“Lord kape yer!” impatiently interrupted Judith—“hev ye got no mimory at all, at all? or are ye afther dhrinking itself, that ye can’t remimber a gintleman’s name, when yer afther hearing it so often! It’s Rosenthal, sure—thal, thal, thal! There! twist that round yer tongue, and lave off staring at me as if ye’d ate me!” The captain of the _Sea Scourge_ laughed, and once more turned to Justin, saying: “Mr. Rosenthal, how have you borne this long separation from home and friends, and this utter lack of news from the world outside, for nearly two years?” “As I hinted before, neither my health nor spirits have suffered materially. I left a venerated father and a beloved sister and many friends. I know that my father and sister have mourned me as dead; and that they continue to remember me with affection; but I also know that religion and time have combined to soothe their sorrows and regrets. As for the world from which I am separated, I feel that the Lord took very good care of it before I was born into it, and can continue to take very good care of it now that I am exiled from it!” “Mr. Rosenthal, you are a philosopher.” “Nevertheless, I shall be very glad to get back, with my companions in misfortune, to our native country,” said Justin. “And it will confer upon myself more happiness than I ever received in my life to take you all back,” said the captain, earnestly. “Thanks! I can well believe it,” replied Justin, warmly. “Troth, maybe he’s not so bad as he looks,” muttered Judith to herself. Britomarte studied him with more attention than before. It was strange, but he impressed the islanders in opposite ways; for while his appearance excited suspicion, his manners inspired confidence—except, perhaps, in the single instance of his bold stare at poor Judith. “Will you——” began Justin, but before proceeding with his sentence he went up to Britomarte and spoke apart to her, asking her permission to invite these strangers to the grotto. She gave it readily; and then Justin stepped back to Captain Spear and said: “Will you do us the honor to come up to our home and take lunch?” “Thanks—willingly. I should like to see what sort of a home you have contrived to provide on this Desert Isle,” said the captain. “And your boat’s crew? Can they not leave their boat to accompany us?” “By no means! I will not so far trespass on your kindness or the young lady’s forbearance.” “Oh!” said Britomarte, earnestly, “believe me that neither Mr. Rosenthal nor myself would consider it a trespass. It has been so long, so long, since we have seen any other human faces than our own, that we are more than delighted to welcome you and your whole crew.” “Thanks, young lady. With your kind permission, then, I will call the men off.” So saying, the captain walked a few paces toward the boat, and called: “Here, Mulligan! Secure the boat, and you and your mates come off and follow us.”