had never been a prudent man, and Wenlock little
thought what a hole the cost of his suit had made in his father's
exchequer.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

"And thou art going away on board a warship to fight and slay, and,
alack! perchance to be slain," said Mary Mead, whose hand was held by
Wenlock Christison. "It is sad to think of such cruel deeds, and sadder
still that thou, Wenlock, should engage in such work. I had thought my
father had shown thee the sinfulness of warfare, and that I might have
said something to the same effect that might have moved thee."

"So you did, Mary; and when I am with you truly I feel inclined to play
the woman, and, throwing up all my brilliant prospects, to join myself
to your father or Master William Penn, and to go forth as they are wont
to do to promulgate their doctrines."

"Nay; but that would not be playing the woman, surely," said Mary,
reproachfully. "It is no woman's work they have to go through, although
some women are found who boldly go forth even into foreign lands, and,
in spite of danger and opposition, are not behind the men in zeal in the
good cause."

"I am wrong, Mary, thus to speak. I should greatly have disappointed my
father had I refused to serve under the Earl of Ossory; besides which,
no other means are open to me of supporting myself. I must, I find,
depend upon my sword; for my father now tells me, what I did not before
know, that all his means are expended, and that without a profession I
should be little better than a beggar."

"Alack! alack!" said poor Mary, and the tears came into her eyes. "For
`they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.' You know,
Wenlock, too, that my father would gladly have found employment for you,
if you would have accepted it."

This remark came home to Wenlock's heart. It was the truth, and he
could not help acknowledging that he had preferred his worldly
associates, and the so-called brilliant prospects offered to him by the
earl, instead of becoming a haberdasher's apprentice, an humble Quaker,
and the husband of the pretty Mary Mead. He still hoped, indeed, to win
her. She had acknowledged her love for him, and he had built up many
castles in the air of which she was to be the mistress. After serving a
few years under Lord Ossory, he expected to rise in rank, and to come
home with ample wealth, which would enable him to settle down on shore,
and marry her. Master Mead had parted from Captain Christison