We do not wish the reader, however, to get a false impression of this girl's habits and education.

Although the latter, in many particulars, was superior to that received by most young women of her class in life, the former were simple, and suited to her station, as well as to the usages of her country.

She had not been brought up with that severe restraint which regulates the deportment of the young Italian females of condition, perhaps in a degree just as much too severely, as it leaves the young American too little restrained; but she had been taught all that decorum and delicacy required, either for the beautiful or the safe, and her notions inculcated the inexpediency, if not the impropriety, of one in her situation taking a passage in a privateer at all, and particularly so one commanded by an avowed lover.

But, on the other hand, the distance between Porto Ferrajo and the Towers was only about fifty miles, and a few hours would suffice to place her in safety beneath her own roof, and, what was of more importance in her view just then, Raoul in safety along with her.

On all this had she pondered, and she was consequently prepared with an answer to the proposal that had just been made.
"If my uncle and myself could accept this generous offer, when would it be convenient for you to sail, Raoul ?" the girl demanded; "we have now been absent longer than we intended, and longer than we ought." "Within an hour, if there were any wind.