 her home. As soon as these important duties
were discharged, she strolled out on the island, taking a path that led through
the pretty glade, and which conducted to the only point that was not covered
with bushes. Here she stood gazing at the limpid water, which lay with scarcely
a ruffle on it, at her feet, musing on the novel situation in which she was
placed, and permitting a pleasing and deep excitement to steal over her
feelings, as she remembered the scenes through which she had so lately passed,
and conjectured those which still lay veiled in the future.
    »You're a beautiful fixture, in a beautiful spot, Mistress Mabel,« said
David Muir, suddenly appearing at her elbow, »and I'll no engage you're not just
the handsomest of the two.«
    »I will not say, Mr. Muir, that compliments on my person are altogether
unwelcome, for I should not gain credit for speaking the truth, perhaps,«
answered Mabel with spirit, »but I will say that if you would condescend to
address to me some remarks of a different nature, I may be led to believe you
think I have sufficient faculties to understand them.«
    »Hoot! your mind, beautiful Mabel, is polished just like the barrel of a
soldier's musket, and your conversation is only too discreet and wise for a poor
d--l, who has been chewing birch these four years, up here on the lines, instead
of receiving it in an application that has the virtue of imparting knowledge.
But you are no sorry, I take it, young lady, that you've got your pretty foot on
terra firma, once more.«
    »I thought so, two hours since, Mr. Muir, but the Scud looks so beautiful,
as she sails through these vistas of trees, that I almost regret I am no longer
one of her passengers.«
    As Mabel ceased speaking, she waved her handkerchief in return to a
salutation from Jasper, who kept his eyes fastened on her form, until the white
sails of the cutter had swept round a point, and were nearly lost behind its
green fringe of leaves.
    »There they go, and I'll no say joy go with them, but may they have the luck
to return safely, for without them we shall be in danger of passing the winter
on this island; unless indeed we have the alternative of the castle at Quebec.
Yon Jasper Eau douce is a vagrant sort of a lad, and they have reports of him in
the
