He continued silent, as he led her away from the cliff; and when he entered the cottage, Mildred saw, by the nearer light of the candles, that his countenance was still sad.
Admiral Bluewater remained half an hour longer in the cottage, when he tore himself away, from a society which, for him, possessed a charm that he could not account for, nor yet scarcely estimate.

It was past one, when he bid Mrs.Dutton and her daughter adieu; promising, however, to see them again, before the fleet sailed.

Late as it was, the mother and Mildred felt no disposition to retire, after the exciting scenes they had gone through; but, feeling a calm on their spirits, succeeding the rude interruption produced by Dutton's brutality, they walked out on the cliff, to enjoy the cool air, and the bland scenery of the head-land, at that witching hour.
"I should feel alarm at this particularity of attention, from most men, my child," observed the prudent mother, as they left the house: "but the years, and especially the character of Admiral Bluewater, are pledges that he meditates nothing foolish, nor wrong." "His _years_ would be sufficient, mother," cried Mildred, laughing--for her laugh came easily, since the opinion she had just before heard of Wycherly's merit--"leaving the character out of the question." "For you, perhaps, Mildred, but not for himself.

Men rarely seem to think themselves too old to win the young of our sex; and what they want in attraction, they generally endeavour to supply by flattery and artifice.

But, I acquit our new friend of all that." "Had he been my own father, dearest mother, his language, and the interest he took in me, could not have been more paternal.