from the fate you dread; do
not then reject it."

She only answered with tears, and continued to repeat, as if
mechanically, "I dare not; no, no, I cannot." Morton was silent a few
moments, when a sudden ray of hope enlivened his gloomy reverie.

"Hear me, dearest; there is one, and only one, chance left yet. If your
uncle urges you to marry, entreat him for one year's delay. Before that
time expires, I trust to be here again. Vessels are constantly fitting
out from the United States to this part of the world--if such a thing
can be effected by mere human agency, I will be on board one of them, if
not, I both can and will purchase and fit out a vessel myself. Promise
me then, my love, that you will use all possible means to defer any
matrimonial schemes your uncle may form for at least two years. But I
trust, if my life and health are spared, that, before half that time has
expired, I shall be here, to claim your first promise."

"I will, I will, dear Charles; I will not deceive you. I know my uncle
loves me, and will grant me that delay. And now we must part; I shall be
missed, and I dare not stay a moment longer. For heaven's sake, keep out
of sight of--you can guess who I mean."

A parting scene between two lovers had always better be left to the
imagination of the readers; because the author, unless he is gifted with
the power of a Scott, a James, an Edgeworth, or a Sedgwick, is sure to
disappoint the reader, and himself besides. My reader must therefore
draw the picture, and color it, to his or her own peculiar taste, and
fancy an interchange of kisses, locks of hair, rings, crooked sixpences,
garters, or any thing else that constitutes circulating medium or
_stock_ in Love's exchange market.

The Orion had dropped out to the roads, and, with her anchor a short
stay-peak, her topsails sheeted home but not hoisted, and her whole crew
on deck, waited only for her first officer. Between nine and ten o'clock
the sound of approaching oars was heard, but in a moment the practised
ears of Captain Hazard and his second officer perceived that the
advancing boat pulled very leisurely.

"Poor Charlie is coming off empty-handed," said Coffin.

"Yes, I was afraid the bird had flown, or the enemy was alarmed. I am
sorry for it from my very heart, for he will be low spirited all the
passage home."

"Well, I aint so sure about that--I've always found salt water a sartain
cure for love."

"I dare say you have, Mr. Coffi