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"I doubt it."

"You're a stoic, a cynic, an unbeliever—an old Diogenes in his tub. You deserve to die an old bachelor. It's my firm and never-to-be-shaken belief that you have been jilted by some heartless coquette, and for spite, now rail at the whole sex."

"I cry you mercy!" said Fred, as he laughingly ran his fingers through his luxuriant dark locks. "I am now, as I ever was, and always shall be, 'heart-whole, and fancy free.' But I see," he added, drawing out his watch, "it is the hour

'When lapdogs give themselves the rousing shake,

And sleepless lovers just at twelve awake.'

So let us go below; the sable goddess of the cabin will presently announce dinner is ready."

And together the two young men strolled into the cabin.

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"Alone, alone, all, all alone,

Alone on the wide, wide sea."

"I say, Jack, old fellow, it'll be doomsday before we reach Boston, at this rate," remarked Gus, some three hours after the conversation related above—as he, together with his friend, stood once more on the deck.