It is a terrible word to sleep on; and I confess, besides a little uneasiness, to a good deal of curiosity to know more." "This is said, Mildred, because you are unaccustomed to the shocks which the tongue of rude man may give your sensitive feelings." "Unaccustomed!" said Mildred, trembling so that the weakness was apparent to her companion.

"Unaccustomed! Alas! Admiral Bluewater, can this be so, after what you have seen and heard!" "Pardon me, dear child: nothing was farther from my thoughts, than to wish to revive those unpleasant recollections.

If I thought I should be forgiven, I might venture, yet, to reveal my secret; for never before--though I cannot tell the reason of so sudden and so extraordinary an interest in one who is almost a stranger--" "No--no--not a stranger, dear sir.

After all that has passed to-day; after you have been admitted, though it were by accident, to one most sacred secret;--after all that was said in the carriage, and the terrible scenes my beloved mother went through in your presence so many years since, you can never be a stranger to _us_, whatever may be your own desire to fancy yourself one." "Girl, you do not fascinate--you do not charm me, but you _bind_ me to you in a way I did not think it in the power of any human being to subjugate my feelings!" This was said with so much energy, that Mildred dropped the arm she held, and actually recoiled a step, if not in alarm, at least in surprise.

But, on looking up into the face of her companion, and perceiving large tears actually glistening on his cheek, and seeing the hair that exposure and mental cares had whitened more than time, all her confidence returned, and she resumed the place she had abandoned, of her own accord, and as naturally as a daughter would have clung to the side of a father.
"I am sure, sir, my gratitude for this interest ought to be quite equal to the honour it does me," Mildred said, earnestly.