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200 "Well done, well done, both of you!" cried she, as she clapped her hands in boisterous applause. "Sure, 'twas as fine a comedy as ever was played up in London before the quality, to see Miss Joan's face when she heard your voice, Lieutenant."

While she laughed, Joan in her turn was slowly recovering her self-possession.

"'Tis well, Ann, that it went not so far as to become tragedy rather than comedy," she said, as she glanced hurriedly towards the door. Then pointing towards it with a hand that was scarcely steady, she said to Tregenna, "I beg, sir, you will mount my horse, that is waiting outside, and make the best of your way back to your vessel. Nay, fear not to leave me here. They'll not harm me, as Ann will tell you."

"Miss Joan," replied Tregenna, in a shaking voice, as he looked into her noble face with eyes in which his admiration and gratitude glowed like fire, "I'd not leave you in this nest of rascaldom if I were to be torn in pieces for disobeying you."

"You do not understand. I am safe here: you are not," replied she, in a low voice, which scarcely reached the listening ears of Ann.