-I mean,

board ship, but somehow or other I was a— Pultuney, that I did not like to refuse; so Mr. Drawlincourt brought in a pack of cards, and began to teach me écarté. I soon learnt the game, for it's very easy, and I beat Mr. Drawlincourt every time; I don't know how many games I had won, when he said that it was stupid fun playing for nothing; so he voted that we should play for half-crowns. I I didn't like to refuse, you see, so we did play for half-crowns, and when we left off I had won thirty shillings, and made up my mind fully never to play again. But somehow or other when Mr. Drawlincourt asked me, next day, I didn't like to refuse; so I played again—and again—and again; till I had lost all my ready money, and given a number of I. O. U.s to be paid out of my letter of credit."

"You should have told me," cried Peregrine Pultuney.

"I didn't like," returned Doleton; "he told me not. I often thought of it, but I didn't like he began again with the old stories, and the old threats about calling out, and so I thought it best to conciliate him, and to say nothing about it."

"Better late than never," observed Peregrine. "Oh! but Pultuney," resumed the unhappy youth, "I entreat you to say nothing about it. Do not let him know that I have told you-it will make me so wretched, if you do."

"I shall say little enough," returned Peregrine,

"but I will not promise to do little. The day of reckoning is at hand."

Peregrine Pultuney kept his word, and the day of reckoning soon came.

CHAPTER IX.

In which considerable preparations are made for a Grand Histrionic Entertainment.

Ir was shortly after the Hastings had crossed the line, that Peregrine Pultuney and his associates were sitting on the poop one evening after dinner. The ladies were all in their cabins, we conclude, for cigar-smoking was the order of the day. It was a pleasant evening, but warm; and " light airs and fine weather" was written on the log-slate, and the progress of the ship was scored up at two knots-anda-half an hour.

Peregrine Pultuney was lounging upon a hencoop, and blowing a cloud apparently very much to his own satisfaction. Beside him sat Julian Jenks, employed in like manner with a "weed;" and opsite to them sprawled the long cornet, who was totally absorbed in an admiring contemplation of his boots, which he gazed at with every symptom of profound gratification and respect.

Near them were the three assistant-surgeons discussing patients, dissecting-rooms, operations and

Aberdeen; and the two young writers in earnest conversation on some very important matter or other, chiefly respecting Writer's-buildings, horses, and borrowing money. Then there was the officer on the watch, who was whistling for a wind, and looking out every now and then to windward, in hopes of seeing something like a cloud; and last of all poor Doleton, who was reading a book with his back against the mizen mast and looking as miserable as a singed rat adrift in the sea.

Things, or rather people, were in this position, and "the bell four" had just been struck, when Peregrine Pultuney, having thrown away the stump of an Havannah, and followed up the action by a perpendicular movement, which set him erect on his legs, thus delivered himself to Julian Jenks " I vote we get up a play."

We know not what it was that put this bright thought into Peregrine's head, nor indeed does it much matter, as long as it got there, which it certainly did, or it never could have found its way into the words which we have just recorded. Perhaps it was that he had been thinking over his cigar, that there was a great lack of excitement on board; perhaps it had just occurred to him that he should like to put his histrionic powers to the test, or see the powers of his fellow-passengers tested in this way; perhaps he was gravelled for lack of matter, and had nothing better in the way of remark to offer; but be these things every one as they may, it is very

certain that Peregrine Pultuney observed to Julian Jenks," I vote we get up a play."

"I vote we do," returned the gentleman appealed to.

"And what do you think of it, Drawlincourt," continued Peregrine Pultuney, addressing himself to the long cornet, who was lost in admiration of his boots.

"Eh? ah!" responded the cornet, starting up with an aspect of astonishment, "what do I think of what, sir?"

"Of getting up a play," returned Peregrine.

Play? ah!—what play?" asked the long cornet -"écarté, sir-whist-any thing."

Peregrine suggested that he alluded to a dramatic performance and not that species of play, which often proves to be any thing but the thing which the word expresses.

"Ah! to be sure," returned the long cornet, after listening to this explanation-" the dramayes, I think so a very good proposal indeed, sirI have no objection to take the leading parts my

self."

Peregrine thought that he might have waited till he was asked, and so did Julian Jenks; but Peregrine said nothing, whilst Julian contented himself with remarking that he voted by all means for comedy-or broad farce if they liked. High Life Below Stairs, The Recruiting Officer, or some such humorous performance.