's a bad thing for a girl to have a
great fortune; they get so much flattery that it turns their heads.
Well, Tom, I wasn't looking after the money, as you'll believe when I
tell you so; but as she was very chatty with me, and allowed me to come
inside the bar, which was considered as a great favor, to help rinse the
glasses, and so on, and as the other men used to joke with me, and tell
me that I should carry off the prize, I began to think that she was fond
of me, and so very naturally I became fond of her; and we met and we
parted (and she would allow me to kiss her when we parted), until I was
quite gone altogether, and did nothing but think of her all day and
dream of her all night. Well, the last time that I was in the transport
to Portsmouth, I had made up my mind to clinch the business, and as soon
as the sails were furled, I dressed myself in my best toggery and made
all sail for the old house. When I came in I found Peggy in the bar, and
a very fancy sort of young chap alongside of her. I did not think so
much of that, and I was going inside the bar to shake hands as usual,
when says she, 'Well, I should not wonder,' pulling to the half-door, as
if she were surprised at my attempting to come in.

"'Oh, ho!' says I, 'are you on that tack? what next?' and then I looked
more at the chap, and he was a very nice young man, as the saying is. As
I afterward found out, he was in the smuggling line between Cherbourg
and our coast, and he had Frenchified manners, and he talked little bits
of French, and he had French gloves for presents, and had earrings in
his ears, and lots of rings on his fingers. So I took my seat at the
wooden benches near the fire, just as sulky as a bear with a sore head,
watching their maneuvers. At last he walked out, kissing his hand as she
smiles. As the coast was clear I went up to the bar.

"'Well,' says I, 'Peggy, so the wind's shifted, is it?'

"'What do you mean?' says she. 'I suppose I may be civil to another
person as well as to you.'

"'Yes, I see no objection,' says I; 'but why was he to be inside the
bar, and I put out?'

"'Oh,' replied she, 'one at a time, you know, Mr. Philip. I haven't made
any promises to you that I know of.'

"'That's very true,' replied I, 'but--'

"'Oh, you mustn't fret here,' interrupted she. 'I'm my own mistress, I
suppose. However, I'll tell you this much, that I don't care a bit about
him, and that's the truth of it--but I did not like your coming