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 I propose to take. You shall never sacrifice yourself for me."

"Sacrifice!" cries I; "La! the complimentary creature. 'Twill be a pleasure, I can promise you. Why, Captain, dear, we are to have a right merry time together, are we not?"

"Yes, a right merry time," says the Captain, grimly.

"Oh, indeed," says Mr. Anthony. "Ah, well, I am glad to hear you say so. For I'll confess that I've had my doubts about it. Only I'm thinking that when his Majesty grows cognisant of this he may seek to mar the happiness of one of you at least."

"Depend upon it, sir," I retorted, stoutly, "that he will not hear of it."

I continued to be so insistent on his immediate flight, and at the same time my determined attitude was so well served by the grim passiveness of the Captain, that in the end compliance seemed to be the young rebel's only and inevitable course. And, to my great relief, this was the one he ultimately took.

"Well," he exclaimed at last, "it's plain that argument cannot avail."

"Not a little bit, sir," I cheerily agreed.

"Then," says he, "I'll go and change these clothes, while you write those letters to your friends."

"You will find your masculine attire," I said, with a sly twinkle for the Captain, "up the chimney