son； I think even you will admit； Jasper； I am too good to
be the wife of one of the common soldiers。〃
As Mabel spoke thus frankly she blushed； she knew not
why； though the obscurity concealed the fact from her
companion； and she laughed faintly； like one who felt
that the subject； however embarrassing it might be； de…
served to be treated fairly。 Jasper； it would seem； viewed
her position differently from herself。
〃It is true Mabel；〃 said he； 〃you are not what is cafle~
a lady； in the common meaning of the word。〃
〃Not in any meaning； Jasper；〃 the generous girl eagerly
interrupted： 〃on that head； I have no vanities； I hope。
Providence has made me the daughter of a sergeant； and I
am content to remain in the station in which I was born。〃
〃But all do not remain in the stations in which they
were born； Mabel； for some rise above them； and some fall
below them。 Many sergeants have become officers even
generals； and why may not sergeants' daughters become
officers' ladies？〃
〃In the case of Sergeant Dunham's daughter； I know
no better reason than the fact that no officer is likely to
wish to make her his wife；〃 returned Mabel； laughing。
〃_You_ may think so； but there are some in the 55th that
know better。 There is certainly one officer in that regi…
ment； Mabel； who does wish to make you his wife。〃
Quick as the flashing lightning； the rapid thoughts of
Mabel Dunham glanced over the five or six subalterns of
the corps； who； by age and inclinations； would be the most
likely to form such a wish； and we should do injustice to
her habits； perhaps； were we not to say that a lively sensa…
tion of pleasure rose momentarily in her bosom； at the
thought of being raised above a station which； whatever
might be her professions of contentment； she felt that she
had been too well educated to fill with perfect satisfaction。
But this emotion was as transient as it was sudden； for
Mabel Dunham was a girl of too much pure and womanly
feeling to view the marriage tie through anything so
worldly as the mere advantages of station。 The passing
emotion was a thrill produced by factitious habits； while
the more settled opinion which remained was the offspring
of nature and principles。
〃I know no officer in the 55th； or any other regiment；
who would be likely to do so foolish a thing； nor do I
think I myself would do so foolish a thing as to marry an
officer。〃
〃Foolish； Mabel！〃
〃Yes； foolish； Jasper。 You know； as well as I can know；
what the world would think of such matters； and I should
be sorry； very sorry； to find that my husband ever regretted
that he had so far yielded to a fancy for a face or a figure
as to have married the daughter of one so much his in…
ferior as a sergeant。〃
〃_Your_ husband； Mabel； will not be so likely to think of
the father as to think of the daughter。〃
The girl was talking with spirit； though feeling evidently
entered into her part of the discourse； but she paused for
nearly a minute after Jasper had made the last observa…
tion before she uttered another word。 Then she con…
tinued； in a manner less playful； and one critically atten…
tive might have fancied in a manner slightly melan…
choly；
〃Parent and child ought so to live as not to have two
hearts； or two modes of feeling and thinking。 A common
interest in all things I should think as necessary to happi…
ness in man and wife； as between the other members of
the same family。 Most of all； ought neither the man nor
the woman to have any unusual cause for unhappiness； the
world furnishing so many of itself。〃
〃Am I to understand； then； Mabel； you would refuse to
marry an officer； merely because he was an officer？〃
〃Have you a right to ask such a question； Jasper？〃 said
Mabel smiling。
〃No other right than what a strong desire to see you
happy can give； which； after all； may be very little。 My
anxiety has been increased； from happening to know that
it is your father's intention to persuade you to marry
Lieutenant Muir。〃
〃My dear； dear father can entertain no notion so ridicu…
lous no notion so cruel！〃
〃Would it； then； be cruel to wish you the wife of a
quarter…master？〃
〃I have told you what I think on that subject； and can…
not make my words stronger。 Having answered you so
frankly； Jasper； I have a right to ask how you know that
my father thinks of any such thing？〃
〃That he has chosen a husband for you； I know from
his own mouth； for he has told me this much during our
frequent conversations while he has been superintending
the shipment of the stores； and that Mr。 Muir is to offer
for you； I know from the officer himself； who has told me
as much。 By putting the two things together； I have
come to the opinion mentioned。〃
〃May not my dear father； Jasper；〃 Mabel's face glowed
like fire while she spoke； though her words escaped her
slowly； and by a sort of involuntary impulse； 〃may not
my dear father have been thinking of another？ It does
not follow； from what you say； that Mr。 Muir was in his
mind。〃
〃Is it not probable； Mabel； from all that has passed？
What brings the Quartermaster here？ He has never found
it necessary before to accompany the parties that have gone
below。 He thinks of you for his wife； and your father
has made up his own mind that you shall be so。 You
must see； Mabel； that Mr。 Muir follows _you？_〃
Mabel made no answer。 Her feminine instinct had；
indeed； told her that she was an object of admiration with
the Quartermaster； though she had hardly supposed to the
extent that Jasper believed； and she； too； had even gathered
from the discourse of her father that he thought seriously
of having her disposed of in marriage； but by no process
of reasoning could she ever have arrived at the inference
that Mr。 Muir was to be the man。 She did not believe it
now； though she was far from suspecting the truth。 In…
deed； it was her own opinion that these casual remarks of
her father； which had struck her； had proceeded from a
general wish to have her settled； rather than from any
desire to see her united to any particular individual。 These
thoughts； however； she kept secret； for self…respect and
feminine reserve showed her the impropriety of making
them the subject of discussion with her present companion。
By way of changing the conversation； therefore； after the
pause had lasted long enough to be embarrassing to both
parties； she said； 〃Of one thing you may be certain； Jasper；
… and that is all I wish to say on the subject； Lieutenant
Muir； though he were a colonel； will never be the husband
of Mabel Dunham。 And now； tell me of your voyage；
when will it end？〃
〃That is uncertain。 Once afloat； we are at the mercy
of the winds and waves。 Pathfinder will tell you that he
who begins to chase the deer in the morning cannot tell
where he will sleep at night。〃
〃But we are not chasing a deer； nor is it morning： so
Pathfinder's moral is thrown away。〃
〃Although we are not chasing a deer； we are after that
which may be as hard to catch。 I can tell you no more
than I have said already； for it is our duty to be close…
mouthed； whether anything depends on it or not。 I am
afraid； however； I shall not keep you long enough in the
_Scud_ to show you what she can do at need。〃
〃I think a woman unwise who ever marries a sailor；〃
said Mabel abruptly； and almost involuntarily。
〃This is a strange opinion； why do you hold it？〃
〃Because a sailor's wife is certain to have a rival in his
vessel。 My uncle Cap； too； says that a sailor should never
marry。〃
〃He means salt…water sailors；〃 returned Jasper； laugh…
ing。 〃If he thinks wives not good enough for those who
sail on the ocean； he will fancy them just suited to those
who sail on the lakes。 I hope； Mabel； you do not take
your opinions of us fresh…water mariners from all that
Master Cap says。〃
〃Sail； ho！〃 exclaimed the very individual of whom they
were conversing； 〃or boat； ho！ would be nearer the truth。〃
Jasper ran forward； and； sure enough； a small object
was discernible about a hundred yards ahead of the cutter；
and nearly on her lee bow。 At the first glance； he saw it
was a bark canoe； for； though the darkness prevented hues
from being distinguished； the eye that had become accus…
tomed to the night might discern forms at some little dis…
tance； and the eye which； like Jasper's； had long been
familiar with things aquatic； could not be at a loss in dis…
covering the outlines necessary to come to the conclusion
he did。
〃This may be an enemy；〃 the young man remarked；
〃and it may be well to overhaul him。〃
〃He is paddling with all his might； lad；〃 observed the
Pathfinder； 〃and means to cross your bows and get to
windward； when you might as well chase a full…grown buck
on snow…shoes！〃
〃Let her luff；〃 cried Jasper to the man at the helm。
〃Luff up； till she shakes。 There； steady； and hold all that。〃
The helmsman complied； and； as the _Scud_ was now
dashing the water aside merrily； a minute or two put the
canoe so far to leeward as to render escape impracticable。
Jasper now sprang to the helm himself and； by judicious
and careful handling； he got so near his chase that it was
secured by a boat…hook。