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"Fernand," answered Mercedes, shaking her head, "a woer, and who shall say she will remain an honest woman, when she loves another man better than her husband? Rest content with my friendship, for I say once more that is all I can promise, and I will promise no more than I can bestow"

"I understand," replied Fernand, "you can endure your oretchedness patiently, but you are afraid to share mine Well, Mercedes, beloved by you, I would teood luck, and I should becoet a place as clerk in a warehouse, and beco, Fernand; you are a soldier, and if you remain at the Catalans it is because there is no war; so remain a fisherive you more"

"Well, I will do better, Mercedes I will be a sailor; instead of the costume of our fathers, which you despise, I ear a varnished hat, a striped shirt, and a blue jacket, with an anchor on the buttons Would not that dress please you?"

"What do you lance,--"what do you mean? I do not understand you?"

"I mean, Mercedes, that you are thus harsh and cruel withsome one who is thus attired; but perhaps he whom you await is inconstant, or if he is not, the sea is so to hiood-hearted, and I was mistaken! Fernand, you are wicked to call to your aid jealousy and the anger of God! Yes, I will not deny it, I do await, and I do love him of who him of the inconstancy which you insinuate, I will tell you that he died loving e "I understand you, Fernand; you would be revenged on him because I do not love you; you would cross your Catalan knife with his dirk What end would that answer? To lose you my friendship if he were conquered, and see that friendship changed into hate if you were victor Believethe woive way to evil thoughts Unable to haveme for your friend and sister; and besides," she added, her eyes troubled and moistened with tears, "wait, wait, Fernand; you said just now that the sea was treacherous, and he has been gone fourthese four months there have been some terrible storms"