"And consented that it should be transferred to her orphan boy?" added Old Hurricane, with the tears like raindrops in his stormy eyes.
"No, sir, she said not so."
"But yet she would not have disapproved a service offered to her son."
"Uncle--since you permit me to call you so--I want nothing. I have a good berth in the Susan and a kind friend in her captain."
"You have all your dear mother's pride, Herbert."
"And all his uncle's!" put in Cap.
"Hush, Magpie! But is the merchant service agreeable to you, Herbert?"
"Not perfectly, sir; but one must be content."
"Demmy, sir, my sister's son need not be content unless he has a mind to! And if you prefer the navy----"
"No, sir. I like the navy even less than the merchant service."
"Then what would suit you, lad? Come, you have betrayed the fact that you are not altogether satisfied."
"On the contrary, sir, I told you distinctly that I really wanted nothing, and that I must be satisfied."
"And I say, demmy, sir! you sha'n't be satisfied unless you like to! Come, if you don't like the navy, what do you say to the army, eh?"
"It is a proud, aspiring profession, sir," said the young man, as his face lighted up with enthusiasm.
"Then, demmy, if you like the army, sir, you shall enter it! Yes, sir! Demmy, the administration, confound them, has not done me justice, but they'll scarcely dare to refuse to send my nephew to West Point when I demand it."
"To West Point!" exclaimed Herbert, in delight.
"Ay, youngster, to West Point. I shall see to it when I pass through Washington on my way to Virginia. We start in the early train to-morrow morning. In the meantime, young man, you take leave of your captain, pack up your traps and join us. You must go with me and make Hurricane Hall your home until you go to West Point."
"Oh, what a capital old governor our uncle is!" exclaimed Cap, jumping up and clapping her hands.
"Sir, indeed you overwhelm me with this most unexpected kindness! I do not know as yet how much of it I ought to accept. But accident will make me, whether or no, your traveling companion for a great part of the way, as I also start for Virginia to-morrow, to visit dear friends there, whose house was always my mother's home and mine, and who, since my bereavement, have been to me like a dear mother and brother. I have not seen them for years, and before I go anywhere else, even to your kind roof, I must go there," said Herbert, gravely.