In the meantime the mother and daughters were scrutinising the pale and thin face of poor, sad little Mabel.
“Dear me! Very singular—very; quite romantic. Poor little thing!” muttered Captain Timmins, quite loud enough for his good lady and daughters to hear.
“Mary, my dear,” he said aloud, finishing the perusal of the note from the Admiral, “his lordship has sent this little girl,” looking at Mabel, “to stay with us for a few days.”
“Bless me!” said the Captain’s wife, “little girl! Do you mean to say this little thin boy is a girl?—if so, she is badly rigged, not ship-shape.”
“Exactly, my dear, exactly. The Admiral wishes you to make her ship-shape, and be kind to her for a few days. She is the daughter of a duchess, and fled from Toulon for her life, and this young gentleman—Master Thornton—was mainly instrumental in saving her life.”
“If she were the daughter of a peasant,” said the lady with a grand air, but a most kind look, as she advanced and took Mabel’s hand, “being unfortunate, she demands our attention, under the flag of old England. Beg pardon, my dear; do you speak English?” asked Mrs. Captain Timmins, afraid that the fine speech she was about to make would be only for the edification of her husband, the second Lieutenant of the Thetis, who was standing near, and a solitary mid, who was regarding Mrs. Captain Timmins at a safe distance, for it must be confessed she kept the mids in awful subjection.
“Oh, yes, madame,” said Mabel; “my father was English, and so is mamma.”
“Dear me!” said the Captain’s wife, surprised, “an English duchess amongst those horrid Republicans; but come into my state room, Angelina and Seraphina are about the same height, and you shall be thoroughly re-fitted and rigged from their stores.” Then, looking into the thoughtful, handsome features of William Thornton, whose fine, manly figure struck her at once, she continued: “And you, young gentleman, accompany us. I will order the steward to place refreshments on the table; you will then tell me all about this dear, sensible-looking child, whom I wish to present to you before you leave, in a trim more becoming her age and sex.”
Taking Mabel by the hand, the entire party descended into the main cabin. The two girls then took their young companion into their private cabin, and the Captain and his lady, having ordered wine to be placed on the table, requested our hero to satisfy their curiosity respecting his adventures the preceding night.
Whilst the midshipman was satisfying their curiosity, little Mabel was undergoing the necessary metamorphosis from a little boy into a very sweet, interesting little girl. Captain Timmins’s two daughters were kind and engaging, and they soon succeeded in winning the confidence of our poor heroine. When introduced into the cabin, all were delighted with the change. Thornton was surprised, and soon after rose to take leave of his little protegée. The tears were in Mabel’s eyes, but she bore the parting with fortitude, for the midshipman promised to visit her whenever he could. It was not without pain that he kissed her cheek and bade her farewell.