The Rival Crusoes | Page 9

how my good woman is afeered, and so I hope your lordship will
pardon me, as I mustn't leave her alone, if I don't go up with you to the
hall, for if any strangers were to come there would be no one to open
the gate."
"Stop and look after your wife; I can dispense with your attendance, for
I know my way perfectly," answered Lord Reginald, laughing. "Come
along, Voules, I shall be glad to be at home at last."
The authoritative pull which the young nobleman gave to the hall bell
soon brought the domestics to the door. The marquis and Lady
Elverston, with their two fair daughters, and Lord John their eldest son,
hurried out to meet Lord Reginald. His mother and sisters embraced
him affectionately, gazing into his well-bronzed countenance, while his
father and brother warmly wrung his hand, as they expressed their joy
at his safe return. He then introduced his messmate Mr Voules, who
received a polite welcome to Elverston Hall.
"And now, pray tell us, Reginald, to what circumstances we are
indebted for seeing you so unexpectedly," said the marquis.
"The kindness of Captain Moubray; who, hearing, when our frigate
came to an anchor in Yarmouth Roads, that we were within a short
distance of this, allowed me and my messmate Voules, at my request,
to come on shore and pay you a visit, while the Wolf is refitting at
Portsmouth."
"What brings her back?" asked his father. "I understood that she was
not expected home for some time."
"We have had a glorious fight with a French frigate, which we
compelled to strike, and have brought home as our prize; though, as we
did not get off scot-free, it will take the Wolf some time to repair

damages."
"Did you lose many men?" asked the marquis.
"Twenty or more killed or wounded," answered Lord Reginald, in a
careless tone.
"My dear boy, how thankful I am that you escaped!" exclaimed the
marchioness, gazing at him with a mother's love in her eyes.
"Oh, do tell us all about it," cried Lady Lucy, his eldest sister.
"All in good time," answered Reginald; "but to say the truth, we are
very sharp set after our long walk, and should prefer refreshing the
inner man before we exhaust our energies by talking, and I will refer
you on the subject to Voules, whose descriptive powers are far superior
to mine. All that I can tell is that we saw a ship, which we soon
discovered to be French, and, coming up with her, fired away until, in
the course of a couple of hours, having had enough of it, she hauled
down her colours, and that when we were sent on board to take
possession, we found that we had knocked over some forty or fifty
stout fellows."
The marquis rang the bell, while the midshipmen retired to their rooms
to prepare for supper.
Voules gazed round the handsome chamber in which he found himself,
with a well-satisfied look. "I have fallen on my feet for once in my life,
at all events," he said to himself. "If I play my cards well, who knows
what may happen? It is evident that his family think a good deal of this
young lordling, and I must take care to keep in his good graces. He is
fond of flattery, though it doesn't do to lay it on too thick, but his sisters
and mother will be well pleased to hear his praises sung, and as I have a
fair groundwork to go upon, I may praise him to the skies behind his
back; he is sure to hear what I say of him, and will be more pleased
than if I flattered him to his face. I shall thus get into the good graces of
the ladies, who may induce the marquis to use his influence at the
Admiralty to obtain my promotion."

His meditations were interrupted by the entrance of a valet, who came
to offer his services. Voules, supposing from his appearance that he
was one of the other guests who had mistaken his room, made him a
polite bow, and said something to that effect. The valet, uncertain
whether the young gentleman was a lord or a commoner, thought it
wise to be on the safe side, and addressing him as "My lord," said that
he had been sent by Lord John to brush his clothes and shoes, and as
the portmanteaus had not arrived, to put any of his lordship's wardrobe
at his disposal.
"Oh, ah! my good fellow," said the midshipman, discovering his error;
"much obliged to Lord John; but as there is not time to shift my rigging,
I'll just trouble you to give me a brush down and to bring