o anything for
me. I must go to a lodging, and advertise for another situation."

"They will want a recommendation from your last place."

"Well, I can get it from Canada."

"And that will take a month. Bluebell, listen to me; for there's no time
to beat about the bush. I love you, my sweet child; but that you know
already. Will you marry me? Don't start. I know it is sudden, but it
will be all easy. Directly we land we can drive to a register office;
they will ask no questions, but marry us right off, and we can have it
done over again in a church, if you like."

Bluebell began to wonder how many more sensational minutes this hour was
to contain.

"Mr. Dutton," she gasped, in a horrified tone, "what _are_ you saying?
You must know it is impossible."

"Summon all your moral courage, Bluebell. You were not afraid in the
storm. Why do you shrink from acting a little out of the common?"

This speech was so like what Bertie would have said, that it nearly
brought the tears to her eyes.

"Pray say no more," said she, shrinking away from him. "How could I ever
_dream_ of such a thing!"

"_Can't_ you care for me, Bluebell--ever so little?" pleaded Harry
Dutton.

"But that would be so _very_ much!"

Her strange wooer grew more eager, for the moments were passing, and
Bluebell was at her wit's end, when the skipper came rolling up to them.
The delight and relief with which his proposal of taking her home was
received was far from pleasing to Mr. Dutton, and Bluebell, in her
lightened heart, felt some self-reproach at the sight of his gloomy
countenance.

The captain was hurrying her away, but she lingered a moment, and, with
one of those speaking glances he had learnt to look for and love, put out
her hand to the young sailor.

"Stay with me," he whispered; "it is not yet too late." She shook her
head, "I believe you hate me!" he muttered, savagely.

"No," said Bluebell, impulsively saying more than she felt. "I like you
only too well--but not enough for that."

"Any more last words?" said the skipper, who had stood aside
good-humouredly, master of the situation.

"I have nothing further to say," said the young man, stiffly, making way
for her to pass.

A minute more, and she was rowing to shore in the captain's boat, who
then put her into a cab to drive to his home.

Now, the good skipper, such an autocrat on board his vessel, was by no
means so under his own roof-tree, and sundry misgivings obtruded
th