nk him for having brought 'em out. They could
never do any good here, you know, poor lasses; but out there, where
white women are scarce, they are ready to worship the very ground they
tread upon."

"I tell you she ain't one of that sort. She is a young lady of birth,
a cousin of my Lady's own, as innocent as a babe, and there are two
gentlemen, if not three, a dying for her."

"I lay you anything not one of 'em is worth old Mr. Van Draagen, who
turns his thousands every month. 'Send me out a lady lass,' says he,
'one that will do me credit with the governor's lady.' Why she will have
an estate as big as from here to Dover, and slaves to wait on her, so
as she need never stoop to pick up her glove. He has been married
twice before, and his last used to send orders for the best brocades in
London. He stuck at no expense. The Queen has not finer gowns!"

"But to think of the poor child's waking up out at sea."

"Oh! Mrs. Karen will let her know she may think herself well off. I
never let 'em go unless there's a married woman aboard to take charge of
them, and that's why I kept your lady waiting till the _Red Cloud_ was
ready to sail. You may tell her Ladyship she could not have a better
berth, and she'll want for nothing. I know what is due to the real
quality, and I've put aboard all the toilette, and linen, and dresses
as was bespoke for the last Mrs. Van Draagen, and there's a civil spoken
wench aboard, what will wait on her for a consideration."

"Nay, but mistress," said Loveday, whispering: "I know those that would
give more than you will ever get from my Lady if they found her safe
here."

"Of course there are, or she would not be here now," said Mrs. Darke,
with a horrid grin; "but that won't do, my lass. A lady that's afraid
of exposure will pay you, if she pawns her last diamond, but a
gentleman--why, he gets sick of his fancy, and snaps his fingers at
them that helped him!" Then, looking keenly at Loveday, "You've not been
playing me false, eh?"

"O no, no," hastily exclaimed Loveday, cowering at the malignant look.

"If so be you have, Grace Loveday, two can play at that game," said Mrs.
Darke composedly. "There, I have left her enough to turn back. What
hair it is! Feel the weight of it! There's not another head of the
mouse-colour to match your Lady's in the kingdom," she added, smoothing
out the severed tresses with the satisfaction of a connoisseur. "No
wonder madame could not let this be wasted o