CHAPTER FIVE.
BOTH "SUITED." Dick was now "in clover!" Running away from a poor home and the tyranny of a cruel step-father, he had, in the first instance, providentially succeeded in getting `a free passage,' as the Captain expressed it, to Portsmouth, the goal of his fondest ambition.
Then, after thus successfully overcoming the obstacles that lay in the way of his going to sea, so far as this initial stage to that ultimate end was concerned, the lucky fellow, in addition to gaining the Captain's favour and making the acquaintance of Bob and Nellie, put the finishing-touch to his good fortune by winning over Mrs Gilmour to his side--a lady who, as a friend, was worth perhaps all the rest, she being true as steel and thoughtful and considerate in every way.
For the Captain's sake alone, she would willingly have given the poor homeless lad house-room; but, beyond that, she had taken a strong fancy to Dick from noticing his willing manner and anxiety to oblige those who had been kind to him at the station, an impression that was more than confirmed subsequently when she witnessed his gallant conduct in plunging into the water to try and save the impulsive Bob.
So, Dick was in clover! Like Master Bob, he had his wet clothes stripped off as soon as he got within doors, and wrapped in warm blankets was put into an equally cosy little bed; a hot treacle posset being afterwards given to each boy when comfortably tucked in by Mrs Gilmour herself, which drink even Bob, accustomed as he was to good things, said was `not so bad, you know,' while to poor Lazarus-like Dick it tasted as nectar! Nor was this the end of our runaway's good fortune.
In the morning, after a sound sleep which effectually banished all the ill effects of their impromptu ducking from both Bob and himself, Dick awoke, or rather was awakened by his hostess in person, to be told that the Captain was waiting and wanted to see him particularly.
"I think too, my boy, it really is time for you to get up," added the lady kindly.

"Do you know it's past ten o'clock ?" "Law, mum!" exclaimed Dick, ashamed of his laziness, having been accustomed at Guildford to turn out at sunrise, that is if he went to bed at all; for his unkind step-father often locked him out of a night when in an especially angry mood.

"Law, mum, whatever be I a-doing of a-lying here in broad daylight! I humbly asks yer parding, mum." "Oh, never mind that, you're not so very late, my poor boy, considering all you went through yesterday and last night," said Mrs Gilmour smiling.

"But, come now, you mustn't keep the Captain waiting, or we'll have him trotting upstairs after you himself.

Dress as quickly as you can; I have had your things dried at the kitchen fire, and here they are in this chair near the door." So saying, Mrs Gilmour left the room, and Dick hopped out of bed immediately afterwards, proceeding to put on his clothes; thinking, poor fellow, as he did so, how shabby and ragged they were, and that they and he were altogether sadly out of place in an apartment which, to his rustic eyes, used only to the surroundings of his village home, appeared a palace.
As soon as he was dressed and opened the door of the room, he found, waiting on the landing, a maidservant, who, first taking him downstairs to the kitchen, where she gave him a good breakfast, afterwards showed him the way to the parlour.
Here Mrs Gilmour and the Captain, with Bob and Nellie, were all assembled, apparently ready to go out, the ladies having their walking things on.
"A pretty time of day for a youngster like you to be getting up," cried the old sailor jocularly as he entered.