21

"Pleasures!" said Lucy looking at him with astonishment
pleasures? is there anything but misery and weakness
or rather in guilt like mine?
"Is it possible? said the Captain that you ask the question,
what then, if not pleasure, could have led you into guilt as
you call it, a natural weakness as I think it."
Lucy only shook her head, hid her face with her work
and sobbed aloud. Her emotion was contagious, he started up,
caught her to his bosom, kissed away the tears from her cheeks,
called her his poor, unfortunate, but lovely girl, and bade her be
comforted--that altho' all the world despised her, he would
love--he would cherish and protect her.
For a few moments Lucy forgot
every thing but her misery, and was only sensible of the soothing
power of tenderness. But as her emotion subsided, her reason