'Have you told Frederick?' asked she.

'No,' said Dixon. 'I were uneasy in my mind at knowing that bad

Leonards was in town; but there was so much else to think about

that I did not dwell on it at all. But when I saw master sitting

so stiff, and with his eyes so glazed and sad, I thought it might

rouse him to have to think of Master Frederick's safety a bit. So

I told him all, though I blushed to say how a young man had been

speaking to me. And it has done master good. And if we're to keep

Master Frederick in hiding, he would have to go, poor fellow,

before Mr. Bell came.' 'Oh, I'm not afraid of Mr. Bell; but I am afraid of this

Leonards. I must tell Frederick. What did Leonards look like?' 'A bad-looking fellow, I can assure you, miss. Whiskers such as I

should be ashamed to wear--they are so red. And for all he said

he'd got a confidential situation, he was dressed in fustian just

like a working-man.' It was evident that Frederick must go. Go, too, when he had so

completely vaulted into his place in the family, and promised to

be such a stay and staff to his father and sister. Go, when his

cares for the living mother, and sorrow for the dead, seemed to

make him one of those peculiar people who are bound to us by a

fellow-love for them that are taken away. Just as Margaret was

thinking all this, sitting over the drawing-room fire--her father

restless and uneasy under the pressure of this newly-aroused

fear, of which he had not as yet spoken--Frederick came in, his

brightness dimmed, but the extreme violence of his grief passed

away. He came up to Margaret, and kissed her forehead.

'How wan you look, Margaret!' said he in a low voice. 'You have

been thinking of everybody, and no one has thought of you. Lie on

this sofa--there is nothing for you to do.' 'That is the worst,' said Margaret, in a sad whisper. But she

went and lay down, and her brother covered her feet with a shawl,

and then sate on the ground by her side; and the two began to

talk in a subdued tone.

Margaret told him all that Dixon had related of her interview

with young Leonards. Frederick's lips closed with a long whew of

dismay.

'I should just like to have it out with that young fellow. A

worse sailor was never on board ship--nor a much worse man

either. I declare, Margaret--you know the circumstances of the

whole affair?' 'Yes, mamma told me.' 'Well, when all the sailors who were good for anything were

indignant with our captain, this fellow, to curry favour--pah!

And to think of his being here! Oh, if he'd a notion I was within

twenty miles of him, he'd ferret me out to pay off old grudges.

I'd rather anybody had the hundred pounds they think I am worth

than that rascal. What a pity poor old Dixon could not be

persuaded to give me up, and make a provision for her old age!' 'Oh, Frederick, hush! Don't talk so.' Mr. Hale came towards them, eager and trembling. He had overheard

what they were saying. He took Frederick's hand in both of his: 'My boy, you must go. It is very bad--but I see you must. You

have done all you could--you have been a comfort to her.' 'Oh, papa, must he go?' said Margaret, pleading against her own

conviction of necessity.




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