“Just in the river’s mouth; but there is no getting at her. Half the boats in Shields have been hanging about her; but, there being only women in them, they do but make sport for the officers. Nobody but an officer or two is to be seen on deck——” “Ay, ay; the other poor creatures are kept close enough down below. I suppose, if there are few but women in the boats, her business is done, and she will make little further stay.” “There is not a seaman to be seen in all Shields since the day before yesterday, they say; and so the jail has been half emptied to make up the number. Walter, you must not think of going to look for my father. There has scarcely a keel passed all this day, because the men will not venture to the port any more, while the tender is there. You will not think of going, Walter? I am not quite sure that it is safe for you to be working here, full in sight from the river. From the other side I saw you as plain as could be.” “Why, Effie, what do you think they could make of a gardener on board a king’s ship?” “What they make of other landsmen, I suppose. ’Tis certain they have got some who never were on ship-board in their lives.” “Indeed!” “Yes, indeed. So I do wish you would work, in you must work, under the hedge, or behind that plot of hollyoaks. Do you know I saw you stop and take off your cap, when you came to the end of this ridge, and then stoop——” “What! while your head was full of your father; bless you!” murmured Walter, in a low fone, and with a blush of satisfaction. “Is not it my duty to think of you first?” asked Effie; “and if it was not, how could I help it?” Walter was in no hurry to answer this, and Effie went on. “As to saying it, I cannot help that either; and why should I? It makes me wonder to see Bessy Davison pretending that her lover is the last person in the world that she thinks of or cares about, when she knows what a sin and shame it would be to pretend the same thing when he is her husband—which he is almost—for they are to be married next week.” “I am sure we are much more like being husband and wife than they are, Effie; I wish we were going to be married next week.” “I cannot talk about that, Walter, till I have heard something of my father, and made out what is to become of my mother, if he is really gone; but he may get back. There have been some set ashore again two days after they were carried off.”