The captain, a rude blunt seaman, who had very soon seen more of her than he liked, perceived, what indeed I had not affected to hide, that this woman was utterly hateful to me; and calling me aside, he asked me if I did not see what she was at? " The devil fly away with her !" said he, " she's as cunning as his dam. Why, no wonder the gentlewoman wants to take Miss in tow – Her father is a widower – No bad look-out for the widow herself, who is not over-burdened with money. But more than that, there's a son in the case." – "A son?" cried I, imagining I at once saw the cause of Henrietta's coldness to me. "Yes," replied my informer; "but Miss has never seen him yet. You must know, that in this madam's jiggeting backwards and forwards, getting things to rights, I've laid my tackle to make out what she was; and I find she's the mother to one Apthorp, a lawyer, who had a place under Government in Antingua, who is now removed to Jamaica to a better thing; I don't know your law terms, not I; but though I've seen this mother what d'>ye call 'um but twice, I know she intends nothing more or less than to marry the father herself, and her son to his daughter."

The poor fellow sighed deeply, and, shaking his head, replied, "What I say is trute ; that man is him master means to make marry you, Miss." – "But, Amponah, what is he?" – "What is he, Miss? Oh! he nephew to a widow lady master like , and go see sometime t'other side de Island . Ah, Miss! we know well enough who he is; he is poor man, bad man, cruel man ; but we must not speak. Yet," added Amponah, in a tone and manner altogether unlike his usual way of speaking, "yet, for such man to be your husband, Miss!" – I was, I hardly know why, terrified at the honest indignation of this faithful servant.

" " Missy , I tell trute now - I love you. I no slave now ; I my master and yours . Missy , there no difference now ; you be my wife . I love you from a child! You live with me : nay, nay, no help for it; I take care of that."

"None of the family suffered?" said I eagerly. " Only two tree negro kill ," replied the man. "But Miss Maynard, your master's daughter, where is she?" The negro shook his head: " No say , massa . One my ship-mate flog for make question – for tell tings ."

" Look'e , vrend Tummas ," said one to the other; " thig hundred poonds wad be a main great thing vor us if we could get un ; but Ise donna like thig same lawyer, nor thig name of Thieves Inn; thee knawest all the lawyers be great rogues ; and we shall only have our pains vor our trouble; now if so be as how the young man wull ge'us any thing, sull thee take the money and let un goo ?"
" Why , Ned," replied the other, "what thee saist may be right and may be not, zo if the young man wull ge'us vorty or vivty poonds why we wull e'en let un off."

The day having arrived on which it was settled to take her from the cottage, a chaise belonging to Sir Thomas was ordered to be ready in a bye-lane near the place; and one of the men, having thrown a carter's frock over his clothes, called at Mrs. Bentley's cottage, and seeing Clarissa, assumed the west-country expression.
" I'se be come ," said he, "from muster Zummers : he wants to speak wi' thee for vour or vive minutes about somewhat particular."
When they arrived at the spot where it was necessary to turn, for the purpose of reaching the ferry: " Thig way," said the man; " muster Zummers is hard by , wi' a muster Morris."
Sir Thomas had heard of the affair respecting Morris, and therefore had ordered the men to make use of his name, if the occasion should require.
" Bless me! " said Clarissa, "why did not Mr. Morris come to the cottage?"
" Thee must ask un ," replied the man. " I'se was only told to bring thee to un ; zoo come along."
Clarissa, not having the least suspicion, obeyed.
They presently arrived at the place where stood the chaise.
"Come," said the man, "get thee in. Muster Zummers asked thig good man to come wi' his chaise vor thee , that thee might be wi' un the zooner ; and because as how the lane was dirty."
Clarissa hesitated.
"Come, get thee in," repeated the man; "there is good news a-brewing vor thee ; thou wilt be pleased when thee comest to hear it."

"Make thyself easy," replied the man, "and I'se wull tell thee all about un . Thee seest as how muster Morris was coming to thee wi' some good news, but met wi' a mizvortune on the road, and is at a house hard by wi' muster Zummers , zo don't be alarmed."
In a few minutes they crossed a common, and arrived at a lonely cottage.
The man got off his horse, and opening the door, desired Clarissa to walk in.
Clarissa, although oppressed by a thousand fears, was necessitated to comply.
Having reached the interior of the cottage, she was conducted to a room.
"There," said the man, handing her a chair and assuming his own dialect , " sit down ."

When he reached the ferry, and had got into the boat, "Is there not a man," said he, "of the name Somers, who lives near this place?"
" Aye , the Lord love him ," cried the ferryman; " I'se wull shew thee to his house; -- I'se be gooing thig way, and if zo be as I waunt , I'se would get up on the night to do un a sarvice ."
"The rascale has your good name," resumed Sternhold.
The ferryman had unfastened his boat, and was in the act of pushing it off. "The rascal!" cried he; " thee beest mistaken , Muster Zummers is no rascal; and zince thee thinkst un is, thee must get over as thee canst , vor God rot if I'se take thee ; I'se dount like the looks o'thee ."

"A petty gentleman!" replied the man; " odds bobs he makes the great gentlemen ashamed o' themselves. I'se dount think his vortune be large , and yet it would zurprise thee to hear the main good he does, there is not a poor body for mailes round but has eaten his bread and cheese;-- no zooner ask than give ."
"So, I suppose," resumed Sternhold; "he always was a prodigal scoundrel."
" Look thee ," cried the man, " I'se dount knaw what thee meanst by calling him a scoundrel. I'se think thee beest no better than thee shouldst be , zo take thy sixpence back; I'se not ha' thy money. Master Zummers a scoundrel! I'se be half a mind to take thee to Zur Charles vor that, he'd teach thee to call names; here, take thy money, and thank thyself thee dosent catch a click o' thy head, vor I'se never had o' better mind o' my life."