"I assure you, Captain Crowle, that the respect I have conceived for your character and loyalty is more than I can express in words. That you have inspired, in the mind of your ward, similar virtues I do not doubt, and this confidence, believe me, has much to do with the offer of my hand to that young lady."
"Your lordship does me the greatest honour. My answer is that I accept in Molly's name, and joyfully."
"I am delighted. This should be," he added, coldly, "the happiest day of my life."
"When we spread the news abroad, everybody in Lynn will feel that the greatest honour has been done to the town as well as to this house."
"Sir, you overrate my position. Still ... however, we must keep the matter secret for a day or two yet. I engage you, captain, to profound secrecy."
"As long as you please, my lord. The sooner I may speak of it the better I shall like it, for I am bursting with joy and satisfaction."
The captain became serious, even melancholy. "You will take her away, I suppose."
"I fear I must. A married man generally takes away his wife, does he not?"
"You will take her to your country house, and to London. Well, I am old--I am seventy-five already. I cannot expect ever to see her again. Her mother, however, is not so old by thirty years. Perhaps your lordship will at some time or other--we would not remind you of your lady's humble folk--allow her if she is within an easy journey to come here to see her mother."
"Surely--surely, captain. Could I be so hard-hearted as to refuse? Her mother certainly--or yourself. But not her old friends. Not the friends of her childhood such as that young sailor man--nor the girls of the place."
"I care not for them, so that I may comfort her poor mother with that promise. As for myself, who am I that I should intrude upon her? Let me die happy in the knowledge that she is happy."
"She shall be as happy as the day is long, captain."
"I doubt it not. As for Jack Pentecrosse, an old playfellow, he is like me. He loves her as if she was his sister, but he desires nothing but the knowledge of the girl's happiness."
"I accept your assurance, captain, that he will not endeavour to seek her or to visit her."
"He will not. My lord," the captain became very serious, "I can promise you a well-conditioned, virtuous, modest, obedient, and dutiful wife. She will ask for nothing but a continuance of your lordship's affection and consideration, in return for which she will be your willing servant as well as your wife."