"Oh dear!... you won't mind it, I'm sure ... you will like Plymouth quite as well ... or perhaps better than you do Silverton: ... we shall all remember you longer than you will remember us." "Do not say so!... do not say so!... beautiful Martha!--you cannot think it." "I'm sure I do," responded the young lady, with a very distinct sigh. It was exceedingly wrong in Captain Tate (yet all his family and intimate friends declared that he was as worthy a fellow as ever lived)--it was exceedingly wrong in him to offer his arm to Miss Martha the moment he heard this sigh; for in fact he was engaged to be married to his cousin, and the marriage ceremony was only deferred till he should be gazetted as a major; yet he scrupled not, as I have related, to offer his arm, saying in a very soft, and even tender accent,-- "I know it is not the etiquette of dear, quiet little Silverton, for the officers to offer their arms to the young ladies; but just at the last ... at such a moment as this, not even the Lord Mayor of the town himself could think it wrong." This reasoning seemed quite satisfactory, for Miss Martha's arm was immediately placed within his. "It is very true, as you say, Captain Tate; the last time does make a difference. But it will be very dull work for you going to Smith's shop with me; ... and I must go there, because mamma has sent me." "Dull!... Oh! Miss Martha, do you _really_ think that any place can be dull to me where you are?" "How do I know, Captain Tate?... How can any girl know how much, or how little." "Good heaven!... we are at the shop already!" said the Captain, interrupting her.... "How such dear moments fly!" Miss Martha answered not with her lips, but had no scruple to let her fine large eyes reply with very intelligible meaning, even though at that very moment she had reached the front of the counter, and that Mr. Smith himself stood before her, begging to know her commands. Her arm, too, still confidingly hung upon that of the stylish-looking young officer; and there certainly was both in her attitude and manner something that spoke of an interest and intimacy between them of no common kind. A few more muttered words were exchanged between them before the draper's necessary question met any attention whatever, yet in general the Miss Comptons were particularly civil to Mr. Smith, and at length, when she turned to answer him, she stopped short before she had well pronounced the words "mull muslin," saying with an air of laughing embarrassment, and withdrawing her arm,-- "Upon my word and honour, you must go, Captain Tate.... I can no more buy anything while you stand talking to me than I can fly." "Did not you promise me?" said the Captain reproachfully, and not knowing what in the world to do with himself till it was time to dress.