CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
WHICH WINDS UP THE NAUTICAL ADVENTURES OF MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY.
In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put on board,and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained becalmed toleeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched until she was hid bythe shades of night, and then wearing round stood away, with the windtwo points free, for the coast of Sicily. The next morning when the sunrose there was nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of highcivilisation, where you find your own countrymen avoided and moredreaded than even your foes!
The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes did notpart company.
On the sixteenth day the _Rebiera_ and her convoy anchored in PalermoBay. The wind was light in the morning that they stood in, and as Jackhad a large blue flag with _Rebiera_ in white letters hoisted at themain, Don Philip and Don Martin were on board and greeting our hero,before the _Rebiera's_ anchor had plunged into the clear blue water.
The information which our hero received, after having been assured ofthe health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. Thedisappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much surprise;--butas the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his return without the black,and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to the convent, requesting hispresence, was opened and read, there was no suspicion against thefamily. A hundred conjectures had been afloat, but gradually they hadsubsided, and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off bythe banditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that theyhad seized a friar on a day which they could not recollect. The readerwill remember that it was Mesty.
The _Rebiera_ received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore with DonPhilip and his brother, and was once more in company of Agnes, who, inour hero's opinion, had improved since his departure. Most young men inlove think the same after an absence, provided it is not too long. Theprizes were sold and the money distributed, and every man was satisfied,as the cargoes fetched a larger sum than they had anticipated.
We must pass over the _pros_ and _cons_ of Don Rebiera and his lady, thepleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwillingness of the motherto part with her only daughter, the family consultation, the dowry, andall these particulars. A month after his arrival Jack was married, andwas, of course, as happy as the day was long.
A few days afterwards, Mr Oxbelly advised departure, as the expenses ofthe vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. Don Philip and DonMartin obtained leave to go to England, with their sister and herhusband. Nevertheless, Jack, who found Palermo a very pleasantresidence, was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there amonth, and then there was crying and sobbing, and embracing, andembarking; and at last the _Rebiera_, whose cabins had been arranged forthe reception of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack havingpromised to call upon the Governor.
In four days they anchored in Valette harbour, and Jack paid hisrespects to his old friend, who was very glad to see him. The Governorsent his own barge for Mrs Easy, and she was installed in the stateapartments, which were acknowledged to be very comfortable. Our herohad, as usual, a long story to tell the Governor, and the Governorlistened to it very attentively, probably because he thought it would bethe last, which opportunity Jack employed to narrate the unfortunate endof his father.
"I would not have said so at the time, Mr Easy, but now the wound ishealed, I tell you that it is the best thing that could have happened--poor old gentleman! he was mad, indeed."
Our hero remained a fortnight at Malta, and then Signora Easy wasre-embarked, and once more the _Rebiera_ made sail.
"Fare you well, my lad; what I have seen of your brothers-in-law pleasesme much; and as for your wife, it will be your own fault if she is notall that you would wish. If ever I come to England again, I will pay myfirst visit to Forest Hill. God bless you!"
But Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was their finaladieu. Once more the _Rebiera_ pursued her course, stopped a day or twoat Gibraltar, shared the proceeds of the captured gun-boat, and thenmade sail for England, where she arrived without adventure or accidentin three weeks.
Thus ended the last cruise of Mr Midshipman Easy. As soon as theirquarantine at the Mother-bank was over, they disembarked, and found DrMiddleton and Mr Hanson waiting for them at the George Hotel. Our herohad scarcely time to introduce his wife, when the waiter said that alady wished to speak to him. She did not wait to know if Jack wasvisible, but forced her way past him. Jack looked at her largeproportions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs Oxbelly, in whichconjecture he was right.
"Pray, sir, what do you mean by carrying off my husband in that way?"exclaimed the lady, red with anger.
"God forbid that I should have to carry your husband, Mrs Oxbelly; heis rather too heavy."
"Yes, sir, but it's little better than kidnapping, and there's a law forkidnapping children at all events. I shall send my lawyer to you, thatyou may depend upon."
"You hardly can consider your husband as a child, Mrs Oxbelly," repliedJack, laughing.
"Very well, sir, we shall see. Pray, where is he now?"
"He is on board, Mrs Oxbelly, and will be delighted to see you."
"I'm not quite so sure of that."
"He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne.
"What do you know of little Billy, young man?"
"And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's quite tired ofsleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly."
"Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed thelady in a rage.
"But," said Easy, "I am happy to say that, with pay and prize-money,during his short absence, he has brought home nearly five hundredpounds."
"Five hundred pounds--you don't say so, sir?" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly;"are you sure of that?"
"Quite sure," rejoined Gascoigne.
"Five hundred pounds!--Well, that is comfortable--dear me! how glad Ishall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in sounhandsome a way--but all's for the best in this world. What a dear,nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy--but I won't intrude--I beg pardon.Where is the brig, Mr Easy?"
"Now coming into the harbour," replied Gascoigne: "if you bargain youcan get off for twopence."
"Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was nowappeased.
"By all power, she no fool of a woman dat," said Mesty, as she retreatedcurtseying; "I tink Mr Oxbelly very right sleep tingle."
We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures; that afternoonthey all started for Forest Hill, where everything was ready for theirreception. The _Rebiera's_ men were paid off, and were soon distributedon board of his Majesty's ships; the vessel was sold, and Mr Oxbellyretired to Southsea, to the society of his wife and little Billy.Whether he obtained from his wife a divorce _de thoro_, is not handeddown.
Our hero, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles of home toballs and dinners; became a great favourite, kept a pack of hounds, rodewith the foremost, received a deputation to stand for the county on theconservative interest, was elected without much expense, which was verywonderful, and took his seat in parliament. Don Philip and Don Martin,after two months' stay, took their passage back to Palermo, fullysatisfied with the prospects of their sister as to competence andhappiness. Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes; sheconformed at once to the religion of her husband, proved an excellentand affectionate wife, and eventually the mother of four children, threeboys and a girl.
Mesty held his post with dignity, and proved himself trustworthy.Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservative member, soon obtained therank of post-captain, and was always his devoted and sincere friend.And thus ends the history of Mr Midshipman Easy.
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