ake
my oath that I've had that glass in my hand a hundred times."

"Indeed!" replied I. "Where?"

But Spicer did not answer me; he had fallen into one of his dark moods,
and appeared as if recalling former events to his mind. He still kept
possession of the glass, and I was afraid that he would not return it,
for I tried to take it softly out of his hand, and he would not let go.
He remained in this way about a minute, when I perceived my father and
Ben the Whaler coming up, at which I was delighted.

"Father," said I, as they came near, "come and try my new spy-glass."

Spicer started, and released the telescope, when I laid hold of it and
put it into my father's hands. As neither my father nor Ben would ever
speak to him, Spicer, with a lowering brow, walked away. After my father
had examined the glass and praised it, he very naturally asked me where
I obtained it. After what had passed with Spicer I was so fearful of his
discovering, by other people, by whom the glass had been given to me,
that I replied again, in the hearing of everybody, "A lady, father; you
may easily guess who."

"Well," replied my father, "I never thought that her ladyship could have
been so generous. I take it very kindly of her."

I was delighted at my father falling so easily into the mistake. As for
my mother and Virginia, they were neither of them present when Jane
brought the telescope to me, or I certainly should have stated, without
reservation, to whom I had been indebted. I hardly could decide whether
I would go to the widow and tell her what had occurred; but, upon some
reflection, as she had accused me of asking too many questions, and
might suppose that I wished to obtain her secrets, I determined upon
saying nothing about it.

For a week I occupied myself wholly with my telescope, and I became
perfectly master of it, or rather quite used to it, which is of some
importance. I avoided Spicer, always leaving the steps when I perceived
him approaching, although once or twice he beckoned to me. At the
expiration of the week a message was brought by a waterman from Philip
Bramble, stating that he should pass Greenwich in a day or two, being
about to take down a West Indiaman then lying below London Bridge. My
clothes were therefore then packed up in readiness, and I went to bid
farewell to my limited acquaintance.

I called upon old Nanny, who was now quite strong again. I had before
acquainted her with my future prospects.

"