ondon and foreign ports, and
that there was very little probability of her putting into Bristol,
unless she should obtain a cargo from any merchants connected with that
port, which was not likely, as they always reserved their freights for
Bristol vessels.

"I must hope for some other chance of meeting him," said Roger to
Stephen as they were walking home. "I do not think he can have
forgotten me, and he appeared to be a man who, having made a promise,
would certainly keep to it, so that if I could fall in with his ship I
should not hesitate to go on board and ask him to take me."

"You are very well off where you are," remarked Stephen, "and I would
advise you to stick to the desk till you have gained a thorough
knowledge of mercantile affairs. You may then have an opportunity of
turning them to good account, whereas at present you scarcely know
enough to be of much use to you."

Roger could not but acknowledge that this was the case, and he wisely
determined to quell his impatience and to go on as he had begun.

They both occasionally received letters from home, which seldom,
however, contained much matter of interest except to themselves. More
frequently news came from London of important public matters. They
heard of the Rye-house Plot, of the fall of Shaftesbury and of his
escape to Holland, the execution of Russell and Sydney, the death of
Essex by his own hand in the Tower, to escape the fate awaiting him.
Roger took but little interest in politics; Stephen, on the contrary,
was always eager to read the _News-Letter_ when it arrived from the
capital. He mourned over the banishment of the Duke of Monmouth, who,
after the discovery of the Rye-house Plot, though forgiven by the King,
thought it prudent to retire to Holland; and he was indignant at hearing
of the way the Duke of York was ruling Scotland, of the odious laws he
had passed, and of the barbarous punishments he caused to be inflicted,
often himself being present when prisoners were subjected to torture.
It was said that he watched the agony of the sufferers as if it afforded
him intense satisfaction.

"His tyrannical proceedings show clearly how he intends to govern
England. Should he succeed to the throne of England, he must never be
allowed to mount it," exclaimed Stephen. "He will not be content till
he has crushed out our civil and religious liberties, which the best
blood of our country has been shed to obtain. Would that when the
galla