"Poor old ship!" continued the girl, mournfully, as she dabbled her sunburnt but shapely hand in the water; "when it goes, grandfather will go, Captain Barry will go, and I will be left--alone." "No, no!" he exclaimed, softly, all his resolution gone in the face of the powerful yet innocent appeal. "Not alone, for I----" "That girl?" she interrupted, meaningly. "What girl?" impatiently. "The one you saved. Is she beautiful?" "Some people consider her so, I believe." "What is she like?" breathlessly. "She is tall and rather large. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She has been beautifully educated, and she is exquisitely bred." "She sings, too, I suppose?" "Yes; her voice has been very highly cultivated." "And you have sung to her, with her?" sadly. "Sometimes." "That song we sang together last night?" "Oh, no; she only sings classical music. I think she would disdain a simple ballad." "Oh!" said the girl, with much disappointment, and humiliation as well; "I suppose they are simple, after all." "I prefer them myself," answered Revere, tenderly. The conversation was getting dangerous. She changed the subject at once. "Have you made many cruises?" "Only one. As soon as I was graduated I was ordered to the _Hartford_; but I was abroad when a lad, before I entered the Naval Academy." "I suppose you have seen a great many beautiful and high-bred ladies in Boston and elsewhere?" "Yes, a great many, indeed." "Are they all very beautiful and charming?" "Some of them are," he answered. "I suppose," she said at last, desperately, "there are none of them like me?" "No!" he replied, decisively. "Is it so?" sadly. "Am I so different?" "As different as day from night," joyously. "Oh," softly, and with deep disappointment; "I have never been anywhere but just here. I have never seen any great ladies at all. I have never met any gentlemen except grandfather and--you. I do not know anything about the world beyond the horizon; but I have tried to read and learn, and I have dreamed about it, too. But I suppose one has to go and see before one can know of the people you speak of. You must think me so----" "Emily," he said, his voice quivering with his feelings, "I have known you but two days, but I think you are the loveliest, the sweetest----" She waved her hand in deprecation; but he would not be stopped this time. Truly he had forgotten all but his love for her.