You are a mere youth as yet, but I may tell you that the misfortune of never having been my own master where a beautiful face was concerned obliges me to be cautious if I would preserve my peace of mind.' 'Well, to my mind, Captain De Stancy, your objections seem trivial.

Are those all ?' 'They are all I care to mention just now to you.' 'Captain! can there be secrets between us ?' De Stancy paused and looked at the lad as if his heart wished to confess what his judgment feared to tell.

'There should not be--on this point,' he murmured.
'Then tell me--why do you so much object to her ?' 'I once vowed a vow.' 'A vow!' said Dare, rather disconcerted.
'A vow of infinite solemnity.

I must tell you from the beginning; perhaps you are old enough to hear it now, though you have been too young before.

Your mother's life ended in much sorrow, and it was occasioned entirely by me.