"Why," said Sally, "Mara read us a story about a ship that was wrecked, and a spirit called Ariel, that sang a song about the drowned mariners."
Mara gave a shy, apprehensive glance at Moses, to see if this allusion called up any painful recollections.
No; instead of this, he was following the motions of his little schooner on the waters with the briskest and most unconcerned air in the world.
"Why didn't you ever show me that story, Mara?" said Moses.
Mara colored and hesitated; the real reason she dared not say.
"Why, she read it to father and me down by the cove," said Sally, "the afternoon that you came home from the Banks; I remember how we saw you coming in; don't you, Mara?"
"What have you done with it?" said Moses.
"I've got it at home," said Mara, in a faint voice; "I'll show it to you, if you want to see it; there are such beautiful things in it."
That evening, as Moses sat busy, making some alterations in his darling schooner, Mara produced her treasure, and read and explained to him the story. He listened with interest, though without any of the extreme feeling which Mara had thought possible, and even interrupted her once in the middle of the celebrated—
"Full fathom five thy father lies,"