"But where will you take 'em, my dear? He's a bad, cruel man, but he
is a rare and clever one too, and he will outwit a slip of a lass like
you. If he wants the boys he can claim them, I suppose. I'm main sorry
for you, Bet; but I don't see how you are to hide them--I really don't."

"I have promised mother," said Bet; "there is no use argufying on that
point." Then she added, in a softer voice: "I'm going to the Irish
quarter. I know a woman there who'll be a match for father, but I'd
best not say her name, for if he comes questioning it is better no one
should know. Now, I'll say 'good-night' Hester; thank you for bringing
me home. I'm more comforted than I wor."

When Bet rose, Will knocked the ashes out of his pipe. "I'll see you
home, Bet," he said; and the two went out together.

When they got out on to the docks, Will said, half slyly, "The night's
quite fair; will you come with me, Bet, and I'll show you where the
'Good Queen Anne' is lying at anchor, and all as trim as possible,
ready to sail to-morrow night?"

"The 'Good Queen Anne,'" repeated Bet, "that's your ship, ain't it,
Will?"

"Why, of course; didn't you hear me tell Hester? I am rare and lucky,
I can tell you, to have found a berth in her--good pay and good rations,
and a jolly crew, and a fair-spoken captain. It ain't every fellow has
the luck to find a berthlike mine. And I'll be back in the summer,
Bet. It's a short voyage, and everything just to my mind. You'll wish
me luck, won't you, Bet? for the sake of--well, because we used to be