How strange, how hellish (God forgive me for saying so!) it seems that _she_ should love _him._ But, does she love him?
Can she love him?
Could she love him if she knew all?
Know him she shall before she marries him.

For the present, be still, my heart.
"She soon went below and left me desolate.

I wandered all about the ship, and, at last, I came upon the inseparables, Welch and Cooper.

They were squatted on the deck, and Welch's tongue was going as usual.

He was talking about this Wylie, and saying that, in all his ships, he had never known such a mate as this; why, the captain was under his thumb, he then gave a string of captains, each of whom would have given his mate a round dozen at the gangway, if he had taken so much on him as this one does.
"'Grog!' suggested Cooper, in extenuation.
"Welch admitted Wylie was liberal with that, and friendly enough with the men; but, still, he preferred to see a ship commanded by the captain, and not by a lubber like Wylie.
"I expressed some surprise at this term, and said I had envied Wylie's nerves in a gale of wind we encountered early in the voyage.
"The talking sailor explained, 'In course, he has been to sea afore this, and weathered many a gale.