her through the open door below. Here he stands in
a sort of ravishment, sucking in her sweet voice, and the sounds of
delight with which her guests paid tribute to her performance, feeding
his passion which, like some fire, grew more fierce by feeding, till he
was well-nigh beside himself. Presently, out comes Moll from her state
room, all glowing with exercise, flushed with pleasure, a rich colour in
her cheek, and wild fire in her eyes, looking more witching than any
siren. Swiftly she crosses the hall, and runs up the stairs to gain her
chamber and reclothe herself, but half way up Dawson stops her, and
clasping her about, cries hoarsely in a transport:

"Thou art my own Moll--my own sweet Moll!" adding, as she would break
from him to go her way, "Nay, chick. You shall not go till you have
bussed your old dad."

Then she, hesitating a moment betwixt prudence and her warmer feelings,
suddenly yields to the impulse of her heart (her head also being turned
maybe with success and delight), and flinging her arms about his neck
gives him a hearty kiss, and then bursts away with a light laugh.

Jack watches her out of sight, and then, when the moment of escape is
past, he looks below to see if there be any danger, and there he spies
Don Sanchez, regarding him from the open door, where he stands, as if to
guard it. Without a sign the Don turns on his heel and goes back into
the room, while Dawson, with a miserable hangdog look, comes to me in my
chamber, where I am counting the gold, and confesses his folly with a
shamed face, cursing himself freely for his indiscretion, which at this
rate must ruin all ere long.

This was no great surprise to me, for I myself had seen him many a time
clip his dear daughter's hand, when he thought no one was by, and, more
than once, the name of Moll had slipped out when he should have spoken
of Mistress Judith.

These accidents threw us both into a very grave humour, and especially I
was tormented with the reflection that a forgery could be proved against
me, if things came to the worst. The danger thereof was not slight; for
though all in the house loved Moll dearly and would willingly do her no
hurt, yet the servants, should they notice how Mistress Judith stood
with Captain Evans, must needs be prating, and there a mischief would
begin, to end only the Lord knows where! Thereupon, I thought it as well
to preach Jack a sermon, and caution him to greater prudence; and this
he took in