I can see now the brightly lighted cabin of the _Carolina_, where the long supper-table was laid for the many passengers who were to set out on the morrow for a new world. I had been somehow parted from my uncle, Dr. Scrivener, and I stood in the cabin doorway half afraid to venture in and meet the eyes of all the strangers present. I felt the colour mounting warmly in my cheek, and my feet were very fain to run away, when Captain Henry Brayne, the brave and cheery commander of the frigate, caught sight of me, and, rising hastily, led me to a seat at his own right hand. (I do recollect that I wore a new gown of fine blue cloth--a soft and tender colour, that became me well.) As I took my place I glanced shyly round, and saw, at the farther end of the long table, the gallantest gentleman I had ever set eyes upon in all my sixteen years of life. He was looking directly at me, and presently he lifted his glass and said: "Captain Brayne, I give you _the Carolina and every treasure she contains_!" There was some laughter as the toast was drunk, and my uncle--who had only that moment entered and taken his seat beside me--asked of me an explanation. "Nay, Dr. Scrivener," said the jovial captain, "'tis not likely the little lady was attending. But now I give you--_the health of Mistress Tudor!_ (and it will not be the first time it has been proposed to-night!)" And that was but a year ago. I would never have guessed that at seventeen I could feel so very old. CHAPTER XII. San Augustin's Day--August, the 28th. Oh! but I have been angered this day! What? when my betrothed lies in prison, ill, perhaps, or fretting his brave heart away, am I to be dragged forth to make part of a pageant for the entertainment of his jailers? I would sooner have the lowest cell in the dungeon--aye! and starve and stifle for lack of food and air, than be forced to deck myself out in borrowed bravery, and sit mowing and smiling in a gay pavilion, and clap hands in transport over the fine cavalier airs of the man I hold most in abhorrence! Do they take me for so vapid a little fool that I may be compelled to any course they choose? Nay, then, they have learned a lesson. Oh, but it is good to be in a fair rage for once! I had grown so weary and sick at heart that the blood crawled sluggishly in my veins; my eyes were dull and heavy; I had sat listlessly, with idle hands, day after day, waiting--waiting for I knew not what! Therefore it was that I had no will or courage to oppose the Governor's wife when she came to me this morning and bade me wear the gown she brought, and pin a flower in my hair, and sit with her in the Governor's pavilion to see the fine parade go by. "This is a great day in San Augustin," she said, "being the one-hundred-and-fifth anniversary of its founding by the Spanish."