* *!***** IL^ o^ wv Wjr . JL Jjt * Ji JL * # l*b**** Vj "trf ^f W^ JBi 9 9 JR. * * jHk # * <&, * t*4** c * ** "t*J \. 3 ^--^ Jft. ** * 9 jttL * * .&. W> ^> JR. /. Jt. Jt t *** Vi# Jfe. * * Jfe. RALPH RUTHERFORD. A NAUTICAL ROMANCE. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE PETREL/ &c., &c. " Safe am I arrived in haven, a weather-beaten but experienced shipruan, enabled to indicate the hidden rocks and quicksands of this life's perturbed shores. Often have I struck, often been wrecked, but never foundered. Possible, though little probable, are future storms." MEMOIRS OF BARON FREDERIC TRENCK. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1851. LONDON : Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. -" RALPH RUTHERFORD. CHAPTER I. THE wars which so unhappily raged almost without intermission from 1793 to 1814, fell with peculiar violence upon the European colonies in the West Indies. The bright Caribbean Sea, studded as it is with rich and lovely islands, became throughout its whole length and breadth one vast theatre for desul- tory and destructive combats, the objects, and still more frequently the results of which were too often lamentably trivial, in compari- VOL. I. B 2203129 2 RALPH RUTHERFORD. son with the blood shed in them, and the misery inflicted hy them. But such contests, independently of mere worldly temptations, offered a wide field for the display of individual skill and gallantry, and they were of course eagerly sought. Amongst the smaller expeditions or raids of the time, few proved more fertile in opportunities of acquiring personal distinction than did an unsuccessful attack upon , with an inadequate force, in 18 , where, after having stormed Fort , the British seamen and marines, particularly those sta- tioned in the advanced batteries, maintained an unequal conflict with the superior forces of a brave and resolute enemy for more than twenty successive days, led on by two distin- guished young naval officers and a gallant officer of Marines, all three subsequently designated as fire-eaters a distinction then well-known, and highly appreciated, for it was beyond the desecrating hand of favour. During this sanguinary struggle, so obsfi- RALPH RUTHERFORD. 3 nately maintained day after day, and especially in that desperate crisis of the affair when an overwhelming body of the enemy rushed down with fierce shouts upon the select few who were undauntedly covering the rear of our shattered little force, and protecting their re-embarkation, Ralph Rutherford, who had recently arrived from England to join the flag-ship as a midshipman, repeatedly elicited the cheers of his gallant comrades, and the marked approbation of his chivalrous leader, by a display of calm, judicious courage, ever skilfully adapted to the exigency of the mo- ment, amidst a continually increasing compli- cation of difficulties and dangers. " Rutherford," said the officer who had been Ralph's immediate commandant upon this occasion, when the remains of the party had been once more assembled, " to earn distinction amongst such men as those who now surround us is no child's play ; I shall report my view of your conduct to the Ad- miral." B 2 4 RALPH RUTHERFORD. Ralph Rutherford's heart beat proudly, for he saw with especial gratification that his most eager competitors for distinction acqui- esced cordially in this public address to him from one whose approbation upon such a subject was in itself a high honour : he was a man of few words and chivalrous deeds. Speak, Ralph could not ; but the flushed cheek and flashing eye gave a more animated response than that which his faltering tongue refused to utter. And that young commandant, whose ap- probation was so precious, not long since at an advanced age, and with exalted rank, closed a brilliant career of noble daring and boundless generosity by a course of piety, humility, and charity rarely equalled. His pure and lofty patriotism had never been sullied by one selfish thought. During many dark and dreary years, unblessed by domestic solace, he endured from his ghastly and in- curable wounds, and without a murmur, sufferings and infirmities which it was pain- RALPH RUTHERFORD. 5 ful to contemplate. But this truly Christian hero knew where to seek for support in affliction ; and to his latest breath his thoughts were more occupied with the sufferings of others than with his own. Such a digression, induced by accidental allusion to scenes in which this lamented friend bore a conspicuous part, may serve to direct the attention of the nobler-minded of our youthful aspirants to the edifying example of a glorious naval life, closed by a death far more glorious. The number of casualties in these and many more important expeditions, with the fevers incidental to the climate, which were greatly aggravated, and often rendered fatal, by the fatigues and privations inseparable from such services, that were often per- formed in most unhealthy localities, and were too often aided by reckless individual imprudence, led to a constant demand upon the mother country for officers of the junior grades, who were continually arriving in the 6 RALPH RUTHERFORD. West Indies to grasp at such tempting, but often delusive, prospects of promotion. Some of the new-comers, like Rutherford, had been sent from head-quarters at home to receive the recompense of services already ren- dered ; but of course the greater number came recommended by powerful interest. Some few of them were fortunate youths, blessed with noble birth or high connections, and these ap- peared to consider rapid promotion as their birthright ; but they were quite as prompt to face danger or privation, as their less-favoured or plebeian companions, which in a great de- gree extracted the sting from the openly avowed partiality in promotion an abuse, moreover, too perfectly established and of too long standing to excite much comment or observation. This last sharp affair at had been of course canvassed in the squadron ; and Ralph's share in it proved a very favourable introduction to his new associates, the mid- shipmen of the flag-ship, who were about RALPH RUTHERFORD. 7 twenty in number, most of them between seventeen and twenty years of age, though some few who had entered the service late, were much older. All those who had served six years were candidates for promotion ; the prospect of vacancies, therefore, and the probable disposal of them, was frequently the subject of earnest debate in the berth; but there had lately arisen a question, which for the moment excited a still more lively in- terest. It had been proposed to purchase a hand- some outfit, and to adopt a comparatively sumptuous style of living, in imitation of a military mess, with all the dignity of Lafitte and Champagne. " Midshipmen," argued the leading advo- cate for this new order of things (an unedu- cated and unpolished youth, who had made much prize money), "are officers and gentle- men ; but it is only by living as such, that we can maintain our consequence, and the credit of the ship." 8 RALPH RUTHERFORD. This proposal, which had often been mooted, though never before so distinctly proposed to the assembled mess, although by no means unanimously approved, was vehemently applauded by a considerable number, and coldly acquiesced in by a majority of those present. Some who could afford it, really wished it, whilst many with- out permanent means for meeting such an expense, acquiesced because they had prize- money enough to support it for the present, and trusted to chance for the future. Amongst those who were most averse to the arrange- ment, no one would incur the risk of being thought poor or mean, though some ventured to oppose it upon other grounds. Two or three of the most able and influ- ential men took no part in the debate, but looked ominously grave, to the great discom- posure of its zealous advocates. " Rutherford," said Lord George Carleton, a fine manly youth, " do give us your opinion. I should like to see such a table RALPH RUTHERFORD. 9 kept, as I could ask my shore friends to, as at a regimental mess, though I would not wish to inconvenience others. What say you to it?" Urged upon -all sides for his opinion, Ralph at length said : " I do not think that an expensive mess would confer credit upon us, or upon our ship, were it possible to maintain it, which is not the case. Many of us who find a difficulty in supporting the expense of a mess, consistent with our pay, and adapted to the rules and regulations of the service, must either withdraw from it, or involve ourselves in pecuniary difficulties ; in other words, in ruin and degradation. Many a man's prospects would thus be destroyed, and many a widowed mother's heart broken." He spoke with deep feeling, for his own in- estimable mother was present to his thoughts. " And for what ? To attempt a feeble parody of that, which we have neither space nor means to imitate successfully, were it desi- B 3 10 RALPH RUTHERFORD. rable to do so, which it certainly is not. The attempt would prove ruinous to our- selves, and so injurious to the public service, that if we should be weak enough to per- sist, authority must sooner of later suppress it. I would suggest the general use of moderate- priced wines, to the entire exclusion of spirits, which should never be permitted to enter a midshipman's berth upon any pretext ; and in such a change as that, the authorities could, and no doubt would, materially assist us." Ralph's opinion was almost unanimously adopted; for plain good sense, simply and manfully asserted, always carries weight. Many who would have acquiesced in the extravagance proposed contrary to their own interests and wishes, from false shame, be- came bold and decided opponents to it under such a leader. "Well," said Lord George, addressing Ralph with great good-humour, " I may at least claim the merit of being convinced that you are right; and as you won't per- RALPH RUTHERFORD. 11 mit us to play the fool, and waste our loose cash here, come ashore with us at Port Royal to-night, that we may show you a specimen of West Indian fun and gaiety." Ralph laughed : he could not but like the frank, gay youth who had so inge- nuously and good-humouredly given way to his pleading, and who was indeed a most attractive person. " Come," resumed Carleton, " you have done good enough to quiet your conscience for one day, and may venture to dissipate a little now ; we have a jovial dinner at Suzy Atkins's, with one of your late leaders in the chair, supported by a set of real good fellows. Old Tom will be there, and he is in himself a host ; for what between laughing at him, and with him, the fun he produces is inexhaustible ; and then the dignity ball afterwards 'twill do your heart good to see it." Ralph shook his head good-humouredly. " I can assure you," resumed Carleton, 12 RALPH RUTHERFORD. " we will show you what will astonish one so fresh from the old country. Few ball- rooms can compare with ours for a display of beauty, both of face and form ; and as for grace and elegance, if we cannot boast of the sublime realities, you will at least see the most enchanting caricatures of both that it is possible to imagine." " Your description of a dignity ball," said Ralph laughing, " is sketched with much unction, and is indeed more than sufficiently attractive ; but the mail will start to-morrow, and my letters will occupy me all this evening ; I must therefore beg to be excused, having important business to write about." " I am sorry for it," replied Carleton ; " and the more so, because you would have been sure to meet many of your comrades in your late affair." Thus rattled the gay and thoughtless Car- leton, who soon after started for the shore with a large and merry party. He was the leader of a wild and rollicking set ; not that RALPH RUTHERFORD. 13 he was more dissipated than the others less so indeed than most of them but whilst his title, and his comparatively profuse ex- penditure, enlisted many of the meaner spirited of his messmates under his banner, his good-humour and buoyant spirits made him a general favourite with such of the better sort as were decidedly social and fro- licsome. " There's nothing in that fellow Ruther- ford after all," squeaked a pale, delicate- looking youth, as he stepped out upon the wharf, on a remarkably slender pair of legs ; " he has no taste for a jolly good row not he." The speaker was ever wont to be con- spicuous at the commencement, or rather at the provocation of a row, wherever he might be at its close. "And yet," added a coarse, stumpy, hard featured toady of the young Lord, " though this Mr. Rutherford gives himself such airs, and must be courted forsooth, 14 RALPH RUTHERFORD. none of . us know who he is, nor where he comes from." " That may be, Tomkins," remarked Carleton, "but we know what he is, and where he came from last, which is more to the purpose. I wish he could have come with us ; but it's his loss, for we shall have a regular jolly party." "Yes," cried another, "if only to fetch up the lee way for that last stupid cruize, where we have been hard worked, and half starved, and did nothing after all." " Shuldham," said Ralph, as he closed his letters about noon next day ; addressing a mild, intellectual looking young man, who had participated in the festivities of the pre- ceding night, and who now sat with his elbows on the mess-table, resting his throbbing temples upon his hands : " you can have no taste for pine-apple punch parties, and dignity balls ; why then should you, my good fellow, embark in such destructive follies, merely in imitation of men with RALPH RUTHERFORD. 15 coarser minds and harder heads ? If you really are what I believe you to be, a single effort will extricate you from all this." Shuldham raised his languid eyes ; his face was deadly pale, but his brow was burning. He offered his fevered hand to Ralph. " I am to have a cruize in the tender," resumed Ralph, " and will get you named to go with me ; a cruize will soon set you right no head-aches at sea you shall cut the dissipation of our friends here at Port Royal. We shall be better employed in looking out for enemy's cruizers : and who knows what luck we may have ?" Shuldham was really as Ralph had divined a sensible, well-disposed lad, but he was rather apt to be led away ; and as he could not boast of even the rudiment of a beard, was probably apprehensive that his manhood would be questioned, unless he did as others did ; a foolish fear which has led thou- 16 RALPH RUTHERFORD. sands into vicious courses, who had no natural propensity to such ways, and only learnt to relish them by practice. Shuldham accepted this offer with great alacrity; he felt gratified by such a mark of attention from Rutherford, who gifted with a clear head, a strong spirit of self- reliance and self-will, and well-proved courage, with pleasing manners, free from every taint of arrogance or presumption, necessarily had acquired a considerable degree of influence over the better sort of the less powerful minds around him. And this proved an important era in young Shuldham's life, for he was at once res- cued from evil example so fatal to docile youth and became attached to a friend whose good qualities he was perfectly able to appreciate, and to whom he ever after looked up as a guide. Two days after this conversation, Ruther- ford and his young friend sailed upon their cruise in the 'Pickle' tender, with RALPH RUTHERFORD. 17 one gun and twenty men. She was at- tached to the flag-ship, and manned from her. There had been a rumour that some of the more turbulent and ill-disposed slaves on estates near to the coast opposite St. Domingo, had held occasional intercourse with the revolted negroes of that island, which in the anarchical state of its barba- rous population had become an object of considerable anxiety to the Government. The ' Pickle ' had been sent to watch the more secluded parts of the seaboard to pre- vent all such intercourse. For two days she had been retarded by calms and variable winds, but on the third morning being abreast of a remote and thinly-peopled district, Ralph hauled his little craft close in with the land whilst it was yet dark, and when the day broke a small light schooner, evidently no trader, was seen lying-to, about two miles ahead of the ' Pickle,' whilst half-way between 18 RALPH RUTHERFORD. the stranger and the tender, rowing to- wards the former was a long galley, which could only avail herself of a few of her oars, from having goods of some sort piled up most unskilfully in her mid- ships, which, as far as could be judged by the aid of the telescopes, ap- peared to be plunder hastily thrown together an appearance sufficiently alarm- ing. "This looks like mischief," said Ruther- ford ; " fire a shot over the boat." No notice having been taken of the first shot, a second was fired at her, and as it fell close under the boat's stern she brought to, or rather the rowers dropped their oars and concealed themselves ; but as the tender was becalmed she continued to fire, till the boat's- crew alarmed, resumed their oars and rowed their boat awkwardly, slowly, and unwillingly alongside the ' Pickle.' The strange schooner meantime, which was out of gun-shot, had shown no colours ; RALPH RUTHERFORD. 19 but having retained the breeze, had made all sail, and steering for St. Domingo, was rapidly increasing her distance from the ' Pickle,' as she still lay becalmed. 20 RALPH RUTHERFORD. CHAPTER II. MR. CARTERET, of Mount Cenis, an emi- nent planter in Jamaica, having occasion to visit a small estate on the sea-coast, where he had built what in India would be called a bungalow, which afforded tolerable accommo- dation for his family when business, or a wish to enjoy the cool, fresh sea-breezes of the Retreat for so was this pleasant cottage named induced him to leave, for a time, his commodious family-mansion in the moun- tains, had set out upon one of these not un- frequent excursions, taking with him his daughters, Julia and Laura, seventeen and sixteen years of age. RALPH RUTHERFORD. 21 Mrs. Carteret, who was a tall, thin, stiff, impracticable person, indifferent to everybody and everything, but her own indulgences and caprices; occupied with her own ailments, real or imaginary, and very indolent, had de- clined to accompany the party, as she had fre- quently done of late, pleading that the exer- tion was too much for her delicate state of health ; being one of those sickly-looking ladies who are always well enough to do anything they may wish to do, but quite in- capable of doing anything that does not suit their fancy, however important to their fami- lies. Indeed, as this good lady was rarely pleased with anything, and querulously exacted unremitting attention from everybody, neither Mr. Carteret nor his daughters enjoyed their excursion the less that she had refused to be one of the party ; and as they rarely stayed at the Retreat more than a few days, the attendance of their faithful old nurse Jemima was considered to be quite sufficient. The little party started long before sunrise 22 RALPH RUTHERFORD. on a fine morning, and in great glee. No- where is a short journey accomplished with more ease and pleasure, than amongst their native hills, by the wealthy and often highly- educated landed proprietors of Jamaica, amongst whom strong family attachments, and frank, open-hearted good-will prevail, at least as much as amongst any class of people on earth, cherished and polished by a course of habitual hospitality which, al- though it may arise in a great degree from causes that can exert no such influence in England, gives a peculiar charm to West Indian society, and exercises a beneficial in- fluence in promoting a spirit of frankness and cordiality in the West Indian social cha- racter, very dear to the memory of those who have had the good fortune to enjoy it. Nowhere is there a more delicious variety of hill and dale, mountain gorge, and rugged precipice, torrent and waterfall, than in the route taken by Mr. Carteret from Mount Cenis to the Retreat, winding round the RALPH RUTHERFORD. 23 more difficult ground. The most gorgeous shrubs, cultivated with so much cost and care in our conservatories and hothouses, with others yet unkhown to our gardeners, stood forth here in their own soft climate in their true character, as stately forest-trees, clothed in a fantastic garb of creeping plants ; some of these hanging in light festoons, and glowing with blossoms or berries, inter- mingled with and relieved by broad sheets of grey and glittering mosses, which flowed, as it were, from amidst the dark foliage ; whilst the larger creepers descended to the ground in twisted, cordage-like masses, large as cables. On the nearer trees, by the way-side, the wide-spreading branches bore an infinite variety of parasitical plants, often of singular, and even grotesque forms, but many of them beautiful. Myriads of bright and noisy birds fluttered and chattered amongst the thick, dark, yet many-shaded sea of leaves; but it is vain to attempt to convey to our home-bred readers, the beauty of a scene 24 RALPH RUTHERFORD. which must be beheld to be fully appre- ciated. Such were the objects which courted their immediate attention as they rode gently on, winding their devious way amongst scattered rocks, and broken ground, garnished with aloe, prickly pear, and other tropical shrubs, of form and growth most strange to European eyes : whilst in the distance, more mighty specimens of tropical growth sprang up from every ravine, their surpassing magnitude es- caping the observation of the careless passer- by, because the purity of the atmosphere misled him as to the distances of objects. " Julia," said Mr. Carteret, " observe that large tree, raising its solitary head from the rich hollow at the foot of yon conspicuous precipice." " I see it," replied Julia, " but perceive nothing very remarkable in it : it's a large tree, but that's all !" ' You must see a conspicuous white speck on the top of that tree ; and if you RALPH RUTHERFORD. 25 do, what in your wisdom do you suppose that white speck to be ?" " I suppose, my dear father," said the lively girl, laughing, " that it is the ske- leton of a plump turkey, carried off by some villanous buzzard from your stock-yard, to the great indignation of old Sambo, and devoured at leisure upon that inaccessible perch, the vile marauder rocking himself luxuriously in the cool mountain breez whilst he enjoyed his repast." " Nay, Julia, my love, you are far from the mark. That white speck is nothing less than the skeleton of an old blind horse, who having fallen over the precipice immediately above it, lodged on the topmost branches of that huge tree, where his weight, or his struggles, making no impression, he became the victim of birds of prey ; and you have mistaken the skeleton of a horse for that of a farm-yard fowl ; nor do I wonder at it, so deceptive is the effect of this pure moun- tain atmosphere upon our powers of vision. VOL. i. c 26 RALPH RUTHERFORD. Julia, I wished to show you how difficult it is in these hills to judge of the size of distant objects, or of distances." Thus beguiling the length of their journey, which had gradually become oppressively warm, they at length hailed with delight a view of the sea, with its cool refreshing breeze, equally acceptable to horse and rider ; and having arrived at the Retreat, with just such a sense of fatigue as served to enhance the comforts of rest and re- freshment, our little party were soon enjoy- ing from the broad latticed verandah, which occupied the whole front of the building, their fondly-cherished view of the dark blue ocean, gently rippled by the breeze, dotted here and there with the white sail of the returning fisherman, or the massive form of the deep-laden drogher, creeping along shore with her heavy cargo their prospect only bounded by a hazy, indistinct, cloudy appearance, raised far above the natural horizon. RALPH RUTHERFORD. 27 " May not that be a dim view of those St. Domingo mountains, concerning which we hear such dreadful tales?" said Laura, shuddering. " They certainly lie in that direction, Julia." " You are afraid of your own shadow, I believe," replied her sister ; " but St. Domingo is far enough from us." " I hope so, Julia, but Jemima was speak- ing of it, just now : the dear old soul was in one of her superstitious moods, and declared she could not look in that direction without a shudder." " Oh ! yes," replied Julia, somewhat scorn- fully, " Jemima has been out of spirits all day, for whilst we were enjoying the beautiful scenery around us, in our descent from the hills, the poor old creature could see nothing but evil omens. She heard too the scream of that rare bird, which their fetish men tell them always forbodes misfortune ; 'twas enough to alarm one to hear her ; but I have no faith in such nonsense." c 2 28 RALPH RUTHERFORD. And yet she was not quite so firm as she had professed to be, for Mr. Carteret soon after happening to join them, found her lean- ing pensively upon the window-ledge with her large, dark, expressive eyes fixed almost apprehensively on the distant horizon. " What ails thee, my darling ?" said the father, as he smoothed down her glossy ringlets. " I know not," she replied ; " but does not St. Domingo lie upon yonder horizon, and not far off, and what sad tales of rapine and murder have reached us from that ill-fated shore ! Jemima was talking of it with alarm in one of her queer fits to-day, and though I laughed at her gloomy fancies, somehow they seem to have affected me also." Mr. Carteret smiled at Julia's momen- tary alarm, and momentary it was, for fre- quent and fitful were her changes of mood, though the joyous one largely predominated, and she was soon once more all life and animation. RALPH RUTHERFORD. 29 To the slaves on the estate the arrival of the family was ever more or less a jubilee, bringing them, through their young mis- tresses, some advantage or indulgence. The negro women hailed their arrival with joy, and the children with screams of delight for negro joy is ever clamorous. The kind- hearted girls always bestowed much notice on these children, and had their favourites amongst them. No sooner did Julia and Laura, therefore, make their appearance out of doors in the evening, attended by Jemima, than a wild and joyful shout broke forth from the expectant crowd, to announce the important event. The reader has doubtless seen the rush of barn-door fowls, when the farmer's wife enters their domain at the long-expected hour, holding with both hands her widely distended apron, teeming with bright barley ; such was the rush and the flutter of that whole laughing, chattering bevy of soot- coloured picaninnies, true disciples of 30 RALPH RUTHERFORD. Momus ; their white teeth and eyeballs glittering amongst their shining black faces, whilst their huge, round, woolly heads, mounted guard so strangely over their protuberant bodies, which half concealed their slender, misshapen legs, stuck almost in the middle of a long, thin, uninstepped foot, imparting a most grotesque effect to the broad and merry grin, which literally distended the thick-lipped mouth from ear to ear. But they were beauties in their mother's eyes, and the dark, but often comely matrons watched with delighted looks, each, as her own peculiar darling became the object of momentary notice to Julia or to Laura. The latter was more gentle and more discriminating than her sister, adapting herself more carefully to the habits and feelings of the negroes ; yet both were kind and familiar with the children, and each had brought presents for her favourites. It would have surprised some of our RALPH RUTHERFORD. 31 worthy out-and-out emancipists, who cannot for a moment divest slavery of the fetter and the lash, to have seen with what evidently accustomed familiarity these dark pickaninnies sported around the fair girls, even clinging to them, and embracing their knees playfully, with uproarious laughter. That these things were so, is unquestionable, and that domestic slaves often led an easy life, indulged even, and pampered is equally so ; yet was it far otherwise with the great body of field-slaves ; and slavery, modify it as you may, is still the horror of horrors, not less a curse to the oppressor than to the oppressed ! Mr. Carteret was a just and a kind master, prudent and vigilant; still much went on at the Retreat which he knew not, and could not possibly have known. Night came rapidly as usual with sun- down, and all was bright, and calm, and tranquil in an atmosphere laden with rich and spicy odours. Our little group, almost 32 RALPH RUTHERFORD. too indolent to talk, enjoyed the delicious coolness of the air in the broad verandah, sipping the grateful sherbet, icy and fragrant with the fresh lime and other Indian fruits and herbs, mingled with masterly skill ; a light breeze had sprung up to ripple the broad waters murmuring at their feet; the rays of the descending moon glittered amongst the transparent dew-drops which gemmed the slightly quivering foliage of the more feathery of the plants, whilst in the deeply-shaded spots, the fireflies sported in ever-fluttering myriads, alighting occa- sionally here and there, and spreading far and near their brilliant though puny splendour. It was indeed a scene of surpassing loveliness, in full harmony with the feeling of quiet, peaceful happiness which pervaded the hearts of our young girls, as they gazed upon the ever-varying picture ; for the tropical moon, more dazzling than a noon-day's winter sun in northern climes, RALPH RUTHERFORD. 33 slowly descending, in all its unshorn splen- dour, beneath the unbroken horizon, lighted up the face of the waters gorgeously; and the deepening shadows on the landward side of the groves acquired additional gloom from the streaks and sprays of vivid light, which yet lingered amidst the topmost branches of the loftier trees, pencilling their varied and fantastic outline on the dark blue sky. It is difficult to quit such soft and soothing scenes, such sweet and balmy air, even to seek that repose which, in so enervating a climate, nature demands after a day of unwonted exertion, however plea- surable ; but the faithful Jemima became importunate, and at length she spoke as she was somewhat wont to do, with the voice of authority, till her unwilling charges yielded to her persuasions, and retired languid and fatigued with the pleasures of the past day, fondly anticipating still greater happiness on the morrow. c 3 34 RALPH RUTHERFORD. Mr. Carteret still lingered in the verandah, enjoying his cigar ; his thoughts, hitherto almost exclusively occupied with his young companions, took, in their absence, a more serious turn. He had for some time enter- tained a design of returning to England a measure highly desirable on account of his daughters, one of whom was now of an age to be introduced, and he himself, who had been born and educated in England, wished to end his days in the old country, where he had left dear friends and valued connections. Long absence had by no means impaired his attachment to his native land, and though not of a very advanced age, his constitution, never robust, now required a more bracing climate. Nothing is more easy, and few things are more agreeable, than to form delightful plans for the future, and those who do not see aE the complications of the situation of a man known to be wealthy, often wonder why he should hesitate to do that which is RALPH RUTHERFORD. 35 known to be his wish, and seems to be fully within his power. " I would not stay another day in this country, lovely as it is, and happy as I have been it it, especially with those dear girls, if I was as free to return to the old country as Carteret is. His estates are quite clear now." Thus spoke Mr. Frampton, a sensible and kind-hearted neighbour, to a common friend, and no doubt many other people had made similar remarks, perhaps with less delicacy ; for we are always wise, and not always courteous, in discussing the affairs of our neighbours, which, however, by no means implies wisdom in the management of our own. But we have left Mr. Carteret smoking his Havanah thoughtfully, till the end of the cigar approaching the tip of his nose, which was somewhat inconveniently long for his very short face ; he threw it from him, 36 RALPH RUTHERFORD. and having lighted another, began to com- mune with his thoughts. They were first directed to the best mode of effecting the sale of his estates, then to the difficulties that lay in the way of obtain- ing his wife's consent to the necessary ar- rangements, she having an interest in part of the property ; and, lastly, to the means of procuring the co-operation of his brother Peter, who was in an ill state of health, and fondly attached to Julia. He threw away the stump of his cigar, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced gently up and down the verandah in deep thought. At last he offered up a heartfelt prayer, and retired to rest ; but uncle Peter, and the possible evil results which might arise from his injudicious fondness for Julia, somewhat disturbed his slumbers. Again the morning was delicious, and the master of the house lounged in the verandah, RALPH RUTHERFORD. 37 with his cup of Mocha and his cigar; the view from it, in its bright dewy morning garb, displaying new forms of loveliness. Ladies are early risers in the West Indies, and breakfast is happily a social meal. The girls did not keep him long waiting; and when he afterwards proceeded to transact the business that had brought him to the Retreat, his daughters found ample and