aten stout old gentleman, who had seen some
hard service during the war, and what with wounds, hard-drinking, and
the gout, had been forced to relinquish the sea, and anchor for life in
the pretty village of Norgood, where he held property, through the death
of the rich Mr. Henderson, to a considerable amount. His wife had been
dead for some years, and his only daughter, whom he scarcely suffered
out of his sight, was educated at home, under the superintendence of her
aunt, who professed to be the most accomplished, as she certainly was
the most disagreeable, woman in the world.

"I think, Captain Whitmore, you had better defer your congratulations
until you see what sort of persons these young men are. Mrs. Grant
assured me yesterday that one of these gentlemen is very wild. Quite a
profligate."

"Fiddlesticks!" said the jolly Captain, snapping his fingers. "I know
what young men are. A gay dashing lad, I suppose, whose hot blood and
youthful frolics old maiden ladies construe into the most awful crimes."

"Old maiden ladies, sir! Pray whom do you mean to insult by that gross
appellation?"

"Gross! I always thought that maiden was a term that implied virgin
innocence and purity, whether addressed to the blithe lass of sixteen,
or the antiquated spinster of forty," returned the provoking sailor,
with a knowing glance.

"I hate your vulgar insinuations," said Miss Dorothy, her sharp nose
flushing to a deep red. "But how can one expect politeness from a sea
monster?"

"Ha! ha! ha!" shouted the Captain. "Never mind, Dolly, don't give way to
temper, and curl up that bowsprit of yours with such a confounded ugly
twist. There may be a chance yet. Let me see. I don't think that you are
fifty-four. My nurse, Betty Holt, was called an old maid for thirty
years, and married at last."

"I wonder, brother, that you are not ashamed of naming me and that
low-born person in the same breath. As to matrimony, I despise the male
sex too much to degrade myself by entering upon it."

"It would have sweetened your temper amazingly," said the Captain,
re-filling his pipe. "I believe, Dorothy, you were never put to the
trial?"

"You know that I refused at least a dozen offers."

"Whew! I never heard a word about them before."

Miss Dorothy knew that she was telling a great fib; and she drew herself
up with increased dignity. "You were at sea, sir."

"So, I suppose," drawing a long whiff from his pipe, "I must have been a
great