in earnest, and she could see it."

"Yes, Will; and what did she say?"

Hester had dropped on one knee, and was gazing intently into her
cousin's face.

"Oh, she flouted me, Hetty--said she had vowed to wed no one, and all
that sort of thing. Poor Bet--she have sperrit of her own, and life
have never gone easy with her. She seemed to think she was sorry for
me. She makes out that she's all as hard as brass, but she ain't
really."

"No, she ain't really," repeated Hester. "It's all a kind of cloak.
I ha' used it myself, but Bet overdoes it. Ef ever there's a girl with
a great warm heart it's Bet Granger."

Will's eyes were shining at the words of praise.

"God bless you, Hetty!" he said.

Hester looked at him anxiously.

"Poor lad! And she wouldn't have nought to do with you? I'm sorry for
you, Will, but Bet ain't the girl not to know her own mind. Ef she
refused you, lad, why didn't you join the crew of the 'Good Queen
Anne'? It ain't best for a lad like you to be loafing about Liverpool.
I'm main sorry you ha' lost your berth in the good ship, Will."

"You must hear me out, Hester. I haven't half told my yarn."