Margaret made her curtsy to the lady, but dared not reply to the salutation of the old fisherman, lest he should betray the secret of her heart. She was evidently confused. "You need not be so proud either, young woman, as to forget a friend; but you are like the rest of the world:--'Those whom we first serve are the first to forget us.' Now, to my mind, you're a fit match for Will Laud, and he's about as ungracious a chap as any I know." The tear started into Margaret's eye, and she could not utter a word. In the accents of kindness, however, the lady addressed the trembling girl. "You must not mind all the wanderings of old Robin, you will be better acquainted with him hereafter." "And so will you, ma'am, with her before long. The foul fiend has long dwelt with her and hers, and you'll soon find that out. I've known her almost as long as I've known you, ma'am; and if she's a-coming to your service, why, all I can say is, there will be pretty pranks a-going on in your house." Here the poor girl could refrain no longer from tears; she sobbed as if her heart would break, and the scene more than commonly interested the benevolent lady. "What has Robin known of you, young woman, that he should speak so harshly against you? How have you offended him?" "I never offended him, ma'am--never that I know of! He was very kind to me, and once, ma'am--once----" and here Margaret paused, and could not finish her sentence. Robin now quickly saw he was mistaken, and going close up to the girl, he said,-- "I ask your pardon, Peggy! I thought you were proud--I see how it is! I see how it is!--Forgive me! forgive me, ma'am! She's a good girl; aye, she's a clever girl! I thought she was a bit proud, so the fiend made me bark at her, that's all;" and, making his bow, he went with his basket of fish to the back-door. The lady evidently saw there was a mystery; but, well knowing the sudden changes of the bewildered mind of the fisherman, although she always found a shadow of truth about all his ravings, she placed no faith in any of his prognostications. She did not again question Margaret upon that subject, but spoke to her about her duties. She found her fully sensible of what she might have to do, and quite ready to undertake the place. She agreed to give her, progressively improving wages, and told her that as Mr. Stebbing had given her a recommendation, she should try her. Mrs. Cobbold desired her to come on the morrow, and wished her good-evening.