the western main. There he had acquired substance enough to make the
offer of his hand to the dowerless Susan no great imprudence; and as
neither could be a subject for ambitious plans, no obstacle was
raised to their wedding.

He took his wife home to his old father's house in the precincts of
Sheffield Park, where she was kindly welcomed; but wealth did not so
abound in the family but that, when opportunity offered, he was
thankful to accept the command of the Mastiff, a vessel commissioned
by Queen Elizabeth, but built, manned, and maintained at the expense
of the Earl of Shrewsbury. It formed part of a small squadron which
was cruising on the eastern coast to watch over the intercourse
between France and Scotland, whether in the interest of the
imprisoned Mary, or of the Lords of the Congregation. He had
obtained lodgings for Mistress Susan at Hull, so that he might be
with her when he put into harbour, and she was expecting him for the
first time since the loss of their second child, a daughter whom he
had scarcely seen during her little life of a few months.

Moreover, there had been a sharp storm a few days previously, and
experience had not hardened her to the anxieties of a sailor's wife.
She had been down once already to the quay, and learnt all that the
old sailors could tell her of chances and conjectures; and when her
boy began to fret from hunger and weariness, she had left her
serving-man, Gervas, to watch for further tidings. Yet, so does one
trouble drive out another, that whereas she had a few days ago
dreaded the sorrow of his return, she would now have given worlds to
hear his step.

Hark, what is that in the street? Oh, folly! If the Mastiff were