o see amazement, doubt, hope, and happiness animating her
features, one after another.

"Is this real?" said she.

"I will sail with you to-morrow, Phoebe; and I will make you a good
husband, if you will have me."

"That is spoke like a man," said Dick. "You take him at his word,
Phoebe; and if he ill-uses you out there, I'll break every bone in his
skin."

"How dare you threaten him?" said Phoebe. "You had best leave the room."

Out went poor Dick, with the tear in his eye at being snubbed so. While
he was putting up the shutters, Phoebe was making love to her pseudo
penitent. "My dear," said she, "trust yourself to me. You don't know all
my love yet; for I have never been your wife, and I would not be your
jade; that is the only thing I ever refused you. Trust yourself to me.
Why, you never found happiness with others; try it with me. It shall
be the best day's work you ever did, going out in the ship with me. You
don't know how happy a loving wife can make her husband. I'll pet you
out there as man was never petted. And besides, it isn't for life; Dick
and me will soon make a fortune out there, and then I'll bring you home,
and see you spend it any way you like but one. Oh, how I love you! do
you love me a little? I worship the ground you walk on. I adore every
hair of your head!" Her noble arm went round his neck in a moment, and
the grandeur of her passion electrified him so far that he kissed her
affectionately, if not quite so warmly as she did him: and so it was all
settled. The maid was discharged that night instead of the morning, and
Reginald was to occupy her bed. Phoebe went up-stairs with her heart
literally on fire, to prepare his sleeping-room, and so Dick and
Reginald had a word.

"I say, Dick, how long will this voyage be?"

"Two months, sir, I am told."

"Please to cast your eyes on this suit of mine. Don't you think it is
rather seedy--to go to Africa with? Why, I shall disgrace you on board
the ship. I say, Dick, lend me three sovs., just to buy a new suit at
the slop-shop."

"Well, brother-in-law," said Dick, "I don't see any harm in that. I'll
go and fetch them for you."

What does this sensible Dick do but go up-stairs to Phoebe, and say, "He
wants three pounds to buy a suit; am I to lend it him?"

Phoebe was shaking and patting her penitent's pillow. She dropped it
on the bed in dismay. "Oh, Dick, not for all the world! Why, if he had
three sovereigns, he'd desert me at the water's