Your title, Sir William, is a new safeguard over her heart, certainly; but there is many a slip, and you must not lose her now.' 'I don't mean to lose her!' said De Stancy.

'She is too good to be lost.
And yet--since she gave her promise I have felt more than once that I would not engage in such a struggle again.

It was not a thing of my beginning, though I was easily enough inflamed to follow.

But I will not lose her now .-- For God's sake, keep that secret you have so foolishly pricked on your breast.

It fills me with remorse to think what she with her scrupulous notions will feel, should she ever know of you and your history, and your relation to me!' Dare made no reply till after a silence, when he said, 'Of course mum's the word till the wedding is over.' 'And afterwards--promise that for her sake ?' 'And probably afterwards.' Sir William De Stancy drew a dejected breath at the tone of the answer.
They conversed but a little while longer, the captain hinting to Dare that it was time for them to part; not, however, before he had uttered a hope that the young man would turn over a new leaf and engage in some regular pursuit.