ow 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 are both
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 smugglers' clothes, when they resumed their walk
on 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 for 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."

"Confidentially, my dear Mrs Lascelles!" said Lord B---.

"Oh, yes! We are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?"

"Upon my honour, Mrs Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made an
impression which many have attempted in vain."

Mrs Lascelles did not reply to the remark, but said, "Now, my lord, you
must decide--and I trust you will, to oblige us; treat him as he has
treated us, with the grea