"A very convenient person indeed," said Anne.

"Loosing the knot of a difficulty by the intervention of such a Power,
shows but little ingenuity, I confess," said Bernard.

"There is classical authority for it, though," said Mr. Armstrong.
"Homer, himself, condescends to introduce a God, when he cannot
extricate himself from embarrassment without his help."

"Aye," said Bernard, "but the rule of Horace must not be forgotten,
nec Deus," &c.

"True," said Mr. Armstrong; "but how would you have accomplished the
feat, like one of the labors of Hercules, without some such means?"

"I do not pretend to be able to do it," answered Bernard, modestly;
"but, doubtless, one possessed of more imagination could have
accomplished it."

"You are but a cold advocate for your friend," said Faith. "You do not
allow him half the merit he deserves"

"He would not complain were he to hear me," said Bernard. "No one can
be more sensible than himself, of the defects of his work."

"And I say," said Anne, "that I like his story exceedingly; only,
he knows nothing about our sex. It may be all very well for a man to
praise that hard-hearted Wampum-head, and make poor Leelinau pine away
for his precious sake, but, I do not believe she was so silly as to
care much about him."

"If the truth were known," said Pownal, "I have no doubt that the girl
rejected him, because she liked some one else better."

"And her ungallant beau," said Anne, "made up the story, to cover his
confusion."

"I am satisfied with it as it is," said Faith. "We pity and love
Leelinau, now; her haughtiness and pride are forgotten in her
misfortunes, and we remember her as one faithful unto death."

"Your tale reminds me," said Pownal, addressing Bernard, "that there
is a tremendous freshet in the Wootuppocut, and that the waters are
increasing. Suppose, if the ladies consent, we make up a party, to
view it, to-morrow?"

The proposition was received with approbation by all, and it was
agreed, that they would meet at the house of Mr. Armstrong, as the
starting-point, on the afternoon of the next day. The evening being
now considerably advanced, Faith's friends took their leave.

The nine o'clock bell was ringing, as the young people passed through
the quiet streets. The custom of ringing a bell, at that hour, is one
which has fallen into desuetude, although, once, almost universal in
New England, and may be said to bear some relation to the vesper-bell,
in Rom