The Loss of the Royal George

d as I had more money than I knew what to do with, and never wished to be anything but what I was, I didn't see how he could have done more than he had done.

"I like your independent spirit, Ben," he said, "but perhaps a time may come, when I may be able to serve you as I should wish."

After a good talk of old times, I went back into the kitchen. I had been sitting there for some time, when a young woman came in with the sweetest face I ever set eyes on. I got up and made a sort of bow, with a scrape of my foot and a pull at a lovelock I wore in those days, for it was not for me, I felt, to sit in the presence of one like her; when Jane, laughing, said--

"Why, Ben, don't you know Susan Willis?"

She was one of a lot of little girls I remember living next door to us, and I used to take her on my knee and sing to her, and tell her about Lord Hawke and the Royal George, when I was at home for the first time after going to sea. Susan smiled, and put out her hand, and that momen