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174 | WILD MARGARET.
‘And how am I to know that I can trust her?” he said.
‘‘ Because she has to trust you,’’ said Mrs. Day. ‘‘Cap-.
tain Daniel, my cousin has just come through a great
trouble, and she’s as anxious as you are that no one should
know that she was ever aboard the Rose. If you don't
mention it when you get back to England, she won't,
wherever she is. You needn’t require any oath; she’s one
whose word is as good as her bond; she’s a lady and dif-
ferent to me. Just land her at the first place on the other
side you touch, and say nothing. She’ll pay for her pas-
sa e——”? . eo . -
. e Thank you, Mrs. Day,’’ said the captain. ‘‘I don’t
“avant the poor woman’s money, and she’s welcome to the
irun;:. As. to keeping quiet, well, I think we can do that as
“well as she'can; and if she will say nothing about the Rose,
the Rose will say nothing about her. We know how to
keep a secret, I think! If she’s got in trouble and wants to
show a:clean pair of heels, well, I reckon we’ve been in the
same plight, and may be, shall be again. Anyway, whether
“or no, Captain Daniel isn’t the man to turn his back upob
-@ woman.in distress!” 7 -
Mrs. Day gave him her hand with a simple dignity whicl
would not have shamed the first lady of the land.
:« The Rose: beat about, and in another hour or two Mrs..
-Day-and her..husband got into their boat, and Margaret
::was left on the Rose of Devon,’ which, spreading all sail,
-’ was cleaving its way to the French coast.
For two days she kept to her cabin. There was a young
lad on board, the captain's boy—a little mite of a fellow—
and he waited upon her, carrying all sorts of delicacies i
from the cook’s galley to her cabin; but Margaret, though 3
she thanked him in a voice which made the lad’s heart
-leap-and brought the color to his face, could touch noth-
ing but a little dry bread and tea, though she tried hard
«for the boy’s sake. ° . . .
-in'The rough-looking skipper, with the truest delicacy, left
_her to herself, merely sending his compliments about twice
a day, and a request to be informed if there was anything
- he could do for her.
_ On the third day she found courage to go on deck. The
sailors looked at her curiously at first, but something in
her beautiful, wan face appealed to their rough natures,
and touching their caps, they went on with their work.
Margaret leaned against the bulwarks and looked out at
the sea. She was a good sailor, and the vast expanse OF
cloudless blue above and the rolling water beneath her
brought something of peace to her tortured heart. a
Presently Captain Daniel came up with a deck chairin
his hand and a thick rug over his arm, With a little
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