“I would not remove him from his profession at this period on any account. Charlotte’s marriage with young Lord Coldburgh will cost me ten thousand pounds; and if I have to pay up this twenty thousand pounds and interest at once to the trustees, if there are any, of Miss Arden, it will make a sum of thirty thousand pounds altogether; this will encumber the property for a time, and five other daughters to be disposed of. I am willing to make this sacrifice for Charlotte, for Lord Coldburgh, as to rank and influence, is a first-rate match.” “Charlotte is a lucky girl,” said the mother, with a pleased look. Now, whether she herself thought so or not, will appear hereafter. Having thus given our readers a brief outline of the Etherton family, of which our heroine, Mabel Arden, was expected to become a member on her arrival in England, we will return to our hero on board the Victory, which, still with the British fleet, lay off Toulon. CHAPTER VIII. “You are one of fortune’s favourites,” said Charles Pole to William Thornton, who was taking leave of his comrades on board the Victory, previous to his departure the following morning, for the Babet corvette was quite ready for sea. Madame Volney and daughters, and Mabel Arden, were on board, waiting the signal to weigh. “I wish in my heart you were coming with us, Charles,” said our hero, warmly pressing his friend’s hand; “it is the only drawback to the pleasure I anticipate; but I shall, please the fates, soon rejoin you.” “Ah,” said several of the mids, with lengthened faces “you will have such a jolly life of it, with O’Loughlin for a skipper—lots of good things, and no nip cheese to stint your allowance.” “Never look down-hearted,” said our hero; “you will all have a turn of luck by-and-by.” “To the devil with such luck!” said Howard Etherton, with a sneer. “I don’t see much to grieve after; a few weeks’ liberty is the most you can make of it, with a chance of being captured on the way. The inside of a French prison would be a nice variety;” and not wishing to exchange a good-bye with his fellow mid, Howard Etherton walked away. “Well, here’s success to you, William, and a safe passage, lots of fun, and a quick return to us,” said William Thornton’s friends; and down went bumpers of purser’s champagne. An hour afterwards William Thornton was put on board the Babet, where he found his friend Lieutenant O’Loughlin, the appointed commander of the corvette, walking the quarter deck, enjoying a glorious sunset and a pipe. “Well, my lad, bade them all good bye? There’s Madame below, and her daughters, quite anxious that you should take your coffee with them; and your little _protégée_ popping up her head every now and then to see if you have arrived. Be the piper of Moll Kelly, you’re a broth of a boy with the fair sex; go on and prosper; faith, I think you might turn Turk with advantage.” William Thornton laughed, saying: