should
arrogantly imagine he was to escape the lot of his fellows. And then we
talked of the Croftons, of whom she was curious to hear details,--their
ages, appearance, manner, and so on; lastly, how I came to know them,
and thus imperceptibly led me to tell of myself and of my story. I am
sure that we each of us had enough of care upon our hearts, and yet
none would have ever guessed it to have seen how joyously and merrily we
laughed over some of the incidents of my checkered career. She bantered
me, too, on the feeble and wayward impulses by which I had suffered
myself to be moved, and gravely asked me, had I accomplished any single
one of all the objects I had set before my mind in starting.

Far more earnestly, however, did we discuss the future. She heard
with joy that I had already secured a passage for Constantinople, and
declared that she could not dismiss from her mind the impression that
I was destined to aid their return to happiness and prosperity. I liked
the notion, too, of there being a fate in our first meeting; a fate in
that acquaintanceship with the Croftons, which gave the occasion to
seek her out again; and, last of all, if it might be so, a fate in the
influence I was to exercise over their fortunes. I was so absorbed in
these pleasant themes that I, with as little of the lion in my heart as
any man breathing, never once thought of the quarrel and its impending
consequences. How my heart beat as her soft breath fanned me while she
spoke! As she was telling me when and from whence I was to write to
her, the servant came to say that a gentleman outside begged to see Mr.
Potts. I hurried to the hail.

"Not come to disturb you, Potts," said the skipper, in a brisk tone;
"only thought it best to make your mind easy. It's all right."

"A thousand thanks, Captain," said I, warmly. "I knew when the
negotiation was in your hands it would be so."

"Yes; his friend, a Major Colesby, boggled a bit at first Could n't see
the thing in the light I put it. Asked very often 'who were you?' asked,
too, 'who I was?' Good that! it made me laugh. Rather late in the day,
I take it, to ask who Bob Rogers is! But in the end, as I said, it all
comes right, quite right."

"And his apology was full, ample, and explicit? Was it in writing,
Rogers? I 'd like it in writing."

"Like what in writing."

"His apology, or explanation, or whatever you like to call it."

"Who ever spoke of such a thing? Who so much as dreame