"Well, on becoming sure of this, I determined to find out the reason. I knew there must be something wrong; and I made up my mind to find out what it was--though it might lead to the breaking up of all my fine prospects. One day, when my ship was about to start on a new trip to Charleston, I settled scores with the captain, and left her. Ann was under the belief, that I had gone off in the vessel; but she was mistaken. I had stopped behind, to keep an eye on herself. A few months before, I had given her some money--to enable her to go into partnership with a widow, in keeping a little stationery and toy shop-- and she was now in that business. My scheme was to keep an eye on the shop; and see what was going on. I had not been very long playing spy, before I found out the lay of the land. A young fellow of a swellish appearance, used to pay visits to the shop, nearly every day of the week. He came in the evening; and Ann would go out with him to theatres and dancing places. "I watched the fellow to his home, or to his lodgings--for he lived in a two-pair back; and from there I tracked him to his place of business. I found that he was what in London is called a `clerk.' He was a thing unworthy of Ann; but, of course, that being the case, he did not know it; and I could see from his vain looks that he thought sufficiently of himself--too much to marry Ann. From what I saw, I had no doubt that he was deceiving her. "I scarce knew what to do: for there was no use in telling the girl that she was being deceived. She would not have believed me. "If she had believed me, and given the puppy up, it would not have made much difference to me. My confidence in her was gone. I could have had it no more. She had acted ungrateful to me--by giving her preference to a conceited swell--who took her about to places of amusement, where men do not take young girls, whom they intend afterwards to marry. Ann had proved herself unworthy of a love like mine. I had toiled for her, and loved her, for nine long years; and this was the return. "My good resolutions all forsook me--by the shock which her ingratitude gave me; and ever since that time, I've been only Stormy Jack, and nothing more. You know what he is." Stormy once more relapsed into silence, as if his story had been concluded. More deeply interested than ever, I desired to know more. In answer, to my request, he resumed his narrative. "Well," continued he. "My next voyage was a long one. I made the trip to India, and was gone fourteen months; but on my return, at the end of that time, I had not forgotten Ann. I still loved her--although I knew that she could never be my wife. Even had she consented, my pride would not allow of my marrying her now.