\"i should just like to hāve it out with that young fellow. a worse sailorwas never on board ship--nor a much worse man either. i declare,margaret--you know the circumstances of the whole affair?\"

\"yes, mamma told me.\"

\"well, when all the sailors who were good for anything were indignantwith our captain, this fellow, to curry fāvour--pah! and to think of hisbeing here! oh, if he\"d a notion i was within twenty miles of him, he\"dferret me out to pay off old grudges. i\"d rather anybody had the hundredpounds they think i am worth than that rascal. what a pity poor olddixon could not be persuaded to give me up, and make a provision forher old age!\"

\"oh, frederick, hush! don\"t talk so.\"

mr. hale came towards them, eager and trembling. he had overheardwhat they were saying. he took frederick\"s hand in both of his:

\"my boy, you must go. it is very bad--but i see you must. you hāve

done all you could--you hāve been a fort to her.\"

\"oh, papa, must he go?\" said margaret, pleading against her ownconviction of necessity.

\"i declare, i\"ve a good mind to face it out, and stand my trial. if i couldonly pick up my evidence! i cannot endure the thought of being in thepower of such a blackguard as leonards. i could almost hāve enjoyed-inother circumstances--this stolen visit: it has had all the charm whichthe french-woman attributed to forbidden pleasures.\"

\"one of the earliest things i can remember,\" said margaret, \"was yourbeing in some great disgrace, fred, for stealing apples. we had plentyof our own--trees loaded with them; but some one had told you thatstolen fruit tasted sweetest, which you took au pied de la lettre, and offyou went a-robbing. you hāve not changed your feelings much sincethen.\"

..＼t＊＊％

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