,
and I wish you knew how happy I am to give it to you safe at last."

Before Jessie could reply there was a knock at the door. Mrs Judson
went to open it. "Miss Flamank cannot see you," Jessie heard her say.

"She never sent that message," exclaimed Dick Bracewell, brushing by her
and entering the room. He cast an angry glance at Peter, as if he
considered him an intruder, and advanced to shake hands with Jessie.
She drew back, greatly annoyed at his conduct.

"Mrs Judson told you I was engaged," she said.

"She told me you couldn't see me; but when a man loves a girl, and knows
pretty well that she likes him, he isn't to be stopped by trifles," he
answered, throwing himself into a chair, as if he felt perfectly at
home.

A feeling of indignation prevented Jessie from saying anything.
Meantime Peter had been narrowly eyeing her unwelcome visitor, and,
stepping up to him, said--

"You've just come from the West Indies, mate, I've a notion?"

"Yes, I've been in those seas," answered Dick, for, having told Jessie
so, he could not deny the fact.

"I thought as much; and we met there not long ago in a way I'm not
likely to forget," said Peter, quietly. "Maybe you don't remember me,
but I do you, I can tell you; and there are not a few of the crew of the
_Kate_ who will remember you, too, if they set eyes on you."

Dick; taken by surprise, turned pale, and declared he did not know what
the young man meant; but Peter again minutely described how his ship had
been boarded by pirates on the Spanish main, and positively asserting
that Dick was one of them, advised him, if he valued his life and
liberty, to clear out of Plymouth without delay.

Dick, as might have been expected, swore that the young man, as he
called Peter, was mistaken; but shortly after, observing that it was
clear he was not wanted, took up his hat, and, without much
leave-taking, hurried out of the house.

Jessie, who feared that Peter was right in his suspicions, thanked him
for giving Dick the warning.

"He was once, at all events, Ralph Michelmore's friend, and I should
have grieved if you had been the means of bringing him to punishment,"
she said.

"I'd not hurt him, Miss Jessie, on any account," answered Peter; "but as
I judged by the way you spoke to him that he was not welcome, I thought
I would just say what would make him keep away for the future."

Peter remained to dinner and amused Jessie and Mrs Judson with an
account of hi