Part 41 (2/2)

They were still looking at the entleman and lady soon afterwards appeared from the other side of the churchyard, and approached the lad in a midshi+pman's uniform

”Why, Murray! My dear fellow! I little expected to see you here!”

exclai

Captain Murray introduced his son, who had just left the _Britannia_, and expected every day to be appointed to a shi+p

”But where have you co?” asked Jack

”From Bercaldine, on board the _Stella_, but not the _Stella_ you know

Our farown the old craft, so I purchased a fine schooner in Greenock, aboard which we arrived only yesterday evening Finding you were staying at Ryde, ent to your house and there heard that you had gone in this direction Guessing your object, we drove on here in the hopes of ave Jack and Terence and their wives the greatest satisfaction Thus the three old shi+prave of the friend they had known froreat deal to talk about, and Murray, sending away his carriage, walked back with his friends to Ryde

Young Alick, as ers and Miss Lucy Adair--for both girls were christened after their mothers He was a fine handsome boy, full of life and spirits, without a particle of bashfulness Murray inquired after Tom and Desmond Tom was at sea on board the _Roarer_, a lately launched coate, which was expected to perform wonders both under sail and steam, but she had already had to put back twice into Plymouth with broken-down machinery and other injuries It was hoped, however, now that she had undergone a thorough repair, that she would at all events be able to keep above water, although sheafter a s one

”And where is your nephew Desmond?” asked Murray

”In Dublin, closeted every day, he writesand receiving letters, and seeing witnesses Our friend McMahon assures me that he is certain ultimately to succeed his father's relative, Viscount Saint Maur, a fifth, sixth, or seventh cousin, I believe, who has died lately Several other persons, however, having laid claim to the title and estates, McMahon was somehow or other induced to look into the case, and becaht that it was better while he was at sea not to unsettle his reat prospect of success”

”I heartily hope that he will succeed,” said Jack ”He is a fine young fellow; although he has not particularly distinguished himself in the service, I'm sure he will, should he have an opportunity I hope he'll stick to it even although he should become Viscount Saint Maur”

”I' that, even should the Lords of the Ad ”He may possibly imitate the example of our old school-fellow, Johnny Grant, who had been ainto a title,at once to promote him and appoint hih hitherto overlooked, he was bound to thank them, but declined their noble offer I suspect that Gerald also will prefer re after his property, and probably taking to himself a wife”

”Not one of our Australian friends?” asked Jack ”I didn't think he was so far gone as that”

”Oh no; he is as heart-sound as ever, but an Irishood property is not likely to be allowed to reains his cause at the trial, which is to come off shortly, I hope that he will co repairs; we shall then probably go and stay with hi the winter I wish that you and Murray would co, of course, Mrs Murray and Mrs Rogers and all your belongings We have had the place put to rights, and I've bought back so it which ers, so that it has regained soh we do not intend to carry on as was the custosheads of claret were on tap at once, and anybody who asked for it got the key”

The young ladies were, perhaps, not quite so ave of his nepheere their parents, or in the prospect of seeing the future viscount Murray feared that he should be unable to visit Ballymacree

”We are due at Bercaldine in the autu to disappoint the people there, who always look forward to our return, and we have been so many years absent that we do not like to re your flag soon,” observed Adair ”Then if you have an appointment offered you, surely you would not wish to decline it It will be soh I shall scarcely feel et a shi+p In the mean time, I have paid several visits to the Admiralty lately to ascertain by ocular de by appearances, they are not so bad asin a couple of years at the outside”

”How is that?” asked Mrs Murray

”Why, I will tell you Your husband, as well as Rogers, well knows the waiting-room to which officers are ushered, who desire to pay their respects to the First Lord of the Ad they can out of hienerally drop a remark that I have not come to ask for employ So that I will say how I can possibly learn that? My reply is that I watch the way in which o upstairs

If they run nimbly up when summoned, I am pretty sure that they are likely to re as I as up after them, and ascend at a slow pace, I feel certain that they will be placed on the retired list, or perhaps go out of the world altogether On hearing this ry looks at me; and when they are suo up nis slower Before they are out of sight I see theraenerally pull outa note also of their ress In nine cases out of ten I have found that I have been right Since the idea first occurred to one off the list”

Mrs Murray looked sorave ”I had rather Alick remained a captain than see a number of officers put aside or die to make room for him,” she answered

”Why, my dear Mrs Murray, it's all we have to look to,” answered Terence ”We row old, it's certain; and ish to becoout, or beco the matter into consideration, and intend to increase the retired list, so that we juvenile captains s”

Jack and Terence accompanied Murray and Stella down to the pier, where their boat aiting to take the several other fine craft a short distance froo on board with their wives and children the next