that one can learn not to fear death? Death never seems to me a reality but in these mimic ebbings away of life. One's spirits do so ebb away with it, that one naturally asks, will they ever return? I don't love to sit and think at this time of day—it makes me gloomy. And you look as bright as that evening star.'

Rosalie smiled.

'It is so resting to me-so soothing, to think and remember!'

"Yes, at flood-tide.'

'If the tide carry not all my treasure it matters little whether it ebb or flow. I shall not lose footing till the commissioned wave come, and then-“The other side of the sea is my Father's ground as well as this side."' 'You speak so assuredly,' Marion said.

"I know in whom I have believed,”' Rosalie answered with a little bit of that same smile. "It will be hard if

a believing passenger be casten overboard.'

Marion leaned her head against the window frame with a dissatisfied air and was silent. And wishing to hear no more such words, Thornton came forward and laid a hand upon each.

His sister looked up with a bright welcome, while Marion after one glance and word looked away out of the window, her shoulder half withdrawn from his touch.

'Did you see my carriage at the door, Captain Thornton?' she inquired.

6

'I did not even look, not knowing you were here.'

Do

you never see a thing without looking?' said Marion a little impatiently.

'If you can see me at present, then doubtless, I might have seen your carriage if it was there.

6

'O but it isn't there,' said Hulda, trying to get her chin over the window sill; so you'll have to stay to tea, Marion.' 'I can wait for my tea, pet.'

UNSOPHISTICATED MINDS.

237

'But won't you stay?' said the child coming back disappointed. Because we want you to very much.'

6

'And because Rosalie is going out of town in a few days,' observed Thornton.

'Out of town!' said his sister. You have had but one word to that bargain yet.'

'I have had as many words as I want.'

'With whom?' said Marion with a keen look.

But as

Thornton chose to answer the look first the question was not repeated.

'Will you go along and take care of her?' he said.

"That duty would appear, to unsophisticated minds, to devolve upon somebody else.'

'Very likely. But sophisticated minds can see that men have something else to do.'

'It is time they hadn't then,' said Marion.

'I should be very happy to leave you in command of my company, if you prefer that sphere of action.'

Well I did forget certainly, that just now you have something else to do,' was Marion's rather pointed reply.

'But I thought,' said Rosalie, 'that if I went at all you were to go too. I thought you meant to get leave of absence for your own good.'

'For just so much good as it will do me to put you in clover, my dear—no more.'

She shook her head.

'Then I will not be put in clover, and we will stay here quietly together.'

'We will do nothing of the sort,' said Thornton. "You are to stay all summer at a farmhouse; and I am only waiting to find one that is far enough off.'

'O will you really take us away into the country?' cried Hulda, who had stood listening with intense interest. how glad I shall be! Won't it be delightful, dear Alie?' she said, leaning on her sister's lap and looking up.

Rosalie was silent.

There had been words just waiting their chance, but at the flush that came over the pale little face raised so eagerly to hers, all power to speak them failed. It was hard to choose between such alternatives. And Thornton saved her the trouble. Never had she seen him

so set on anything as upon this plan; and his strong will and Hulda's silent pleadings carried the day. Rosalie quietly made her preparations.

'I s'pose you'll forget all about this here town o' York when you get away once, Martha,' said Tom Skiddy the night before the journey.

'Like enough I shall,' replied Miss Jumps. 'I'm a firstrate hand at forgetting. Lost sight o' more things in my life than you could shake a stick at,-people too.'

'Well remember and come back, will you?' said Tom. 'Can't say 'replied Martha. 'If it should seem to be advantageous for me to stay there, there's no telling what I may do.'

'Sartain!' replied Tom. 'There's no telling what I may do neither. "Taint a sort of a world for a man to keep track of his own mind easy.'

'The surest way to keep track of a thing is to run on afore it,' said Martha.

And then it don't always foller,' said Tom thoughtfully. 'It's a pity things is so easy forgot-it's kind o' pleasant to remember.'

'Well you can always recreate yourself in that way when you've a mind to,' said Miss Jumps, with a somewhat relenting air.

'That's true enough,' said Tom with a similar demonstration. 'So can you.'

THE OLD THIRTEEN.

239

CHAPTER XXV.

On the seas are many dangers,
Many storms do there arise,

Which will be to ladies dreadful,

And force tears from wat'ry eyes.

Spanish Ladye's Love.

But

It was in a corner of the Bay State that Thornton decided to place his sisters. Partly from the fine country and the wholesome air, and partly from the peace and security which could be found there more surely than in New York. he abhorred stage-coaches; and deterinined that at least one part of the journey should be pleasant, he would go as far as New Haven by water, and in a sailing vessel-which in those days of Steam's apprenticeship was far better.

The Old Thirteen was a pretty little sloop, neat and trim built; worthy of the sea as well as sea-worthy; and despite her name had seen but just enough service to prove her an excellent sailer. Her canvass was new, with only the unfledged look of newness worn off; her mast white and tapering; her hull painted of a deep dull red half way above the water line, and from that to the bulwarks of a dark olive green. Her flag was of the largest, her streamers of the longest and brightest; her figure-head was the Liberty of the old coins with the thirteen stars for a crown. In this sloop Mr. Clyde saw fit to take passage for New Haven,not truly because of the beauty of her equipments, but because she was reputed swift and her captain the 'right sort of man.'

He had spent his life in trading vessels upon the Sound, -generally running out as far as Point Judith and taking

up a little of the shore trade on his way. For some time indeed, the Sound had been too closely blockaded to permit unarmed vessels much freedom upon its waters, and the shipping trade was rather dull. But Captain Pliny Cruise being of the mind that a week on shore would certainly kill him, continued to brave the enemy's guns as offering a much more desirable death; and by a system of dodging, running, and out-sailing, which was always successful, he carried on his trade with Rhode Island as though no Squadron were in the way.

The Old Thirteen then, lay at her pier in the East river; and the May morning acted the part of Macbeth's witches, and said,

"I'll give thee a wind."

But when Mr. Clyde and his companions appeared, there sprang up a breeze of another kind and not quite so favourable. For Thornton with characteristic carelessness had merely engaged the best accommodations there were, for four people;' and the idea of a lady passenger had never entered the Captain's head.

'Bonnets!' he said as Thornton's party emerged from the carriage, one, two, three on 'em-what on airth!' And Captain Pliny Cruise at once walked off to the other end of his vessel, took a seat and looked into the water. There he sat until Thornton touched his shoulder.

'Good morning, Captain Cruise.'

'How are you, Mr. Clyde?' said the Captain, looking round and shewing a very discomfited face.

'Is this where you commonly receive your passengers ?' said Thornton.

'No,' said the Captain, returning to his gaze at the water, not commonly. I do' know where the place is, no more.'