“Never mind,” said the young girl. “You perceive I have a thick fur cloak, which will keep me warm enough, under almost any circumstances; but you and Stump, I am sorry to see, are not very thickly clad.”
The two seamen laughed, good-humoredly.
“We are used to roughing it, as you know, Alice,” said Harry, “and don’t feel the cold.”
“Ay, ay,” cried Stump, “that’s it; our hides are as tough as bull-fish, and we can only feel consarn on your account, sweet lass, for it must be owned that this fog isn’t as good for your lungs as the steam from a cup of tea.”
“It won’t hurt me, nevertheless,” said Alice, smiling; “for I have a good constitution, and you know I have remained on the deck of the Montpelier, in a thick fog, and when the weather was much colder than it is now.”
“Well, blast my eyes!” cried Stump, in admiration, “if ever I saw such a parfect little duck of a philosopher before! There are few women that could speak so cheery-like under present sarcumstances.”
“You are right, there, chum,” said Harry, warmly. “I have seen girls, before now, that would do nothing but moan and faint, were they to find themselves in a predicament of this kind.”
Alice did not attempt to conceal the glowing manifestations of pleasure that her lover’s compliment called forth upon her cheek, and in her eyes. But, before the blush and the smile had faded from her face—with the natural desire to defend her sisters, which animates the bosom of every true-hearted woman—she added:
“It is hardly just, Harry, to imply that any woman would act unbecomingly under circumstances in which you have never seen her placed. A girl, who shrinks and trembles when threatened with some light misfortune, may show much bravery and fortitude upon occasions of great peril.”
“True enough,” said the harpooner; “but you must acknowledge,” he added, smiling, “that there are some young women who, by their general behavior alone, give the most unequivocal proofs of a nature too weak and frivolous to evince resolution, or unselfish devotion, under any circumstances.”