Soon after this to Chester comes the daughter of the merchant, and whispers: “God bless you, for saving me from degradation and the scourge.”
“You have perfect confidence in me, I hope?” murmurs the Englishman, looking at the beautiful girl, the fresh sea breeze having brought the roses back to Mina’s cheek.
“Yes! You are the friend of Oliver; you would not betray him. You are”—here Miss Wilhelmina stammers, but smiles—“the—the sweetheart of one to whom no one could be untrue.”
“Par Dios! who is she?” says Guy, biting his lip.
“Doña Hermoine de Alva. Dost remember the bargains I gave to her duenna, Major Guido Amati de Medina?” And the girl laughs quite merrily, though not being accustomed to the sea, laughing is just now becoming a hard matter to her.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
A few hours after this Chester is at Flushing, now held very strongly by ’t Zeraerts for the Prince of Orange.
Finding that the Dover Lass has not returned from Ireland, after some little trouble with the authorities, [[166]]who would make a prize of the Esperanza, did not Chester prove himself “The First of the English” and a brother Gueux, he very shortly leaves this port.