the trades, and while busy setting up the jib guys forward, one of the tars said, "The young lady's up, sir!'

"I looked aft, and at the break of the poop-let me picture her with my mind's eye as then I saw her, in a common black merino gown, simple and free of all outward ornament, high up on her throat, small enough I thought for my big hand to clasp round, which a little slip of white wound in the shape of a collar, with a black snake-brooch coiled in the centre-stood a young girl, of what age I could scarcely guess, her figure, in spite of the black by which it was clothed, was so light and graceful, so youthful and airy-like, and yet her pale delicate face so full of thought and expression. From wide, drooping sleeves, fastened at the wrist by a bracelet as 't were of pure white coral, two small hands, not less white than the wristbands, came shyly out, and held back bunches of dark hair, while with large, lustrous, speaking-like eyes she looked wonderingly out over the blue dancing sea, its bubbles of foam as they leapt to the sky, and sparkled and vanished, seeming to be reflected in them. Such eyes!-I fancy now that I can reach beyond their outer porch, and see the heaven that lay deep-hidden in them.

"I find I can hardly describe her properly to you; I am a bad hand at tallying women's gear, but, thank heaven! it is not her outward form and semblance I love to recall, but the few words of truth and beauty I heard from her lips, that have been to me, throughout my life since, an unceasing, ay, and ever increasing source of pleasure.

"Of course I went aft immediately, when she smiled, and spoke my name, but what came over me I do not know. Stammering, blushing, and awkward in every limb, I could not find a word to utter, could not even muster courage, although I wished to ask her if I could lead her to a seat. You smile! Well, I myself hardly thought then that I could be so taken a-back. I went away forward to my work again, with a

Tut!' I said, 'what's wrong with me, that a pretty girl should unnerve me so and cause me to suffer this uneasiness? They're all alike, these women, all alike. I must conquer this, and have a chat with her.' But no! I could not rid myself of her image; her eyes haunted me. There was something about her which I could not understand, and yet I felt certain that with one glance she had read me through, and knew me, careless, unthinking, and unsteady as I was. It did not strike me then, but I know now, what gave me such sensations. My pride was roused, and I tried back to get hold of some of my early thoughts and feelings before they had become blurred and blunted by half-adozen years of a sailor's life.

"I had no opportunity of seeing her again for some time, as she remained nearly always in the after cabin, where I never penetrated. Old Martin sometimes messed with me and sometimes with her, and all I could learn from him was that Miss Hay was an orphan niece, and had taken a strong and unconquerable liking to get this voyage with him. I found myself putting numerous questions to old Nurse, (how we use that word 'old' on board ship, for any one we think of kindly disposition!) but Ursula shook her head much in answering them, and seemed doubtful as to the voyage renewing her young mistress's health. She was ever ready and willing to dilate on Miss Hay's goodness and gentleness, and to tell how her 'sweet angel,' as she called her, was more fitted for heaven than earth; to all of which I was a curious listener, finding it interesting and making me think, which I was never given much to, and seldom indulged in, on any other subject but ship's duties.

"You remember how our last skipper used to urge on us, that before coming on deck to relieve it, we should get ready a subject to employ our thoughts on, if not engaged in actual duties? How, to pass time, we were to imagine a ship in all manner of perilous and untoward circumstances, and find out what

months' meditation rusticating in a jail, or an order from Government to quit the sea, and turn our hand to some other business, should a sleepy ship run into us.'

"Why, Fred! you're quite a philosopher," I said. "What has happened since those rollicking days and nights in the old town? You don't like to have them brought up again.'

"You are right; I don't like the memory of our old days brought up, and if you are not longing for your bunk, and will keep me company for a little, I'll let you know why. It won't be a very bad mode to pass a watch, I think, provided we keep our senses alive. It's a fine night, and but little fear of ships hereabouts."

Pleased with his proposal, and at having got him in so chatty a mood, I willingly followed him forward.

"Keep a bright look out there, my lads!" he cried.

"Ay! ay, sir!" the men sent us back, and, taking a good glance round the horizon ourselves, Fred and I settled near the capstan.

"You think I'm altered since the old times?" he began. "I am, thank God! and I'll tell you how. It's a very short and simple yarn. Don't think I have forgotten those days. By no means. think of them sometimes, but not with pleasure; other lines have crossed my path, which are more grateful sources of reflection.

I

"You remember when we parted, I went second mate in the old ship, but only for one voyage. On our return I transferred my services to Old Martin, as he was called by every one who knew him at home or abroad, as his mate in the Buda. What a good man I found him! Never a better. He had been very unfortunate; the loss of two ships, and with them nearly all his own hard-won savings of a life-time, had changed him greatly, and he was chastened and softened down by his adversities, from the blustering martinet that few could sail two voyages with, into a quiet, kindly old man, carrying far too

smile, and even a joke ready, when his former ways and success were mentioned.

"You know what a terrible mess a sailing ship is generally in at leaving dock, and what a time the poor mate has. Why! our life here, in these sailing kettles, is princely compared to it. What with the crimp-enslaved crew coming on board drunken and unfit for work; provisions and scraps of the cargo arriving at the very last moment; the mind filled with fears of gear not having been bent properly, of chains not being rightly shackled; with some things perhaps that are required just starting into one's mind when too late; but little time has a mate to take note of anything save his own duties; and so we were round Holyhead, and fairly standing down Channel, before I had time to look about me.

"To my surprise, I then heard of our having A LADY ON BOARD, and naturally wondered at not having been told by the captain of her coming, nor of my noticing any preparation made for her.

"It turned out to be a young relation of the old man's, and she was accompanied by a nurse. We were some days out before I had an opportunity of seeing her. Our after cabin went right across the stern, and was large, commodious, and nicely fitted up, and entering it immediately on coming on board, she had not yet quitted it, but I learnt from the nurse- -"Ursy," as the tars soon got into the way of calling her, from her name of Ursula that Miss Hay was a niece of Captain Martin, that she had been long in delicate health, and that only a day or two before sailing he had consented to take her with him, although she had been for some time looking forward to, and prepared for a voyage.

"We were getting the ship into nice order, and settling down into the daily routine of a sea-life, and I was rather proud of the whiteness and tidiness of our poop-deck, (flattering myself she would admire it, as, somehow or other I began to find her in most of my thoughts, having, as you know, had rather a leaning towards the fair sex,)

the trades, and while busy setting up the jib guys forward, one of the tars said, 'The young lady's up, sir!'

"I looked aft, and at the break of the poop-let me picture her with my mind's eye as then I saw her, in a common black merino gown, simple and free of all outward ornament, high up on her throat, small enough I thought for my big hand to clasp round, which a little slip of white wound in the shape of a collar, with a black snake-brooch coiled in the centre-stood a young girl, of what age I could scarcely guess, her figure, in spite of the black by which it was clothed, was so light and graceful, so youthful and airy-like, and yet her pale delicate face so full of thought and expression. From wide, drooping sleeves, fastened at the wrist by a bracelet as 't were of pure white coral, two small hands, not less white than the wristbands, came shyly out, and held back bunches of dark hair, while with large, lustrous, speaking-like eyes she looked wonderingly out over the blue dancing sea, its bubbles of foam as they leapt to the sky, and sparkled and vanished, seeming to be reflected in them. Such eyes!-I fancy now that I can reach beyond their outer porch, and see the heaven that lay deep-hidden in them.

66

I find I can hardly describe her properly to you; I am a bad hand at tallying women's gear, but, thank heaven! it is not her outward form and semblance I love to recall, but the few words of truth and beauty I heard from her lips, that have been to me, throughout my life since, an unceasing, ay, and ever increasing source of pleasure.

"Of course I went aft immediately, when she smiled, and spoke my name, but what came over me I do not know. Stammering, blushing, and awkward in every limb, I could not find a word to utter, could not even muster courage, although I wished to ask her if I could lead her to a seat. You smile! Well, I myself hardly thought then that I could be so taken a-back. I went away forward to my work again, with a

me.

Tut!' I said, 'what's wrong with me, that a pretty girl should unnerve me so and cause me to suffer this uneasiness? They're all alike, these women, all alike. I must conquer this, and have a chat with her.' But no! I could not rid myself of her image; her eyes haunted There was something about her which I could not understand, and yet I felt certain that with one glance she had read me through, and knew me, careless, unthinking, and unsteady as I was. It did not strike me then, but I know now, what gave me such sensations. My pride was roused, and I tried back to get hold of some of my early thoughts and feelings before they had become blurred and blunted by half-adozen years of a sailor's life.

"I had no opportunity of seeing her again for some time, as she remained nearly always in the after cabin, where I never penetrated. Old Martin sometimes messed with me and sometimes with her, and all I could learn from him was that Miss Hay was an orphan niece, and had taken a strong and unconquerable liking to get this voyage with him. I found myself putting numerous questions to old Nurse, (how we use that word 'old' on board ship, for any one we think of kindly disposition!) but Ursula shook her head much in answering them, and seemed doubtful as to the voyage renewing her young mistress's health. She was ever ready and willing to dilate on Miss Hay's goodness and gentleness, and to tell how her 'sweet angel,' as she called her, was more fitted for heaven than earth; to all of which I was a curious listener, finding it interesting and making me think, which I was never given much to, and seldom indulged in, on any other subject but ship's duties.

"You remember how our last skipper used to urge on us, that before coming on deck to relieve it, we should get ready a subject to employ our thoughts on, if not engaged in actual duties? How, to pass time, we were to imagine a ship in all manner of perilous and untoward circumstances, and find out what

placed? How, if nothing else offered to keep the old gentleman from our minds (an idle head being the devil's workshop), we were to repeat and transpose the multiplication table, or get by heart the most useful rules from Norie?

"I had now found a more fascinating subject, and began to pass my watches building air-castles, and holding ima ginary conversations with Miss Hay, which I intended she should have the full benefit of, when, getting in fine weather, it would permit her to appear more on deck.

"And that glorious time came at last! -when the night was only a softened continuance of the day, and for whole days we had but to tauten a tack or sheet, while the Buda, no clipper, seemed to put her best foot forward, and enjoy the steadiness of the weather as much as we ourselves did.

"When she ventured on deck, I would summon up all my boldness to ask her if she were better.' Hesitatingly, and looking straight into mine. with her large black eyes, she would reply, I shall be better, Mr. Treweeke.'

"When?' I always felt inclined to ask her tone seeming to lead me to do so; but I could only hang back and mutter some commonplaces about the voyage and the weather.

"What was about her that I should have been so awed and awkward in her presence? She was younger than I, and yet I felt a superiority of soul in her when she spoke, and was aware of a diffidence and respect in myself as if I were listening to one whose years claimed attention and silence. So different was she from all the women I had met in former years, that when she came near, a shyness and half-dread seized me, and I could have run away from her presence, as in the days of childhood I remembered having done, on the approach of a stranger lady, hiding my head in my mother's lap.

Martin would say, 'I'm on deck, Mr. Treweeke,' which was a hint he generally gave that we might relax the strictness of our watch, and even go below if we liked, until he said, "The course is so-and-so, Mr. -,' and we again resumed charge.

"I began to take advantage of those pauses to have a chat with Miss Hayslowly overcoming my diffidence, and beginning to take pleasure even in hearing her speak. Sometimes I can call up particular evenings, and even her words. One, when taking an altitude of Procyon (your naming it to-night struck the chord that revived all these memories), and she was leaning over the taffrail, well wrapt-up, while the old man and Ursula chatted on the lee-wheel gratings.

"Taking a star, Mr. Treweeke?' she asked.

"Yes, ma'am,' I said, 'to find the latitude.'

6

"Ah! she continued, 'is it not strange, the practical use we make of stars, those other worlds, perhaps, with more glorious intelligences than ours! We take a star, as you call it, and it tells us where we are on this little globe; while no friend at home has the remotest knowledge of our position, although, perhaps, thinking of us with tearful eyes and beating hearts, and this you get so simply.' Then she went on, in a low sweet tone, telling half to herself, half to me, how they were as stepping stones, by whose aid, through faith and love, we could go on and on until in imagination we reached the footstool of the Eternal, and, laying bare our hearts, ask humbly for peace and pardon, and for that assistance and comfort without which our human impulses would drag us to a gloomy despair.

"On me, who had looked on stars as mere guide-posts in the heaven to assist us on our voyages, and who had found it a difficulty and trouble to learn the names of the few I knew, the effect was singular, and was like a vision of another world passing before me. When I look back, I wonder most at the im

"She got better, perceptibly better, even to a rose-flush on her cheeks, in the tropical weather, and came oftener on deck.

was wrought in my mind. I remember no startling dawn, no sudden emerging from light to darkness; but a growing conviction must have been gradually laying hold of me that life and this world were altogether different, and more beautiful than I had imagined, and that my past had been a sad mistake, which it would take all the future granted me to redeem, if I had only strength to manage it. I even thought at one time it would be better to leave off a sea-life to escape from the temptations surrounding it; but that was a foolish thought, I soon decided, and saw clearly that the sea offered as many opportunities of doing work nobly as the land.

"What a fairy land I created of the remainder of our voyage! With her health increasing day by day, I pictured her delight and surprise on passing into the Eastern world. How new life would come to her in those warm, sunny, glowing days, when we should be going through the Straits, the clear blue sky above so mingling with the clear blue sea below, dotted with the lovely white-beached, green-topt islands, that at a first glance it seems all a dream! How I would startle and please her when the curious Strait-boats, with heaps of pine apples, oranges, mangos, and bunches of golden plantains, with their netted baskets of fowls and fresh eggs, and chattering monkeys and parroquets, would come alongside some quiet morning, and she would wake up and gaze with wondering eyes on a new world! How she would smile at the jargon of the natives with their black skins and gaudy head-gear! And the homeward passage, what a pleasure trip I made of it, when, a stay in port having recruited her health, she would be more able to enjoy her shipboard life!

"Many more pleasant evenings we had together, which are among the treasures stowed away in my inner being. She would be lying on the skylight perhaps, propped up with pillows, or, if the ship rolled, on a sofa-cushion on the deckold Ursula watching her like a little

and laying it by in my heart, although at this moment they seem to flit and float shadowily and dimly over the sea of memory-a sad undertone in all I could not fathom then, but which gave them a double beauty and interest when I found out its cause.

"When we commenced running down our easting to the southward we had got as far as 40° latitude, but finding the weather rough and boisterous, made our way up again to 37°, expecting to find it better; but even there we had a bad time of it, and Miss Hay was altogether confined to her cabin. The old man had requested me to go down and sit with them. For awhile I delayed, but at last mustered courage to do so. On these visits I would find her on the sofa-bed, the curtain just withdrawn enough to show the pillow and her small white face relieved by clusters of dark hair, talking to old Martin about life and death, the sea and the stars, and the Great God who made all. I would have given my rude and tempestuous health to have taken away the otherworld tone from her voice and look."

"What's that?-two bells? Nothing in sight forward there ?"

"Nothing, sir," replied the men, stopping in their to-and-fro walk and gazing steadily ahead.

"Two bells!" continued Fred, absently. "Yes! it was two bells in my first watch one night, when Ursula, tapping me on the shoulder, said, 'If you can come to the cabin, do, Mr. Treweeke.' On going into the after one, old Martin was saying, 'You know, Mary, you would come to sea, and it's very dull and dreary, and not as you expected.'

66 6

'Oh, no!' she said, 'far grander ! Oh! far grander! All my life I have been dreaming of the sea, even when far inland, where in every direction hilltops caught the clouds on their wanderings; where little met the eye save clumps and rows of dark fir-trees, making the land more solid, and the prison-like, shut-in feeling more intense; where the only water was a little burn, listening