Nat arrived, and escorted his family to Arlingford, where Owen had ordered a cottage, which had been vacant, to be got ready for their reception.
Nat, who had had enough of the sea, was apprenticed to a carpenter employed on the estate, whose duties he ultimately was able to undertake.
Mike Coffey continued in the service until he lost a leg, when he retired on a pension. His mother having died, he came, at Owen’s invitation, to Arlingford.
“I’m afther thinkin’, my lord, of gettin’ a wherry and settin’ up as a boatman at Portsmouth,” answered Mike to Owen’s question as to the way he intended to employ himself.
“How would you like to become my commodore?” asked Owen, pointing to a miniature frigate which floated on the lake near the house, and to a couple of boats drawn up on the bank.
“With the greatest delight in the world, your honour—your lordship I mane,” answered Mike. “The frigate wants re-fitting, and the boats will be better for a coat of paint. I had a look at them as I came along this mornin’. Thinks I to meself, shure the young master hasn’t had time to see afther his fleet, so I was just goin’ to offer to do the work, to show me love to your lordship.”
“I have no doubt that I shall find other work for you when that is finished, so I appoint you to the berth, and you can take up your abode with Widow Midge until you set up a home of your own.”
Owen, although he still retained his love for the sea, retired from the service and devoted himself—as is the bounden duty of every proprietor—to the improvement of his estate and to advancing the moral and spiritual welfare of his tenants.