However, this morning, just after you had started for school, the postman brought a letter from him, saying that, owing to the threatening state of affairs in the East, a number of ships were being rapidly put in commission, and that he had been appointed to the 'Falcon,' and had seen the captain, and as the latter, who happened to be an old friend of his, had no one in particular whom he wished to oblige, he had kindly asked the Admiralty for a midshipman's appointment for you.

This he had, of course, obtained.

The 'Falcon' is being fitted out with all haste, and you are to join at once.

So I shall take you to Portsmouth to-morrow." Jack was too much delighted and surprised to be able to speak at first.

But after a minute or two he recovered his breath, uttered a loud hurrah of delight, and then gave vent to his feelings by exuberantly kissing his mother and sisters.
"This is glorious," he said.