"I do. Will you kiss me now, Emily?"
Forgetful of the old man, she sprang into his arms.
"Children, children!" said the admiral, smiling indulgently; "you are in a great hurry, it seems to me. Ah, well, I remember when I was a lad, so many years ago, I was in a hurry, too. Now I wait. Indifferently I wait. It cannot be much longer, and yet, for your sake, dear child, I was loath to go. Now, please God,—and your mother, young sir,—the child will be cared for. We can go now, I and the ship. I trust I will be able to leave you in love's hands; in the hands of a gentleman and a sailor, an officer of the navy of the United States,—your mother consenting, my lad,—that is as I would have it. Revere, may God bless you as you deal tenderly and lovingly with this daughter of my old, old age."
"And may God judge me, sir, if I do not so," answered Richard, solemnly.
"This kiss is for you, grandfather," answered the happy Emily, turning to him.
CHAPTER XIX
The Usual Course
They were together on the gun-platform once more, Emily and Revere. She sat on the gun-carriage and he leaned against the parapet by her side. He held a fold of her dress in his hand.
"Now, Dick," she said, "tell me all about it. Was she vexed when she received your letter?"