over to strict secrecy and
then "made a clean breast of it;" told him where Capitola had been
brought up and under what circumstances he had found her.

The honest country clergyman was shocked beyond all immediate power of
recovering himself--so shocked, in fact, that Old Hurricane, fearing he
had gone too far, hastened to say:

"But mind, on my truth as a man, my honor as a soldier, and my faith as
a Christian, I declare that that wild, reckless, desolate child has
passed unscathed through the terrible ordeal of destitution, poverty and
exposure. She has, sir! She is as innocent as the most daintily
sheltered young heiress in the country! She is, sir! And I'd cut off the
tongue and ears of any man that said otherwise."

"I do not say otherwise, my friend; but I say that she has suffered a
frightful series of perils."

"She has come out of them safe, sir! I know it by a thousand signs; what
I fear for her is the future. I can't manage her. She won't obey me,
except when she likes. She has never been taught obedience nor been
accustomed to subordination, and I don't understand either. She rides
and walks out alone in spite of all I can do or say. If she were a boy
I'd thrash her; but what can I do with a girl?" said Old Hurricane, in
despair.

"Lock her up in her chamber until she is brought to reason," suggested
the minister.

"Demmy, she'd jump out of the window and break her neck! or hang herself
with her garters! or starve herself to death! You don't know what an
untamable thing she is. Some birds, if caged, beat themselves to death
against the bars of their prison. She is just such a wild bird as that."

"Humph! it is a difficult case to manage; but you should not shrink from
responsibility; you should be firm with her."

"That's just what I can't be with the witch, confound her! she is such a
wag, such a drole, such a mimic; disobeys me in such a mocking,
cajoling, affectionate way. I could not give her pain if her soul
depended on it!"

"Then you should talk to her; try moral suasion."

"Yes; if I could only get her to be serious long enough to listen to me!
But you see Cap isn't sentimental, and if I try to be she laughs in my
face."

"But, then, is she so insensible to all the benefits you have conferred
upon her? Will not gratitude influence her?"

"Yes; so far as repaying me with a genuine affection, fervent caresses
and careful attention to my little comforts can go; but Cap evidently
thinks