“Is that all?” asked Tom.
“Of course,” exclaimed Paddy Desmond, who was seated in the berth; “what more could you expect from a young lady?”
“Then doesn’t she care about me?” cried Tom, forgetting that several of his messmates were within hearing, and that they were not likely to forget his question.
“As to that I must be discreet,” answered the old tutor, laughing; “if you ever come back to Russia in peaceable guise, not in one of your ships with big guns to batter down our forts, you may depend upon it. Colonel Paskiewich and his family will be very happy to see you.”
The conversation was cut short by Green, who had gone away, returning to conduct Herr Groben into the gun-room. Soon after he was seated there, Higson returned on board, little expecting whom he was to find. Though he had never been known to exhibit the slightest signs of nervousness, he looked excessively agitated on seeing the old tutor; who, after telling him that he had lately come from the family of Colonel Paskiewich, requested a private interview. The old German had evidently something of importance to communicate beyond what he had told Green. Higson’s agitation as he proceeded increased; he, however, at length came to a decision, and Herr Groben returned on shore, saying that he should expect to see him the next day.
When Jack, who had gone on board the Gleam to see Adair, just on the point of sailing for England, returned to his own ship, Higson begged to have a few minutes’ talk with him. Jack, of course, granted it, and, begging him to come into his cabin, sat down to listen to what he had to say.
“We have been shipmates a good many years, Commander Rogers, and I am going to ask a favour of you,” he began. “You know how I fell in love with a young lady in Russia, and she has fallen desperately in love with me, it seems. I don’t say it as a boast, and cannot account for it, and, what is more, her mother sends me word that she is dying for fear I should go away and forget her, or, at all events, not come back again. Now, I have no thoughts of doing anything of the sort; though the young lady may believe what I will write to her, I would rather give her practical evidence of my affection by paying her a visit at once. I could be there and back in a week or ten days, and if you could manage to give me leave for that period, I would run over and see them, and I trust that neither the service nor the ship will suffer from my absence.”
Jack reflected on the request made to him, and considering that Higson merited all the favour he could grant at his hands, and that the duty of the ship could be carried on in the meantime, gave him the leave he asked. Higson expressed himself very thankful, and set about making arrangements for his intended journey.
Scarcely had Higson left the cabin when Tom entered, and begged to have a few minutes’ conversation with his brother.
“What is it?” asked Jack.