Between two of the guns they were fondly at play, When a hurricane swept us smack smooth fore and aft, Convinced that the like we should never see more, They shiver'd and shook, each phiz black with sorrow, So with ill-luck to-day-don't forget there's to-morrow.” 66 "And not a bad hint, neither, Mr. Salisbury," said Nancy, when Jemmy ceased. 'You sailors never think of to-morrow, more's the pity. You're no better than overgrown babies." "I'm not much better, at all events," replied Jemmy, laughing: "however, I'm as God made me, and so all's right." "That's my own darling Jemmy," said Moggy; and if you're content, and I'm content, who is to say a word, I should like to know? You may be a rum one to look at, but I think them fellows found you but a rum customer the other night.' 66 "Don't put so much rum in your discourse, Moggy, you make me long for a glass of grog.' "Then your mouth will find the water," rejoined Nancy; "but, however, singing is dry work, and I am provided. Pass my basket aft, old gentleman, and we will find Mr. Salisbury something with which to whet his whistle." The boatman handed the basket to Nancy who pulled out a bottle and glass, which she filled, and handed to Jemmy. 66 'Now, Mr. Salisbury, I expect some more songs," said Nancy. 66 And you shall have them, mistress; but I've heard say that you've a good pipe of your own; suppose that you give me one in return, that will be but fair play." "Not exactly, for you'll haye the grog in the bargain," replied Nancy. "Put my fiddle against the grog, and then all's square.". I have not sung for many a day," replied Nancy, musing, and looking up at the bright twinkling stars. "I once sang, when I was young-and happy-I then sang all the day long; that was really singing, for it came from the merriness of my heart;" and Nancy paused. "Yes, I have sung since, and often, for they made me sing; but 'twas when my heart was heavy-or when its load had been, for a time, forgotten and drowned in wine. That was not singing, at least not the singing of bygone days. But those times are bygone too, Mistress Nancy," said Moggy; "you have now your marriage lines, and are made an honest woman." " "Yes, and God keep me so, amen," replied Nancy, mournfully. Had not the night concealed it, a tear might have been seen by the others in the boat to trickle down the cheek of Nancy Corbett, as she was reminded of her former life; and as she again fixed her eyes upon the brilliant heavens, each particular star appeared to twinkle brighter, as if they rejoiced to witness tears like those. "You must be light o' heart now, Mistress Nancy," observed Jemmy, soothingly. "I am not unhappy," replied she, resting her cheek upon her hand. "Mistress Nancy," said Moggy, "I should think a little of that stuff would do neither of us any harm; the night is rather bleak." Moggy poured out a glass and handed it to Nancy; she drank it, and it saved her from a flood of tears, which otherwise she would have been unable to repress. In a minute or two, during which Moggy helped herself and the old boatman, Nancy's spirits returned. "Do you know this air?" said Nancy to Jemmy, humming it. 66 Yes, yes, I know it well, Mistress Nancy. Will you sing to it?" Nancy Corbett, who had been celebrated once for her sweet singing, as well as her beauty, immediately commenced in a soft and melodious tone, while Jemmy touched his fiddle. Lost, stolen, or stray'd, The heart of a young maid; They shall rewarded be, With kisses one, two, three. O yes! O yes! O yes! "Or if he plays with anything else?" "Yes, indeed.' "Yes, indeed! then you must be downright jealous of his fiddle, Moggy," replied Nancy; "but never mind, you sha'n't be jealous now about nothing. I'll sing you a song, and then you'll forget all this.' Nancy Corbett then sang as follows: Fond Mary sat on Henry's knee; Then Harry said, "As time is short, Now prove your sum by kissing me :- "And now there is another term, "Subtraction don't me please." Division's next upon the list; Young Henry taught while Mary kiss'd, And much admired the rule; Now, Henry, don't you think me quick?"} "Why, yes, indeed, you've learn'd the trick. At kissing you're no fool." To multiply was next the game, To Mary fain would show; But here his patience was worn out, He could no further go. "And now we must leave off, my dear; The other rules are not so clear, We'll try at them to-night;" "I'll come at eve, my Henry sweet; Behind the hawthorn hedge we'll meet, For learning's my delight." "That's a very pretty song, Mistress Corbett, and you've a nice collection, I've no doubt. If you've no objection, I'll exchange another with you.' "I should be most willing, Mr. Salisbury; but we are now getting well over, and we may as well be quiet, as I do not wish people to ask where we are going.' "You're right, ma'am," observed the old fisherman who pulled the boat. "Put up your fiddle, master; there be plenty on the look out, without our giving them notice." 66 Very true," replied Jemmy, so we break up our concert." The whole party were now silent. In a quarter of an hour the boat was run into a cut, which concealed it from view; and, as soon as the fisherman had looked round to see the coast clear, they landed and made haste to pass by the cottages; after that Nancy slackened her pace, and they walked during the night over to the other side of the island, and arrived at the cottages above the cave. Here they left a portion of their burdens, and then proceeded to the path down the cliff which led to the cave. Ön Nancy giving the signal, the ladder was lowered, and they were admitted. As soon as they were upon the flat, Moggy embraced her husband, crying, "Here I have you, my own dear Jemmy, all to myself, and safe for ever.' CHAPTER XXX. IN WHICH MR. VANSLYPERKEN TREATS THE LADIES. On the second day after his arrival, Vanslyperken, as agreed, went up to the syndic's house to call upon Ramsay. The latter paid him down one hundred pounds for his passage and services; and Vanslyperken was so pleased, that he thought seriously, as soon as he had amassed sufficient money, to withdraw himself from the service, and retire with his ill-gotten gains; but when would a miser like Vanslyperken have amassed sufficient money? Alas! never, even if the halter were half round his neck. Ramsay then gave his instructions to Vanslyperken, advising him to call for letters previously to his sailing, and telling him that he must open the Government despatches in the way to which he had been witness, take full memorandums of the contents, and bring them to him, for which service he would each time receive fifty pounds as a remuneration. Vanslyperken bowed to his haughty new acquaintance, and quitted the house. "Yes," thought Ramsay, "that fellow is a low, contemptible traitor, and how infamous does treason appear in that wretch! but-I-I am no traitor-I have forfeited my property and risked my life in fidelity to my king, and in attempting to rid the world of an usurper and a tyrant. Here, indeed, I am playing a traitor's part to my host, but still I am doing my duty. An army without spies would be incomplete, and one may descend to that office for the good of one's country without tarnish or disgrace. Am I not a traitor to her already? Have not I formed visions in my imagination already of obtaining her hand, and her heart, and her fortune? Is not this treachery? Shall I not attempt to win her affections under disguise as her father's friend and partisan? But what have women to do with politics? Or if they have, do not they set so light a value upon them, that they will exchange them for a feather? Yes, surely; when they love, their politics are the politics of those they cling to. At present, she is on her father's side; but if she leave her father and cleave to me, her politics will be transferred with her affections. But then her religion. She thinks me a Protestant. Well, love is all in all with women; not only politics but religion must yield to it: "thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God," as Ruth says in the Scriptures. She is wrong in politics, I will put her right. She is wrong in religion, I will restore her to the bosom of the church. Her wealth would be sacrificed to some heretic; it were far better that it belonged to one who supports the true religion and the good cause. In what way, therefore, shall I injure her? On the contrary." And Ramsay walked down-stairs to find Wilhelmina. Such were the arguments used by the young cavalier, and with which he fully satisfied himself that he was doing rightly; had he argued the other side of the question, he would have been equally convinced, as most people are, when they argue without any opponent; but we must leave him to follow Vanslyperken. Mr. Vanslyperken walked away from the syndic's house with the comfortable idea that one side of him was heavier than the other by one hundred guineas. He also ruminated; he had already obtained three hundred pounds, no small sum, in those days, for a lieutenant. It is true that he had lost the chance of thousands by the barking of Snarleyyow, and he had lost the fair Portsmouth widow; but then he was again on good terms with the Frau Vandersloosh, and was in a fair way of making his fortune, and, as he considered, with small risk. His mother, too, attracted a share of his reminiscences; the old woman would soon die, and then he would have all that she had saved. Smallbones occasionally intruded himself, but that was but for a moment. And Mr. Vanslyperken walked away very well satisfied, upon the whole, with his esse and posse. He wound up by flattering himself that he should wind up with the savings of his mother, his half-pay, the widow's |