t break in upon the
privacy of the cottage and attempt some outrage--divine service was
invariably performed twice each Sunday in the lower apartment of the
cottage.

The day in question was no exception to the rule; and when the party
began to assemble for the morning service, they saw that Dickinson had
posted himself at a little distance from, but within easy hail of, the
door. He was accordingly invited in; and when he made his appearance,
with his hair freshly cut, his long bushy beard and moustache carefully
trimmed, and his person decently arrayed in a nearly new suit of blue
pilot-cloth, he looked not only every inch a sailor, but also a very
fine specimen of manhood. He entered with some show of diffidence, and
seemed half-inclined to beat a hasty retreat again, when Mrs Staunton
invited him to occupy a seat next her. However, he remained, conducting
himself with the greatest propriety during the service, and evidently
still having in remembrance the forms of the Episcopal ceremonial. When
prayers were over Captain Staunton delivered, according to his usual
custom, a short address, in which he strove earnestly to give a plain
and comprehensive answer to the question which Dickinson had propounded
to him in the boat. It is not within the province of such a book as
this to repeat what was said on the occasion; suffice it to say that the
skipper so far succeeded in his object that, when the service was over,
the strange guest went away a happier and a more hopeful man than he had
been for years. He presented himself again at the evening service,
remaining, at Mrs Staunton's invitation, to listen to the sacred music
in which the party generally indulged for an hour at the close of the
day. Thenceforth he was a changed man.

On the following morning Lance announced that he proposed to make, in
Blanche's company, a visit to the "gold mine," as they laughingly called
it. Blanche's presence was required ostensibly in order that she might
act in the capacity of pilot; but no one attempted to pretend that he or
she was blinded by so exceedingly transparent an excuse. Everybody knew
how eagerly the occasion was welcomed by the pair as affording an
opportunity for a long day's uninterrupted enjoyment of each other's
society, and everybody had accordingly something jocular to say about
it.

But what cared they, these two, happy in the first rosy flush of
mutually acknowledged love. They laughingly returned jest