"'Senora,' said I, taking a long breath, and beginning a little speech which I had composed for the occasion, while sitting at the table pushing the candle-stick, 'Senora, I have your brother's permission to address you. I am--a--sure, indeed, convinced, that I love you--ahem--considerably. I have known you, to be sure, but a few days, but, as I said before--at least--at all events--I could be quite happy if you were my wife--you know. Senora, and if you could--a--' "I had proceeded thus far swimmingly, except that a few of the words I had previously selected seemed, when I came to pronounce them, as extravagant, and so I had substituted others in their place, not so liable to be censured for that fault; beside, a lapse of memory had once or twice occasioned temporary delay and embarrassment; but I had got along thus far, I say, as I presumed, exceedingly well, when, oh, thunder! Donna Clara disengaged her hand, curtseyed deeply, bade me good-night, and swept haughtily out of the room. Egad! I felt as if roused out of my berth by a cold sea filling it full in the middle of my watch below. 'Lord!' thought I, aloud, 'what can I have done? There I was, making love according to the chart, and before I knew it, I'm high and dry ashore. One thing is clear as a bell, she is a regular-built coquette, and all her fine looks to me are nothing but man-traps, decoys, and false lights. Yet how beautiful she is, how she has deceived me, and how much I might have loved her. Shall I try again? No, I'm d--d if I do! once is enough for me. Egad! I can take a hint without being kicked. To-morrow I'll go aboard again, and to work like a second mate as I am; that's decided. But--' "Absorbed in very disagreeable reflections, I sat by the window, insensible to the charms without, which had before been so fascinating, when I was suddenly aroused by the opening of the door. I looked around, and saw Don Pedro. 'Where's Donna Clara?' he asked. "'Gone,' I replied, in an exceeding bad humor. "'What! so early? I made sure to find her here as usual.' "'Well,' said I, 'you perceive that you were mistaken, I presume'--I was _very_ cross. "'Why, senor, something has gone wrong; you appear chagrined.' "'Oh! no, sir; never was so good-natured in my life--ha! ha! beautiful evening, Don Pedro! remarkably fine night! How pleasant the moon shines, don't it?' "'Mr. Stewart,' said Don Pedro, gravely, 'I do not wish to press you, but you will greatly oblige me by telling me what has passed between yourself and Donna Clara this night?' "So, rather ashamed of my petulence, I recounted my essay at love-making. "'Carramba!' ejaculated Don Pedro, 'how d--d foolish--in her, I mean. She is a wayward girl, sir, but yet I think she loves you. I tell you frankly that I ardently desire her to marry you; pardon me, then, when I say, that if you love her, do not be discouraged, but try again.' "'I think not,' said I, decidedly, 'I go on board to-morrow.'