“So we sail to-morrow?” said Agatha Volney, fixing her laughing blue eyes on the midshipman; “you seem quite elated at quitting the Victory for this little ship.”
“You must remember,” said our hero, “that the Victory has not the attractions on board that the Babet has. This little voyage will be quite a charming episode in a poor midshipman’s career. One to be remembered with delight.”
Agatha’s pretty face coloured a little; she certainly looked pleased. She was the same age as young Thornton, and he, for his years, looked exceedingly manly.
Poor little Mabel was still pale and thoughtful; the image of her fond and beautiful mother was ever before her, and now on the point of leaving the land that contained her cherished parent pining in captivity; alas! perhaps dead, the poor child felt her situation keenly. To William Thornton she turned for consolation; and when near him, and listening to his kind and soothing words, she appeared to droop less.
“So we sail with a whole fleet of ships, Master Thornton,” said Madame Volney.
“Yes, madame,” said our hero; “most of the vessels taken in Toulon sail in company. We shall have that magnificent ship, the Commerce de Marseilles, hundred and twenty guns, and the Puissant, seventy-four; and the Perle and Arethusa frigates, and several smaller craft; there is not much danger of capture in such company.”
Lieutenant O’Loughlin, or rather Captain O’Loughlin, entered the cabin, making a low bow to the party, and stammering out a mixture of French and English, which he intended for “Pray do not disturb yourself;” but the two girls insisted upon the really handsome and dashing looking sailor sitting down and joining them.
This he did, desiring the midshipman to say, that he was proud of having such a freight on board the Babet, and that he hoped they would have a brush with a French corvette, or even a frigate, just to show them how devoted he was to the service of the young ladies.
“I must alter the last part of your speech, Captain,” said our hero, laughing; “you must include the mother.”
“Well,” said Madame Volney, with a smile, for she understood English tolerably, on William Thornton’s literally translating the Captain’s speech; “we feel highly the compliment; but for our own parts, we should prefer his devotion without the brush with the corvette.”