REACH THE MEDITERRANEAN--MALTA--A RIDE ON SHORE--A BALL--A HEROINE--OUR
PARTNERS--MR. NIP AND HIS PARTNER--AN ODD EGG HATCHED--ADAM STALLMAN'S
ADVICE--THE RIGHT THING THE BEST THING.
Nothing of importance occurred that I remember during our passage across
the Bay of Biscay. We had the usual heavy swells (though I have found
it as level as a fish-pond), a stiffish breeze for a day or so, which
gave us a cheery shove on our way, and light and variable winds and
calms, which latter let us roll till our yard-arms almost touched the
water, and effectually turned the landsmen inside out. Ten days after
leaving Plymouth, we were in the latitude of Lisbon. It was early
morning, and the land we were approaching was shrouded to common eyes by
a soft silvery haze, which allowed only a circle of blue sea to be
perceived round the ship, and a patch of about the same size of clear
sky overhead. On the larboard bow was perceived a darker mass of mist,
which after some time resolved itself into the well-known form of the
Rock of Lisbon. The wind being light and variable, we drew very
gradually inshore, till the mist suddenly lifting, as if at the command
of a magician, disclosed to us the splendid and fantastic scenery of
those rocky heights, as they rose proudly from the glittering ocean,
which was dotted with numerous sails of fishing-boats and coasters, and
here and there the canvas of some loftier merchantmen, making for the
mouth of the Tagus. On the lower land, to the north of the Rock, was
seen the royal palace of Mafra--a curious huge pile, imposing from its
height and the large extent of ground it covers. I do not, however,
intend to bother my readers with accounts of places and scenery, which
they may find much better described in numberless books of voyages and
travels. The wind freshening and coming fair, we continued our course,
and, passing the Capes of Ortegal and Finisterre on the second day after
leaving the Rock, were off Cape Saint Vincent, immortalised in naval
memories by Sir John Jervis' great action, and since then, by the way,
by a very pretty bit of fighting under Charlie Napier, when he took
possession of Don Miguel's fleet with one half its size. Cape Trafalgar
next came in sight, and was eagerly viewed by all hands, for, often as
one may gaze on its dark blue cliffs, the deep interest they inspire can
never fail; one is reminded that in their neighbourhood the glorious
navy of England, under the greatest of its chiefs, secured the freedom
of the world, and struck the blow which stopped the victor of
continental Europe in his wild career of conquest. Peace to the names
of England's gallant defenders, who died for their country off
Trafalgar's Cape! and sacred be the memory of the immortal Nelson, our
meteor-flag of victory!--But, little Neil D'Arcy, where are you steering
for? Has the sight of Trafalgar made you fancy you can do a bit of fine
writing? Just get back, boy, to your usual style, and leave such
attempts to the pens of novelists and travellers.
It was near nightfall when we made the Rock of Gibraltar; and as we
passed through the Straits when I was snug below in my hammock, my
journal contains no description of that wonderful fortress. When the
morning dawned, the high mountains of Spain were just visible in the
horizon; and the next land we sighted was the coast of Barbary,
somewhere to the westward of Tunis. Six days after that we were in
sight of Sicily, when, after hauling off the coast, a gale sprung up,
and such thick and cloudy weather came on, that we could take no
observations. The ship was therefore hove-to; and while sail was being
taken off her I got an ugly fall, which laid me up in my hammock for
several days. During my illness, Dicky Sharpe was constantly with me,
whenever he was off duty, and we became greater friends than ever.
"Do you know, D'Arcy, I am really very much obliged to you for having
got me so well out of that scrape with the boatswain and the beef-bone!"
he said to me in a tone of confidence one day, after we had reached
Valetta harbour. "I have not ventured to ask Mr Du Pre leave to go on
shore. Do you think he would give it me?"
"I rather think not, Dicky," said I. "Don't say a word about it for
some time to come, and then you can begin to look dull and melancholy,
and to pine for the shore; and perhaps his heart will soften with
compassion, and he will give you leave."
"Capital advice! Won't I look melancholy, that's all, when the time
comes?" he exclaimed. "How soon ought I to begin?"
"Not till I'm well and can go on shore to look after you," I answered.
The fact was, I wanted Dicky's company when I could go on shore myself,
which the surgeon told me I might do in a few days; and when asking for
myself, I intended putting in a word with Mr Du Pre in his favour.
When I crawled on deck I found the ship had taken up her moorings in
Dockyard Creek, a branch of the Grand Harbour, from which it runs at
right angles, on the opposite side to Valetta. Most deservedly is the
Grand Harbour so called, for in beauty, size, and security it is
unsurpassed; and it is singular that it should exist in an island of
dimensions so limited. Malta has an individuality of its own. It is
like no other spot in the world; and when one looks at the magnificent
lines of batteries, bristling with cannon, and the mass of churches,
monasteries, and houses, which towers above them, one can scarcely
believe that the whole has been hewn out of the solid rock of which the
island is composed. But I am not going to describe Malta. In three or
four days more I was quite well, and having succeeded in obtaining leave
from Mr Du Pre for Dicky to accompany me on shore, we landed at the Nix
Mangiare steps, and took our way through the town. The first thing we
did was to hire horses to take a ride into the country. Both of us
could stick on pretty well (what midshipman cannot?); but as for
science, we had none of it. At first we trotted on gaily enough, and
then our horses broke into a gallop, which we enjoyed very much.
"Capital goers, these!" exclaimed Dicky. "If they keep up at this rate,
I vote we take a regular circuit of the island."
"Faith, then, I'm ready for that same," said I; and on we galloped.
So delighted were we at the way our steeds went, that we sat the saddles
and held our reins rather loosely. On a sudden they both came to a full
stop, and up simultaneously went their heels in the air. Over their
heads we flew, and alighted some dozen yards off; while the well-trained
beasts, with neighs of derision which were truly provoking, galloped
back to their stables, leaving us to find our way into Valetta as best
we could. By-the-bye, the horse-master had taken very good care to get
paid first. Dicky sat up on the ground and rubbed his head, to discover
if it was broken. I followed his example, and finding no bones
dislocated, my spirits rose again. We looked at each other, when there
appeared something so ludicrously forlorn in the expression of our
countenances, that we both burst out into fits of laughter. We indulged
in our mirth for some time, and then got up and commenced our walk back
into the town. Fortunately we had not got any very great distance from
the walls, so the walk was easy of accomplishment. We had proceeded
about a mile or so, when two midshipmen hove in sight, galloping along
in high glee on the very horses which had just disburdened themselves of
us.
"Hillo! you fellows, those are our horses," sang out Dicky; "just get
off now, will you?"
But he might as well have called a whirlwind to halt; for
helter-skelter, past us they dashed, without minding us a bit. Dicky
was highly indignant.
"Well, I never was so treated in my life!" he exclaimed.
"Wait a bit," said I; for I had a shrewd suspicion that the horses would
play their present riders the same trick they had served us; and sure
enough, in about ten minutes, we heard a clattering of hoofs behind us,
and, looking round, saw the knowing old steeds coming, galloping along
by themselves.
"Now, now's the time, Dicky," I sang out. "You catch one and I'll catch
the other, and we'll still have our ride out. The horses are ours,
there's no doubt of it."
Sooner said, however, than done. The beasts came on very steadily till
they got close to us, and then they began rearing and frisking, and
kicking up such a dust that it was impossible to catch hold of their
bridles; and, it must be confessed, we were glad enough to get out of
their way without being trampled over.
"Where are the brutes?" I asked, feeling very foolish.
"Where are they?" echoed Dicky, looking the same. "There they go, as
steady as cart-horses. Hang it! they knew we were midshipmen."
Our only satisfaction was to see a third set of riders come out on the
same brutes, and to be able to laugh in our sleeves, while we wished
them a pleasant ride across the island. What became of all the riders I
don't know. The steeds again passed us just before we reached the
gates.--Three or four evenings after this, the officers of the ship were
asked to a ball, and the captain took Dicky and me. We did not know
anybody, and were hard up for partners, till the skipper introduced us
each to a Maltese girl. They were both very short, though that was a
fault on the right side; but they were also very fat and very dark, and
could not speak a word of English; and one squinted, and the other had
lost an eye. Their noses turned up, and their lips were thick and
large. They were not beauties, certainly; but we danced with them all
the evening, changing every now and then for variety, though I had to
look hard to make out which was my original partner, as I only knew them
apart by the defect in their eyes. Dicky asked me if I didn't think
them as pretty as Alice Marlow, at which I very nearly knocked him down
in the ball-room. But he appeased me by assuring me with the greatest
gravity, that he admired the squinting one very much, and should
certainly, if he were older, make her Mrs Sharpe. He did nothing but
talk about her for two days afterwards; and, as we did not know her real
name, we called her Miss Smaitch, which, though not euphonious, did as
well as any other. On the third day he dined with an officer in the
dockyard who had a numerous family of daughters, to one of whom he
transferred his affections, and they remained steady for nearly a week,
about which time we left Malta. To return to the ball, however. When
Dicky and I were not dancing, we amused ourselves by watching what was
going forward, especially in observing the occupations of our superior
officers.
"I say, D'Arcy, who is that young lady Mr Vernon is dancing with, I
wonder? She is a stunner, isn't she, my boy?" said Dicky, sidling up to
me, and pointing with his chin towards a very beautiful girl, to whom
our second lieutenant had just then given his hand, and was leading up
to form a quadrille.
There was a roseate blush on her cheek, and a brightening glance in her
eye, as she looked up at the gallant officer, which betokened more than
ordinary satisfaction at being chosen his partner in the dance. The
colour increased, and the eyes brightened still more, while a smile
played round her ruby lips, as Mr Vernon uttered, in a low tone, a few
words in her ear.
Dicky observed it. "I twig something there," he whispered. "What will
you bet me, D'Arcy, that Mr Vernon doesn't splice that same young lady,
now? It's a regular case, depend on it. I thought there was something
going on, he's been so constantly on shore since we came into harbour.
He's a right good fellow, and I wish him joy."
"I hope, if it is a case, that he'll not marry till the ship is out of
commission," I remarked. "I should be sorry indeed to lose him. But we
must not talk so loud, or we shall be overheard."
Just then the captain came up, to make Dicky dance with Miss Smaitch. I
was left alone to watch proceedings. From what I saw, I was fully
convinced that Master Sharpe's conjectures were well founded, and that
Mr Vernon and the fair unknown were certainly deeply in love with each
other, and most probably engaged. She certainly, as far as I could
judge from mere appearance, was well worthy the love of any man. Young
as I was, she made a deep impression on me; and even at this distance of
time I can bring her Hebe-like figure before me, with almost the vivid
colours of reality. She was not tall, but her figure was full of grace
and life. Her complexion was beautifully fair; her eyes were blue; and
the expression of her countenance was soft, feminine, and full of
sweetness; at the same time, the arch smile which occasionally played
over it showed that she was not destitute of sense and wit.
While I was looking on, I was joined by Adam Stallman, one of the senior
mates of the _Harold_. I have slightly mentioned him before. He was of
a somewhat grave and taciturn disposition, but generous and kind, and as
brave and honourable as any knight _sans peur et sans reproche_. He
read much and thought more, and was ready to give good advice when asked
for it; but innate modesty prevented him from volunteering to afford it,
except on rare occasions, when he saw that it was absolutely necessary
to preserve a person from following a path which might lead him to ruin.
Dicky and I were favourites of his; for though he kept us in order, and
more than once had inflicted a sound cobbing on my chum (certainly well
deserved), he was very kind to us.
"I say, Stallman, can you tell me who the young lady is with whom Mr
Vernon is dancing?" said I.
"Why do you ask?" he inquired.
"Because she is very beautiful," I replied.
The colour heightened on his generally impassive, well-bronzed features,
as his eye fell on the lady whom I indicated. "Yes," he answered, with
a firm voice, "that lady is Miss Blanche Norman, the daughter of Major
Norman, who is out here for his health. But wouldn't you like to dance,
youngster?"
I told him that I had been engaged by the captain to dance with Miss
Smaitch Number 2.
"Well, come to me if you want a partner," he said, and moved on.
I saw him soon afterwards go up and shake hands with Miss Norman. His
lip momentarily quivered, I saw; but his countenance otherwise remained
firm. She received him as an old acquaintance, and seemed glad to see
him.
I took it into my head that Adam was in love with her, or had been; but
that, as he had little besides his pay to depend on, he could not
indulge a dream of marrying. From what I afterwards learned, I was
right in this conjecture. Poor fellow! he had loved her well and
deeply, but he had never told his love. She might have suspected his
attachment, but with the tact and delicacy of a right-minded woman, she
did not allow him to discover that she did so, but endeavoured, by the
frank kindness of her words and manner, to take away the bitterness from
the wound she was inflicting. I do not mean to say, however, that at
the time I knew this, but I made a pretty shrewd guess at the truth.
In a little time Dicky came hurrying up to me with a look full of
importance.
"I say, D'Arcy, I've found out all about it. I heard our medico tell
Old Nip (meaning the purser) that Vernon proposed a few days ago to Miss
Norman, and was accepted; so they are regularly engaged, you know, and
he has a right to dance with her as often as he likes. What fun for
him! I know that I should like to be in his place. That's her father:
not the tall man with the white hair, but the shorter one next him. He
looks almost too young to be her father, doesn't he? Perhaps his being
ill makes him look so. They are soon going home; but they are to stop
at Gibraltar, so the doctor says."
"I am afraid you've been an eavesdropper, Dicky, to hear all this," I
observed; "and that, you know, is not a very creditable character."
"I know that as well as you do," he answered; "but I could not help
myself, for I was jammed up in the refreshment room between two fat
Maltese ladies and the supper-table, and I couldn't have moved without
the risk of staving in their sides with my elbows. Old Nip and the
medico were on the other side of them, sipping their negus, and didn't
see me."
"That's all right; and small blame to you, Dicky," said I. "Well, I
heartily wish Mr Vernon joy; and if his love don't run smooth, and he
ever wants a helping hand, I only hope he'll let me give it him."
"There's nothing I should like better too, independent of my regard for
Mr Vernon," observed Dicky, pompously.
I remember that we long discussed the probabilities of Mr Vernon's
requiring our services; and we came to the conclusion that, though we
should be delighted to help him to obtain the lady's hand in any way he
might require, in principle the running away with a lady was decidedly
wrong.
The subject was changed by our seeing the purser lead out one of the fat
ladies, behind whom Dicky had been hid, to attempt a waltz. Never was
there a more extraordinary performance. Neither of them had a notion of
the dance. They floundered and flolloped, and twisted and turned, and
tumbled against all the other couples, till they spread consternation
around; and at last found themselves the sole performers in the room.
As poor Nip went twirling round, much in the way that a child's
humming-top does when it begins to stagger preparatory to stopping, he
perceived a suppressed laugh on the lips and in the eyes of the
surrounding spectators; and suspecting that he might be the cause of it,
gave a convulsive gripe at his partner's waist, or at the part where her
waist should be, in order to bring himself to an anchor. The effort was
too great for his powers, and both he and she came with a run to the
floor, close to where Dicky and I were standing. There they kicked and
struggled in vain efforts to rise. At this Dicky could no longer
contain himself, but, regardless of the purser's anger, burst into a
loud fit of laughter. However, we ran forward to do our best to get the
hero and heroine on their legs again, though we were too much convulsed
to be of much assistance.
"I'll pay you off for this, Master Sharpe," whispered the purser,
looking up fiercely.
"I couldn't help it, indeed I could not," answered Dicky in an
apologetic tone; "you did look so funny."
"I'll wring your ears off, you young puppy," cried poor Nip, rising and
shaking himself, in his rage forgetting the fair sharer of his
misfortune.
"Look to your partner, Mr Cheesnip," said Captain Poynder, coming up,
and guessing the cause of the purser's anger. "Here, Sharpe, help me to
put the lady on her legs."
By some pulling and hauling, and by others shoving behind, we got Madame
Cheesnip, as we ever after called her, into a perpendicular position;
but she was too much shaken to dance again, especially with the cause of
her misfortune. Indeed, for the rest of the evening the ladies fought
very shy of poor Nip, and we took good care to keep out of his way.
Dicky and I stayed to the last, spending our time very satisfactorily
between our two partners and the refreshment and supper rooms; and I am
afraid to mention the vast amount of sandwiches, cakes, and bonbons
which Dicky consumed, washed down by cups of coffee, lemonade, and
negus. At length, when nearly everybody was gone, with the exception of
a few other midshipmen, and the musicians could no longer wag their
bows, we deemed it time also to retire. We had got leave to stay on
shore, but it just then occurred to us that we had forgot to order our
beds.
"Never mind," said Dicky; "we are certain to find them at some hotel or
other."
As we were putting on our cloaks, we found that there were five or six
more midshipmen belonging to other ships in the same predicament as
ourselves. To get beds at that hour of the morning, we discovered was
not so easy, as all the Hotels, from some cause or other, were full. We
hunted about for some time, and were proposing trying to get on board
our ships,--though Dicky Sharpe declared he should take up his berth
inside one of the casks generally found down on the shore of the
harbour, with their heads off; but we advised him not, as they are the
usual abode of the beggar boys who infest Nix Mangiare stairs, and would
be apt to have more inhabitants than one,--when some of the party who
were on ahead, shouted out that they had found as cozy a place of
shelter as they could wish. We were in the upper part of the town,
which, as most of my readers probably know, is at a considerable
elevation above the water. As it had lately begun to rain hard, and we
had no desire to wander farther, there was a general rush made to the
front. The cozy place to which we were invited, turned out to be an old
family coach, which was standing at the top of a narrow lane intended to
be used only by foot passengers. However, it was a place where some
midshipmen had lately amused themselves by galloping up and down; but,
to prevent such an exhibition of horsemanship, a guard had been
stationed at the bottom, to prevent any similar attempt for the future.
But to return to the coach. The first comers had taken possession, and
one after the other the rest scrambled in, till by the time Dicky and I,
who were rather behind, got up, it could hold no more: at all events
those inside decided that such was the case. This was not what we had
bargained for, and neither of us was inclined to yield his right to a
share and shelter without a struggle. The doors had not been shut; and
while Dicky boarded on one side, I tried to get in on the other. Wet
caps and fists were dashed in our faces, but, undaunted, we strove on.
I had actually forced my way in, and was stretching over my hand to my
chum, who had got his feet on the step, when some one exclaimed, "By
Jupiter! she is under way." And, sure enough, our struggles had set the
lumbering old vehicle moving. On it went, rolling and rattling down the
steep pathway, which we had totally forgotten. To get out was
impossible, without the certainty almost of knocking our heads against
the walls of the houses on either side, of being jammed between them and
the wheels, or of being run over. We hauled Dicky in to save his life,
and away we all went together, the vehicle every moment increasing its
velocity. The path, from sloping from each side to the centre, kept her
on a straight course, or we should have brought up against some steps,
or a kerbstone, and been saved from the approaching catastrophe. But no
such good fortune was in store for us. Rolling and rattling, and
screeching and creaking, and bumping and thumping, downward went the
carriage, we inside keeping up a chorus of shouts and shrieks. Most of
us laughed; but one or two, who were strangers to the place, were in a
mortal fright, not knowing whether we might find a precipice at the
bottom, and be shot over, perhaps into the sea. Very soon, too, we
reached some steps, down which we went, of course faster than ever, with
terrific bounds, till the cranky old vehicle could no longer stand the
unusual movement.
"Who goes there?" shouted the sentry at the bottom of the steps.
"Turn out the guard," echoed the sergeant, not able to make out the
cause of the unusual commotion. Just then the carriage split asunder,
and sent us flying, with swords, dirks, and hats, in different
directions.
"Arrah, was ever such an egg hatched before?" exclaimed the sergeant,
who was an Irishman, running up and seizing hold of the first he could
lay hands on. "Come, young gentlemen, I must march you off to the
guard-house."
"March the coach off, if you please, sergeant; but we are innocent, like
the new-hatched babes which we are," cried Dicky Sharpe, who was one of
those in custody. "The order is against people on horseback coming this
way: we hadn't even horses to our egg-shell."
The sergeant, amused by the way Dicky took up his joke, and seeing there
was no use detaining us, consented not to molest us. We then invited
ourselves to go to the guard-house, where we passed the remainder of the
night, with our cigars to comfort us. I am sorry to say that we did not
go back to try and find the owners of the coach, that we might apologise
to them for having inflicted so much injury on their property, which we
ought certainly to have done. We none of us thought anything more would
come of it.
"Oh!" said Dicky Sharpe, rubbing his hands, "the owners will think that
the old coach grew tired of waiting all by itself, so ran down the hill
to get warm."
We resolved therefore to say nothing about the matter. The next day,
while it was my watch on deck, we were ordered to send a boat to bring
off a party of ladies from the shore. Dicky, who belonged to the boat,
went in her. As they reached the ship, and the sides were manned to
receive them, I saw that Mr Vernon was in the boat, accompanied by
Major and Miss Norman, and several other ladies and gentlemen. The care
with which he handed her up the side, and the attention he paid her, as
he showed the party round the decks, convinced me still further that
what I had heard last night was the truth. Adam Stallman accompanied
them; he was grave, but kind and courteous as usual, and seemed to take
great pains to answer all the questions, some of them not a little
ridiculous, which were put to him. Mr Vernon invited him to join the
luncheon-party in the ward-room, so I did not see what followed.
As soon as the boat was hoisted in, Dicky came up to me.
"I say, D'Arcy," said he, "it's all blown, and we are in for it, I
guess."
"What's blown?" I asked.
"Why, the coach affair, of course," he replied. "As we were coming off
they were all talking of it, and Mr Vernon said he was very sure I was
one of the chickens, so there was no use denying it. If it gets to the
captain's ears we shall have our leave stopped, and I shan't have a
chance of seeing little Miss Smaitch again."
We consulted long what was to be done, but could come to no decision on
the subject. After the guests were gone, Adam Stallman came down into
the berth.
"Youngsters," said he, "I suspect both of you were engaged in the
destruction of the coach last night. Is it not so?"
We confessed the truth, and told him exactly how it happened.
"Did you endeavour to find out the owners, and to make them all the
amends in your power for the mischief you had committed?"
We owned that we had not.
"You neglected your bounden duty, then," he observed. "You should
recollect that every act of meanness committed by a British officer
brings discredit on the cloth. When a man is guilty of a fault, he but
increases it if he neglects to make reparation for it. Now, if I get
leave for you to accompany me on shore, will you follow my directions?"
We promised we would. "Well then, we will find out the owners of the
coach, and you must go and tell them that you are very sorry for the
mischief you committed, explain how it happened, and beg their pardon.
I do not think you can exactly offer to give them a new coach; nor would
they expect it, probably."
At this Dicky looked very blue; but he could not escape from his
promise, and he soon mustered a sufficiency of moral courage to carry
him through the work. I was, I own, very glad in being thus supported
in doing what I felt was right.
In the afternoon we went on shore, and set off at once to the scene of
our adventure: The fragments of the coach had been removed. Climbing up
the lane, we made inquiries at the top--at least Adam, who spoke
Italian, did--for any family from the country who might be stopping at a
house near at hand.
"Oh, you want Signora Faranelli, whose coach was run away with last
night by some ragamuffins!" said the master of a small shop where we
inquired.
"The same," answered Adam.
"She and her daughters are staying with Signor Bianconi at the big
house, there."
Adam led us to the house indicated.
"I feel in a great funk," whispered Dicky; "don't you, D'Arcy? What
shall we say?"
"The truth," said I. "It's the only thing we can say. Tell our tale
from beginning to end."
We sent in our cards, with a message to say that two naval officers
wished to speak to Signora Faranelli. Adam said he should wait outside
for us, and told us to make haste. We were speedily requested to walk
upstairs, and were ushered into a room full of company, when a very
pleasing, kind-looking lady came forward and inquired to what cause she
was indebted for the honour of our visit. As I knew Sharpe would make
some mistake, I had offered to act as spokesman, and at once told the
whole of our tale.
"Oh, it was very naughty in the carriage to run away with you," she
replied, in a good-natured tone, in somewhat broken English; "and it was
very stupid in my servants to leave it standing on the top of the hill,
though but natural that you, on a rainy night, should take shelter
within it. I had been told that it was purposely sent rolling down the
hill by a party of tipsy naval officers, and I was resolved to complain
of them; but the frank way in which you have come forward to explain the
matter removes all disagreeable feeling on the subject, and I am very
happy to make your acquaintance."
Dicky Sharpe drew a deep breath, as if some dire forebodings were
removed. I don't know what he thought was going to happen to us.
"I must now introduce you to Signor Bianconi, and I am sure he will have
great pleasure if you can remain and spend the evening with us,"
continued the lady. "I shall hope also to see you shortly at my house
in the country."
We thanked Signora Faranelli very much for her kindness, but explained
that we had a friend waiting outside for us, who had, however, nothing
to do with the carriage affair. Of course Adam Stallman was requested
to come in, and, to my surprise, he consented.
"I like what you tell me of the people, D'Arcy, and their acquaintance
must be worth making," he observed.
We spent a very pleasant evening, got on board in good time, and the
next day, meeting some of our companions in the carriage adventure, were
able to relieve their minds from certain apprehensions of the
consequences, and to tell them of the satisfactory results; nor did we
fail to give Stallman credit, which was his due. They, the rogues, were
now in a great hurry to go and apologise also; but their impudence, for
a wonder, would not carry them up to the point for action.
Whenever we put into Malta, Dicky and I did not fail to call on Signora
Faranelli and Signor Bianconi: and many a happy day we spent at their
houses. Often and often I have since seen that, by acting with
truthfulness and candour, very much inconvenience, and even misery and
suffering, might have been saved, and much good obtained. There is a
golden rule I must urge on my young friends ever to follow: _Do right,
and leave the result to God_.