To maintain the discipline of the tavern, nevertheless, the presence of a man was desirable; she understood this.  Besides, the condition of an old maid did not seem to her at all inviting, and she did not care to wait the epoch of a third youth, before making a choice.  But what would the unsuccessful candidates say?  Would not this decision be at the risk of kindling a civil war, of provoking perhaps a general desertion?  Then, too, accustomed as she was to command, the idea of giving herself a master alarmed her.

She was vacillating amid all these perplexities, when a certain sailor, with cold and reserved manners, whose face bore the mark of a deep sabre cut, and who had for some time past, frequented her inn with great assiduity, without ever having addressed to her a single word, took her aside one fine morning and said: 

’Listen to me, Kate, and do not reply hastily.  I came here, not like many others, attracted by your beautiful eyes, but because I wished to obtain recruits for an approaching voyage which I expected to undertake at my own risk and peril.  I do not know how it has happened, but I now think less about sailing; I seem to be stumbling over roots.  Right or wrong, I imagine that a good little wife, who will fill my glass while I am tranquilly smoking my pipe before a blazing fire, may have as many charms as the best brig in which one may sometimes perish with hunger and thirst.  Right or wrong, I imagine to myself again that the prattle of two or three little monkeys around me, may be as agreeable as the sound of the wind howling through the masts, or of Spanish balls whistling about one’s ears.  All this, Kate, signifies that I mean to marry; and who do you suppose has put this pretty whim into my head? who, but yourself?’

Catherine uttered an exclamation of surprise, perfectly sincere, for if she had expected a declaration, it was certainly not from this quarter.

‘Do not reply to me yet,’ hastily resumed the sailor; ’he who pronounces his decree before he has heard the pleader and maturely reflected on the case, is a poor judge.  To continue then.  You are no longer a child, Kate, and I am no longer a young man; you are approaching thirty——­’

At these words the pretty Kitty made a gesture of surprise and of denial.

‘Do not reply to me!’ repeated the pitiless sailor.  ’You are thirty!  I have already passed another barrier, but not long since.  We are of suitable age for each other.  The man should always have traversed the road before his companion.  You are active and genteel; that does very well for women.  You have always been an honest girl, that is better still.  As for me, my skin is not so white as yours, but it is the fault of a tropic sun.  It is possible that I may be a little disfigured by the scar on my cheek; but of this scar I am proud; I had the honor of receiving it, while boarding a vessel, from the hand of the celebrated Jean Bart, who, after having on that occasion lost a fine opportunity