“Ah, then I know you mean to give up; well, perhaps it will be best; if you do, he will put his nephew in with an acting order to take her home; he is a nice, gentleman-like fellow, and the ship’s company will get on with him. However, I should not wonder if they were paid off at home, they have been out three years altogether!” Captain Hepburn did not seem to be listening; he was considering some other subject. The Admiral and the Governor came together to visit the captain of the _Erratic_. “I am sorry to see you here, Captain Hepburn,” said the former, as he shook him cordially by the hand. “Why must you go and do the firemen’s work, and get into this pickle yourself?” “Well, if there had been any one else, I would not have interfered,” replied the young officer. “You see I must pay the penalty for extra-professional zeal, by quitting her Majesty’s service.” “Not quitting, I trust; a little rest and time will set you on your legs again. Go home to your wife, and let her nurse you for six months, and then you’ll be as well as I am.” The sufferer shook his head. “Never despair, never despair,” added the Admiral; “here is Sir Charles here, was telling me how his cousin recovered from an accident quite as bad as yours; so why should not you?” “We shall see,” replied the other, quietly. “That man who tumbled on you, ought to be run up to the yard-arm,” pursued the admiral, warmly; “what are you going to do with him, Sir Charles?” “I believe he will be tried for burglary,” replied the governor, “as soon as his arm is well. He was endeavoring to make off with stolen goods, and must have broken into the house before the fire began.” “Ah well, I hope he will be punished! but, Captain Hepburn, you need not invalid; I’ll tell you what; those sagacious gentlemen at the Admiralty have ordered me to send home the _Erratic_ at once, to take his Excellency, Lord Somebody or other, to some court or kingdom; you keep the command, at all events, till you reach Spithead; time enough to invalid then, if you must. You might go to Haslar first, for six weeks, and who knows what might happen!” “You are very kind, sir, but I have really no chance of recovery; and am so entirely incompetent for exertion, that I think I had better keep to my first resolution.” “Exertion――you need not exert yourself! leave that to the master and first lieutenant. Why, what do half the captains do now-a-days, but live on shore, and only go off to the ship when there is a man to be flogged, or some other excitement!” “There are such instances, but they are hardly the rule, sir.” “And you must know your friend here too well, to expect him to follow such exceptional courses,” said Sir Charles, smiling at the admiral.