Harry had been greatly taken with Jerry, and seemed to miss him very
much. He used to go out most days to play with his schoolfellow, the
captain's son; but while Jerry was with us he preferred stopping and
listening to his yarns. The time, however, for both the boys to return
to school was now approaching. I saw that Harry had something on his
mind.
"Father," he said, "am I not old enough to go to sea? and, if I am, had
I not better be looking out for a ship?"
"As we are no longer fighting the French, there are not many put in
commission," I observed; "so maybe you will have to wait for some time."
As it happened, the very next day I got an order to join the _Nymph_,
thirty-six gun frigate, just commenced fitting out at Portsmouth,
commanded by Captain Edward Pellew.
"So soon, Ben!" said Susan, looking pale as soon as she saw the letter;
"I thought you would have had a longer spell on shore; but I am thankful
it's peace time, and I shall not be trembling at the thoughts of your
having to fight the French."
"That's the very thing we would rather be doing, my dear girl," I
answered, smiling, and trying to raise her spirits.