“I had some such suspicion,” ejaculated Wilton, looking aghast, as if he feared what was about to follow. “He, sir, finding that the field was occupied,” continued Gomer--“that he should never gain your consent to marry her, nor her consent to have him, acted independently of both, and carried her off.” “Carried her off?” “Precisely. In accordance with a most skilfully devised plot he bore her off on the morning on which that knave Chewkle fired at you. The same active spirit that interfered so opportunely in your favour discovered the abduction, and pursued the ravisher. He succeeded in overtaking, in rescuing, and restoring your daughter safely to her home again.” There was a pause for a minute. Then Nathan Gomer said, drily-- “Not a fellow this to receive a money compensation.” Mr. Wilton made two or three efforts to speak; at length, by a desperate exertion, he said-- “The name of this person--a--um--is----” “Mr. Henry Vivian,” replied Nathan Gomer, in a clear, sonorous voice. Mr. Wilton sank back in his chair. Was it possible to be afflicted with more vexatious or annoying intelligence than this? Had it been anyone else, his liberality would have known no bounds; but to be indebted to this _parvenu_, who aspired to an alliance with his house, for the lives of himself and daughter was intolerable. What to say--what to do, he could not conceive, his brain was in a whirl. He remained silent. Nathan Gomer fixed his bright, dancing eyes upon him. “My award, Wilton, to Mr. Vivian, for his earnest services to you and your daughter, would have been to bestow the hand of the damsel upon him, in accordance with the maxim, that the ‘brave deserve the fair.’ But I presume, as I said before, that you would not endorse my award, though I more than half suspect the young lady would herself do so with a ready pen.” Wilton quitted his chair, and paced his room, a movement he usually resorted to when his mind was agitated; suddenly he paused and stood before Gomer, and said, in an excited manner-- “You were correct, Gomer, in supposing that I should not endorse any such award--perfectly correct; such a notion is preposterous, wild, romantic,--a--a--foolery. I--a--I am--a--on a ship with my daughter---a--we both fall into the sea--a--a--a brave sailor jumps in and saves us both; am I--am I to give my daughter’s hand to that sailor. I admire him, I honour his bravery, and would reward it--a--but with my daughter’s hand--a--never. I never heard of anything so astoundingly--why--a--Gomer, you do not look much like a susceptible romantic personage, you can hardly feel it your business----”