“I fear, Mabel,” said the midshipman, stooping and looking into the little pale face of his charge, “all this has frightened you very much.” “Yes,” said the child, in her quiet, sweet voice; “but I am more frightened about mamma; and, awhile ago, I thought more of you, when that horrid man seized you, than of myself.” “Well, please God, Mabel, your mamma will join us to-night. At all events, all danger to you is over; there is our boat yonder pulling in for the jetty.” Lieutenant Cooke, taking our hero by the arm, said, in a low voice— “Well, how did you get on? and who is that delicate-looking boy?” “This is the Duchesse De Coulancourt’s little girl,” returned William Thornton. “We shall take the Duchess up on the beach to-night as we go by; but I will tell you all when I get on board. What occurred at the meeting?” “A precious row, my lad; I thought at one time we should all have had our throats cut. However, in the end, they signed a declaration, agreeing to our Admiral’s proposal, so all we have to do is to get back to our ship, and I suppose in a day or so we shall be in possession of the town or port.” On board one of the dismasted craft in the basin, provisions and all kinds of drinkables were prepared for the English officers and the crew of the gig, and thither they all proceeded, with several naval officers of the Royalist party. No one seemed to notice the child; whether they thought he came in the boat with them or not, William Thornton could not say; but, leaving the Lieutenant to entertain the French officers, the midshipman and his _protégée_ sat down in one of the private cabins of the frigate, and Bill Saunders brought them a share of the repast from the main cabin. Mabel recovered her spirits a little when our hero told her that the Royalists would hold possession of the town, and that the British fleet would sail into the port in a day or two, so that there would be no fear of her mamma, even if she was not able to join them that night. “Ah!” said the little girl; “but what will become of me, in this horrid dress, if she does not? Are there any females on board your ship?” “No, Mabel, there are not (luckily,” he added to himself, “or adieu to discipline); but if by any chance your mamma should be prevented joining us, I will take you on board the Thetis; Captain Timmins’s wife and daughter are there. They are going in a day or two to Genoa; they will, I am sure, take great care of you for a night or two.” “Oh! dear William,” said the child, anxiously clasping his hand in hers, “do not let me go from you; put me in any corner near you; I won’t mind wearing this dress for a day or two, but do not send me amongst strangers. I look upon you as a brother now.”