on is a friend of mine; and, though I have only
known him a couple of years, I am sure he is a generous, good sort of
fellow, and honest and truthful, though a bit thoughtless and careless. I
am sure he will see his own folly and bad conduct when it is shown to
him. This is a sham love of his. She is a very pretty girl, it is true.
You won't mind my saying that?"

"Say away, sir. I look more to what people mean than what they say."

"Well, no doubt, he has been struck by her beauty; but their positions
are different, and he has only seen her for a week or two. Besides, he
knows that you and she are fond of one another. I believe he is only
idle and thoughtless. If I thought for a moment that he was
contemplating a blackguardly act, he should be no friend of mine, and I
would not only tell him so, but I would give him a good kicking, or look
on with pleasure while you did it. But you must be quiet, Hawkstone, at
present, for you know nothing, and a quarrel would only do you harm all
round."

"It's not so easy to be quiet. The neighbours are beginning to talk,
sir, though they don't let me hear what they say. I can see by their
looks. What business has he to sit beside her on the quay? He is making
a fool of her and of me. I cannot bear it. Sometimes I feel as if I
should go mad. I don't know what those poor creatures in the Bible felt
when they were possessed by the devil, but I believe he comes right into
me when I think of this business." Then he bent over the boat and
covered his face with his arms, and his great broad back heaved up and
down, like a boat on the sea. Glenville left him alone, and puffed away
vigorously at a cigar he was smoking in order to quiet his own feelings,
which had been more excited than he liked.

After a few minutes, Hawkstone raised his head as if from a sleep, and
suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, sir! The wind and the sea have not been idle
while we have been talking. We must be sharp now. Shout to your
friends, sir. I cannot shout just yet, I think."

Glenville shouted as loud as he was able.

"That won't do, I'm afeard," said Hawkstone, and he gave a loud halloo,
which rang from cliff to cliff, and brought out a cloud of gulls, sailing
round and round for a while in great commotion, but soon disappearing
into the cliffs again.

We were most of us already descending when we heard Hawkstone's voice;
the boat was soon ready; but where were Thornton and his lady love? A