“For which we have to thank your skill.  The manner in which you have just extricated us from the late danger, has a direct tendency to contradict all that you were pleased to foretel of that which is to come.”

“I well know, Madam, that my conduct may bear an unfavourable construction, but”—­

“You thought it no harm to laugh at the weakness of three credulous females,” continued Mrs Wyllys, smiling.  “Well, you have had your amusement; and now.  I hope, you will be more disposed to pity what is said to be a natural infirmity of woman’s mind.”

As the governess concluded, she glanced her eye at Gertrude, with an expression that seemed to say it would be cruel, now, to trifle further with the apprehensions of one so innocent and so young.  The look of Wilder followed her own; and when he answered it was with a sincerity that was well calculated to carry conviction in its tones.

“On the faith which a gentleman owes to all your sex, Madam, what I have already told you I still continue to believe.”

“The gammonings and the top-gallant-masts!”

“No, no,” interrupted the young mariner, slightly laughing, and at the same time colouring a good deal; “perhaps not all of that.  But neither mother, wife, nor sister of mine, should make this passage in the ’Royal Caroline.’”

“Your look, your voice, and your air of good faith, make a strange contradiction to your words, young man; for, while the former almost tempt me to believe you honest, the latter have not a shade of reason to support them.  Perhaps I ought to be ashamed of such a weakness, and yet I will acknowledge that the mysterious quiet, which seems to have settled for ever on yonder ship, has excited an inexplicable uneasiness, that may in some way be connected with her character.—­She is certainly a slaver?”

“She is certainly beautiful!” exclaimed Gertrude.

“Very beautiful!” Wilder gravely rejoined.

“There is a man still seated on one of her yards who appears to be entranced in his occupation,” continued Mrs Wyllys, leaning her chin thoughtfully on her hand, as she gazed at the object of which she was speaking.  “Not once, during the time we were in so much danger of getting the ships entangled, did that seaman bestow so much as a stolen glance towards us.  He resembles the solitary individual in the city of the transformed; for not another mortal is there to keep him company, so far as we may discover.”

“Perhaps his comrades sleep,” said Gertrude.

“Sleep!  Mariners do not sleep in an hour and a day like this!  Tell me, Mr Wilder, (you that are a seaman should know), is it usual for the crew to sleep when a strange vessel is so nigh—­near even to touching, I might almost say?”

“It is not.”

“I thought as much; for I am not an entire novice in matters of your daring, your hardy, your noble profession!” returned the governess, with deep emphasis “And, had we gone foul of the slaver, do you think her crew would have maintained their apathy?”