erwards.

One thing only Bluebell retained her firmness sufficiently to stipulate
for, which was, that the kind old captain should be told of it. Mr.
Dutton agreed, on condition that she did not breathe a syllable till
after their marriage, when he promised to write himself and acquaint the
skipper.

Bluebell could scarcely trust herself to think as she walked slowly home.
She felt quite reckless, and as though she were fated to do this act,
that seemed so desperate. What would all her friends in Canada say?
Somehow she did not look forward to telling the news to Mrs. Rolleston.
She supposed Cecil would be pleased, and it might clear up matters
between her and Bertie. Ah! if it were only him she was going to be
married to! Why does one always like the wicked ones best? She wished to
imagine him desperate, remorseful, beside himself with jealousy. But she
knew that would not be so. At the utmost he would, perhaps, toss off a
brandy-and-soda, give a tremendous sigh, and ejaculate, "Ah! poor, dear
little Bluebell!" and then reflect that he would rather like to meet her
again, when there would be no question of marrying--the only thing he was
unprepared to do for her.

From which tolerably accurate surmise our reader will perceive that our
heroine has rather come on in penetration since we first presented her
fresh and verdant in these pages.

Then she thought of her mother, and how disappointed she would be at not
being present at the marriage. She had written to her on landing, but
this letter had been posted in Ireland. Since then she had acquainted her
with the facts of Evelyn's death, and of her own exertions to obtain
another situation, lodging in the mean time with Mrs. Davidson.

On her re-appearance Bluebell was received somewhat coldly by the old
captain, who asked her where she could find to walk so long every day. It
was very disagreeable having to answer evasively, and he did not appear
satisfied--on the contrary, eyed her askance all the evening.

The reason was, he had accidentally observed Mr. Dutton coming out of an
hotel, and was unable to conjecture what kept him in Liverpool, unless he
were lingering there on Bluebell's account. Connecting this with her
frequent absence from home, he began to think it time to be relieved from
the responsibility of this dangerous young guest. He did not reveal his
suspicions to his wife, but the following day kept something of a watch
over her, and proposed himself