ry agent, for his skill in the judgment of rich tissues, and other
luxuries that compose my traffic, is exceeding; and I am better fitted to
guide the vessel to her haven, and to look to her safety amid shoals and
in tempests, than to deal in these trifles of female vanity."

"So dexterous a go-between should not have mistaken a tide-waiter for a
customer--how befell the accident?"

"He met the barge of the Coquette at an unlucky moment, and as we had so
lately been chased off the coast by the cruiser, there was no choice but
to arrest him."

The dilemma is not without embarrassment. When once his mind is settled,
it is no trifle that will amuse this Mr. Ludlow. I do not know a more
literal construer of his orders in the fleet;--a man, Sir, who thinks
words have but a single set of meanings, and who knows as little as can be
imagined on the difference between a sentiment and a practice."

"He is a seaman, my lord, and he reads his instructions with a seaman's
simplicity. I think none the worse of him, that he cannot be tempted from
his duty; for, let us understand the right as we will, our service once
taken, it becomes us all to do it faithfully."

A small red spot came and went on the cheek of the profligate Cornbury.
Ashamed of his weakness, he affected to laugh at what he had heard, and
continued the discourse.

"Your forbearance and charity might adorn a churchman, Master Skimmer!" he
answered. "Nothing can be more true, for this is an age of moral truths,
as witness the Protestant succession. Men are now expected to perform, and
not to profess. Is the fellow of such usefulness that he may not be
abandoned to his fate?"

"Much as I dote on my brigantine, and few men set their affections on
woman with a stronger love, I would see the beauteous craft degenerate to
a cutter for the Queen's revenue, before I would entertain the thought!
But I will not anticipate a long and painful imprisonment for the youth,
since those who are not altogether powerless already take a deep and
friendly concern in his safety."

"You have overcome the Brigadier!" cried the other, in a burst of
exultation, that conquered the little reserve of manner he had thought it
necessary to maintain; "that immaculate and reforming representative of my
royal cousin has bitten of the golden bait, and proves a true colony
governor after all!"

"Lord Viscount, no. What we have to hope or what we have to fear from your
successor, is to me a secr