,
beautiful Alida, though its incidents seem so vulgar, and of every-day
occurrence. There is mystery in its beginning and its end; in its
impulses; its sympathies and all its discordant passions. No, do not quit
me. I am from off the sea, where none but coarse and vulgar-minded men
have long been my associates; and thy presence is a balm to a bruised and
wounded spirit."

Interested, if possible, more by the touching and melancholy tones of the
speaker, than by his extraordinary language, Alida hesitated. Her reason
told her that propriety, and even prudence, required she should apprize
her uncle of the stranger's presence; but propriety and prudence lose much
of their influence, when female curiosity is sustained by a secret and
powerful sympathy. Her own eloquent eye met the open and imploring look of
organs, that seemed endowed with the fabled power to charm; and while her
judgment told her there was so much to alarm her senses pleaded powerfully
in behalf of the gentle mariner.

"An expected guest of my uncle will have, leisure to repose, after the
privations and hardships of so weary a voyage," she said. "This is a house
whose door is never closed against the rites of hospitality."

"If there is aught about my person or attire, to alarm you," returned the
stranger, earnestly, "speak, that it may be cast away--These arms--these
foolish arms, had better not have been here," he added, casting the
pistols and dagger indignantly, through a window, into the shrubbery; "Ah!
if you knew how unwillingly I would harm any--and, least of all, a
woman--you would not fear me!"

"I fear you not," returned la Belle, firmly. "I dread the misconceptions
of the world."

"What world is here to disturb us? Thou livest in thy pavilion, beautiful
Alida, remote from towns and envy, like some favored damsel, over whose
happy and charmed life presides a benignant genius. See, here are all the
pretty materials, with which thy sex seeks innocent and happy amusement.
Thou touchest this lute, when melancholy renders thought pleasing; here
are colors to mock, or to eclipse, the beauties of the fields and the
mountain, the flower, and the tree; and from these pages are culled
thoughts, pure and rich in imagery, as thy spirit is spotless, and thy
person lovely!"

Alida listened in amazement; for, while he spoke the young mariner touched
the different articles he named, with a melancholy interest, which seemed
to say how deeply he regretted