“Faith, you’re a broth of a boy, William, to be galivanting duchesses and distressed damsels before you are fledged. Go on and prosper, by the time your beard grows you’ll do. But be off with you, and mind your P’s and Q’s before the Admiral.” He next encountered Lieutenant Cooke coming from the Admiral’s cabin. “Well, Thornton,” said the Lieutenant, good-humouredly, “how do you feel now? Your little _protégée_ has been making a hundred inquiries after you; she is sitting at breakfast with his lordship, who, strange to say, after listening to her account of herself, seems to know a great deal about her family. But go in, they are waiting for you.” The young midshipman entered the Admiral’s state room, and at once perceived little Mabel sitting at the breakfast table with the kind-hearted old Admiral. On his entrance she sprang from her chair with an exclamation of joy, and ran to him, taking his hand, saying— “Oh! dear brother William, how glad I am to see you! if my dear mamma were here how happy I should feel!” and then with childish innocence, quite ignorant of the etiquette between an Admiral and a midshipman, she added, “have you breakfasted? Do come and have some, his lordship is so kind to me, and knows who I am.” William Thornton’s face flushed as he looked into the Admiral’s fine expressive features, and Lord Hood, who was then in his sixty-ninth year, said with a good-humoured smile— “Sit down, Master Thornton, sit down; I dare say you have not breakfasted, and I wish to ask you a few questions.” William Thornton sat down next Mabel, eyeing a cold turkey and a ham with a side glance. The steward was in attendance as well as the Admiral’s own special attendant, and very shortly our hero found himself doing justice to fare very rarely in those days exposed to the always voracious appetite of a midshipman. He then, at the Admiral’s request, gave a distinct account of the events of the previous night, to which the Admiral listened with a great deal of interest expressed on his features. “If I am not very much mistaken,” said Lord Hood, “this young lady is the daughter of a once very dear friend, though a much younger man than myself at the time of our intimacy. Do you remember your father, my dear young lady?” asked the Admiral, looking at Mabel. “No, monsieur,” said Mabel; “I only remember my second father, the Duke; he was so good and so kind, and so loved mamma.” “This young lady,” continued Lord Hood, “is, no doubt, the daughter of Hugh Granby Arden, whose widow I know married a French duke. I believe she was induced to do so under very peculiar circumstances. If I am right, her daughter is a cousin of Master Howard Etherton.” William Thornton started and looked surprised.