For weary months did Mary Pratt derive sweet consolation from her treasure of a letter.  It was, perhaps, no more than human nature, or woman’s nature at least, that, in time, she got most to regard those passages which best answered to the longings of her own heart; and that she came at last to read the missive, forgetful in a degree, that it was written by one who had deliberately, and as a matter of faith, adopted the idea that the Redeemer was not, in what may be called the catholic sense of the term, the Son of God.  The papers gave an account of the arrival of the ’Twin Sea Lions,’ as the article styled them, in the port of Beaufort, to repair damages; and of their having soon sailed again, in company.  This paragraph she cut out of the journal in which it met her eye, and enclosing it in Roswell’s last letter, there was not a day in the succeeding year in which both were not in her hand, and read for the hundredth time, or more.  These proofs of tenderness, however, are not to be taken as evidence of any lessening of principle, or as signs of a disposition to let her judgment and duty submit to her affection.  So far from this, her resolution grew with reflection, and her mind became more settled in a purpose that she deemed sacred, the longer she reflected on the subject.  But, her prayers in behalf of her absent lover grew more frequent, and much more fervent.

In the mean time, the Twin Lions sailed.  On leaving Beaufort, they ran off the coast with a smart breeze from south-west, making a leading wind of it.  There had been some variance of opinion between Daggett and Gardiner, touching the course they ought to steer.  The last was for hauling up higher, and passing to the southward of Bermuda; while the first contended for standing nearly due east, and going to the northward of those islands.  Gardiner felt impatient to repair his blunder, and make the shortest cut he could; whereas Daggett reasoned more coolly, and took the winds into the account, keeping in view the main results of the voyage.  Perhaps the last wished to keep his consort away from all the keys, until he was compelled to alter his course in a way that would leave no doubt of his intentions.  Of one thing the last was now certain; he knew by a long trial that the Sea Lion of Oyster Pond could not very easily run away from the Sea Lion of Holmes’ Hole, and he was fully resolved that she should not escape from him in the night, or in squalls.  As for Roswell Gardiner, not having the smallest idea of looking for his key, until he came north, after visiting the antarctic circle, he had no notion whatever of the reason why the other stuck to him so closely; and, least of all, why he wished to keep him clear of the West Indies, until ready to make a descent on his El Dorado.