Kate was quite composed again when she found the boat was headed towards Parkville, instead of Cannondale. One thing was very much in her favor; she was not willing to speak evil of the lady who abused her. She had told us no more than was necessary to explain her position. Her demeanor did not indicate any thing malignant in her heart; on the contrary, her conduct exhibited a degree of Christian forbearance which was hardly to be expected of one who had been abused. "I have heard all about you, Ernest Thornton," said Kate, as the Splash stood over towards Parkville. "Have you, indeed? I was not aware that I was celebrated enough to be talked about," I laughingly replied. "You are; and ever since you beat the Champion in the race with the Adieno, I have looked upon you as a hero. I have often wished that I might see you close to." She was close enough to me now to make me shiver when I looked at her, she was so wet and drabbled. "Perhaps I am a kind of one-horse hero among the boys," I added, for the sake of saying something. "And among the girls, too," said she, promptly, if not boldly, though there was a degree of simplicity in her manner which prevented me from giving her words an unfavorable construction. "I have heard them in Cannondale and Parkville tell what a bold, brave fellow you are." "I am very much obliged to them and to you for the good opinion of me. If you have confidence in me, that will answer my present purpose." She looked curiously at me; and taking advantage of this favorable current of sentiment, I put the Splash about on the other tack, so that she was again headed towards Cannondale. Bob looked anxiously from Kate to me, and from me to Kate again. He expected another storm of emotion from her, and so did I; but I had decided upon my course, and was fully determined to carry it out, even if it broke the heartstrings of my fair passenger. I was sorry to be so ungallant as to resist the will of a young lady, but my conscience would not let me interfere with the domestic arrangements of Mrs. Loraine, without giving her a chance to defend herself. "They say you are a smart boy, Ernest Thornton," added she, apparently without noticing the change in the course of the boat. "Perhaps I am--I don't know," I replied; "I am afraid if I take you over to Parkville, people will think I am smarter than I ever was before." "Why?" asked she, bestowing a painfully anxious glance upon me. "Don't you think it would be rather smart for Bob Hale and me to run away with a young lady like you?" "Run away with me!" exclaimed she, with a troubled look. "What should we do with you after we had landed you?" "O, I won't give you any trouble at all--not a bit." "We don't mind the trouble, Miss Loraine; we were only thinking what would become of you." "I have an uncle in New York city--my father's brother. If I can only get to him, it will be all I want," she answered, and her future course seemed to be clear enough to her.