“Dear, dear mother,” interrupted Mabel, earnestly and fondly, “why regret that which has given so much happiness to me? My life would have been miserable when once I knew the possibility of rejoining you. I fear neither captivity nor privation; I have but one wish—to live and die with you.” “And where is poor William to look for consolation?” said the mother, parting the hair from her daughter’s fair brow as it rested on her shoulder; “is there not a little nook in that fond heart that beats in unison with his? Does no thought of his agony, if he thought you were torn from him for ever, touch your heart?” “Ah! dear William,” said the fair girl, her cheeks glowing and her heart throbbing with the excitement of her feelings, “dear William knows all the love that woman can give to the object of her heart’s choice is given to him; but there is no selfish feeling in his noble soul. He is quite as capable of sacrificing all the fondest wishes of his heart, if thereby he could secure your safety and happiness.” “I know it, Mabel; a strong conviction of confidence and affection stole over me the very first time I looked into his fine youthful features. I confided you to his care with a feeling of trust and security, that, though young as he was, he would risk life to fulfil the confidence reposed in him; and nobly and faithfully he followed up his word.” “I cannot retire to rest to-night,” said Mabel; “I feel such a painful anxiety respecting the attempt that may be made to destroy that detestable Vengeance. If there was any firing in Palos Creek, we should hear it here distinctly, should we not?” “Yes, on a fine night like this,” said Madame Coulancourt. Just then Julia entered. “What have you done, dear Julia,” said Madame Coulancourt, “with our troublesome guests?” “Eh! mon Dieu! they are troublesome,” said Julia. “They have posted sentinels within twenty yards of each other round the château, whilst the sergeant and the rest who will relieve the guard have settled themselves and their weapons in the lower hall. I have ordered them refreshments. Sergeant Perrin is very polite and agreeable, and by no means taciturn. He says there are forty or fifty men, besides coast guards, gone down to Palos Creek to watch, lest an attempt should be made on the Vengeance. They would have taken her up the creek to Grantain, but it is low neap-tides, and she draws too much water; so they have chained her to a huge anchor, nearly two tons weight, and riveted the chains. Captain Pierre Gaudet swears he will burn or blow her up before the English shall have her.” “Ah!” said Mabel, her cheeks flushing, though she shuddered as she spoke; “if William has determined to take her, he will do so; but I trust in God he will not attempt it, for many lives must be lost, I dread to think it, on both sides.” CHAPTER XXXV.