but beg his
pardon, I should be more happy. Poor fellow!--what must he have felt
at my harsh bearing. Oh! my father, I could not have believed it. And
what did I say?--that I had no feeling for--well, I thought so at the
time, but now--I am not quite sure that I was correct, though
he--well, it's better that he's gone--but I cannot bear that he should
have gone as he has done. How his opinion of me must have changed!
That is what vexes me--" and again she bent her head down on the table
and wept.

In a moment she again rose, and took her candle in her hand.
Perceiving on the dressing-table a small gold ring which I had taken
off my finger the day before, and had forgotten, she took it up and
examined it. After a little while she laid her light down on the
table, and put the ring upon her finger.

"I will keep it till I see him again," murmured she; and then taking
her light, she walked slowly out of the room.

The knowledge I had gained by this unintentional eavesdropping on my
part, was the source of much reflection--and as I lay on the bed
without taking off my clothes, it occupied my thoughts till the day
began to break. That I still retained the good opinion of Miss
Trevannion was certain, and the mortification I had endured at our
final interview was now wholly removed. It was her duty to suppose her
parent not in fault till the contrary was proved. She had known her
father for years--me she had only known for a short time, and never
before had she known him guilty of injustice. But her expressions and
her behaviour in my room--was it possible that she was partial to me,
more partial than she had asserted to her father when she was
questioned!--and her taking away the ring!

CHAPTER XIV.

A Conspiracy, which ends satisfactorily to all
Parties--Privateering is abandoned, and Captain
Levee and Philip serve the King.

The night passed away in attempts at analyzing the real feelings of
Miss Trevannion, and also my own towards her; and now that I was to be
separated from her, I discovered what I really had not before
imagined, that my future happiness was seriously endangered by my
sentiments towards her: in short, dear Madam, that I was most
seriously in love.

"And now," thought I, "of what avail is it to have made this discovery
now, except it were to convince me, as Miss Trevannion had said, that
it were better that I were gone."

I did not fail to call to mind her observation about m