conclude.

Young as Tite was, he began to look on the matter seriously. The whaling
voyage was still exciting his ambition, however, and he began to enquire
of every one he thought likely to know, when the people of Hudson would
send their first ship to the South Sea. Then the thought of leaving
Mattie would depress his spirits, and for a time shake his resolution.
The trouble with him at first was how he could separate from his
parents; now his love for Mattie was added to his obstacles.

Chapman had not failed to notice this little affair of the affections
between the young people. He had noticed, also, that it had attracted
the attention of his wife. But neither had spoken of it. In short,
Chapman was anxious to have his wife refer to it first, to see in what
light she viewed it. And Mrs. Chapman was equally anxious to have her
dear husband, as she called him, express an opinion on the subject
before she gave one. He had once or twice noticed that when the young
people were at the gate she would call Mattie and tell her it was time
to come in; that she ought not to stay there so long talking to a
sailor-boy. Mattie would yield obedience with blushes and an air of
reluctance, the meaning of which her mother properly understood.

The truth of the matter was that the affair had engaged Chapman's
thoughts for some time; and it suddenly occurred to him that the whole
thing might be turned to profit. Toodleburg was a man of some
consequence among the people; they had great confidence in his
integrity, and implicitly believed him possessed of a secret that would
make the fortune of every man in Nyack. He had been evolving that secret
in his mind for some time, and if he could in any way get the confidence
of Hanz, and obtain the secret, or allow himself to be used in