to find the ladies siding with
the smuggler.

"I am obliged to you ladies for your interference," said Pickersgill;
"for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be
sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply."

Lord B. was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowed
with _hauteur_. Everybody appeared to be in a false position; even he,
Lord B., somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler.

Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing each
other without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who both are
anxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of their
masters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill;
Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, but
it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard her
brother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished to
be magnificent and, at the same time, she was not sure whether all was
right, Phoebe having informed her that there was nobody with her brother
and Mr Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command of the
vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, and
returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes, when they resumed their walk
on the deck.

In the mean time, it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast; and the
Needles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between
Cecilia, Mrs Lascelles, and her father, was long. When all had been
detailed, and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B.
acknowledged that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open
to retaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of forbearance
in every instance; and, after all, had he not gone on board the yacht
she might have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amused
with the smuggling and the fright of his sister; still more with the
gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not the
only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with Pickersgill's
intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his respect to the
property on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On the whole, he felt
grateful to Pickersgill; and where there is gratitude there is always
good will.

"But who can he be?" said Mrs Lascelles; "his name he acknowledges not
to be Pickersgill; and he told me confidentially that he was of good
family."

"