‘And so I have,’ whispered the girl, with a sob in her throat. ‘Put your head closer, Will, and you shall know all. You know I told you I was a bad girl, and had been ruined by some one who was worse than myself. Well, _that’s_ the man. Godfrey Harland is my seducer.’ ‘D--n him!’ hissed Farrell, between his teeth; ‘it will be another nail in his coffin when we settle our accounts. But how did it happen, my girl? Where did you meet him? Does your mistress know?’ ‘Ah! no, no!’ cried Maggie, as she grasped him convulsively; ‘and you must _swear_ never to tell her, Will. For I’ve tried to make it up to her, indeed I have. I knew I wasn’t fit to stay by her side, and that if she guessed how bad I was, she’d have sent me away. But she wanted my help and my protection: that was all I stayed for. I couldn’t bear to leave her in his clutches--so bad and cruel as he is, and so I tried to forget it all, for her sake. But I hate him all the worse that he should have tempted me to injure such a sweet, dear creature as she is, and as pure as the stars that are shining over us now.’ ‘But I don’t understand you, Maggie. How can that blackguard’s behaviour to you injure Miss Douglas? She doesn’t know him, too, does she?’ ‘Why, she’s _his wife_! There, now, I’ve let the cat out of the bag; but you’ll keep it sacred, won’t you, Will, for my sake, and the dear mistress, for she don’t want it known just yet?’ ‘_His wife!_’ repeated Farrell. ‘Why, I had no idea that he was married. Poor lady! I _do_ pity her. I’d pity a dog that was in his power. But how, then, can he marry Miss Vansittart? What new devilry is he up to? Maggie, you and I must prevent this. We have him in our power.’ ‘Yes, yes; but we must do nothing until we know it’s for the best. Don’t you see, Will, that this is why the mistress and I have been hiding all the voyage? We’ve been afraid of _his_ seeing us; and except he holds his head too high for the second cabin, he must have done so before this.’ ‘He’s got another reason for not caring for the company of the second cabin, Maggie,’ said Farrell, laughing. ‘He knows _I’m_ there. I met him before we came aboard, and warned him to keep out of my way. But when we get on shore, we’ll cry quits. Don’t be in a hurry, girl. Bide your time, and you’ll see the finest shindy that’s ever met your eyes, as soon as we get on shore.’ [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER IX. THE WHALER.