How earnestly George Foster desiredwith a gush of pity, or something of that sortto smooth it away. But he had too much delicacy of feeling as well as common sense to offer his services just then.
Oh, sir! exclaimed the girl, in perfect English, as she hastily threw a thin gauze veil over her face, forgive me! I did not know you were hereelsemy veilbut why should I mind such customs? You are an Englishman, I think?
Foster did not feel quite sure at that moment whether he was English, Irish, Scotch, or Dutch, so he looked foolish and said
Yyes.
I knew it. I was sure of it! Oh! I am so glad! exclaimed the girl, clasping her delicate little hands together and bursting into tears.
This was such a very unexpected climax, and so closely resembled the conduct of a child, that it suddenly restored our midshipman to self-possession. Stepping quickly forward, he took one of the girls hands in his, laid his other hand on her shoulder, and said
Dont cry, my poor child! If I can help you in any way, Ill be only too glad; but pray dont, dont cry so.
IIcant help it, sobbed the girl, pulling away her handnot on account of propriety, by any means: that never entered her young headbut for the purpose of searching for a kerchief in a pocket that was always