Page:Cerise, a tale of the last century (IA cerisetaleoflast00whytrich).pdf/428

 seemed to be urging something with considerable vehemence to which the other was disinclined; but none of his arguments, pointedly as they were put, arrested Alice's attention so much as two proper names muttered in a tone of deprecation by his companion. These were "Lady Hamilton" and "Slap-Jack." Of the first she was almost sure, in the latter she could not be mistaken.

Her experience on a southern seaboard, to which many smugglers from the opposite coast resorted, had taught Alice to understand the French language far better than she could speak it. With her ears sharpened and her faculties roused, by the mention of her lover's name, she cowered down in her hiding-place, and listened, rapt, fearful, attentive, like a hare with the beagles on its track.