In short, he formed the resolution which might have been expected from so young a man,--to shut the eyes, namely, of his calmer reason, and follow the dictates of his offended pride.

With this purpose he sought Lieutenant Taffril.
The lieutenant received him with the good breeding of a gentleman and the frankness of a sailor, and listened with no small surprise to the detail which preceded his request that he might be favoured with his company at his meeting with Captain M'Intyre.

When he had finished, Taffril rose up and walked through his apartment once or twice.

"This is a most singular circumstance," he said, "and really"-- "I am conscious, Mr.Taffril, how little I am entitled to make my present request, but the urgency of circumstances hardly leaves me an alternative." "Permit me to ask you one question," asked the sailor;--"is there anything of which you are ashamed in the circumstances which you have declined to communicate." "Upon my honour, no; there is nothing but what, in a very short time, I trust I may publish to the whole world." "I hope the mystery arises from no false shame at the lowness of your friends perhaps, or connections ?" "No, on my word," replied Lovel.
"I have little sympathy for that folly," said Taffril--"indeed I cannot be supposed to have any; for, speaking of my relations, I may be said to have come myself from before the mast, and I believe I shall very soon form a connection, which the world will think low enough, with a very amiable girl, to whom I have been attached since we were next-door neighbours, at a time when I little thought of the good fortune which has brought me forward in the service." "I assure you, Mr.Taffril," replied Lovel, "whatever were the rank of my parents, I should never think of concealing it from a spirit of petty pride.

But I am so situated at present, that I cannot enter on the subject of my family with any propriety." "It is quite enough," said the honest sailor--"give me your hand; I'll see you as well through this business as I can, though it is but an unpleasant one after all--But what of that?
our own honour has the next call on us after our country;--you are a lad of spirit, and I own I think Mr.Hector M'Intyre, with his long pedigree and his airs of family, very much of a jackanapes.