deeply, bade me
good-night, and swept haughtily out of the room. Egad! I felt as if
roused out of my berth by a cold sea filling it full in the middle of
my watch below. 'Lord!' thought I, aloud, 'what can I have done? There
I was, making love according to the chart, and before I knew it, I'm
high and dry ashore. One thing is clear as a bell, she is a
regular-built coquette, and all her fine looks to me are nothing but
man-traps, decoys, and false lights. Yet how beautiful she is, how she
has deceived me, and how much I might have loved her. Shall I try
again? No, I'm d--d if I do! once is enough for me. Egad! I can take a
hint without being kicked. To-morrow I'll go aboard again, and to work
like a second mate as I am; that's decided. But--'

"Absorbed in very disagreeable reflections, I sat by the window,
insensible to the charms without, which had before been so
fascinating, when I was suddenly aroused by the opening of the door. I
looked around, and saw Don Pedro. 'Where's Donna Clara?' he asked.

"'Gone,' I replied, in an exceeding bad humor.

"'What! so early? I made sure to find her here as usual.'

"'Well,' said I, 'you perceive that you were mistaken, I presume'--I
was _very_ cross.

"'Why, senor, something has gone wrong; you appear chagrined.'

"'Oh! no, sir; never was so good-natured in my life--ha! ha! beautiful
evening, Don Pedro! remarkably fine night! How pleasant the moon
shines, don't it?'

"'Mr. Stewart,' said Don Pedro, gravely, 'I do not wish to press you,
but you will greatly oblige me by telling me what has passed between
yourself and Donna Clara this night?'

"So, rather ashamed of my petulence, I recounted my essay at
love-making.

"'Carramba!' ejaculated Don Pedro, 'how d--d foolish--in her, I mean.
She is a wayward girl, sir, but yet I think she loves you. I tell you
frankly that I ardently desire her to marry you; pardon me, then, when
I say, that if you love her, do not be discouraged, but try again.'

"'I think not,' said I, decidedly, 'I go on board to-morrow.'

"My usually lively and mercurial friend sighed heavily, and then
drawing a chair, sat down opposite me. 'Listen to me a moment, sir,'
said he. 'Cast aside your mortified pride, and answer me frankly. Do
you really love my sister? Would you wish to see her subjected to the
alternative, either to become the wife of Don Carlos Alvarez, or else
to be confined in a convent, perhaps be constrained or influenced to
take the