There was another pause: and when I saw how anxious Miss Collingsby was, I could not help feeling a strong sympathy with her. The scream had not yet been explained to me; but I concluded that the gallant skipper had alarmed her by being too demonstrative in his attentions. "Do you know where we are going?" she inquired. "I do not; only that we are to join Mr. Whippleton." "I wish I was on shore again," said she, with a sigh. "Why?" I asked, in the simplicity of my heart; for I thought, if she was fond of sailing, that she ought to enjoy the trip, for certainly nothing could be pleasanter. "I have been very imprudent. I ought not to have come," she replied, in a low tone. "Did you scream?" I ventured to inquire, in a whisper. "I did." "What was the matter?" "I have been very imprudent," she repeated, her face glowing with confusion. "I hope he didn't harm you." "O, no! He didn't mean to harm me; but he was impudent and insulting. I will never speak to him again, as long as I live!" "Of course your father knew you were coming with Mr. Waterford." "No; he did not; but my mother did. My father is very stern, and very particular, I suppose you know. He hates Mr. Waterford, while my mother thinks he is a very fine man. But my mother told me not to come with him unless there were other ladies in the party." "He seems to have a very high regard for you," said I. "He has named his boat after you." "But I have been very imprudent, Phil. I am afraid of Mr. Waterford." "You need not be afraid of him. I will see that no harm comes to you, and that you return home safely." "You are my father's clerk--are you not?" "I am." "I saw you at the house this morning; and I have heard that you were a very good young man. You will not let him harm me." "Certainly not." She was really terrified, though I could not see any good reason for her fears. "You must be very watchful, too," she added. "Why, what do you fear?" "He means to get rid of you," she answered, her face crimson with blushes. "To get rid of me!" I exclaimed. "He said so to me. You will not expose my weakness, if I tell you all, Philip?" said she, the tears starting in her beautiful eyes; and really I felt like crying myself. "Not a word, nor a hint," I protested. "Mr. Waterford has been very attentive to me for a year; and I confess that I liked him. But my father said he was an unprincipled man." "Your father was right." "I fear he was. Mr. Waterford asked me, several weeks ago, to run away with him, and be married in some town on the other side of the lake. I was weak enough to listen to him, but not to accept his proposition. He repeated it to-day, and with some familiarity which frightened me, and made me scream. I never was so alarmed before in my life." "What did he do?" "He put his arm around me, and attempted to kiss me," said she, desperately. "Now you know the worst."