to drown on the Goodwin
Sands--it would have been more kind," replied Bessy, weeping.

"Bessy," said Bramble, "it's my opinion that you are in love."

"In love!" cried Bessy, coloring to her throat.

"Yes, in love, my dear, or you would not talk such nonsense."

"If loving you as my father is being in love, I am, unfortunately."

"That's only half of the story; now give us the other," said Bramble,
smiling.

"What do you mean?" inquired Bessy, turning to him.

"Why, how do you love Tom?"

"Not half so much as I love her," said I.

"Well, if that's the case," replied Bramble, "we may as well publish the
bans; for Bessy's in love right over the ankles."

"Father, this may be very pleasant mockery; but I think it is not kind
to breed ill-will between those who live under the same roof. Now you
may go away; and if the knowledge that you have made me unhappy will add
to the pleasure of your journey, I can assure you that you have
succeeded." Bessy, having said this, immediately left the room and went
upstairs.

"Well," said Bramble, after a pause, "I'm glad that I never was in love;
for people so situated do make themselves very silly, that's a fact.
Tom, if you're going, it's time to be off."

"Why--" replied I, hesitatingly.

"I know--but I tell you, Tom, no such thing. She'll have a good cry, and
then she'll come down as well as ever. Leave her alone till we come
back."

Bramble and I then left the cottage, jumped into the galley, and were
soon on board of the ship.

On our arrival on board we found that the vessel was a Dutch Indiaman,
which had been captured by one of our cruisers on her voyage home from
Java. She was laden very deeply with cinnamon, nutmegs, cloves, and
other spices, besides pepper, and was valued at four hundred thousand
pounds sterling. She had come home from the island of St. Helena, with
convoy, and was now proceeding up the river, to be given in charge of
the prize agents in London. Not only her hold, but even her main deck,
as far aft as the mainmast, was filled up with her cargo; in short, she
was a very valuable prize, and although when I came on board the pepper
made me sneeze for ten minutes, the officer in charge told me very truly
that she was a prize "not to be sneezed at." She was manned by a
lieutenant and eighteen men belonging to the frigate which had captured
her--hardly sufficient for so large a vessel, but no more could be
spared.

"We'll up anchor as soon as yo