the approach of morning, when they only slumbered, but not rested, from the harrassed and perturbed state of their feelings. To which we will leave them for the present, while we pay a visit to the inhabitants at the Cottage on the Cliff;-the morning which succeeded to the night, on which the kind-hearted fisher and his young and brave companions, had been the faithful vigils to protect and guard over the safety of the afflicted, suffering, and persecuted daughter of Captain Singleton. Never, indeed, since the loss of her parent, had Agatha been permitted to enjoy such undisturbed repose, and, exhausted by the tortured state in which her feelings had been kept for successive hours, and the constant dread and apprehension of something more alarming, than even her present misfortune, awaiting her, Agatha slept profoundly; though before she had retired to her chamber for the night, she used every persuasion in her power to prevail on her benevolent protector to quit his stationary situation, of sitting up the whole of the night in the adjoining chamber. "Indeed, dear sir, I cannot rest satisfied at your depriving yourself of your rest, and enduring so many hours of fatigue on my account," uttered she. "I At which the fisher smiled, and, shaking his head, declared that nothing should alter his resolution; "and as to fatigue, my dear," exclaimed he, should be glad to know which of us is best able to bear it, you or I; dost think that a seaman must regard wind and weather, when he is steering his little cock-boat safe into harbour? not he, indeed; I am a tough heart of oak, Miss Singleton, never fear me; I shall take no harm with that watch-coat about my shoulders, and this pouch of tobacco by my side, I warrant me! there's Shelty too, will now and then light my pipe, and trim my lamp, and we shall jog on merrily till the sweet little cherub that sits up aloft ushers in the break of morning; so get thee to bed, child, and sleep soundly, there's no one shall disturb thee, I promise thee, while Peter Blust is the sentinel that guards the door." 66 Agatha, perceiving that the fisher was resolutely bent on his purpose of keeping watch all night next to her chamber, and that no argument of her's could prevail upon him to resign or quit his post, retired, with, "Good night, Sir, and may Heaven eternally bless and reward you!" And Claribelle and she arose the next morning so comfortably refreshed by their slumbers, and so relieved from the terrors which had possessed their minds, since they had discovered the treachery of Paulo, that they were both able to prepare a comfortable repast for their generous and kind protectors, to whom, as soon as the breakfast was ready, Claribelle immediately repaired at the command of her young mistress; and the fisher, who had taken several short naps during the course of the night, was presently roused by the voice of the attendant, and instantly telling Shelty to go and call his kinsman and Sam Russel, and bring the two boys along with him, he entered the apartment of the nowsmiling Agatha, where he received her heart-felt thanks, and the warmest congratulations of the no less grateful Claribelle. "Well, my love, there has been no occasion for swords, pistols, or gunpowder, as yet," cried the fisher, taking his seat by the fire, and close to Agatha, "and thou hast rested comfortably, hast thou? well, so much the better, thou had need of it, child; now then, let us return thanks to Providence, that things are no worse, and enjoy a comfortable meal. There's my girls, I dare say, are waiting for me, but they may wait long enough: they wont see my face at Herring Dale, till I take you with me, shiver my topsails, if they do! come, Mistress Claribelle, now then, for your tea and buttered toast." And the fisher was just going to extol the flavour of the hyson tea, when Shelty, Craftly, and Russel entered, followed by the two boys, for whom a table had been spread apart, and on which was placed a plentiful supply of provisions, and the best that the cottage could afford, while the smiles of the lovely hostess sweetened a repast, the most welcome that the fisher and his young kinsman had ever partaken of, because it was accompanied with the pleasing and gratifiing sensation of the purest benevolence ;-the consciousness of having performed a generous action, and the reward which Heaven always bestows on it,-selfapproval ! CHAPTER VIII “Fic, fie! unknit that threat'ning unkind brow; A woman mov'd is like a fountain troubled, NOTHING was greater than the contrast which was exhibited in the manners and the countenances of the two boys, when Shelty brought them into the apartment of Miss Singleton, nor had any description so entertained the fisher, as that which Shelty had given him of the behaviour of the little hardy stranger, who had hitherto obstinately persisted in refusing, even to tell his name; and, as the fisher had desired that he might be treated with the utmost gentleness, he had been suffered to give way to all his little pets and humours, without any controul whatever to oppose him. Now, however, it was thought necessary to impose a little restraint on so violent a disposition, for not even the presence of so much company either abashed, or prevented him, from greedily devouring his meal in his usual manner; and when he had taken a sufficient quantity of what he chose, he got up hastily from the table, and was going out of the room without further ceremony, when the fisher, with some authority, called out, "Where are you going, young gentleman? I want to speak with you: to which the little savage gruffly replied,― "I am going where I please, and I am no gentleman: what did you call me gentleman for, pray?" It was almost impossible for the fisher to resist laughter at the air of effrontery with which this speech was uttered by the undaunted little stranger; but the singular manners of this extraordinary boy excited his astonishment and curiosity in such a degree, that in a more soft tone he bade him sit down, beside him, at which he exclaimed, "Why can't I stand? I don't like sitting ?" "Why, then, standing or sitting, I don't much care,” said the fisher, "provided you will answer the quéstions I am going to ask you, and tell me the truth; and if you don't, I will make you." "Make me?" demanded the little fellow, with firm ness. "Yes, I will punish you ;" retorted the fisher; "do you understand the meaning of that word ?" To the utter astonishment of the fisher, and all present, he boldly answered, "Understand you? to be sure I do, you will beat me; and so you may, if you think I deserve to be beat, only tell me for what, and I shan't mind it." "He is no coward, at all events;" cried the fisher, in an under tone to his kinsman, who replied, "And he has one of the finest countenances in the world; I would venture my life that the boy has been |