Cast Up by the Sea

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1869. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIH. FEW weeks after the supposed fate of Ned Grey had been described by Stevens, Mrs. Jones, who had felt deeply for her daughter, endeavored to renew the topic that was nearest to her heart. "A very gallant act, my dear, of James Stevens! Indeed it was an act of generous devotion; he risked his own life, and nearly swamped the boat, to save poor Ned. He was Ned Grey's friend, no doubt; or, if he were his enemy, the act was doubly generous. Sailors are always gallant fellows! I am glad that Stevens was a sailor. Should I ever marry again, I should like to have a husband of that profession." Here Mrs. Jones thought of Captain Smart. At the same time she continued, "You should make up your mind, Edith, my child; if you loved Ned, you are under an obligation to Stevens for his brave attempt to rescue him. I am sure that the reason of his long silence upon Ned's fate was his excessive modesty: he was over - sensitive, and feared to extol himself. Your poor father used to say in Latin that'modesty was a good sign in a young man.' I believe this is in the Latin grammar. I wonder they said nothing about modesty in young women; perhaps the grammar was only written for boys' schools. However, I am sure that James Stevens is a very modest young man, and I confess that I should like him as a son-in-law. Think it over, my dear child; forget the past as much as possible. We should always endeavor to escape from painful recollections; we should look forward, and not back. Ned Grey was a charming boy: a gentleman born, there can be no doubt. I always thought so from the moment that I saw his lovely mother's corpse; but then he would have had an up-hill life, full of cares and troubles. Death has released him. Think of him only as a dream of childhood, and make use of...