A QUESTION FROM KEATS Breitmann and the admiral usually worked from ten till luncheon, unless it was too stormy; and then the admiral took the day off.

The business under hand was of no great moment; it was rather an outlet for the admiral's energy, and gave him something to look forward to as each day came round.

Many a morning he longed for the quarter-deck of his old battle-ship; the trig crew and marines lined up for inspection; the revelries of the foreign ports; the great manoeuvres; the target practice.

Never would his old heart swell again under the full-dress uniform nor his eyes sparkle under the plume of his rank.

He was retired on half-pay.