in Layton talked over the matter, the more his ancient
ardour revived. "Cicely, girl, wilt thou go with me?" he exclaimed. "I
cannot leave thee behind; and yet I should fret if these young gallants
were away searching for my brave friend and I were to remain on shore,
like a weather-beaten old hulk, unfit for further service."

"Where you go, I will go, my father, as you wish it," answered Cicely;
"whether in Old England, or in New England across the ocean, there, if
you make your home, will I gladly abide with you."

"Well said, girl, well said," exclaimed the captain; "come, let me give
thee a buss for thy dutiful love--but I will not force thy
inclinations."

The next day the captain, mounted on his horse Sampson, set off for
Plymouth, the distance being too great for him to walk, in order to call
on some of his seafaring acquaintances, and to make inquiries regarding
vessels in the port of Plymouth and elsewhere, fit for a voyage to
America. Roger and Gilbert accompanied him on foot, but Master Vaughan
pleaded that, as he knew naught of naval affairs, he could be of no
service, and would prefer remaining to study the captain's sea journals
and some books on navigation, with the prospect of afterwards taking a
stroll with Mistress Cicely when she should have completed her household
duties for the day.

"As you like it," said the captain; "Cicely will bring you the books,
and pens and paper, should you wish to take notes of what you read."

Cicely thought Vaughan's plan a very proper one, and it is possible that
she hastened through her household duties with even more than her usual
alacrity, active as she always was.

The captain, with his son and Gilbert, called on several persons,
including among them some shipbuilders and shipowners, from one of whom
they learnt that the _Rainbow_, a stout bark of a hundred tons burthen,
lay in the harbour, having a short time before returned from the only
voyage she had made to the Levant, her timbers and plankings sound, her
tacklings and sails in perfect order; moreover that, in two weeks or so,
she might be got ready for sea. On going onboard, the captain and his
son were well pleased with the _Rainbow's_ appearance, though of opinion
that her tackling and sails required renewing, and that the necessary
repairs would take longer than her owner had stated. The captain, as
has been said, was a man of action; having satisfied himself as to the
fitness of the vessel, on