uld not like to trust my dear brother on
board any other ship."

Sophie seemed inclined to speak, but hesitated: though the glance she
gave me, I fancied, showed that she hoped I would not decline.

"Oh, you must come, Laurel," said Henri. "My father will, I am sure, be
glad to pay any expenses of extra insurance and that sort of thing, so
that the interest of your owners will not suffer."

Having seen my friends lodged at a comfortable hotel, I had to return on
board to attend to my duties connected with the ship.

I lost no time in discharging my cargo, and was not sorry to find that
there would be some delay before the sugar and other produce I was to
receive in return would be ready.

I of course visited my friends every day, to see how poor Henri was
getting on, and spent as much time with him as I could. They insisted
as regularly on my remaining to dine and spend the evening. Every day
that I saw the young ladies, I liked them better, and confessed to
myself that I had begun to feel more than an ordinary interest for
Sophie. Her eyes brightened when I entered, and her manner towards me
was so gentle and so confiding, that I could not help fancying that the
feelings I had for her were returned. Then I began to ask myself the
question, Have I, with the precarious profession I have to depend on,
without a name or family, with only one friend able to assist me, any
right to attempt to win the affections of a young girl accustomed to all
the luxuries of a rich planter's establishment? or is it indeed likely
that her father would allow her to marry a person situated as I am?
These and similar thoughts occupied my mind; and I determined, the next
time I went to the house, to be very cautious in my manner, and, only
paying such attentions to her and her cousin as common courtesy
demanded, to devote myself rather to her uncle and aunt, or to Henri,
who had now sufficiently recovered to be able to join the party in the
drawing-room.

The next day, however, when I went to call on the merchants to whom the
_Ellen_ was consigned, they inquired whether I should have any objection
to carry Monsieur de Villereine and his family to Saint Lucia.

"He has made the necessary arrangements with us, so that, if the ship is
ready, you can sail the day after to-morrow."

I tried to look unconcerned, and replied that I should be very glad to
do anything to accommodate them.

"We will consider the matter settled then," was t