up for lost time, and in what remained of the passage was

extraordinary assiduous with the old lady, and on deck began to

make a great deal more than I thought wise of Captain Sang. Not

but what the Captain seemed a worthy, fatherly man; but I hated to

behold her in the least familiarity with anyone except myself.

Altogether, she was so quick to avoid me, and so constant to keep

herself surrounded with others, that I must watch a long while

before I could find my opportunity; and after it was found, I made

not much of it, as you are now to hear.

"I have no guess how I have offended," said I; "it should scarce be

beyond pardon, then. O, try if you can pardon me."

"I have no pardon to give," said she; and the words seemed to come

out of her throat like marbles. "I will be very much obliged for

all your friendships." And she made me an eighth part of a

curtsey.

But I had schooled myself beforehand to say more, and I was going

to say it too.

"There is one thing," said I. "If I have shocked your

particularity by the showing of that letter, it cannot touch Miss

Grant. She wrote not to you, but to a poor, common, ordinary lad,

who might have had more sense than show it. If you are to blame

me--"

"I will advise you to say no more about that girl, at all events!"

said Catriona. "It is her I will never look the road of, not if

she lay dying." She turned away from me, and suddenly back. "Will

you swear you will have no more to deal with her?" she cried.

"Indeed, and I will never be so unjust then," said I; "nor yet so

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