g with her a letter that would prove his
existence without involving him or his friends in danger. And
eagerly she argued, "You do not know me really! It is only an
imagination that you can be the better for my presence." Then,
unheeding his fervid exclamation, "It was my dear mother who did you
good. What would she think of the way in which you are trying to
gain me?"

"That I cannot do without you."

"And what would you have in me? I could be only wretched, and feel
all my life--such a life as it would be--that you had wrecked my
happiness. Oh yes! I do believe that you would try to make me
happy, but don't you see that it would be quite impossible with such
a grief as that in my heart, and knowing that you had caused it? I
know you hate him, and he did you the wrong; but he has grieved for
it, and banished himself. But above all, of this I am quite sure,
that to persist in this horrible evil of leaving him to die, because
of your revenge, and stealing me away, is truly giving Satan such a
frightful advantage over you that it is mere folly to think that
winning me in such a way could do you any good. It is just a mere
delusion of his, to ruin us both, body and soul. Peregrine, will
you not recollect my mother, and what she would think? Have pity on
me, and help me away, and I would pledge myself never to utter a
word of this place nor that could bring you and yours into danger.
We would bless and pray for you always."

"No use," he gloomily said. "I believe you, but the others will
never believe a woman. No doubt we are watched even now by
desperate men, who would rather shoot you than let you escape from
our hands."

It seemed almost in connection with these words that at that moment,
from some unknown quarter, where probably there was an entrance to
the Chine, Sir George Barclay appeared with a leathern case under
his arm. It had been captured on the wreck, and contained papers
which he wanted assistance in deciphering, since they were in Dutch,
and he believed them to be either despatches or bonds, either of
which might be turned to profit. These were carried indoors, and
spread on the table, and as Anne sat by the window, dejected and
almost hopeless as she was, she could not help perceiving that,
though Peregrine was so much smaller and less robust than his
companions, he exercised over them the dominion of intellect,
energy, and will, as if they too felt the force of his strange eyes;
and