“Well, Mr. Easy, as you express your contrition, and the governor interferes in your behalf, I shall take no more notice of this; but recollect, Mr. Easy, that you have occasioned me a great deal of anxiety by your mad pranks, and I trust another time you will remember that I am too anxious for your welfare not to be uncomfortable when you run such risks. You may now go on board to your duty, and tell Mr. Gascoigne to do the same; and pray let us hear of no more duels or running away.”

Jack, whose heart softened at this kind treatment, did not venture to speak; he made his bow, and was about to quit the room, when the governor said,—

“Mr. Easy, you have not breakfasted.”

“I have, sir,” replied Jack, “before I came on shore.”

“But a midshipman can always eat two breakfasts, particularly when his own comes first; so sit down and breakfast with us—it’s all over now.”

“Even if it was not,” replied Captain Wilson, laughing, “I doubt whether it would spoil Mr. Easy’s breakfast;—come, Mr. Easy, sit down.”

Jack bowed, and took his chair, and proved that his lecture had not taken away his appetite. When breakfast was over, Captain Wilson observed,—

“Mr. Easy, you have generally a few adventures to speak of when you return; will you tell the governor and me what has taken place since you left us?”

“Certainly, sir,” replied Jack; “but I venture to request that it may be under the promise of secrecy for it’s rather important to me and Gascoigne.”

“Yes, if secrecy is really necessary, my boy; but I’m the best judge of that,” replied the governor.

Jack then entered into a detail of his adventures, which we have already described, much to the astonishment of the governor and his captain, and concluded his narration by stating that he wanted to leave the service; he hoped that Captain Wilson would discharge him and send him home.

“Pooh, nonsense!” said the governor, “you shan’t leave the Mediterranean while I am here. No, no; you must have more adventures, and come back and tell them to me. And recollect, my lad, that whenever you come to Malta, there is a bed at the governor’s house, and a seat at his table, always ready for you.”

“You are very kind, Sir Thomas,” replied Jack, “but—”

“No buts at all, sir—you shan’t leave the service; besides, recollect that I can ask for leave of absence for you to go and see Donna Agnes—ay, and send you there too.”

Captain Wilson also remonstrated with our hero, and he gave up the point. It was harsh treatment which made him form the resolution, it was kindness which overcame it.

“With your permission, Captain Wilson, Mr. Easy shall dine with us to-day, and bring Gascoigne with him: you shall first scold him, and I’ll console him with a good dinner—and, boy, don’t be afraid to tell your story everywhere: sit down and tell it at Nix Mangare stairs, if you please—I’m governor here.”

Jack made his obeisance, and departed.

“The lad must be treated kindly, Captain Wilson,” said the governor; “he would be a loss to the service. Good heavens, what adventures! and how honestly he tells everything. I shall ask him to stay with me