until last week." "Impossible, my very kind friend; I have too long trespassed on your kindness--kindness which I am sure I shall never be able to repay."--Here we were interrupted by De Walden entering the room.--"Ah, Henry, how are you?"