She extended her hand to him instantly with all the freedom of her character, and her ready offer shamed him again. His repentance of his subterfuge did not rise to the renunciation point, for it must be confessed that he seized the beautiful, sunburnt little hand with avidity, and clung to it as if he really craved assistance. She helped him religiously up the hill, and, as he showed no desire to relinquish her hand when they reached the top, she asked him if he did not feel able to walk alone now; and when he was forced to reply in the affirmative, she drew it gently away. "You see," he said, "it was so delightful, I quite forgot." "What was delightful?" "To have reached the top of the hill; you know it was so pleasant, I--I--forgot--I was holding your hand." If Emily had been a modern young woman she might have asked him how he could ever have forgotten for a moment that he was holding her hand; but as his glance carried his meaning home to her she flushed deeply. The admiral's voice calling to them from the door-way put an end to a scene which was delightful to both of them. On seeing the old man, the young man took off his cap and bowed respectfully. "Sir," he said, "my name is Richard Revere." "Are you related to Commodore Dick Revere of the old navy?" "He was my grandfather, sir." "I knew him well; I sailed on many a cruise with him. A gallant fellow, a loyal friend. I'm glad to meet you, sir. You are welcome." "I have to thank you for your hospitality, sir, even as I thank your granddaughter for her heroic rescue of me last night." "It was, indeed, nobly done, young sir, and I am glad that my child should have been of service to a grandson of Dick Revere, or to a friend of Dave Farragut. You were at Mobile, were you?" "Yes, sir, and on the _Hartford_." "I've seen many a battle in my day, young sir," said the old admiral, simply. "It was old-fashioned fighting then, yard-arm to yard-arm, but we went at it good and hard, and our hearts were in it, I doubt not, just as yours were." "May I know your name, sir?" "I am called Charles Stewart," responded the other. "What?" cried the lieutenant. "Charles Stewart of the _Constitution_? The man who took the _Cyane_ and the _Levant_?" "The same, sir." "Him they call 'Old Ironsides'?" "I believe my countrymen do apply that name to me sometimes," replied the old man, smiling with pleasure at the hearty admiration of the younger. "I am proud to know you, sir, and proud to see you. We of the new navy only hope that we may live up to the record you of the old made in the past, sir." "You have more than done that," said the old man, heartily; "we had no better men than Farragut and young Porter. I sailed with old Porter, his father, many a time. I knew him well." "But come, grandfather," said Emily, "breakfast is ready."