interview with
the wife of his friend. He first made his way to Mr Gournay's
counting-house, that he might inquire for his intended brother-in-law
Giles Dainsforth. Mr Gournay himself had returned home, but the clerks
were still there. Giles Dainsforth was not among them.

"Oh, did you not know that he left us last year to go to Nottingham, to
be married to Mr Deane's daughter? They sailed some time since for Mr
Penn's new colony in America, which they call Pennsylvania," was the
answer. "Several friends have gone out there from thence, and it's one
of the most flourishing settlements in the New World."

Jack accordingly hastened to Mr Gournay's residence, and first asked to
see Mrs Gournay. She received Jack very kindly, though she expressed
her regret at finding that he was following a profession in which he was
likely to shed the blood of his fellow-creatures.

"Young man, thou hadst better have taken a quill in thine hand, to
labour as a clerk in a counting-house, or have remained a drover to
conduct cattle up and down the country, than used a sword to deface
God's image, as I fear too often thou must have done."

Jack did not wish to argue the point, but he assured her that he had no
pleasure in killing his fellow-creatures, and that he had the
consolation of believing that the navy had been the means of preventing
a Popish King from coming over and re-establishing papacy in the
country; and that he also in his humble way had been of some benefit to
his fellow-creatures. "For instance," he said, "I was the means not
long since of saving the life of a gentleman, a French Protestant, whom
I have brought with me to see you."

Jack then explained who his companion was. Good Mrs Gournay was
overjoyed.

"Mr Deane," she said, "we must break it gently to dear Madame de
Mertens. She has been, especially lately, in delicate health, and any
sudden surprise might be injurious to her. I will go and gradually tell
her of what has occurred, and do you return to the inn and bring
Monsieur de Mertens here. By the time that he arrives, it may probably
be safe to allow them to meet."

It was very long since Jack had trod the ground with the elastic step
with which he hastened back to bring his friend to Mr Gournay's house.
He felt, indeed, very proud at the thought that he should thus have been
the means of restoring two loving hearts to each other, and still more
proud he felt he should be if he could discover th