“Tell me, Roderick,” she continued, careful not to alarm his jealousy by any sudden allusion to his manner; “tell me of this life of yours.  You find it merry?”

“I find it sad.”

“’Tis strange.  The young ship-boys are ever among the merriest of mortals.  Perhaps your office! treats you with severity.”

No answer was given.

“I am then right:  Your Captain is a tyrant?”

“You are wrong:  Never has he said harsh or unkind word to me.”

“Ah! then he is gentle and kind.  You are very happy, Roderick.”

“I—­happy, Madam!”

“I speak plainly, and in English—­happy.”

“Oh! yes, we are all very happy here.”

“It is well.  A discontented ship is no paradise.  And you are often in port, Roderick, to taste the sweets of the land?”

“I care but little for the land, Madam, could I only have friends in the ship that love me.”

“And have you not?  Is not Mr Wilder your friend?”

“I know but little of him; I never saw him before”—­

“When, Roderick?”

“Before we met in Newport.”

“In Newport?”

“Surely you know we both came from Newport, last.”

“Ah!  I comprehend you.  Then, your acquaintance with Mr Wilder commenced at Newport?  It was while your ship was lying off the fort?”

“It was.  I carried him the order to take command of the Bristol trader.  He had only joined us the night before.”

“So lately!  It was a young acquaintance indeed.  But I suppose your Commander knew his merits?”

“It is so hoped among the people.  But”—­

“You were speaking, Roderick.”

“None here dare question the Captain for his reasons.  Even I am obliged to be mute.”

“Even you!” exclaimed Mrs Wyllys, in a surprise that for the moment overcame her self-restraint.  But the thought in which the boy was lost appeared to prevent his observing the sudden change in her manner.  Indeed, so little did he know what was passing, that the governess touched the hand of Gertrude, and silently pointed out the insensible figure of the lad, without the slightest apprehension that the movement would be observed.

“What think you, Roderick,” continued his interrogator “would he refuse to answer us also?”

The boy started; and, as consciousness shot into his glance, it fell upon the soft and speaking countenance of Gertrude.

“Though her beauty be so rare,” he answered with vehemence, “let her not prize it too highly.  Woman cannot tame his temper!”

“Is he then so hard of heart?  Think you that a question from this fair one would be denied?”

“Hear me, Lady,” he said, with an earnestness that was no less remarkable than the plaintive softness of the tones in which he spoke; “I have seen more, in the last two crowded years of my life, than many youths would witness between childhood and the age of man.  This is no place for innocence and beauty.  Oh! quit the ship, if you leave it as you came, without a deck to lay your head under!”