The first impulse of Alida, at this second invasion
of her pavilion, was certainly to flee. But timidity
was not her weakness, and as natural firmness
gave her time to examine the person of the individual
who had so unceremoniously entered, curiosity
aided in inducing her to remain. Perhaps a vague,
but a very natural, expectation that she was again
to dismiss the commander of the Coquette, had its
influence on her first decision. In order that the
reader may judge how far this boldness was excusable,
we shall describe the person of the intruder.

The stranger was one in the very bud of young
and active manhood. His years could not have exceeded
two-and-twenty, nor would he probably have
been thought so old, had not his features been shaded
by a rich, brown hue, that in some degree served as
a foil to a natural complexion, which, though never
fair, was still clear and blooming. A pair of dark,

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bushy, and jet-black, silken whiskers, that were in
singular contrast to eye-lashes and brows of almost
feminine beauty and softness, aided also in giving a
decided expression to a face that might otherwise
have been wanting in some of that character which
is thought essential to comeliness in man. The forehead
was smooth and low; the nose, though prominent
and bold in outline, of exceeding delicacy in
detail; the mouth and lips full, a little inclined to be
arch, though the former appeared as if it might at
times be pensive; the teeth were even and unsullied;
and the chin was small, round, dimpled, and so carefully
divested of the distinguishing mark of the sex,
that one could fancy nature had contributed all its
growth to adorn the neighboring cheeks and temples.
If to these features be added a pair of full and
brilliant coal-black eyes, that appeared to vary their
expression at their master's will, the reader will at
once see, that the privacy of Alida had been invaded
by one whose personal attractions might, under other
circumstances, have been dangerous to the imagination
of a female, whose taste was in some degree
influenced by a standard created by her own loveliness.

The dress of the stranger was as unique as his
personal attractions were extraordinary. The fashion
of the garments resembled that of those already described
as worn by the man who has announced
himself as Master Tiller; but the materials were
altogether richer, and, judging only from the exterior,
more worthy of the wearer.

The light frock was of a thick purple silk, of an
Indian manufacture, cut with exceeding care to fit
the fine outlines of a form that was rather round,
than square; active, than athletic. The loose trowsers
were of a fine white jean, the cap of scarlet
velvet, ornamented with gold, and the body was
belted with a large cord of scarlet silk, twisted in

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the form of a ship's cable. At the ends of the latter,
little anchors, wrought in bullion, were attached as
gay and fitting appendages.

In contrast to an attire so whimsical and uncommon,
however, a pair of small and richly-mounted
pistols were at the stranger's girdle; and the haft
of a curiously-carved Asiatic dagger was seen projecting,
rather ostentatiously, from between the folds
of the upper garment.

“What cheer! what cheer!” cried a voice, that
was more in harmony with the appearance of the
speaker, than with the rough, professional salutation
he uttered, so soon as he had fairly landed in the
centre of Alida's little saloon. “Come forth, my
dealer in the covering of the beaver, for here is one
who brings gold to thy coffers. Ha! now that this
trio of lights hath done its office, it may be extinguished,
lest it pilot others to the forbidden haven!”

“Your pardon, Sir,” said the mistress of the pavilion,
advancing from behind the curtain, with an
air of coolness that her beating heart had nigh betrayed
to be counterfeit; “having so unexpected a
guest to entertain, the additional candles are necessary.”

The start, recoil, and evident alarm of the intruder,
lent Alida a little more assurance; for courage
is a quality that appears to gain force, in a degree
proportioned to the amount in which it is abstracted
from the dreaded object. Still, when she saw a hand
on a pistol, the maiden was again about to flee; nor
was her resolution to remain confirmed, until she
met the mild and alluring eye of the intruder, as,
quitting his hold of the weapon, he advanced with
an air so mild and graceful, as to cause curiosity to
take the place of fear.

“Though Alderman Van Beverout be not punctual
to his appointment,” said the gay young stranger,
“he has more than atoned for his absence by the

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substitute he sends. I hope she comes authorized to
arrange the whole of our treaty?”

“I claim no right to hear, or to dictate, in matters
not my own. My utmost powers extend to expressing
a desire, that this pavilion may be exempt from
the discussion of affairs, as much beyond my knowledge
as they are separated from my interests.”

“Then why this signal?” demanded the stranger,
pointing, with a serious air, to the lights that still
burned near each other in face of an open window.
“It is awkward to mislead, in transactions that are
so delicate!”

“Your allusion, Sir, is not understood. These
lights are no more than what are usually seen in my
apartment at this hour—with, indeed, the addition
of a lamp, left by my uncle, Alderman Van Bever-out.”

“Your uncle!” exclaimed the other, advancing so
near Alida, as to cause her to retire a step, his countenance
expressing a deep and newly-awakened interest—
“your uncle!—This, then, is one far-famed
and justly extolled; la belle Barbérie!” he added,
gallantly lifting his cap, as if he had just discovered
the condition and the unusual personal attractions of
his companion.

It was not in nature for Alida to be displeased.
All her fancied causes of terror were forgotten; for,
in addition to their improbable and uncertain nature,
the stranger had sufficiently given her to understand,
that he was expected by her uncle. If we add,
that the singular attraction and softness of his face
and voice aided in quieting her fears, we shall probably
do no violence either to the truth or to a very
natural feeling. Profoundly ignorant of the details
of commerce, and accustomed to hear its mysteries
extolled as exercising the keenest and best faculties
of man, she saw nothing extraordinary in those who
were actively engaged in the pursuit having reasons

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for concealing their movements from the jealousy
and rivalry of competitors. Like most of her sex,
she had great dependence on the characters of those
she loved; and, though nature, education, and habit,
had created a striking difference between the guardian
and his ward, their harmony had never been
interrupted by any breach of affection.

“This then is la belle Barbérie!” repeated the
young sailor, for such his dress denoted him to be,
studying her features with an expression of face, in
which pleasure vied with evident and touching melancholy.
“Fame hath done no injustice, for here is
all that might justify the folly or madness of man!”

“This is familiar dialogue for an utter stranger,”
returned Alida, blushing, though the quick dark eye
that seemed to fathom all her thoughts, saw it was
not in anger. “I do not deny that the partiality of
friends, coupled with my origin, have obtained the
appellation, which is given, however, more in playfulness
than in any serious opinion of its being merited—
and now, as the hour is getting late, and this
visit is at least unusual, you will permit me to seek
my uncle.”

“Stay!” interrupted the stranger—“it is long—
very long, since so soothing, so gentle a pleasure has
been mine! This is a life of mysteries, beautiful
Alida, though its incidents seem so vulgar, and of
every-day occurrence. There is mystery in its beginning
and its end; in its impulses; its sympathies,
and all its discordant passions. No, do not quit me.
I am from off the sea, where none but coarse and
vulgar-minded men have long been my associates;
and thy presence is a balm to a bruised and wounded
spirit.”

Interested, if possible, more by the touching and
melancholy tones of the speaker, than by his extraordinary
language, Alida hesitated. Her reason told
her that propriety, and even prudence, required she

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should apprize her uncle of the stranger's presence;
but propriety and prudence lose much of their influence,
when female curiosity is sustained by a secret
and powerful sympathy. Her own eloquent eye met
the open and imploring look of organs, that seemed
endowed with the fabled power to charm; and while
her judgment told her there was so much to alarm,
her senses pleaded powerfully in behalf of the gentle
mariner.

“An expected guest of my uncle will have leisure
to repose, after the privations and hardships of so
weary a voyage,” she said. “This is a house whose
door is never closed against the rites of hospitality.”

“If there is aught about my person or attire, to
alarm you,” returned the stranger, earnestly, “speak,
that it may be cast away—These arms—these foolish
arms, had better not have been here,” he added,
casting the pistols and dagger indignantly, through a
window, into the shrubbery; “Ah! if you knew how
unwillingly I would harm any—and, least of all, a
woman—you would not fear me!”

“I fear you not,” returned la Belle, firmly. “I
dread the misconceptions of the world.”

“What world is here to disturb us? Thou livest
in thy pavilion, beautiful Alida, remote from towns
and envy, like some favored damsel, over whose
happy and charmed life presides a benignant genius.
See, here are all the pretty materials, with which
thy sex seeks innocent and happy amusement. Thou
touchest this lute, when melancholy renders thought
pleasing; here are colors to mock, or to eclipse, the
beauties of the fields and the mountain, the flower,
and the tree; and from these pages are culled
thoughts, pure and rich in imagery, as thy spirit is
spotless, and thy person lovely!”

Alida listened in amazement; for, while he spoke,
the young mariner touched the different articles he
named, with a melancholy interest, which seemed to

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say how deeply he regretted that fortune had placed
him in a profession, in which their use was nearly
denied.

“It is not common for those who live on the sea,
to feel this interest in the trifles which constitute a
woman's pleasure,” she said, lingering, spite of her
better resolution to depart.

“The spirit of our rude and boisterous trade is
then known to you?”

“It were not possible for the relation of a merchant,
so extensively known as my uncle, to be ignorant
altogether of mariners.”

“Ay, here is proof of it,” returned the stranger,
speaking so quick as again to betray how sensitively
his mind was constructed. “The History of the
American Buccaneers is a rare book to be found in
a lady's library! What pleasure can a mind like
that of la belle Barbérie find in these recitals of
bloody violence?”

“What pleasure, truly!” returned Alida, half
tempted, by the wild and excited eye of her companion,
notwithstanding all the contradictory evidence
which surrounded him, to believe she was addressing
one of the very rovers in question. “The book was
lent me by a brave seaman, who holds himself in
readiness to repress their depredations; and while
reading of so much wickedness, I endeavor to recall
the devotion of those who risk their lives, in order
to protect the weak and innocent—My uncle will be
angered, should I longer delay to apprize him of
your presence.”

“A single moment! It is long—very long, since I
have entered a sanctuary like this! Here is music!
and there the frame for the gaudy tambour—these
windows look on a landscape, soft as thine own nature;
and yonder ocean can be admired without
dreading its terrific power, or feeling disgust at its
coarser scenes. Thou shouldst be happy, here!”

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The stranger turned, and perceived that he was
alone. Disappointment was strongly painted on his
handsome face; but, ere there was time for second
thought, another voice was heard grumbling at the
door of the saloon.

“Compacts and treaties! What, in the name of
good faith, hath brought thee hither? Is this the way
to keep a cloak on our movements? or dost suppose
that the Queen will knight me, for being known as
thy correspondent?”

“Lanterns and false-beacons!” returned the other,
mimicking the voice of the disconcerted burgher, and
pointing to the lights that still stood where last described.
“Can the port be entered without respecting
the land-marks and signals?”

“This comes of moonlight and sentiment! When
the girl should have been asleep, she is up, gazing at
the stars, and disconcerting a burgher's speculations.—
But fear thee not, Master Seadrift; my niece has
discretion, and if we have no better pledge for her
silence, there is that of necessity; since there is no
one here for a confidant, but her old Norman valet,
and the Patroon of Kinderhook, both of whom are
dreaming of other matter than a little gainful traffic.”

“Fear thee not, Alderman;” returned the other,
still maintaining his air of mockery. “We have the
pledge of character, if no other; since the uncle
cannot part with reputation, without the niece sharing
in the loss.”

“What sin is there in pushing commerce a step
beyond the limits of the law? These English are a
nation of monopolists; and they make no scruple of
tying us of the colonies, hand and foot, heart and
soul, with their acts of Parliament, saying `with us
shalt thou trade, or not at all.' By the character of
the best burgomaster of Amsterdam, and they came
by the province, too, in no such honesty, that we
should lie down and obey!”

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