"Certainly, certainly, if you think fit, Mr Rowe," was the answer.
"Then allow me to congratulate Lord Arlingford on his accession to his family t.i.tle and estates, but I hope, as I do so, that he will not object to take the name of Ashurst. We have made quick work of it.
From information I received, I was induced to go down and see the _ci-devant_ Lord Arlingford. I found him very ill and without a particle of combativeness, so I told him of all the information I possessed, and gave him his choice to contest the point, a.s.suring him that we had unlimited supplies at command, or to yield at once, and save a family scandal. As he appeared inclined to take my advice, I promised him an annuity of a thousand a year, knowing from his circ.u.mstances that he was not likely to enjoy even so much as that should he retain his t.i.tle. He immediately accepted my offer, acknowledging that your claim was valid. Of course I made my offer subject to the approval of the true Lord Arlingford. There must be a trial _pro forma_, legally to settle the point, but it will prove a very short one."
It was some little time before Owen could recover his equanimity sufficiently to eat his dinner; but fortunately midshipmen are not given, under any circ.u.mstances, to loss of appet.i.te, and he was very soon himself again.
Little more need be said. Mr Fluke bore all the expenses of the trial, which proved without doubt that Owen Hartley was the rightful possessor of the Arlingford t.i.tle and estates. Indeed, on the death of his cousin, which occurred while the trial was going forward, no other claimant appearing, Owen immediately came into peaceful possession.
Mr Fluke insisted on paying off all the mortgages, so that Owen might commence his new career free of inc.u.mbrances.
"Begin, my dear boy, out of debt, and never get into it," said the old man; "you"ll never regret following that rule, whatever else you may be sorry for."
Owen"s first care was to appoint a good man of business to look after the estate, and, as may be supposed, he selected David Rowe, whose brother John became his head bailiff. His old shipmates, Captain Leigh and Lieutenant Langton, were his frequent guests whenever they came on sh.o.r.e.
On the death of his kind relative, Simon Fluke, Mrs Kezia and Joseph Crump came down, the one to become his housekeeper and the other his head gardener.
"I hope you will find no tom cat to kill at Arlingford, Mrs Kezia!"
said Owen, laughing, as she made her appearance.
"Please your lordship, I don"t think there"ll be any need," she answered.
Indeed Owen had never the slightest cause to complain of presumption, nor had Lady Arlingford--for by this time Owen was possessed of a fair young wife, who ruled as mistress of Arlingford Hall.
He placed his old nurse, Jane Hayes, who had lately married, in a pretty cottage, which he had built expressly for her. He did not forget Nat Midge. One of his first journeys was to visit Nat"s grandmother. He found the old lady in great poverty, struggling to maintain her grand-children. "You will, I hope, see Nat in a couple of days," said Owen; "and though he may not have come back with his pockets full of gold, he has gained a sincere friend, who can afford to support you and his brothers and sisters till he is able to do so himself."
Nat arrived, and escorted his family to Arlingford, where Owen had ordered a cottage, which had been vacant, to be got ready for their reception.
Nat, who had had enough of the sea, was apprenticed to a carpenter employed on the estate, whose duties he ultimately was able to undertake.
Mike Coffey continued in the service until he lost a leg, when he retired on a pension. His mother having died, he came, at Owen"s invitation, to Arlingford.
"I"m afther thinkin", my lord, of gettin" a wherry and settin" up as a boatman at Portsmouth," answered Mike to Owen"s question as to the way he intended to employ himself.
"How would you like to become my commodore?" asked Owen, pointing to a miniature frigate which floated on the lake near the house, and to a couple of boats drawn up on the bank.
"With the greatest delight in the world, your honour--your lordship I mane," answered Mike. "The frigate wants re-fitting, and the boats will be better for a coat of paint. I had a look at them as I came along this mornin". Thinks I to meself, shure the young master hasn"t had time to see afther his fleet, so I was just goin" to offer to do the work, to show me love to your lordship."
"I have no doubt that I shall find other work for you when that is finished, so I appoint you to the berth, and you can take up your abode with Widow Midge until you set up a home of your own."
Owen, although he still retained his love for the sea, retired from the service and devoted himself--as is the bounden duty of every proprietor--to the improvement of his estate and to advancing the moral and spiritual welfare of his tenants.
THE END.