In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put on board,
and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained becalmed to
leeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched until she was hid by
the shades of night, and then wearing round stood away, with the wind
two points free, for the coast of Sicily. The next morning when the sun
rose there was nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of high
civilisation, where you find your own countrymen avoided and more
dreaded than even your foes!
The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes did not
part company.
On the sixteenth day the _Rebiera_ and her convoy anchored in Palermo
Bay. The wind was light in the morning that they stood in, and as Jack
had a large blue flag with _Rebiera_ in white letters hoisted at the
main, 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 of
the health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. The
disappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much surprise;--but
as the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his return without the black,
and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to the convent, requesting his
presence, was opened and read, there was no suspicion against the
family. A hundred conjectures had been afloat, but gradually they had
subsided, and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off by
the banditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that they
had seized a friar on a day which they could not recollect. The reader
will remember that it was Mesty.
The _Rebiera_ received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore with Don
Philip and his brother, and was once more in company of Agnes, who, in
our hero's opinion, had improved since his departure. Most young men in
love think the same after an absence, provided it is not too long. The
prizes 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, the
pleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwillingness of the mother
to part with her only daughter, the family consultation, the dowry, and
all these particulars. A month after his arrival Jack was married, and
was, of course, as happy as the day was long.
A few days afterwards, Mr Oxbelly advised departure, as the expenses of
the vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. Don Philip and Don
Martin obtained leave to go to England, with their sister and her
husband. Nevertheless, Jack, who found Palermo a very pleasant
residence, was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there a
month, and then there was crying and sobbing, and embracing, and
embarking; and at last the _Rebiera_, whose cabins had been arranged for
the reception of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack having
promised to call upon the Governor.
In four days they anchored in Valette harbour, and Jack paid his
respects to his old friend, who was very glad to see him. The Governor
sent his own barge for Mrs Easy, and she was installed in the state
apartments, which were acknowledged to be very comfortable. Our hero
had, as usual, a long story to tell the Governor, and the Governor
listened to it very attentively, probably because he thought it would be
the last, which opportunity Jack employed to narrate the unfortunate end
of his father.
"I would not have said so at the time, Mr Easy, but now the wound is
healed, 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 was
re-embarked, and once more the _Rebiera_ made sail.
"Fare you well, my lad; what I have seen of your brothers-in-law pleases
me much; and as for your wife, it will be your own fault if she is not
all that you would wish. If ever I come to England again, I will pay my
first visit to Forest Hill. God bless you!"
But Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was their final
adieu. Once more the _Rebiera_ pursued her course, stopped a day or two
at Gibraltar, shared the proceeds of the captured gun-boat, and then
made sail for England, where she arrived without adventure or accident
in three weeks.
Thus ended the last cruise of Mr Midshipman Easy. As soon as their
quarantine at the Mother-bank was over, they disembarked, and found Dr
Middleton and Mr Hanson waiting for them at the George Hotel. Our hero
had scarcely time to introduce his wife, when the waiter said that a
lady wished to speak to him. She did not wait to know if Jack was
visible, but forced her way past him. Jack looked at her large
proportions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs Oxbelly, in which
conjecture 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; he
is rather too heavy."
"Yes, sir, but it's little better than kidnapping, and there's a law for
kidnapping children at all events. I shall send my lawyer to you, that
you may depend upon."
"You hardly can consider your husband as a child, Mrs Oxbelly," replied
Jack, 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 of
sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly."
"Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed the
lady 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 hundred
pounds."
"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 I
shall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so
unhandsome 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 you
can get off for twopence."
"Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now
appeased.
"By all power, she no fool of a woman dat," said Mesty, as she retreated
curtseying; "I tink Mr Oxbelly very right sleep tingle."
We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures; that afternoon
they all started for Forest Hill, where everything was ready for their
reception. The _Rebiera's_ men were paid off, and were soon distributed
on board of his Majesty's ships; the vessel was sold, and Mr Oxbelly
retired to Southsea, to the society of his wife and little Billy.
Whether he obtained from his wife a divorce _de thoro_, is not handed
down.
Our hero, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles of home to
balls and dinners; became a great favourite, kept a pack of hounds, rode
with the foremost, received a deputation to stand for the county on the
conservative interest, was elected without much expense, which was very
wonderful, and took his seat in parliament. Don Philip and Don Martin,
after two months' stay, took their passage back to Palermo, fully
satisfied with the prospects of their sister as to competence and
happiness. Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes; she
conformed at once to the religion of her husband, proved an excellent
and affectionate wife, and eventually the mother of four children, three
boys and a girl.
Mesty held his post with dignity, and proved himself trustworthy.
Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservative member, soon obtained the
rank of post-captain, and was always his devoted and sincere friend.
And thus ends the history of Mr Midshipman Easy.