The Three Lieutenants | Page 7

to make a
parson or a lawyer of me surely?" exclaimed Tom, in a tone of alarm.
"I cannot say honestly that I consider you cut out exactly for either
profession, though I have no doubt you would do your duty should you
be induced to adopt one or the other," was the answer. "However, I will
speak to your father and mother, and if they give me leave I will see
what can be done for you at the Admiralty, and should there be a
vacancy get you appointed to Jack's ship."
Tom thanked the Admiral from the very bottom of his young heart,
though he felt a qualm at the thoughts of the sorrow he should cause his
mother, even should she consent to part with him her youngest born. It
did not, it must be confessed, last very long, and he looked forward
anxiously to the result of the Admiral's application on his behalf.
Admiral Triton waited till after dinner, when the party were assembled
in the drawing-room to broach the subject. A very short conversation

with Sir John showed him that there would be no strong opposition on
his part, and he accordingly stumped over to Lady Rogers, by whose
side he seated himself on the sofa, sticking out his timber toe and
commencing with a warm eulogy on Jack.
"A right gallant fellow is that son of yours. I knew from the first that he
would turn out well; has fully equalled my expectations; had the true
spirit of a sailor as a boy; we want a succession of such in the service;
had I a dozen suits I would send them all to sea, that is to say if they
wished to go. Naval men, generally, don't think as I do, perhaps. They
fancy that the country doesn't appreciate their services, and, therefore,
won't appreciate their sons, and so look out for berths on shore for them;
but it's possible, Lady Rogers, that they over-estimate themselves. The
case is very different with Jack; he is as modest as a maiden of sixteen,
and yet as bold and daring as a lion; a first-rate officer; he's sure to get
on; he'll be a commander in three or four years, and be a post-captain
not long after. Now, there's your boy, Tom, just such another lad as
Jack was--sure to rise in the service; and yet he'd be thrown away in
any other profession. If you send him to Oxford or Cambridge he'd
expend all his energies in boat-racing, or steeple-chasing and
cricket--very good things in their way, but bringing no result; whereas,
the same expenditure of energy in the navy would insure him honour
and promotion; and depend on it he'll get on just as well as Jack."
"But do you think, Admiral, that Tom really wishes to go to sea?"
asked Lady Rogers, in a slightly trembling voice.
"No doubt about it; determined as a young fellow can be, with yours
and his father's permission," answered the Admiral; and he gave an
account of his conversation with Tom, assuring her ladyship that Sir
John had no objection provided she would consent.
Lady Rogers called up Tom, who had been watching her and the
Admiral from a distant part of the room, guessing what was going
forward. With genuine feeling he threw his arms round his mother's
neck, and while, with tears in his eyes, he confessed that he had set his
heart on going to sea, he told her how very sorry he felt at wishing to
leave her.

"The news does not come upon me unexpectedly, my dear boy," she
answered, holding his hand and looking with all a mother's love into his
honest face. "I have long suspected that you wished to go to sea; but, as
you did not say so positively, I thought, perhaps, that you might change
your mind. However, as Admiral Triton assures me that you are cut out
for a sailor, and that he can answer for your becoming as good an
officer as your brother Jack is said to be, if your father gives his
consent, I will not withhold mine."
"Thank you, mother, thank you!" cried Tom, again throwing his arms
round her neck, when something seemed to be choking him, and he
could say no more.
"He has the right stuff in him, never fear, never fear, Lady Rogers,"
said the Admiral, nodding his head approvingly behind Tom's back;
"he'll do."
The rest of the evening was spent in discussing several important points
connected with Tom's outfit, Jack being called in to the consultation.
Admiral Triton confessed that, not expecting a refusal, he had already
made all arrangements at the Admiralty for Tom to join the
Plantagenet with Jack; and Tom, his ardent hopes realised, went