yself if all that has happened is true or a dream," said Bramble
to me, as we sat inside of the coach to Dover, for there were no other
inside passengers but ourselves. "I can't help thinking that great good
fortune is as astounding as great calamity. Who would have thought, when
I would, in spite of all Bessy's remonstrances, go round in that ship
with you, that in the first place we should have been taken possession
of by a privateer in the very narrows (he was a bold cruiser, that
Frenchman)? After we were captured I said to myself, Bessy must have had
a forewarning of what was to happen, or she never would have been, as I
thought, so perverse. And since it has turned out so fortunately, I
can't help saying how fortunate it was that we did not allow her to
persuade us; for had we not both gone, nothing could have been done.
Well, I think we may promise Bessy this time when we meet her, that we
will not trust ourselves to salt water again in a hurry. What do you
think, Tom?"

"No; I think the best thing I can do is to marry, and live on shore,"
replied I.

"Yes, Tom, that's it. Give me your hand, you don't know how happy you
make me; we'll all live together. But where shall we live? for the poor
little cottage that I thought quite big enough for us a month ago will
not do now."

"We have plenty of time to talk that over, father. I love the cottage
for many reasons; although, as you say, it is not large enough now for
our means or future way of living."

"And I love it too, boy; I love to look out of the door and see the spot
where my Bessy rescued me from death. God bless her! she is a noble
girl, Tom, though I say it who--but I'm not her father, after all, and
if I were, I would still say it."

"It is evident, by her letter to you, that she has been most anxious
about us. What will she say when she hears we have both been wounded?"

"Ay! it wouldn't have done to have told her that, or she would have set
off for Chatham, as sure as we are sitting here."

Here a pause ensued for some time, and we were busied with our own
thoughts. The silence was at last broken by me.

"Father," said I, "I should like to ask my father and Peter Anderson to
come down to us; they can easily get leave."

"Is it to be present at your wedding, Tom?"

"Exactly--if Bessy will consent."

"Well, I have no doubt of that, Tom; but she will now require a little
courting, you know why."

"Why, because all women like it, I suppose."