This was, however, no consolation to our hero; he did not feel animosity against Furness so much as he did dread of him; he did not want his punishment, but his absence, and security against future annoyance. It was about nine o'clock on the next morning, when the punishment was to take place, that Joey came down from his own room. He had been thinking all night, and had decided that he had no other resource but to quit Portsmouth, Emma, and his fair prospects for ever; he had resolved so to do, to make this sacrifice; it was a bitter conclusion to arrive at, but it had been come to. His haggard countenance when he made his appearance at the breakfast-table, shocked Mrs Phillips and Emma; but they made no remarks. The breakfast was passed over in silence, and soon afterwards our hero found himself alone with Emma, who immediately went to him, and, with tears in her eyes, said, "What is the matter with you?--you look so ill, you alarm us all, and you make me quite miserable." "I am afraid, Miss Phillips--" "Miss Phillips!" replied Emma. "I beg your pardon; but, Emma, I am afraid that I must leave you." "Leave us!" "Yes, leave you and Portsmouth for ever, perhaps." "Why, what has occurred?" "I cannot, dare not tell. Will you so far oblige me to say nothing at present; but you recollect that I was obliged to leave Gravesend on a sudden." "I recollect you did, but why I know not; only Mary said that it was not your fault." "I trust it was not so; but it was my misfortune. Emma, I am almost distracted; I have not slept for weeks; but pray believe me, when I say that I have done no wrong; indeed--" "We are interrupted," said Emma, hurriedly; "there is somebody coming upstairs." She had hardly time to remove a few feet from our hero, when Captain B---, of the _Niobe_, entered the room. "Good morning, Miss Phillips, I hope you are well; I just looked in for a moment before I go to the Admiral's office; we have had a catastrophe on board the _Niobe_, which I must report immediately." "Indeed," replied Emma; "nothing very serious, I hope." "Why, no, only rid of a blackguard not worth hanging; one of the marines, who was to have gone round the fleet this morning, when he went to the forepart of the ship under the sentry's charge, leaped overboard, and drowned himself." "What was his name, Captain B---?" inquired Joey, seizing him by the arm. "His name--why, how can that interest you, O'Donahue? Well, if you wish to know, it was Furness."