"No, William, not if you are really altered, as you say you are. I wish you were in the British service; seamen are wanted now, and the smuggler would soon be forgiven, when he once sailed under the flag of Old England." "'Tis too late, 'tis too late, now, Margaret! I will not say I may not ever sail under our gallant Nelson. You might persuade me to it, if you would only sail with me to Holland, and there be married to me, Margaret." "You have heard me upon this point: do not urge it any more. I have now stolen away from duty, William, to meet you here, and I hope I shall not be missed. Let me only hear you say you will come again soon, to marry me at home, and I shall return to my service happy." "I would if I could, but I cannot." "Why not, William? why not?" "Do not ask me why. Come, Margaret, come to the boat, and share my fate. I will be constant to you, and you shall be my counsellor." "Nay, William, do not urge me to forsake all my friends, and put all this country in terror as to what has become of me. I cannot go on board your boat. I cannot give you myself until God and my parents have given me to you. So do not think of it; but, come again, come again!--yes, again and again!--but come openly, in the sight of all men, and I will be yours. I live for you only, William, and will never be another's whilst you live." "But how can I live without you, Margaret? I cannot come in the way you talk of; I tell you I cannot. Do, then, do be mine." "I am yours, William, and will ever be so; but it must be openly, before all men, and upon no other terms." "Then it will never be!" "Why so?" "Because I am a smuggler!" "You have been such, but you are not so now. You have long forsaken the gang; you are forgotten, and supposed to be dead. You may change your name; but being changed in your life, it will only be known to me." "And to Barry, too, Margaret; and then to his brother, and to numbers of others, who will know me. I was recognized this very night." "What, if you change your name?" "My name is changed, but not my nature. I am a smuggler still!" "No, William, no--you cannot be! You are in the service of an honest man, though a foreigner." "No, Margaret, I am not. You see before you the notorious Hudson. I am a smuggler still!"