“Well, I trust and hope,” said the midshipman, “that time will do its usual work, and reduce the violence of her present feelings. She is very young; and if her relatives receive her kindly, it will tend greatly to obliterate the memory of the past.” FOOTNOTES: [3] Fact. See James’s “Naval History.” CHAPTER VII. A day or two after our hero’s visit to Mabel, he received orders to attend the Admiral, who required his presence in the cabin. Lord Hood was alone, sitting at a table covered with papers, letters, and dispatches. His Lordship looked up, pointed with the pen in his hand to a seat, and then finished the letter he was employed upon when our hero entered. His secretary, the moment before, had left the cabin. After a few minutes, Lord Hood looked up, and laying down his pen, said— “Well, Master Thornton, how is your little _protégée_, Miss Arden?” “Greatly grieved, my Lord; she continues to bewail the disappearance of her mother, and takes her lonely situation much to heart.” “Yes, poor child!” said the Admiral in a kind, thoughtful tone, “she must feel her orphan state. I am interested in her, for her father did me a great service at one time—as important a service as one man can render another; I would, therefore, befriend his child.” “Pardon me, my Lord,” timidly observed our hero; “but Master Howard Etherton declares that Mr. Hugh Granby Arden, his uncle, was never married, and died abroad.” “Then he states that which is not the fact,” returned Lord Hood, sternly; “at least, with respect to his not being married. I was aware he died abroad—he died in France. However, I sent for you to let you know that I have appointed Lieutenant O’Loughlin to take the command of the French eighteen-gun corvette Babet, captured in Toulon. He is to take her to England, and will sail in company with the other captured ships. This is, of course, only a temporary command, and I will also place you in her.” William Thornton’s cheek flushed with delight, as he started from his seat with surprise. “The Babet, however,” continued Lord Hood, “has scarcely half her proper number of guns, for she was fitting out when seized; and her complement of men must be small, for we cannot spare more. I have communicated with Admiral Volney’s widow, and she is quite rejoiced to take her passage in the Babet to England; Miss Arden will thus be protected and taken care of, and you will have the satisfaction of personally seeing her restored to her relatives, which I am sure will gratify you exceedingly.” “Indeed, my Lord,” put in the midshipman with enthusiasm, “you could not confer upon me a greater favour, and I trust I shall be worthy of your Lordship’s generous kindness.” “You have behaved very well, young man,” said the Admiral, kindly, “and Sir Sidney Smith is highly pleased with your gallantry and coolness in that daring enterprise of his; he offers to take you with him, but I think you will prefer the appointment and trust I now propose to you.”