A 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 ANCIENT AND MODERN 
 
 BRITISH AUTHORS 
 
 VOL. CCCCII. 
 
 LUCY HARDINGE.
 
 PARIS. PRINTED BY FAIN AND THUNOT, 
 Rue Racine, 28, near Ihe Odcon.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE: 
 
 A SECOND SERIES 
 
 OF 
 
 AFLOAT AND ASHORE. 
 
 BY J. FENIMORE COOPER, ESQ. 
 
 Al'TlKU', OF 
 
 'THE PILOT," "JACK tfLANTERN," "RED ROVER," " WATER-WITCH," ETC-, 
 
 Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. 
 
 Two Uentlemen of Verona. 
 
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 1845.
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 The conclusion of this Tale requires but little preface. 
 Many persons may think that there is too much of an 
 old man's despondency in a few of the opinions of this 
 portion of the Work ; but, after sixty, it is seldom we 
 view the things of this world en beau. There are cer- 
 tain political allusions, very few in number but pretty 
 strong in language, that the signs of the times fully 
 justify, in the author's judgment; though he does not 
 profess to give his own sentiments in this work, so much 
 as those of the subject of the narrative himself. "The 
 anti-rent combination," for instance, will prove, ac- 
 cording to the author's conjectures, to be one of two 
 things in this community (the United States) the com- 
 mencement of a dire revolution, or the commencement 
 of a return to the sounder notions and juster principles 
 that prevailed among us thirty years since, than certain- 
 ly prevail to-day. There is one favourable symptom 
 discoverable in the deep-seated disease that pervades the 
 social system : men dare, and do, deal more honestly 
 and frankly with the condition of society in America, 
 than was done a few years since. This right, one that 
 ought to be most dear to every freeman, has been re- 
 covered only by painful sacrifices and a stern resolu- 
 tion ; but recovered it has been, in some measure ; and, 
 were the pens of the country true to their owners' pri- 
 vileges, we should soon come to a just view of the sacred 
 
 i 
 
 2123749
 
 2 PREFACE- 
 
 nature of private character, as well as the target-like 
 vulnerability of public follies and public vice. It is 
 certain that, for a series of dangerous years, notions just 
 the reverse of this have prevailed among us, gradually 
 rendering the American press equally the vehicle of the 
 most atrocious personal calumny, and the most flatulent 
 national self-adulation. It is under such a state of 
 things that the few evils alluded to in this Work have 
 had their rise. Bodies of men, however ignorant or 
 small, have come to consider themselves as integral por- 
 tions of a community that never errs, and, consequent- 
 ly, entitled to esteem themselves infallible. When in 
 debt, they have fancied it political liberty to pay their 
 debts by the strong hand ; a very easy transition for 
 those who believe themselves able to effect all their ob- 
 jects. The disease has already passed out of New York 
 into Pennsylvania ; it will spread, like any other epide- 
 mic, throughout the country ; and there will soon be a 
 severe struggle among us, between the knave and the 
 honest man. Let the class of the latter look to it. It is 
 to be hoped it is still sufficiently powerful to conquer. 
 
 These few remarks are made in explanation of certain 
 opinions of Mr. Wallingford, that have been extorted 
 from him by the events of the day, as he was preparing 
 this Work for the press ; remarks that might seem out 
 of place, were it not a part of his original plan, which 
 contemplated enlarging far more than he has, indeed, 
 on some of the prominent peculiarities of the state of 
 society in the United States, in which he has passed the 
 greater part of his days. 
 
 September, 1844.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 But I'll not chide thee ; 
 
 Let shame come when it will, I do not call it; 
 I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot, 
 Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jore; 
 
 Mend when thou canst 
 
 Lear. 
 
 It is almost as impossible to describe minutely what occurred on 
 the boat's reaching the Wallingford, as to describe all the terrific 
 incidents of the struggle between Drewett and myself in the water. 
 I had sufficient perception, however, to see, as I was assisted on 
 board by Mr. Hardinge and Neb, that Lucy was not on deck. She 
 had probably gone to join Grace, with a view to be in readiness for 
 meeting the dire intelligence that was expected. I afterwards 
 learned that she was long on her knees in the after-cabin, engaged 
 in that convulsive prayer which is apt to accompany sudden 
 and extreme distress in those who appeal to God in their agony. 
 
 During the brief moments, and they were but mere particles of 
 time, if one can use such an expression, in which my senses could 
 catch any thing beyond the horrid scene in which I was so closely 
 engaged, I had heard shrill screams from the lungs of Chloe ; but 
 Lucy's voice had not mingled in the outcry. Even now, as we 
 were raised, or aided, to the deck, the former stood, with her face 
 glistening with tears, half convulsed with terror and half expanding 
 with delight, uncertain whether to laugh or to weep, looking first 
 at her master and then at her own admirer, until her feelings found 
 a vent in "the old exclamation of " der feller ! " 
 
 It was fortunate for Andrew Drewett that a man of Post's ex- 
 perience and steadiness was with us. No sooner was the seemingly 
 lifeless body on board, than Mr. Hardinge ordered the water-cask 
 to be got out 5 and he and Marble would have soon been rolling the 
 poor fellow with all their might, or holding him up by the heels, 
 under the notion that the water he had swallowed must be got out
 
 4 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 of him, before he could again breathe; but the authority of one so 
 high in the profession soon put a stop to this. Drewett's wet 
 clothes were immediately removed, blankets were warmed at the 
 galley, and the most judicious means were resorted to, in order to 
 restore the circulation. The physician soon detected signs of life, 
 and, ordering all but one or two assistants to leave the spot, in 
 ten minutes Drewett was placed in a warm bed, and might be con- 
 sidered out of danger. 
 
 The terrific scene enacted so directly before his eyes produced 
 an effect to the Albon-ny man, who consented to haul aft his main- 
 sheet, lower his studding-sail and top-sail, come by the wind, 
 stand across to the Wallingford, heave-to, and lower a boat. This 
 occurred just as Drewelt was taken below ; and, a minute later, old 
 Mrs. Drewett and her two daughters, Helen and Caroline, were 
 brought alongside of us. The fears of these tender relatives were 
 allayed by my report ; for, by this time, I could both talk and 
 walk 5' and Post raised no objection to their being permitted to go 
 below. I seized that opportunity to jump down into the sloop's 
 hold, where Neb brought me some dry clothes ; and 1 was soon in 
 a warm delightful glow, that contributed in no small degree to my 
 comfort. So desperate had been my struggles, however, that it 
 took a good night's rest completely to restore the tone of my nerves 
 and all my strength. My arrangements were barely completed, 
 when I was summoned to the cabin. 
 
 Grace met me with extended arms. She wept on my bosom for 
 many minutes. She was dreadfully agitated as it was ; though 
 happily she knew nothing of the cause of Chloe's screams, and of 
 the confusion on deck, until I was known to be safe. Then Lucy 
 communicated all the facts to her in as considerate a manner as her 
 own kind and gentle nature could dictate. I was sent for, as just 
 stated, and caressed like any other precious thing that its owner 
 had supposed itself about to lose. We were still in an agitated 
 state, when Mr. Hardinge appeared at the door of the cabin, with a 
 prayer-book in his hand. He demanded our attention, all kneeling 
 in both cabins, while the good simple-minded old man read some 
 of the collects, the Lord's Prayer, and concluded with the thanks- 
 giving for "a safe return from sea !" He would have given us 
 the marriage ceremony itself, before he would have gone out of the 
 prayer-book for any united worship whatever. 
 
 It was impossible not to smile at this last act of pious simplicity, 
 while it was equally impossible not to be touched with such an evi- 
 dence of sincere devotion. The offering had a soothing influence 
 on all our feelings, and most especially on those of the excited 
 females. As I came out into the main-cabin, after this act of devo- 
 tion, the excellent divine took me in his arms, kissed me just as he 
 had been used to do when a boy, and blessed me aloud. I confess 
 J was obliged to rush on deck to conceal my emotion.
 
 LUCY HARDIJSGE. 5 
 
 In a few minutes I became sufficiently composed to order sail 
 made on our course, when we followed the Orpheus up the river, 
 soon passing her, and taking care to give her a wide berth ; a pre- 
 caution I long regretted not having used at first. As Mrs. Drewet 
 and her two daughters refused to quit Andrew, we had the whole 
 family added to our party, as it might be, per force. I confess to 
 having been sufficiently selfish to complain a little, to myself only, 
 however, at always finding these people in my way, during the brief 
 intervals I now enjoyed of being near Lucy. As there was no help, 
 after seeing all the canvas spread, I took a seat in one of the chairs 
 that stood on the main-deck, and began, for the first time, coolly to 
 ponder on all that had just passed. While thus occupied, Marble 
 drew a chair to my side, gave me a cordial squeeze of the hand, and 
 began to converse. At this moment, neally tricked out in dry clothes, 
 stood Neb on the forecastle, with his arms folded, sailor-fashion, as 
 calm as if he had never felt the wind blow ; occasionally giving in, 
 however, under the influence of Chloe's smiles and unsophisticated 
 admiration. In these moments of weakness the black would bow 
 his head, give vent to a short laugh, when, suddenly recovering 
 himself, he would endeavour to appear dignified. While this pan- 
 tomime was in the course of exhibition forward, the discourse aft 
 did not flag. 
 
 " Providence intends you for something remarkable, Miles," my 
 mate continued, after one or two brief expressions of his satisfaction 
 at my safety 5 " something uncommonly remarkable, depend on it. 
 First, you were spared in the boat off the Isle of Bourbon 5 then, in 
 another boat, off Delaware Bay? next, you got rid of the Frenchman 
 so dexterously in the British Channel ; after that, there was the 
 turn-up with the bloody Smudge and his companions ; next comes 
 the recapture of the Crisis 5 sixthly, as one might say, you picked 
 me up at sea, a runaway hermit ; and now here, this very day, 
 seventhly and lastly, are you sitting safe and sound, after carrying as 
 regular a lubber as ever fell overboard, on your head and shoulders., 
 down to the bottom of the Hudson, no less than three times ! I 
 consider you to be the only man living who ever sank his three 
 times, and came up to tell of it, with his own tongue." 
 
 " I am not at all conscious of having said one word about it, 
 Moses,"! retorted, a little drily. 
 
 " Every motion, every glance of your eye, boy, tells the story. 
 No 5 Providence intends you for something remarkable, you may rely 
 on that. One of these days you may go to Congress who knows ?" 
 
 u By the same rule, you are to be included, then 5 for in most of 
 my adventures you have been a sharer, besides having quantities 
 that are exclusively your own. Remember, you have even been a 
 hermit." 
 
 " Hu-s-h not a syllable about it, or the children would run 
 after me as a sight. You must have generalised in a remarkable
 
 6 LUCY HARDIHGt. 
 
 way, Miles, after you sunk the last time, without much hope of 
 coming up again?" 
 
 " Indeed, my friend, you are quite right in your conjecture. So 
 near a view of death is apt to make us all take rapid and wide views 
 of the past. I believe it even crossed my mind that you would miss 
 me sadly." 
 
 " Ay," returned Marble, with feeling; " them are the moments 
 to bring out the truth ! Not a juster idee passed your brain than 
 that, Master Miles, I can assure you. Missed you.! I would have 
 bought a boat and started for Marble Land, never again to quit it, 
 the day after the funeral. But there stands your cook, fidgeting and 
 looking this way, as if she had a word to put in on the occasion. 
 This expl'ite of Neb's will set the niggers up in the world ; and it 
 wouldn't surprise me if it cost you a suit of finery all round." 
 
 " A price I will cheerfully pay for my life. It is as you say 
 Dido certainly wishes to speak to me, and I must give her an invi- 
 tation to come nearer." 
 
 Dido Clawbonny was the cook of the family, and the mother of 
 Chloe. Whatever hypercriticism migh t object to her colour, which 
 was a black out of which all the gloss had fairly glistened itself over 
 the fire, no one could deny her being full blown. Her weight was 
 exactly two hundred, and her countenance a strange medley of the 
 light-heartedness of her race, and the habitual and necessary severi- 
 ty of a cook. She often protested that she was weighed down by 
 " responserbility 5 "the whole of the discredit of over-done beef, or 
 under-done fish, together with those which attach themselves to 
 heavy bread, lead-like buck-wheat cakes, and a hundred other si- 
 milar cases, belonging exclusively to her office. She had been 
 twice married, the last connexion having been formed only a 
 twelvemonth before. In obedience to a sign, this important lady 
 now approached. 
 
 " Welcome back,MasserMile,"Dido began with a curtsey, mean- 
 ing " Welcome back from being half drowned; " " ebberybody so 
 grad you isn't hurt ! " 
 
 " Thank you, Dido thank you, with all my heart. If I have 
 gained nothing else by the ducking, I have gained a knowledge of 
 the manner in which my servants love me." 
 
 " Lor' bless us all ! How we help it, Masser Mile ? As if a body 
 canposserbly help how lub come and go! Lub just like religion, 
 Masser Mile some get him, and some don't. But lub for a young 
 masser and a young missus, sah dal jest as nat'ral, as lub for ole 
 masser and ole missus. I t'ink nut'in' of neider." 
 
 Luckily, I was too well acquainted with the Clawbonny dialect 
 to need a vocabulary in order to understand the meaning of Dido. 
 All she wished to express was the idea that it was so much a matter 
 of course for the dependants of the family to love its heads, that she
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 7 
 
 did not think the mere circumstance, in itself, worthy of a second 
 thought. 
 
 " Well, Dido," I said, "how does matrimony agree with you, in 
 your old age? I hear you took a second partner to yourself, while 
 I was last at sea." 
 
 Dido let her eyes fall on the deck, according to the custom of all 
 brides, let their colour be what it may , manifested a proper degree 
 of confusion, then curtsied, turned her full-moon face so as to re- 
 semble a half-moon, and answered, with a very suspicious sort of 
 a sigh 
 
 ' Yes, Masser Mile, dat jest so. I did t'ink to wait and ask 'e 
 young masser's consent; but Cupid say" not the god of love, but 
 an old negro of that name, Dido's second partner" but Cupid say, 
 ' What odd he make to Masser Mile ; he long way off, and he won't 
 care: 'and so, sah, rader than be tormented so by Cupid, one had 
 altogedder better be married at once dat all, sah." 
 
 " And that is quite enough, my good woman ; that every thing may 
 be in rule, I give my consent now, and most cheerfully." 
 
 " T'ankee, sah!" dropping a curtsey, and showing her teeth. 
 
 " Of course the ceremony was performed by our excellent rector, 
 good Mr. Hardinge?" 
 
 " Sartain, sah no Clawbonny nigger t'ink he marry at all, 'less 
 Masser Hardinge bless him and say Amen. Ebberybody say 'e mar- 
 riage is as good as ole Masser and Missus's. Dis make two time 
 Dido got married ; and both time good, lawful ceremunny, as ebber 
 was. Oh ! yes, sah ! " 
 
 " And I hope your change of condition has proved to your 
 mind, Dido, now the thing is done. Old Cupid is no great matter 
 in the way of beauty, certainly ; but he is an honest, sober fellow 
 enough." 
 
 "Yes, sah, he dat, no one can deny. Ah! Masser Mile, 'em 
 'ere step-husband, after all, nebber jest like a body own hus- 
 band! Cupid berry honest, and berry sober; but he only step- 
 husband ; and dat I tell him twenty time already, I do t'ink, if trut' 
 was said." 
 
 4< Perhaps you have now said it often enough twenty times are 
 quite sufficient to tell a man such a fact." 
 
 " Yes, sah," dropping another curtsey, " if Masser Mile please." 
 
 " I do please, and think you have told him that often enough. If 
 a man won't learn a thing in twenty lessons, he is not worth the 
 trouble of teaching. So tell him he's a* step-husband no more, but 
 try something else. I hope he makes Chloe a good father?" 
 
 " Lor', sah, he no Chloe's fadder, at all her fadder dead and 
 gone, and nebber come back. I want to say a word to young 
 Masser 'bout Chloe and dat 'ere fellow, Neb yes, sah." 
 
 " Well, what is it, Dido? I see they like each other, and sup- 
 pose they wish to get married, too. Is that the object of your visit ?
 
 * LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 if so, I consent without waiting to be asked. Neb will make no 
 step-husband, I can promise you." 
 
 " Don't be in a hurry, Masser Mile," said Dido, with an earger- 
 ness that showed this ready consent was any thing but what she 
 wanted. " Dere many 'jection to Neb, when he ask to marry a 
 young gal in Chloe sitiation. You know, sah, Chloe now Miss 
 Grace's own waitin'-maid. Nobody else help her dress, or do any 
 thing in 'e young missus's room, dan Chloe sheself my darter, 
 Chloe Clawbonny!" 
 
 Here was a new turn given to the affair! It was "like master, 
 like man." Neb's love (or lub, for that was just the word, and just 
 the idea too) was no more fated to run smooth than my own ; and 
 the same objection lay against us both, viz. want of gentility I I 
 determined to say a good word for the poor fellow, however 5 while it 
 would have been exceeding the usage of the family to interfere in 
 any other manner than by advice, in an affair of the heart. 
 
 " If Chloe is my sister's favourite servant, Dido," I remarked, 
 " you are to remember that Neb is mine." 
 
 " Dat true, sah, and so Chloe say ; but dere great difference, 
 Masser Mile, atween Clawbonny and a ship. Neb own, himself, 
 young Masser, he doesn't even lib in cabin, where you lib, sah." 
 
 " All that is true, Dido ; but there is a difference of another sort 
 between a ship and a house. The house-servant may be more liked 
 and trusted than the out-door servant 5 but we think, at sea, it is 
 more honourable to be a foremast hand than to be in the cabin, 
 unless as an officer. I was a foremast Jack some time, myself 5 and 
 Neb is only in such a berth as his master once filled." 
 
 " Dat a great deal quite won'erful, sah berry great deal, and 
 more dan Chloe can say, or I can wish her to say. But, sah, dey 
 say now Neb has save 'e young masser's life, young masser must 
 gib him free-paper ; and no gal of mine shall ebber be free nigger's 
 wife. No, sah ; 'scuse me from dat disgrace, which too much for 
 fait'ful ole servant to bear ! " 
 
 " I am afraid, Dido, Neb is the same way of thinking. I offered 
 him his freedom, the other day, and he refused to receive it. 
 Times are changing in this country, and it will be thought, soon, it 
 is more creditable for a black to be free, than to be any man's slave. 
 The law means to free all hands of you, one of these days." 
 
 " Nebber tell me dat, Masser Mile dat day nebber come for me 
 or mine ; even ole Cupid know better dan dat. Now, sah, Misser 
 Van Blarcum's Brom want to have Chloe, dreadful ; but I nebber 
 consent to sich a uner" (Dido meant union) "nebber. Our fa- 
 mily, sah, altogedder too good to marry in among the Van Blarcums. 
 Nebber has been, and nebber shall be uner atween 'em." 
 
 " I was not aware. Dido, that the Clawbonny slaves were so par- 
 
 cular about their connexions." 
 
 "Won'erful particular, sah, and ebber hab been, and ebber will
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 9 
 
 be. Don't t'ink, Masser Mile, I marry ole Cupid, myself, if anoder 
 prop'r connexion offer in 'e family 5 but I prefar him, to marry into 
 any oder family here about." 
 
 " Neb is Clawbonny, and my great friend , so I hope you will 
 think better of his suit. Some day Chloe may like to be free ; and 
 Neb will always have it in his power to make his wife free, as well 
 as himself." 
 
 " Sah, I t'ink, as you say, Masser Mile, sah when I hab done 
 t'inkin', sah, hope young masser and young missus hear what ole 
 cook got to say, afore 'ey gives consent." 
 
 " Certainly, Chloe is your daughter, and she shall pay you all 
 due respect for that, I will answer for my sister, as well as for my- 
 self. We will never encourage disrespect for parents." 
 
 Dido renewed and redoubled her thanks, made another profound 
 curtsey, and withdrew with a dignity that, I dare say, in Neb's and 
 Chloe's eyes, boded little good. As for myself, I now mused on 
 the character of the things of this world. Here were people of the 
 very humblest class known in a nation nay, of a class sealed by 
 nature itself, and doomed to inferiority just as tenacious of the 
 very distinctions that were making me so miserable, and against 
 which certain persons, who are wiser than the rest of the world, 
 declaim without understanding them, and even go so far, some- 
 times, as to deny their existence. My cook reasoned, in her sphere, 
 much as I knew that Rupert reasoned, as the Drewetts reasoned, as 
 the world reasoned, and, as I feared, even Lucy reasoned in my 
 own case! The return of Marble, who had left my side as soon as 
 Dido opened her budget, prevented my dwelling long on this 
 strange I had almost said, uncouth coincidence, and brought my 
 mind back to present things. 
 
 " As the old woman has spun her yarn, Miles," the mate re- 
 sumed, "we will go on with matters and things. I have been talk- 
 ing with the mother of the youngster that fell overboard, and giving 
 her some advice for the benefit of her son in time to come 5 and 
 what do you think she gives as the reason for the silly thing he 
 did? " 
 
 " It is quite out of my power to say that he was a silly fellow 
 naturally, perhaps." 
 
 " Love. It seems the poor boy is in love with this sweet friend 
 of yours, Rupert's sister ; and it was nothing more nor less than 
 love which made him undertake to play rope-dancer on our main- 
 boom ! " 
 
 " Did Mrs. Drewett tell you this with her own mouth, Marble?" 
 
 " That did she, Captain Wallingford ; for, while you were dis- 
 cussing Neb and Chloe with old Dido, we, that is, the doctor, the 
 mother, and myself, were discussing Andrew and Lucy between 
 ourselves. The good old lady gave me to understand it was a
 
 10 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 settled thing, and that she looked on Miss Hardinge already as a 
 third daughter." 
 
 This was a strange subject for Mrs. Drewett to discuss with a 
 man like Marble; or even with Post; but some allowances were to 
 be made for Marble's manner of viewing his own connexion with 
 the dialogue, and more for the excited condition of the mother's 
 feelings. She was scarcely yet in possession of all her faculties, 
 and might very well commit an indiscretion of this nature, more 
 especially in her conversation with a man in Post's position, over- 
 looking ,or disregarding the presence of the mate. The effect of 
 all that had passed was to leave a strong impression on my mind 
 that I was too late. Lucy must be engaged, and waited only to 
 become of age, in order to make the settlements she intended in 
 favour of her brother ere she was married. Her manner to myself 
 was merely the result of habit and sincere friendship ; a little in- 
 creased in interest and gentleness, perhaps, on account of the 
 grievous wrong she felt we had received from Rupert. What right 
 had I to complain, admitting all this to be true ? I had scarcely 
 been aware of my own passion for the dear girl for years, and had 
 certainly never attempted to make her acquainted with it. She had 
 made me no pledges, plighted no faith, received no assurances of 
 attachment, was under no obligation to wait my pleasure. So sin- 
 cere was my affection for Lucy, that I rejoiced, even in my misery, 
 when I remembered that not the slightest imputation could be laid 
 on her deportment, truth, or frankness. On the whole, it was per- 
 haps the more natural that she should love Andrew Drewett, one 
 she met for the first time after she became of an age to submit to such 
 impressions, than to love me, whom she had been educated to 
 treat with the familiarity and confidence of a brother. Yes ; I was 
 even just enough to admit this. 
 
 The scene of the morning, and the presence of Mrs. Drewett and 
 her daughters, produced an entire change in the spirits and inter- 
 course of our party. The ladies remained below most of the time; 
 and as for Drewett himself, he was advised by Post not to quit his 
 berth until he found his strength restored. Mr. Hardinge passed 
 much time by Andrew Drewett's side, offering such attentions as 
 might be proper from a father to a son. At least it so seemed to 
 me. This left Marble and myself in possession of the quarter-deck, 
 though we had occasional visits from all below Grace, Lucy, and 
 old Mrs. Drewett excepted. 
 
 In the mean time , the Wallingford continued to ascend the river, 
 favoured until evening by a light southerly breeze. She outsailed 
 every thing ; and, just as the sun was sinking behind the fine termi- 
 nation of the -Cattskill range of mountains , we were some miles 
 above the outlet of the stream that has lent it its name. 
 
 A lovelier landscape can scarcely be imagined than that which 
 presented itself from the deck of the sloop. It was the first time I
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 11 
 
 had ascended the river, or indeed that any of the Clawbonny party 
 had been up it so high, Mr. Hardinge excepted; and everybody was 
 called on deck to look at the beauties of the hour. The sloop was 
 about a mile above Hudson, and the view was to be gazed at towards 
 the south. This is perhaps the finest reach of this very beautiful 
 stream, though it is not the fashion to think so; the Highlands being 
 the part usually preferred. It is easy enough for me, who have 
 since lived among the sublimity of the Swiss and Italian lakes, to 
 understand that there is nothing of a very sublime character, rela- 
 tively considered, in any of the reaches of the Hudson ; but it would 
 be difficult to find a, river that'has so much which is exquisitely 
 beautiful ; and this, too, of a beauty which borders on the grand. 
 Lucy was the first person to create any doubts in my mind concern- 
 ing the perfection of the Highlands. Just as the cockney declaims 
 about Richmond Hill the inland view from Mont-Martre, of 
 a clouded day, is worth twenty of it but just as the provincial 
 London cockney declaims about Richmond Hill, so has the provin- 
 cial American been in the habit of singing the praises of the High- 
 lands of the Hudson. The last are sufficiently striking, I will al- 
 low ; but they are surpassed in their own kind by a hundred known 
 mountain landscapes ; while the softer parts of the river have scarce- 
 ly a rival. Lucy, I repeat, was the first person to teach me this 
 distinction Lucy, who then had never seen either Alps or Apen- 
 nines. Rut her eye was as true as her principles, her tongue, or 
 her character. All was truth about this dear girl truth unadul- 
 terated and unalloyed. 
 
 "Certainly, my dear Mrs. Drewett," the dear girl said, as she 
 stood supporting the old lady, who leaned on her arm, gazing at the 
 glorious sunset, ""the Highlands have nothing to equal this! To 
 me this seems all that art could achieve ; while I confess the views 
 in the mountains have ever appeared to want something that the 
 mind can imagine." 
 
 Mrs. Drewett, though a respectable, was a common-place wo- 
 man. She belonged to the vast class that do most of their thinking 
 by proxy ; and it was a sort of heresy in her eyes to fancy any thing 
 could surpass the Highlands. Poor Mrs. Drewett ! She was exceed- 
 ingly cockney, without having the slightest suspicion of it. Her 
 best ought to be everybody else's best. She combated Lucy's notion 
 warmly, therefore protesting that the Highlands could not have a su- 
 perior. This is a sort of argument it is not easy to overcome ; and 
 her companion was content to admire the scene before her, in si- 
 lence, after urging one or two reasons, in support of her opinion, 
 in her own quiet, unpretending manner. 
 
 I overhead this little argument, and was a close observer of the 
 manner of the parties. Mrs. Drewelt was extremely indulgent, 
 even while warmest, seeming to me to resist Lucy's opinion as an 
 affectionate mother would contend with the mistaken notions of a
 
 12 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 very favourite child. On the other hand, Lucy appeared confiding, 
 and spoke as the young of her sex are most apt to do, when they 
 utter their thoughts to ears they feel must be indulgent. 
 
 A sunset cannot last for ever ; and even this, sweet as it had been, 
 soon became tame and tasteless to me. As the ladies now disap- 
 peared, I determined to anchor, the wind failing, and the tide coming 
 ahead. Marble and myself had a sort of state-room fitted up for us 
 in the hold ; and thither I was glad to retire, standing really in need 
 of rest, after the terrible exertions of that day. What passed in the 
 cabins that evening, I had no opportunity of knowing, though I 
 heard laughing and happy female voices, through the bulk-heads, 
 hours after my own head was on its pillow. When Marble came 
 down to turn in, he told me the cabin party had revived, and that 
 there had been much pleasant discourse among the young people ; 
 and this in a way to cause even him to derive great satisfaction as a 
 listener. 
 
 Neb gave us a call at day-light. The wind was fresh at west- 
 north-west, but the tide was just beginning to run on the flood. 
 I was so impatient to be rid of my guests, that all hands were called 
 immediately, and we got the sloop under-way. The pilot pro- 
 fessed himself willing to beat up through the narrow passages above, 
 and the Wallingford's greatest performance being on the wind, I 
 wasdetermined to achieve my deliverance that very tide. The sloop 
 drew more water than was usual for the up-river craft, it is true ; 
 but she was light, and, just at the moment, could go wherever the 
 loaded Albany vessels went. Those were not the days of vast pub- 
 lic works ; and as for sea-going craft, none had ever crossed the Over- 
 slaugh, so far as had come to my knowledge. Times have changed 
 greatly, since , but the reader will remember I am writing of that 
 remote period in American history, the year of our Lord 1803. 
 
 The anchor was no sooner aweigh, than the deck became a scene 
 of activity. The breeze was stiff, and it enabled me to show the 
 Wallingford off to advantage among the dull fiat-bottomed craft of 
 that day. There were reaches in which the wind favoured us, too ; 
 and by the time the ladies re-appeared, we were up among the 
 islands, worming our way through the narrow channels with rapi- 
 dity and skill. To me, and to Marble also, the scene was entirely 
 novel ; and between the activity that our evolutions required, and 
 the constant change of scene, we had little leisure to attend to those 
 in the cabin. Just as breakfast was announced, indeed, the vessel 
 was approaching the more difficult part of the river; and all we 
 got of that meal, we took on deck, at snatches, between the many 
 tacks we made. As good-luck would have it, however, the wind 
 backed more -to the westward about eight o'clock; and we were 
 enabled to stem the ebb that began to make at the same time. 
 This gave us the hope of reaching the end of our passage without 
 again anchoring.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 13 
 
 At length we reached the Overslaugh, which, as was apt to be 
 the case, was well sprinkled with vessels aground. The pilot car- 
 ried us through them all, however 5 if not literally with flying co- 
 lours, which would have been regarded as an insult by the less 
 fortunate, at least with complete success. Then Albany came into 
 view, leaning against its sharp acclivity, and spreading over its 
 extensive bottom-land. It was not the town it is to-day, by quite 
 three-fourths less in dwellings and people ; but it was then, as now, 
 one of the most picturesque-looking places in America. There is 
 no better proof, in its way, how much more influence the talking 
 and writing part of mankind have than the mere actors, than is to 
 be found in the relative consideration of Albany, on the scale of ap- 
 pearance and position, as compared with those enjoyed by a hun- 
 dred other towns, more especially in the Eastern States. Almost 
 without a competitor, as to beauty of situation, or at least on a level 
 with Richmond and Burlington, among the inland towns, it was 
 usually esteemed a Dutch place that every pretender was at liberty 
 to deride, in my younger days. We are a people by no means 
 addicted to placing our candle under the bushel 5 and yet I cannot 
 recal a single civil expression in any native writer touching the 
 beauties of Albany. It may have been owing to the circumstance 
 that so much of the town was under the hill at the beginning of the 
 century, and that strangers had few opportunities of seeing it to 
 advantage ; but I rather think its want of the Anglo-Saxon origin 
 was the principal reason it was so little in favour. 
 
 Glad enough was I to reach the wharfs, with their line of store- 
 houses, that then literally spouted wheat into the sloops that 
 crowded the quays, on its way to feed the contending armies of 
 Europe. Late as it was in the season, wheat was still pouring out- 
 ward through all the channels of the country, enriching the farmers 
 with prices that frequently rose as high as two dollars and a half 
 the bushel, and sometimes as high as three. Yet no one was so 
 poor in America as to want bread ! The dearer the grain, the higher 
 the wages of the labourer, and the better he lived. 
 
 It was not at all late when the Wallingford was slowly approach- 
 ing the wharf where it was intended to bring -up. There was a 
 sloop ahead of us, which we had been gradually approaching for 
 the last two hours, but which was enabled to keep in advance in 
 consequence of the lightness of the wind. This dying away of the 
 breeze rendered the approaching noon-tide calm and pleasant 5 and 
 everybody on board, even to Grace, came on deck, as we moved 
 slowly past the dwellings on the eastern bank, in order to get a view 
 of the town. I proposed that the Clawbonny party should land, 
 contrary to our original intention, and profit by the opportunity to 
 see the political capital of the State at our leisure. Both Grace and 
 Lucy were inclined to listen favourably ; and the Drewetts, Andrew 
 and his sisters, were delighted at this prospect of our remaining
 
 44 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 together a little longer. Just at this moment, the Wallingford, true 
 to her character, was coming up with the sloop ahead, and was 
 already doubling on her quarter. I was giving some orders, when 
 Lucy and Chloe, supporting Grace, passed me on their way to the 
 cabin. My poor sister was pale as death, and I could see that she 
 trembled so much she could hardly walk. A significant glance from 
 Lucy bade me not to interfere, and I had sufficient self-command 
 to obey. I turned to look at the neighbouring sloop, and found at 
 once an explanation of my sister's agitation. The Mertons and 
 Rupert were on her quarter-deck, and so near as to render it im- 
 possible to avoid speaking, at least to the former. At this embar- 
 rassing instant Lucy returned to my side, with a view, as I after- 
 wards learned, to urge me to carry the Wallingford to some place 
 so distant, as to remove the danger of any intercourse. This acci- 
 dent rendered the precaution useless, the whole party in the other 
 vessel catching sight of my companion at the same moment. 
 
 " This is an agreeable surprise! " called out Emily, in whose 
 eyes Rupert's sister could not be an object of indifference. " By 
 your brother's and Mrs. Drewett's account, we had supposed you 
 at Clawbonny, by the bed-side of Miss Wallingford." 
 
 " Miss Wallingford is here, as are my father, and Mrs. Drewett, 
 
 and " 
 
 Lucy never let it be known who that other " and " was intended 
 to include. 
 
 " Well, this is altogether surprising! " put in Rupert, with a 
 steadiness of voice that really astounded me . "At the very moment 
 we were giving you lots of credit for your constancy in friendship, 
 and all that sort of thing, here you are, Mademoiselle Lucie, trot- 
 ting off to the Springs, like all the rest of us, bent on pleasure." 
 
 " No, Rupert," answered Lucy, in a tone which I thought could 
 not fail to bring the heartless coxcomb to some sense of the feeling 
 he ought to manifest-, " 1 am going to no Springs. Dr. Post .has 
 advised a change of scene and air for Grace ; and Miles has brought 
 us all up in his sloop, that we may endeavour to contribute to the 
 dear sufferer's comfort, in one united family. We shall not land in 
 Albany." 
 
 I took my cue from these last words, and understood that I was 
 not even to bring the sloop alongside the wharf. 
 
 " Upon my word, it is just as she says, Colonel ! " cried Rupert. 
 " I can see my father on the forecastle, with Post, and divers others 
 of my acquaintance. Ay and there's Drewett, as I live! Walling- 
 ford, too! How fare you, noble captain, up in this fresh-water 
 stream? You must be strangely out of your latitude." 
 
 "How do you do, Mr. Hardinge?" I coldly returned the saluta- 
 tion, and then I was obliged to speak to the Major and his daughter. 
 But Neb was at the helm, and I had given him a sign to steer further 
 from our companion. This soon reduced the intercourse to a few
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 15 
 
 wavings of handkerchiefs andkissings of the hand, in which all the 
 Drewetts came in for a share. As for Lucy, she walked aside, and 
 I seized the occasion to get a word in private. 
 
 " What am I to do with the sloop? " I asked. " It will soon 
 be necessary to come to some decision." 
 
 " By no means go to the wharf. Oh! this has been most cruel. 
 The cabin-windows are open, and Grace must have heard every 
 syllable. Not even a question as to her health! I dread to go 
 below and witness the effect." 
 
 I wished not to speak of Rupert to his sister, and avoided the 
 subject. The question, therefore, was simply repeated. Lucy 
 inquired if it were not possible to land our passengers without 
 bringing-up, and, hearing the truth on the subject, she renewed her 
 entreaties not to land. Room was taken accordingly, and the sloop, 
 as soon as high enough, was rounded-to, and the boat lowered. 
 The portmanteau of Post was placed in it, and the Drewetts were 
 told that every thing was ready to put them ashore. 
 
 " Surely we are not to part thus!" exclaimed the old lady. 
 " Tout intend to land, Lucy, if not to accompany us to Ballston? 
 The waters might prove of service to Miss Wallingford." 
 
 " Dr. Post thinks not, but advises us to return tranquilly down 
 the river. We may yet go as far as Sandy Hook, or even into the 
 Sound. It all depends on dear Grace's strength and inclinations." 
 
 Protestations of regret and disappointment followed, for every- 
 body appeared to think much of Lucy, and very little of my poor 
 sister. Some attempts were even made at persuasion ; but the quiet 
 firmness of Lucy soon convinced her friends that she was not to be 
 diverted from her purpose. Mr. Hardinge, loo, had a word to say 
 in confirmation of his daughter's decision $ and the travellers reluc- 
 tantly prepared to enter the boat. After he had assisted his mother 
 over the sloop's side, Andrew Drewett turned to me, and in fair, 
 gentlemanlike, manly language, expressed his sense of the service 
 I had rendered him. After this acknowledgment, the first he had 
 made, I could do no les than shake his hand, and we parted in the 
 manner of those who have conferred and received a favour. 
 
 I could perceive that Lucy's colour heightened, and that she 
 looked exceedingly gratified while this little scene was in the course 
 of being acted, though I was unable to comprehend the precise 
 feeling that was predominant in her honest and truthful heart. Did 
 that increased colour proceed from pleasure at the handsome man- 
 ner in which Drewett acquitted himself of one of the most embar- 
 rassing of all our duties the admission of a deep obligation? or 
 was it in any manner connected with her interest in me ? I could 
 not ask, and of course did not learn. This scene, however, termi- 
 nated our intercourse with the Drewetts, for the moment, the boat 
 pulling away immediately after.
 
 16 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Misplaced in life, 
 I know not what I could hare been, but feel 
 I am not what I should be let it end. 
 
 Sardanapalui. 
 
 Glad enough was I to find the quiet and domestic character of 
 my vessel restored. Lucy had vanished as soon as it was proper ; 
 but, agreeably to her request, I got the sloop's head down-stream, 
 and began our return-passage, without even thinking of putting a 
 foot on the then unknown land of Albany. Marble was too much 
 accustomed to submit without inquiry to the movements of the ves- 
 sel he was in, to raise any objections , and the Wallingford, her 
 boat in tow, was soon turning down with the tide, aided by a light 
 westerly wind, on her homeward course. This change kept all on 
 deck so busy, that it was some little time ere I saw Lucy again. 
 When we did meet, however, I found her sad and full of apprehen- 
 sion. Grace had evidently been deeply hurt by Rupert's deport- 
 ment. The effect on her frame was such, that it vas desirable to let 
 her be as little disturbed as possible. Lucy hoped she might fall 
 asleep ; for, like an infant, her exhausted physical powers sought 
 relief in this resource, almost as often as the state of her mind 
 w r ould permit. Her existence, although I did not then know it, was 
 like that of the flame which flickers in the air, and which is en- 
 dangered by the slightest increase of the current to which the lamp 
 may be exposed. 
 
 We succeeded in getting across the Overslaugh without touching, 
 and had got down among the islands below Coejiman's *, when we 
 were met by the new flood. The wind dying away to a calm, we 
 were compelled to select a berth, and anchor. As soon as we were 
 snug, I sought an interview with Lucy ; but the dear girl sent me 
 word by Chloe that Grace was dozing, and that she could not see 
 me just at that moment, as her presence in the cabin was necessary 
 in order to maintain silence. On receiving this message, I ordered 
 the boat hauled up alongside ; Marble, myself, and Neb got in; 
 when the black skulled us ashore Chloe grinning at the latter's 
 dexterity, as with one hand, and a mere play of the wrist, he caused 
 the water to foam under the bows of our little bark. 
 
 The spot where we landed was a small but lovely gravelly cove, 
 that was shaded by three or four enormous weeping-villows, and 
 presented the very picture of peace and repose. It was altogether 
 a retired and rural bit, there being near it no regular landing, no 
 
 Queemans, as pronounced. This is a Dutch, not an Indian name, and belongs to a 
 respectable New-York family.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 17 
 
 reels for seines, nor any of those signs that denote a place of resort. 
 A single cottage stood on a small natural terrace, elevated some 
 ten or twelve feet above the rich bottom that sustained the willows. 
 This cottage was the very beau ideal of rustic neatness and home 
 comfort. It was of stone, one story in height, with a high pointed 
 roof, and had a Dutch-looking gable that faced the river, and 
 which contained the porch and outer door. The stones were 
 white as the driven snow, having been washed a few weeks before. 
 The windows had the charm of irregularity ; and everything about 
 the dwelling proclaimed a former century, and a regime different 
 from that under which we were then living. In fact, the figures 
 1698, let in as iron braces to the wall of the gable, announced that 
 the house was quite as old as the second structure at Clawbonny. 
 The garden of this cottage was not large, but it was in admirable 
 order. It lay entirely in the rear of the dwelling ; and behind it, 
 again, a small orchard, containing about a hundred trees, on which 
 the fruit began to show itself in abundance, lay against the sort of 
 amphitheatre that almost enclosed this little nook against the in- 
 trusion and sight of the rest of the world. There were also half a 
 dozen huge cherry trees, from which the fruit had not yet alto- 
 gether disappeared, near the house, to which they served the double 
 purpose of ornament and shade. The out-houses seemed to be as 
 old as the dwelling, and were in quite as good order. 
 
 As we drew near the shore, I directed Neb to cease sculling, and 
 sat gazing at this picture of retirement, and apparently of content, 
 while the boat drew towards the gravelly beach under the impetus 
 already received. 
 
 " This is a hermitage I think I could stand, Miles," said Marble, 
 whose look had not been off the spot since the moment we left 
 the sloop's side. " This is what I should call a human hermitage, 
 and none of your out-and-out solitudes. Room for pigs and poultry ; 
 a nice gravelly beach for your boat ; good fishing in the offing, 
 I'll answer for it; a snug shoulder-of-mutton sort of a house 5 trees 
 as big as a two-decker's lower masts ; and company within hail, 
 should a fellow happen to take it into his head that he. was getting 
 melancholy. This is just the spot I^vould like to fetch-up in, when 
 it became time to go into dock. What a place to smoke a cigar in 
 is that bench up yonder, under the cherry tree; and grog must have 
 a double flavour alongside that spring of fresh water ! " 
 
 " You could become the owner of this very place, Moses ; and then 
 we should be neighbours, and might visit each other by water. It 
 cannot be much more than fifty miles from this spot to Claw- 
 bonny." 
 
 " I dare say, now, that they would think of asking, for a place 
 like this, as much money as would buy a good wholesome ship a 
 regular A. No. 1." 
 
 " No such thing; a thousand or twelve hundred dollars would 
 
 2
 
 18 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 purchase the house and all the land we can see some twelve or 
 fifteen acres at the most. You have more than two thousand salted 
 away, I know, Moses, between prize-money, wages, adventures, 
 and other matters." 
 
 " I could hold my head up under two thousand of a sartainty. I 
 wish the place was a little nearer Clawbonny, say eight or ten miles 
 off; and then I do think I should talk to the people about a trade." 
 
 " It's quite unnecessary after all. I have quite as snug a cove, 
 near the creek bluff at Clawbonny, and will build a house for you 
 there, you shall not tell from a ship's cabin, that would be more to 
 your fancy." 
 
 " I've thought of that, too, Miles, and at one time fancied it 
 would be a prettyish sort of an idee ; but it won't stand logarithms, 
 at all. You may build a room that shall have its cabin look, but 
 you can't build one that'll have a cabin natur'. You may get 
 carlins, and transoms, and lockers, and bulkheads all right; but 
 where are you to get your motion ? What's a cabin without motion ? 
 It would soon be like the sea in the calm latitudes, offensive to the 
 senses. No ! none of your bloody motionless cabins for me. If 
 I'm afloat, let me be afloat : if I'm ashore, let me be ashore." 
 
 Ashore we were by this time, the boat's keel grinding gently on 
 the pebbles of the beach. We landed and walked towards the cot- 
 tage, there being nothing about the place to forbid us taking this 
 liberty. I told Marble we would ask for a drink of milk, two cows 
 being in sight, cropping the rich herbage of a beautiful little pas- 
 ture. This expedient at first seemed unnecessary, no one appear- 
 ing about the place to question our motives, or to oppose our pro- 
 gress. When we reached the door of the cottage, we found it open, 
 and could look within without violating any of the laws of civilisa- 
 tion. There was no vestibule, or entry ; but the door communicated 
 directly with a room of some size, and which occupied the whole 
 front of the building. I dare say this single room was twenty feet 
 square, besides being of a height a little greater than was then cus- 
 tomary in buildings of that class. This apartment was neatness 
 itself. It had a home-made, but really pretty, carpet on the floor ; 
 contained a dozen old-fashioned, high-back chairs, in some dark 
 wood; two or three tables, in which one might see his face; a 
 couple of mirrors of no great size, but of quaint gilded ornaments; 
 a beaufet with some real china in it; and the other usual articles of 
 a country residence that was somewhat above the ordinary farm- 
 houses of the region, and yet as much below the more modest of 
 the abodes of the higher class. I supposed the cottage to be the resi- 
 dence of sortie small family that had seen more of life than was cus- 
 tomary with the mere husbandman, and yet not enough to raise it 
 much above the level of the husbandman's homely habits. 
 
 We were looking in from the porch on this scene of rural peace 
 and faultless neatness, when an inner door opened in the deliberate
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 19 
 
 manner that betokens age, and the mistress of the cottage appeared. 
 She was a woman approaching seventy, of middle size, a quiet but 
 firm step, and an air of health. Her dress was of the fashion of the 
 previous century, plain, but as neat as everything around her a 
 spotless white apron seeming to bid defiance to the approach of any 
 thing that could soil its purity. The countenance of this old woman 
 certainly did not betoken any of the refinement which is the result 
 of education and good company 5 but it denoted benevolence, a kind 
 nature and feeling. We were saluted without surprise, and invited 
 in, to be seated. 
 
 " It isn't often that sloops enter here," said the old woman 
 lady, it would be a stretch of politeness to call her " their fa- 
 \onryte places being higher up, and lower down the river." 
 
 ''And how do you account for that, mother ? " asked Marble, who 
 seated himself and addressed the mistress of the cottage with a sea- 
 man's frankness. " To my fancy, this is the best anchorage I've 
 seen in many a day 5 one altogether to be coveted. One might be 
 as much alone as he liked, in a spot like this, without absolutely 
 turning your bloody hermit." 
 
 The old woman gazed at Marble like one who scarce knew what 
 to make of such an animal ; and yet her look was mild and in- 
 dulgent. 
 
 " I account for the boatmen's preferring other places to this," she 
 said, "by the circumstance that there is no tavern here ; while there 
 is one two miles above, and another two miles below us." 
 
 " Your remark that there is no tavern here reminds me of the 
 necessity of apologizing for coming so boldly to your door," I an- 
 swered-, "but we sailors mean no impertinence, though we are so 
 often guilty of it in landing." 
 
 "You are heartily welcome. I am glad to see them that under- 
 stand how to treat an old woman kindly, and know how to pity and 
 pardon them that do not. At my time of life we get to learn the 
 value of fair words and good treatment, for it's only a short time it 
 will be in our power to show either to our fellow-creatures." 
 
 " Your favourable disposition to your fellows comes from living 
 all your days in a spot as sweet as this." 
 
 " I would much rather think that it comes from. God. He alone 
 is the source of all that is good within us." 
 
 " Yet a spot like this must have its influence on a character. I 
 dare say you have lived long in this very house, which, old as you 
 profess to be, seems to be much older than yourself. It has pro- 
 bably been your abode ever since your marriage ? " 
 
 " Arid long before, Sir. I was born in this house, as was my 
 father before me. You are right in saying that I have dwelt in it 
 ever since my marriage, for I dwelt in it long before." 
 
 " This is not very encouraging for my friend here, who took such 
 a fancy to your cottage as we came ashore, as to wish to own it ; but
 
 20 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 I scarce think he will venture to purchase, now he knows how dear 
 it must be to you." 
 
 " And has your friend no home no place in which to put his 
 family?" 
 
 " Neither home nor family, my good mother," answered Marble 
 for himself; " and so much the greater reason you will think, why 
 I ought to begin to think of getting both as soon as possible. I 
 never had father or mother, to my knowledge 5 nor house, nor home 
 of any sort, but a ship. I forgot; I was a hermit once, and set 
 myself up in that trade, with a whole island to myself; but I soon 
 gave up all to natur', and got out of that scrape as fast as I could. 
 The business didn't suit me." 
 
 The old woman looked at Marble intently. I could see by her 
 countenance that the off-hand, sincere, earnest manner of the mate 
 had taken some unusual hold of her feelings. 
 
 " Hermit! " the good woman repeated with curiosity ; " I have 
 often heard and read of such people ; but you are not at all like them 
 I have fancied to be hermits." 
 
 "Another proof I undertook a business for which I was not fit. 
 I suppose a man, before he sets up for a hermit, ought to know 
 something of his ancestors, as one looks to the pedigree of a horse 
 in order to find' out whether he is fit for a racer. Now, as I happen 
 to know nothing of mine, it is no wonder I fell into a mistake. It's 
 an awkward thing, old lady, for a man to be born without a name." 
 
 The eye of our hostess was still bright and full of animation, 
 and I never saw a keener look than she fastened on the mate, as he 
 delivered himself in this, one of his usual fits of misanthropical 
 feeling. 
 
 " And were you born without a name?" she asked, after gazing 
 intently at the other. 
 
 " Sartain. Every body is born with only one name ; but I hap- 
 pened to be born without any name at all." 
 
 j " This is so extr'or'nary, sir," added our old hostess, more in- 
 terested than I could have supposed possible for a stranger to become 
 in Marble's rough bitterness, " that I should like to hear how such 
 a thing could be." 
 
 " I am quite ready to tell you all about it, mother ; but as one 
 good turn deserves another, I shall ask you first to answer me a 
 few questions about the ownership of this house, and cove, and 
 orchard. When you have told your story, I am ready to tell 
 mine." 
 
 " I see how it is," said the old woman, in alarm. " You are 
 sent here by Mr. Van Tassel, to inquire about the money due on the 
 mortgage, and to learn whether it is likely to be paid or not." 
 
 "We are not sent here at all, my good old lady," I now thought 
 it time to interpose, for the poor woman was very obviously much 
 alarmed, and in a distress that even her aged and wrinkled coonte-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 21 
 
 nance could not entirely conceal. " We are just what you see 
 people belonging to that sloop, who have come ashore to stretch 
 their legs, and have never heard of any Mr. Van Tassel, or any 
 money, or any mortgage." 
 
 " Thank Heaven for that!" exclaimed the old woman, seeming 
 to relieve her mind, as well as body, by a heavy sigh. " Squire 
 Van Tassel is a hard man ; and a widow woman, with no relative 
 at hand but a grand-darter that is just sixteen, is scarce abletomeet 
 him. My poor old husband always maintained that the money had 
 been paid ; but, now he is dead and gone, Squire Van Tassel brings 
 forth the bond and mortgage, and says, ' If you can prove that these 
 are paid, I'm willingto give them up.' " 
 
 " This is so strange an occurrence, my dear old lady," I observed, 
 " that you have only to make us acquainted with the facts to get 
 another supporter in addition to your grand-daughter, iris true, 
 I am a stranger, and have come here purely by accident; but Pro- 
 vidence sometimes appears to work in this mysterious manner, and 
 I have a strong presentiment we may be of use to you. Relate your 
 difficulties then; and you shall have the best legal advice in the 
 State, should your case require it." 
 
 The old woman seemed embarrassed ; but, at the same time, she 
 seemed touched. We were utter strangers to her, it is true ; yet 
 there is a language in sympathy which goes beyond that of the tongue, 
 and which, coming from the heart, goes to the heart. I was quite 
 sincere in my offers, and this sincerity appears to have produced 
 its customary fruits. I was believed ; and, after wiping away a tear 
 or two that forced themselves into her eyes, our hostess answered 
 me as frankly as I had offered my aid. 
 
 " You do not look like 'Squire Van Tassel's men, for they seem to 
 me to think the place is theirs already. Such craving covetous 
 creatures I never before laid eyes on ! I hope I may trust you ?" 
 
 "Depend on us, mother," cried Marble, giving the old woman a 
 cordial squeeze of the hand. " My heart is in this busines, for my 
 mind was half made up, at first sight, to own this spot myself by 
 honest purchase, you'll understand me, and not by any of your 
 landshark tricks and, such being the case, you can easily think 
 I'm not inclined to let this Mr. Tassel have it." 
 
 " It would be almost as sorrowful a thing to sell this place," the 
 good woman answered, her countenance confirming all she said in 
 words, " as to have it torn from me by knaves. I have told you that 
 even my father was born in this very house. I was his only child ; 
 and when God called him away, which be did about twelve years 
 after my marriage, the little farm came to me, of course. Mine it 
 .would have been at this moment, without let or hindrance of any 
 sort, but for a fault committed in early youth. Ah ! my friends, it 
 is hopeless to" do evil, and expect to escape the consequences." 
 "The evil you have done, my good mother," returned Marble,
 
 22 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 endeavouring to console the poor creature, down whose cheeks the 
 tears now fairly began to run 5 " the evil you have done, my good mo- 
 ther, can be no great matter. If it was a question about a rough tar 
 like myself, or even of Miles there, who 's a sort of sea-saint, some- 
 thing might be made of it, I make no doubt ; but your account must 
 be pretty much all credit, and no debtor." 
 
 " That is a state that befalls none of earth, my young friend," 
 Marble was young, compared to his companion , though a plump 
 fifty, " My sin was no less than to break one of God's command- 
 ments." 
 
 I could see that my mate was a good deal confounded at this in- 
 genuous admission 5 for, in his eyes, breaking the commandments 
 was either killing, stealing, or blaspheming. The other sins of the 
 decalogue he had come by habit to regard as peccadilloes. 
 
 "I think this must be a mistake, mother," he said, in a sort of 
 consoling tone. "You may have fallen into some oversights, or 
 mistakes 5 but this breaking of the commandments is rather serious 
 sort of work." 
 
 " Yet I broke the fifth ; I forgot to honour my father and mother. 
 Nevertheless, the Lord has been gracious ; for my days have already 
 reached threescore-and-ten. But this !s His goodness not any 
 merit of my own ! " 
 
 1 ' Is it not a proof that the error has been forgiven ? " I ventured 
 to remark. " If penitence can purchase peace, I feel certain you 
 have earned that relief." 
 
 " One never knows ! I think this calamity of the mortgage, and 
 the danger I run of dying without a roof to cover my head, may be 
 all traced up to that one act of disobedience. I have been a mother 
 myself may say I am a mother now, for my grand-daughter is as 
 dear to me as was her blessed mother and it is when we look 
 down, rather than when we look up, as it might be, that we get to 
 understand the true virtue of this commandment." 
 
 "If it were impertinent curiosity that instigates the question, my 
 old friend," I added, "it would not be in my power to look you in 
 the face, as I do now, while begging you to let me know your dif- 
 ficulties. Tell them in your own manner, but tell them with confi- 
 dence 5 for, I repeat, we have the power to assist you, and can 
 command the best legal advice of the country." 
 
 Again the old woman looked at me intently through her specta- 
 cles ; then, as if her mind was madeup to confide in our honesty, 
 she disburdened it of its secrets. 
 
 " It would be wrong to tell you a part of my story, without tell- 
 ing you all," she began ; "for you might think Van Tassel and his 
 set are alone to blame, while my conscience tells me that little has. 
 happened that is not a just punishment for my great^sin. You'll 
 have patience, therefore, with an old woman, and hear her whole 
 tale; for mine is not a time of life to mislead any. The days of
 
 LUCY HA.RDINGE. 
 
 white-heads are numbered ; and, was it not for Kitty, the blow 
 would not be quite so hard on me. You must know we are Dutch 
 by origin come of the ancient Hollanders of the colony and were 
 Van Duzers by name. It's like, friends," added the good woman, 
 hesitating, " that you are Yankees by birth?" 
 
 " I cannot say I am," I answered, " though of English extraction. 
 My family is long of New York, but it does not mount back quite as 
 far as the time of the Hollanders." 
 
 " And your friend? He is silent; perhaps he is of New England? 
 I would not wish to hurt his feelings, for my story will bear a little 
 hard, perhaps, on his love of home." 
 
 " Never mind me, mother, but rouse it all up like entered cargo," 
 said Marble, in his usual bitter way when alluding to his own birth. 
 " There's not the man breathing that one can speak more freely before 
 on such matters than Moses Marble." 
 
 " Marble! that s a hara uam ," lelume i ihe woman, slightly 
 smiling ; but a name is not a heart. My parents were Dutch 5 and 
 you may have heard how it was before the revolution, between the 
 Dutch and the Yankees. Near neighbours, they did not love each 
 other. The Yankees said the Dutch were fools, and the Dutch said 
 the Yankees were knaves. Now, as you may easily suppose, I was 
 born before the revolution, when King George II. was on the throne 
 and ruled the country ; and though it was long after the English got 
 to be our masters, it was before our people had forgotten their lan- 
 guage and their traditions. My father himself was born after the 
 English governors came among us, as I've heard him say; but it 
 mattered not he loved Holland to the last, and the customs of his 
 fathers." 
 
 " All quite right, mother," said Marble, a little impatiently ; " but 
 what of all that? It's as nat'ral for a Dutchman to love Holland as it 
 is for an Englishman to love Hollands. I've been in the Low Coun- 
 tries, and must say it's a musk-rat sort of a life the people lead nei- 
 ther afloat nor ashore." 
 
 The old woman regarded Marble with more respect after this de- 
 claration ; for in that day a travelled man was highly esteemed among 
 us. In her eyes, it was a greater exploit to have seen Amsterdam 
 than it would now be to visit Jerusalem. Indeed, it is getting rather 
 discreditable to a man of the world not to have seen the Pyramids, 
 the Red Sea, and the Jordan. 
 
 " My father loved it not the less, though he never saw the land 
 'of his ancestors," resumed the old woman. " Notwithstanding the 
 jealousy of the Yankees, among us Dutch, and the mutual dislike, 
 many of the former came among us to seek their fortunes. They 
 are not a home-staying people, it would seem ; and I cannot deny 
 that cases have happened in which they have been known to get 
 away the farms of some of the Netherlands' stock, in a way that it 
 would have been better not to have happened."
 
 24 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 " You speak considerately, my dear woman," I remarked, " and 
 like one that has charity for all human failing." 
 
 " I ought to do so for my own sins, and I ought to do so to them 
 of New England ; for my own husband was of that race." 
 
 " Ay, now the story is coming round regularly, Miles," said 
 Marble, nodding his head in approbation. " It will touch on love 
 next, and, if trouble do not follow, set me down as an ill-nat'red old 
 bachelor. Love in a man's heart is like getting heated cotton, or 
 shifting ballast, into a ship's hold." 
 
 " I must confess to it," continued our hostess, smiling in spite 
 of her real sorrows sorrows that were revived by thus recalling 
 the events of her early life " a young man of Yankee birth came 
 among us, as a schoolmaster, when I was only fifteen. Our people 
 were anxious enough to have us all taught to read English, for 
 many had f6\ind the disadvantage of being ignorant of the language 
 of their rulers, and of the laws. I was sent to George Wetmore's 
 school, like most of the other young people of the neighbourhood, 
 and remained his scholar for three years. If you were on the hill 
 above the orchard yonder, you might see the school-house at this 
 moment ; for it is only a short walk from our place, and a walk that I 
 made four times a-day for just three years." 
 
 "One can see how the land lies now," cried Marble, lighting a 
 cigar, for he thought no apology necessary for smoking under a 
 Dutch roof. " The master taught his scholar something more than 
 he found in the spelling-book, or the catechism. We'll take your 
 word about the school-house, seeing it is out of view." 
 
 "It was out of sight, truly, and that may have been the reason 
 my parents took it so hard when George Wetmore asked their leave 
 to marry me. This was not done until he had walked home with 
 me, or as near home as the brow of yon hill, for a whole twelve- 
 month, and had served a servitude almost as long, and as patient, 
 as that of Jacob for Rachel." 
 
 " Well, mother, how did the old people receive the question ? 
 like good-natured parents I hope, for George's sake." 
 
 " Rather say like the children of Holland, judging of the children 
 of New England. They would not hear of it, but wished me to 
 marry my own cousin, Petrus Storm, who was not greatly beloved 
 even in his own family." 
 
 " Of course you down anchor, and said you never would quit the 
 moorings of home ? " 
 
 " If I rightly understand you, sir, I did, something very different. 
 I got privately married to George, and he kept school near a twelve- 
 month longer,, up behind the hill, though most of the young women 
 were taken away from his teaching." 
 
 "Ay, the old way; the door was locked after the horse was 
 stolen ! Well, you were married, mother" 
 
 " After a time, it was necessary for me to visit a kinswoman who
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 25 
 
 lived a little down the river. There my first child was born, un- 
 known to my parents ; and George gave it in charge to a poor 
 woman who had lost her own babe, for we were still afraid to let 
 our secret be known to my parents. Now commenced the punish- 
 ment for breaking the fifth commandment." 
 
 "How's that, Miles?" demanded Moses, Is it ag'in the com- 
 mandments for a married woman to have a son ? " 
 
 "Certainly not, my friend; though it is a breach of the com- 
 mandments not to honour our parents. This good woman alludes 
 to her marrying contrary to the wishes of her father and mother." 
 
 " Indeed I do, sir, and dearly have I been punished for it. In a 
 few weeks I returned home, and was followed by the sad news of 
 the death of my first-born. The grief of these tidings drew the 
 secret from me : and nature spoke so loud in the hearts of my poor 
 parents, that they forgave all, took George home, and ever after- 
 wards treated him as if he also had been their own child. But it 
 was too late ; had it happened a few weeks earlier, my own precious 
 babe might have been saved to me." 
 
 "You cannot know that, mother; we all die when our time 
 comes." 
 
 " His time had not come. The miserable wretch to whom 
 George trusted the boy exposed him among strangers, to save her- 
 self trouble, and to obtain twenty dollars at as cheap a rate as pos- 
 sible" 
 
 " Hold !" I interrupted. "In the name of Heaven, my good 
 woman, in what year did this occur? " 
 
 Marble looked at me in astonishment, though he clearly had 
 glimpses of the object of my question. 
 
 " It was in the month of June, 17 . For thirty long, long years, 
 1 supposed my child had actually died ; and then the mere force of 
 conscience told me the truth. The wretched woman could not 
 carry the secret with her into the grave, and she sent for me to hear 
 the sad revelation." 
 
 " Which was to say that she left the child in a basket, on a 
 tomb-stone, in a marble-worker's yard, in town ; in the yard of a 
 man whose name was Durfee? " I said, as rapidly as I could speak. 
 
 "She did, indeed! though it is a marvel to me that a stranger 
 should know this. What will be God's pleasure next ? " 
 
 Marble groaned. He hid his face in his hands, while the poor 
 woman looked from one of us to the other, in bewildered expecta- 
 tion of what was to follow. I could not leave her long in doubt ; 
 but, preparing Her for what was to follow, by litle and litle I gave 
 her to understand that the man she saw before her was her son. 
 After half a century of separation, the mother and child had thus 
 been thrown together by the agency of an inscrutable Providence ! 
 The reader will readily anticipate the character of the explanations 
 that succeeded. Of the truth of the circumstances there could not
 
 26 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 be a shadow of doubt, when everything was related and compared. 
 Mrs. Wetmore had ascertained from her unfaithful nurse the his- 
 tory of her child as far as the almshouse ; but thirty years had left 
 a gap in the information she received, and it was impossible for her 
 to obtain the name under which he had left that institution. The 
 revolution was just over when she made her application, and it 
 was thought that some of the books had been taken away by a re- 
 fugee. Still, there were a plenty of persons to supply traditions and 
 conjecture ; and so anxious were she and her husband to trace these 
 groundless reports to their confirmation or refutation, that much 
 money and time were thrown away in the fruitless attempts. At 
 length, one of the old attendants of the children's department was 
 discovered, who professed to know the whole history of the child 
 brought from the stone-cutter's yard. This woman doubtless was 
 honest, but her memory had deceived her. She said that the boy 
 had been called Stone, instead of Marble ; a mistake that was na- 
 tural enough in itself, but which was probably owing to the fact 
 that another child of the first name had really left the institution 
 a few months before Moses took his leave. This Aaron Stone had 
 been traced, first, as an apprentice to a tradesman -, thence into a 
 regiment of foot in the British army, which regiment had accom- 
 panied the rest of the forces , at the evacuation, November 25th, 
 1783. 
 
 The Wetmores fancied they were now on the track of their child. 
 He was traced down to a period within a twelvemonth of that of 
 the search, and was probably to be found in England, still wear- 
 ing the livery of the king. After a long consultation between the 
 disconsolate parents, it was determined that George Wetmore should 
 sail for England in the hope of recovering their son. But, by this 
 time, money was scarce. These worthy people were enabled to 
 live in comfort on their little farm, but they were not rich in cash. 
 All the loose coin was gone in the previous search, and even a small 
 debt had been contracted to enable them to proceed as far as they 
 had. No alternative remained but to mortgage their home. This 
 was done with great reluctance ; but what will not a parent do for 
 his child? A country lawyer, of the name of Van Tassel, was ready 
 enough to advance five hundred on a place that was worth quite 
 three thousand dollars. This man was one of the odious class of 
 country usurers, a set of cormorants that is so much worse than 
 their town counterparts, because their victims are usually objects of 
 real, and not speculative distress, and as ignorant and unpractised 
 as they are necessitous. It is wonderful with what far-sighted pa- 
 tience oneof.these wretches will bid his time, in order to effect a 
 favourite acquisition. Mrs. Wetm ore's little farm was very desi- 
 rable to this 'Squire Van Tassel, for reasons in addition to its intrin- 
 sic value ; and for years nothing could be kinder and more neigh- 
 bourly than his indulgence. Interest was allowed to accumulate,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 27 
 
 until the whole debt amounted to the sum of a thousand dollars. 
 In the mean time the father went to England, found the soldier 
 after much trouble and expense, ascertained that Stone knew 
 his parents, one of whom had died in the almshouse, and spent all 
 his money. 
 
 Years of debt and anxiety succeeded, until the father sunk under 
 his misfortunes. An only daughter also died, leaving Kitty a le- 
 gacy to her widowed mother, the other parent having died even 
 before her birth. Thus was Katharine Van Duzer, our old hostess, 
 left to struggle on nearly alone, at the decline of life, with a poverty 
 that was daily increasing, years, and this infant grand-daughter. 
 Just before his death, however, George Wetmore had succeeded in 
 selling a portion of his farm, that which was least valuable to him- 
 self, and with the money he paid off Van Tassel's mortgage. This 
 was his own account of the matter, and he showed to his wife Van 
 Tassel's receipt, the money having been paid at the county town, 
 where the bond and mortgage could not be then produced. This 
 was shortly before Wetmore's last illness. A twelvemonth after his 
 death the widow was advised, to demand the bond, and to take the 
 mortgage off record. But the receipt was not to be found. With 
 a woman's ignorance of such matters,, the widow let this fact leak 
 out 5 and her subsequent demand for the release was met with a 
 counter one for evidence of payment. This was the commencement 
 of Van Tassel's hostile attitude ; and things had gone as far as a fore- 
 closure, and an advertisement for a sale, when the good woman 
 thus opportunely discovered her son ! 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 I charge you by the law, 
 Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, 
 Proceed to judgment : by my soul 1 swear 
 There is no power in tbe tongue of man 
 To alter me .- I stay here on my bond. 
 
 Shylock. 
 
 It is not easy to describe the immediate effect of this discovery on 
 either of the parties most concerned. Not a doubt remained on 
 the mind of either, after the facts were explained, of the reality of 
 the relationship ; for that was so simply proved, as to place the cir- 
 cumstance beyond all dispute. Mrs. Wetmore thought of her lost 
 son as of an innocent smiling babe ; and here she found him a red- 
 faced, hard-featured, weather-beaten tar, already verging towards 
 age, and a man of manners that were rough, if not rude. She 
 could uot at first possess any knowledge of the better points in his 
 character, and was compelled to receive this boon from Providence
 
 28 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 as it was offered. Nevertheless, a mother's love is not easily 
 dissatisfied, or smothered; and, ere I left the house, I could 
 see the old woman's eyes fixed on Marble with an expression of in- 
 terest and tenderness they had not manifested previously to the 
 revelations. 
 
 As for the mate himself, now that the fondest wish of his life was 
 so unexpectedly gratified, he was taken so much by surprise that he 
 appeared to think something was wanting. He found his mother 
 the reputable widow of a reputable man, of a class in life quite 
 equal to his own, living on a property that was small, certainly, 
 and involved, but property that had been long in her family. The 
 truth was, Marble felt so much at this unlooked-for an appeal to his 
 gentler feelings, that one of his stern nature did not know how to 
 answer it on the emergency 5 and the obstinacy of his temperament 
 rather induced him to resist, than to yield to such unwonted senti- 
 ments. I could see he was satisfied with his mother, while he was 
 scarcely satisfied with himself; and, with a view to place both parties 
 in truer positions, I desired Moses to walk down and look at the 
 boat, while I remained alone with his pew-found parent. This was 
 not done, however, until all the explanations had been made, and 
 the mother had both blessed.and wept over her child. It was done, 
 indeed, principally to relieve Marble from the oppression of feeling 
 created by this very scene. 
 
 As soon as alone with Mrs. Wetmore, I explained to her my own 
 connexion with Marble, and gave her a sort of apologetic account 
 of his life and character, keeping down the weak points, and 
 dwelling on the strong. I set her mind at ease, at once, on the 
 subject of the farm; for, should the worst happen, her son had 
 double the amount of money that would be necessary to discharge 
 the mortgage. 
 
 " The debt was incurred, my dear Mrs. Wetmore, in his behalf; 
 and he will be happy to discharge it on the spot. I would advise 
 you to pay the money at once. Should the receipt ever be found, 
 this Van Tassel will be obliged to refund ; for, though the law 
 winks at many wrongs, it will not wink at one so atrocious as this, 
 provided you can satisfy it with proof. I shall leave Moses " 
 
 " His name is Oloff, or Oliver," interrupted the old woman, 
 eagerly; "I named him after my own father, and had him duly 
 christened, before he was entrusted to the nurse, in the hope it 
 might soften his grandfather's heart, when he came to know of my 
 marriage. Oloff Van Duzer Wetmore is his real name." 
 
 I smiled to think of Marble's sailing under such an appellation, 
 and was about to suggest a compromise, when the subject of our 
 discourse returned. The mate had regained his composure during 
 the half hour he had been absent; and I saw by the kind glance he 
 threw on his mother, whose look answered his own more naturally 
 than I could have hoped, that things were getting right; and, by
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 59 
 
 way of removing the awkwardness of excessive sensibility, I pur- 
 sued the discourse. 
 
 "We were talking of your true name, Moses, as you came in," 
 I said. " It will never do for you to hail by one name, while your 
 mother hails by another. You'll have to cut adrift from Moses 
 Marble altogether." 
 
 "If I do, may I be": 
 
 " Hush, hush you forget where you are, and in whose presence 
 you stand." 
 
 " I hope my son will soon learn that he is always in the presence 
 of his God," observed the mother, plaintively. 
 
 " Ay, ay that's all right, mother, and you shall do with me just 
 what you please in any of them matters ; but as for not being Moses 
 Marble, you might as well ask me not to be myself. I should be 
 another man, to change my name. A fellow might as well go with- 
 out clothes as go without a name; and mine came so hard, 1 don't 
 like to part with it. No, no ; had it come to pass, now, that my 
 parents had been a king and a queen, and that I was to succeed 'em 
 on the throne, I should reign as King Moses Marble, or not reign 
 at all." 
 
 " You'll think better of this, and take out a new register under 
 your lawful designation." 
 
 " I'll tell you what I'll do, mother, and that will satisfy all par- 
 ties. I'll bend on the old name to the new one, and sail under 
 both." 
 
 " I care not how you are called, my son, so long as no one has 
 need to blush for the name you bear. This gentleman tells me you 
 are an honest and true-hearted man ; and those^ are blessings for 
 which I shall never cease to thank God." 
 
 "Miles has been singing my praises, has he? I can tell you, 
 mother, you had need look out for Miles's tongue. Natur' in- 
 tended him for a lawyer, and it's mere accident his being a sailor, 
 though a "capital one he is. But what may be my name, according 
 to law ? " 
 
 " Oloff Van Duzer Wetmore Moses Marble, according to your 
 own expedient of sailing under all your titles. You can ring the 
 changes, however, and call yourself Moses Oloff Marble Van Duzer 
 Wetmore, if you like that better. " 
 
 Moses laughed ; and as I saw that both he and his new-found 
 mother were in a fit state to be left together, and that the sun now 
 wanted but an hour or two of setting, I rose to take my leave. 
 
 "You will remain with your mother to-night. Marble," I observed. 
 " I will keep the sloop at anchor until I can.see you in the morning, 
 when we will settle the future a little more deliberately." 
 
 " I should not like to lose my son so soon after finding him," the 
 old woman anxiously remarked. 
 
 ' ' No fear of me, mother ; I berth under your roof to-night, and
 
 30 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 so many more in the bargain, that you'll be glad enough to be rid of 
 me in the end." 
 
 I then left the house, followed by Marble, towards the boat. As 
 we reached the little piece of bottom-land, I heard a sort of suppressed 
 sob from the mate, and, turning round, was surprised to see the tears 
 running down his sun-burnt cheeks. His wrought-up feelings had 
 at last obtained the mastery.-, and this rude, but honest creature had 
 fairly given in, under the excitement of this strange admixture of 
 joy, wonder, shame, and natural emotion. I took his hand, gave it 
 a hearty squeeze, but said nothing 5 though I stopped, unwilling to 
 go nearer to Neb until my companion had regained his composure. 
 This he did, sufficiently to speak, in the course of a minute or two. 
 " It's all like a dream to me, Miles," Moses at length muttered 
 "more out of natur' like, than setting up for a hermit." 
 
 " You'll soon get accustomed to the change, Marble ; then every- 
 thing will seem in the ordinary way, and natural." 
 
 " To think of my being a son, and having a real living mother ! " 
 " You must have known that you had parents once, though you 
 are fortunate in finding one of them alive at your time of life." 
 
 ' 'And she an honest woman ! A mother the President of the United 
 States, or the first commodore in the navy needn't be ashamed of! " 
 " All that is fortunate, certainly, especially the first." 
 " She's a bloody good-looking old woman in the bargain. I'll 
 have her dressed up and carry her down to town the first opportu- 
 nity." 
 
 *'What would you give an old woman that trouble for? You'll 
 think better of these matters in the long run." 
 
 " Better ! Yes, I'll take her to Philadelphia, and perhaps to Balti- 
 more. There's the.gardens, and the theatres, and the museums, and 
 lots of things that I dare say the dear old soul never laid eyes on." 
 " I'm mistaken in your mother, if she would not prefer a church 
 to all of them put together." 
 
 " Well, there's churches in all of them towns. Put it on a reli- 
 gious footing, if you will, and I ought to take my mother as soon as 
 possible down to York. She's old, you see, and cannot live for ever, 
 just to oblige me ; and here has she been tied down to one church 
 all her days, giving her no ch'ice nor opportunity. I dare say, now, 
 variety is just as agreeable in religion as in any thing else." 
 
 " You are nearer right there, Moses, than you think yourself, pos- 
 sibly. But we can talk of all these things to-morrow. A good 
 night's rest will give us cooler heads in the morning." 
 
 " I shall not sleep a wink for thinking of it. No, no I'll make 
 the old lady pack up before breakfast, and we'll sail in the sloop. 
 I'll take her aboard the Dawn with me in town, and a comfortable 
 time we'll have of it in her cabins. She has as good state-rooms as 
 a yacht."
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. . 31 
 
 There were no liners in those days ; but a ship with two cabins 
 was a miracle of convenience. 
 
 " Your mother will hardly suit a ship, Moses ; and a ship will 
 hardly suit your mother." 
 
 " How can any of us know that till we try ? If I'm a chip of the 
 old block, they'll take to each other like rum and water. If I'm to go 
 out in the ship, I'm far from certain I'll not take the old woman to 
 sea with me." 
 
 "You'll probably remain at home, now that you have a home and a 
 mother, and other duties to attend to. I and my concerns will be 
 but secondary objects with you hereafter, Mr. Wetmore." 
 
 " Wetmore be d d ! D'ye mean, Miles, that I'm to give up 
 
 my calling, give up the sea, give up you 1 " 
 
 " You wished to be a hermit once, and found it a little too soli- 
 tary ; had you a companion or two, you would have been satisfied, 
 you said. Well, here is every thing you can wish : a mother, a 
 niece, ahouse, a farm, barns, out-houses, garden, and orchard ; and, 
 seated on that porch, you can smoke cigars, take your grog, look 
 at the craft going up and down the Hudson " 
 
 " Nothing but so many bloody sloops," growled the mate. " Such 
 in-and-in fore-and-afters that their booms won't stay guyed-out, 
 even after you've been at the pains to use a hawser." 
 
 " Well, a sloop is a pleasant object to a sailor, when he can get 
 nothing better. Then there is this Mr. Van Tassel to settle with 
 you may have a ten years' lawsuit on your hands, to amuse you." 
 
 " I'll make short work with that scamp, when I fall in with him. 
 You're right enough, Miles 5 that affair must be settled before I can 
 lift an anchor. My mother tells me he lives hard by, and can be 
 seen, at any moment, in a quarter of an hour. I'll pay him a visit 
 this very night." 
 
 This declaration caused me to pause. I knew Marble too well not 
 to foresee trouble if he were left to himself in a matter of this nature, 
 and thought it might be well to inquire further into the affair. 
 Sailors do every thing off-hand. Mrs. Wetmore telling me that her 
 son's statement was true, on my going back to the house to question 
 her in the matter, and offering us the use of an old-fashioned one- 
 horse chaise, that the only farm-labourer she employed was just 
 then getting ready to go in, in quest of Kitty, I availed myself of the 
 opportunity, took the printed advertisement of the sale to read as 
 we went along, obtained our directions, and off Marble and I went in 
 quest of the usurer. 
 
 There would be sufficient time for all our purposes. It is true 
 that the horse, like the house, its owner, the labourer, the chaise, 
 and all we had yet seen about Willow Cove, as we had learned 
 the place was called, was old 5 but he was the more safe and 
 sure. The road led up the ascent by a ravine, through which it 
 wound its way very prettily ; the labourer walking by our side to
 
 32 . LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 point out the route, after we should reach the elevation of the coun- 
 try that stretched inland. 
 
 The view from the height, as it might be termed in reference to 
 the river, though it was merely on the level of the whole region in 
 that portion of the State, was both extensive and pretty. Willow 
 Grove, as Marble called his mother's place three or four times, 
 while our horse was working his way up the ascent, looked more 
 invitingly than ever, with its verdant declivities, rich orchards, neat 
 cottage, all ensconced behind the sheltering cover of the river 
 heights. Inland, we saw a hundred farms, groves without number, 
 divers roads, a hamlet within a mile of us, an old-fashioned extin- 
 guisher-looking church spire, and various houses of wood painted 
 white, with here and there a piece of rustic antiquity in bricks, or 
 stone, washed with lime or some livelier paint 5 for the Dutch of 
 New York brought the habits of Holland with them, delighting in 
 colours. This relief may be desirable in a part of the world where 
 the eternal green of the meadows in a manner fatigues the eye ; but 
 certainly the grey of nature has no just competitor in the tints of the 
 more artificial portions of the ordinary landscape. White may 
 make a scene look gay; but it can never lend it dignity, or the 
 solemn hues that so often render the loveliness of a view impressive, 
 as well as sweet. When this glaring colour reaches the fences, it 
 gives the prettiest landscape the air of a bleaching-yard, or of a 
 great laundry, with the clothes hung out to dry ! 
 
 The guide pointed out to us the house of Van Tassel, and another 
 at which we should find Kitty, who was to be brought home by us 
 on our return. Understanding the course and distance, we put to 
 sea without any misgivings. The horse was no flyer, and Marble 
 and I had plenty of leisure to arrange preliminaries before reach- 
 ing the door to which we were bound. After some consultation, 
 and a good deal of discussion, I succeeded in persuading my com- 
 panion it would not be wisest to break ground by flogging the at- 
 torney a procedure to which he was strongly inclined. It was 
 settled, however, he was at once to declare himself to be Mrs.Wet- 
 more's son, and to demand his explanations in that character ; one 
 that would clearly give him every claim to be heard. 
 
 " I know what these usurers, as you call 'em, Miles, must be," 
 said the mate. "They are a sort of in-shore pawnbrokers ; and the 
 Lord have mercy on them, for I'll have none. I 've had occasion 
 to pawn a watch, or a quadrant, in my time,- and bloody poor prices 
 does a fellow get for his goods and chattels. Yes, yes ; 1 '11 let the 
 old gentleman know at once I 'm Van Duzer Oloff Marble Wetmore 
 Moses, or whatever 's my name ; and will stand up for the right 
 in a fashion that will surprise him : but what are you to do in the 
 mean time?" 
 
 It struck me, if I could get Marble to attempt practising a sort of 
 ruse, it would have the effect to prevent his resorting to club-law,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. SS 
 
 towards which I knew he had a strong natural disposition, and of 
 which I was still a little afraid. With this object, then, I conceived 
 the following scheme. 
 
 "You shall simply introduce me as Mr. Miles Wallingford," I 
 said, " but in a formal manner, that may induce this Mr. Van Tassel 
 to imagine I 'm a sort of lawyer 5 and this may have the effect to awe 
 him, and bring him to terms the easier. Do not say I am a lawyer, 
 for that will not be true, and it will also be awkward falling back 
 when the truth comes to be known." 
 
 Marble took the idea, and seemed pleased with it, though he af- 
 firmed that there could be no such thing as acting lawyer without 
 lying a little, and that "the truth was too good for one of your 
 bloody usurers." I got him trained, however, by the time we 
 reached the door 5 and we alighted as well prepared for our task as 
 could be expected. 
 
 There was nothing about the residence of Squire Van Tassel to 
 denote the grasping money-dealer, unless a certain negligence of 
 the exterior might be supposed to betray the abode of such a man. 
 His friends wished to ascribe this to an indifference to appearances; 
 but the multitude more accurately imputed it to parsimony. When 
 the very soul gets to be absorbed in the process of rolling gold over 
 and over in order to make it accumulate, the spirit grudges the 
 withdrawal of the smallest fraction from the gainful pursuit ; and 
 here lies the secret of the disdain of appearances that is so gene- 
 rally to be met with in this description of persons. Beyond this 
 air of negligence, however, the dwelling of Van Tassel was not to 
 be distinguished from those of most of the better houses of that part 
 of the country. Our application for admission was favoura- 
 bly received, and in a minute, we were shown into the attorney's 
 office. 
 
 Squire Van Tassel, as this man was universally termed, eyed us 
 keenly as we entered, no doubt with a view to ascertain if we were 
 borrowers. I might possibly have passed for one of that character, 
 for I aimed at looking serious and thoughtful 5 but I would defy any 
 man to mistake Moses for one who came on such an errand. He 
 looked more like a messenger sent by the Father of Sin, to demand 
 the payment of a certain bond that had been signed in blood, and 
 of which the fatal pay-day had at length arrived. I had to give 
 the skirt of his coat a pull, in order to recall him to our agree- 
 ment, else I do think the first salutation received by the attorney 
 would have been a broadside in any thing but words. The 
 hint succeeded, and Marble permitted our host to open the commu- 
 nications. 
 
 Squire Van Tassel had a very miserly exterior. He even looked 
 ill fed } thougli doubtless this appearance was more a consequence 
 of habit of body than of short-feeding. He wore spectacles with 
 black rims, and had the common practice of looking over them at 
 
 3
 
 34 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 objects at a distance, which gave him an air still more watchful than 
 that which he imbibed from character. His stature was small, and 
 his years about sixty ; an age when the accumulation of money begins 
 to bring as much pain as pleasure, for it is a period of life when men 
 cannot fail to see the termination of their earthly schemes. Of 
 all the passions, however, avarice is notoriously that which the latest 
 loosens its hold on the human heart. 
 
 " Your servant, gentlemen," commenced the attorney, in a 
 manner that was civil enough ; " your servant; I beg you to help 
 yourselves to chairs." We all three took seats at this invitation. 
 " A pleasant evening," eyeing us still more keenly over his glasses, 
 "and weather that is good for the crops. If the wars continue 
 much longer in Europe," another look over the glasses, " we shall 
 sell all the substance out of our lands, in order to send the bellige- 
 rants wheat. I begin to look on real estate security as considerably 
 less valuable than it was when hostilities commenced in 1793, and 
 as daily growing less and less so." 
 
 "Ay, you may say that," Marble bluntly answered; " particu- 
 larly the farms of widows and orphans." 
 
 The " Squire " was a little startled at this unexpected reply. He 
 looked intently at each of us again, over the spectacles ; and then 
 asked, in a manner divided between courtesy and authority 
 
 " May I inquire your names, and the object of this visit ? " 
 
 u Sartain," said Marble. "That's reasonable and your right. 
 We are not ashamed of our names, nor of our errand. As for the 
 last, Mr. Van Tassel, you '11 know it sooner than you will wish to 
 know it ; but, to begin at the right end, this gentleman with me, 
 is Mr. Miles Wallingford, a partic'lar friend of old Mrs. Wetmore, 
 who lives a bit down the road yonder, at a farm called Willow 
 Grove; Squire Wallingford, Sir, is her friend and my friend, and 
 I've great pleasure in making you acquainted with him." 
 
 " I am happy to see the gentleman," answered Van Tassel, taking 
 another look, while at the same time he glanced his eye at an al- 
 phabetical list of the attorneys and counsellors, to see what place I 
 occupied among them. " Very happy to see the gentleman, who 
 has quite lately commenced practice, I should think by his age, 
 and my not remembering the name." 
 
 " There must be a beginning to all things, Mr. Van Tassel," I re- 
 plied, with a calmness that I could see the old usurer did not like. 
 
 " Very true, sir, and I hope your future success will be in pro- 
 portion to the lateness of your appearance at the bar. Your com- 
 panion has much more the air of a sailor than of a lawyer." This 
 was true enough, there being no mistaking Marble's character, 
 though I had put on a body-coat to come ashore in ; "I presume 
 he is not in the practice." 
 
 " That remains to be seen, sir," answered Marble. " Having 
 told you my friend's name, Mr. Van Tassel, I will now tell you my
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 35 
 
 own. I am called Moses Marble Wetmore Van Duzer Oloff, sir, or 
 some such bloody thing 5 and you're welcome to take your pick out 
 of the whole list. I'll answer to either of them aliases." 
 
 " This is so extraordinary and unusual, gentlemen, I scarce 
 know what to make of it. Has this visit any connexion with 
 Mrs. Wetmore, or her farm, or the mortgage I have been foreclosing 
 on the last?" 
 
 " It has, sir , and I am that Mrs. Wetmore's son yes, sir, the 
 only child of that dear, good, old soul." 
 
 " The son of Mrs. Wetmore! " exclaimed Van Tassel, both sur- 
 prised and uneasy. " I knew there was a son ; but I have been 
 always told it was impossible to find him. . I see no resemblance, 
 sir, in you to either George Wetmore, or Kitty Van Duzer." 
 
 Now this was not altogether true. As for George Wetmore, they 
 who had known him in middle age, afterwards declared that Moses 
 did resemble him greatly ; while I, myself, could trace in the mouth 
 and milder expression of the mate's features, a strong likeness to 
 the subdued character of his aged mother's face. This resemblance 
 would not have been observed, in all probability, without a know- 
 ledge of the affinity that existed between the parties ; but, with that 
 knowledge, it was not easy to overlook. 
 
 " Resemblance ! " repeated Marble, much in the tone of one who 
 is ready to quarrel on the slightest provocation 5 "how should there 
 be any resemblance, after the life I've led. In the first place, I was 
 carried out of my mother's sight in less than ten days after I was 
 born. Then I was placed on a tombstone by way of encourage- 
 ment; after which, they sent me to live among paupers. I ran 
 away at ten years old , and went to sea, where I've played the part 
 of man-of-war's man, privateer's man, smuggler, mate, master, 
 and all hands ; everything in short, but a pirate and mutineer. I've 
 been a bloody hermit, Mr. Van Tassel, and if that won't take the 
 resemblance to any thing human out of a fellow, his face is as 
 unchangeable as that on a gold coin." 
 
 " All this, Mr. Wallingford, is so unintelligible tome, that I shall 
 have to ask you to explain it." 
 
 " I can only add to it, sir, my belief that every word you hear is 
 true. I am satisfied that this is, in a legal sense, Oloff Van Duzer 
 Wetmore, the only surviving child of George Wetmore and Catharine 
 Van Duzer. He has come to see you in relation to a claim you are 
 said to hold against the farm his mother inherited from her parents." 
 
 " Said to hold! I certainly do hold George Wetmore's bond, 
 secured by a mortgage signed by his wife, balance due, including 
 interest and cost, 963 dol. 42 ; and I am proceeding to sell, under the 
 statute. One sale has been postponed, to oblige the widow; for a 
 merciful man would not wish to press a single and aged woman, 
 though I've lain out of my money a very long time. You are aware, 
 sir, that 1 lose all my interest on interest, and must take up with
 
 36 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 just what the law will give; hardship enough in active times like 
 these, when not a day passes that something good does not offer in 
 the way of purchasing the best of securities, at liberal discounts. 
 Trade is so lively, now, Mr. Wallingford, that men will almost sell 
 their souls for money." 
 
 " I rather think, sir, that some men will do this at all times ; nay, 
 do it hourly, daily. But, I am instructed" I could not help acting 
 the counsel a little on the occasion " I am instructed that the bond 
 of George Wetmore is paid in full." . 
 
 " How can that be, sir, while I still hold bond at mortgage? As 
 a business man, you must understand the value to be attached to the 
 idle tales of women, arid can see the danger of taking their gossip 
 for authority. George Wetmore had some knowledge of business, 
 and would not be likely to pay his bond without taking it up, or at 
 least of obtaining a receipt; much less leave the mortgage on 
 record." 
 
 " I am informed he did take your receipt, though he presumes he 
 must have lost it with a missing pocket-book, which his widow 
 supposes to have been dropped from his coat, the very day he re- 
 turned from the court where he met you, and where he says he paid 
 you the money, being anxious to stop interest as soon as possible. 3 ' 
 
 " A very idle story, and one you do not suppose the chancellor 
 will believe, confirmed by the hearsay of the party interested in 
 preserving the property. You are aware, sir, that the sale can be 
 stopped only by an injunction from the Court of Chancery." 
 
 Now, I was certainly no lawyer ; but, like almost every American, 
 I knew something of that branch of the jurisprudence of the country, 
 which touched my own interests. As a landholder, I had a little 
 knowledge of the law of real estate, and was not absolutely ignorant 
 of the manner in which matters were managed in that most search- 
 ing of all tribunals, the Court of Chancery. A lucky thought 
 suggested itself to my mind on the instant, and I made use of it on 
 the spur of the moment. 
 
 " It is quite true, sir," I answered, " that any prudent judge 
 might hesitate about entering a decree on authority no better than 
 the oath of Mrs. Wetmore that she had heard her husband say he 
 had paid the money , but you will remember that the party replying 
 has to swear to his answer. All of us might be better satisfied in 
 this affair were you to make oath that the money was never paid." 
 
 This hit told ; and from that moment I did not entertain a doubt 
 that Wetmore had paid the money, and that Van Tassel retained a per- 
 fect recollection of the whole affair. This much I could read in the 
 man's altered countenance and averted eye, though my impressions 
 certainly were not proof. If not proof, however, for a court of 
 justice, they served to enlist me earnestly in the pursuit of the affair, 
 into which I entered warmly from that moment. In the mean time 
 I waited for Van Tassel's answer, watching his countenance the
 
 LUCY HARDINCE. 37 
 
 whole time, with a vigilance that I could easily see caused him great 
 embarrassment. 
 
 "Kitty Wetmore and I were born neighbours' children," he said ; 
 lt and this mortgage has given me more trouble than all the rest of 
 my little possessions. That I have been in no hurry to foreclose is 
 plain by the length of time I've suffered to go by without claiming 
 my dues. I could wait no longer, without endangering my rights, as 
 there would be a presumption of payment after twenty years, and a 
 presumption that would tell harder against me than old Kitty's oath. 
 We are neighbours' children, as I've said, nevertheless, and rather 
 than push matters to extremities I will consent to some sort of a 
 compromise." 
 
 " And what sort of a compromise will be agreeable to your notions 
 of justice, Mr. Van Tassel?" 
 
 " Why, sir, as Kitty is old, it would be a sad thing to drive her 
 from the roof under which she was born. This I've said and 
 thought from the first, and say now. Still, I cannot part with my 
 property without a compensation ; though I'm willing to wait. I 
 told Mrs. Wetmore, before advertising, that if she would give 
 a new bond, making all clear, and giving me interest on the whole 
 sum now due, I should be willing to grant her time. I now propose, 
 however, as the simplest way of settling the affair, to accept from her 
 a release of the equity of redemption, and to grant her a lease, for 
 her own life, on a nominal rent." 
 
 Even Marble knew enough to see the rank injustice of such an 
 offer. In addition to conceding the non-payment of the debt, it 
 was securing to Van Tassel, at no distant day, the quiet pos- 
 session of the farm, for somewhat less than one-third its value. 
 I detected symptoms of an outbreak in the mate, and was obliged 
 to repress it by a sign, while I kept the discussion in my own 
 hands. 
 
 " Under such an arrangement, sir," I answered, " my friend 
 here would be literally selling his birthright for a mess of por- 
 ridge." 
 
 " You will remenlber, Mr. Wallingford, that a mortgage sale, 
 legally made, is a ticklish thing, and the courts do not like to disturb 
 one. This sale will take place, this day week 5 and the title once 
 passed, it will not be so easy a matter to get it repassed. Mr. 
 Wetmore, here, does not look like a man ready to pay down a 
 thousand dollars." 
 
 " We shall not run the risk of letting the title pass. I will buy 
 the property, myself, if necessary ; and should it afterwards appear 
 that the money has been actually paid, we believe you are suffi- 
 ciently secure for principal, interest, and costs." 
 
 "You are young in the profession, Mr. Wallingford, and will come 
 to learn the folly of advancing money for your clients." 
 
 " I am not in the profession at all, sir, as you have erroneously 
 
 ':
 
 38 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 supposed, but am a shipmaster; and Mr. Wetmore, or Marble, as 
 he has hitherto been called, is my mate. Still, we are none the 
 worse provided with the means of paying a thousand dollars or 
 twenty of them should it be necessary." 
 
 " No lawyer!" cried Van Tassel, smiling grimly. "A couple 
 of sailors about to dispute the foreclosure of a mortgage! Famous 
 justice we should get at your hands, gentlemen ! Well, veil ; I now 
 see how it is, and that this has been only an attempt to work on my 
 sympathies for an old woman who has been living on my money these 
 twenty years. I rather think your 963 dol. 42, will prove to be of 
 the same quality as your law." 
 
 " And yet it struck me, Mr. Van Tassel, that you rather disliked 
 the idea of swearing to the truth of an answer to a certain bill in 
 Chancery, which, if I cannot draw, one Abraham Van Vechten, of 
 Albany, can! " 
 
 " Abraham Van Vechten is skilful counsel, and anhonest man, 
 and is not likely to be employed in a cause that rests only on an old 
 woman's hearsays and all to save her own farm ! " 
 
 Marble could keep silence no longer. He told me afterwards, 
 that, during the dialogue, he had been taking the measure of the old 
 usurer's foot, and felt it would be a disgrace to strike so feeble a 
 creature 5 but to sit and hear his newly-found mother sneered 
 at, and her just rights derided, was more than his patience could 
 endure. Rising abruptly, therefore, he broke out at once into one 
 of the plainest Philippics of the sea. I shall not repeat all he said ; 
 for, to render it justly, might be to render it offensive ; but, in ad- 
 dition to calling old Van Tassel by a great many names that were as 
 unusual as they were quaint, he called him by several that would 
 be familiar to the ears of most of my readers, besides being perfectly 
 well merited. I allowed his humour to find vent; and, giving the 
 attorney to understand he should hear further from us, I succeeded 
 in getting my companion to the waggon, without coming to blows. 
 I could see that Van Tassel was very far from being at his ease, and 
 that he would still gladly keep us, if he could, in the hope of bring- 
 ing about some sort of a compromise, if possible ; but I thought it 
 wisest to let matters rest awhile, after the decided demonstration we 
 had already made. 
 
 It was not an easy matter to get Marble into the vehicle ; but this 
 was no sooner effected, than I trotted him off, down the road, 
 taking the direction of the house where we had been told to seek 
 Kitty Huguenin, old Mrs. Wetmore's grand-daughter, who would 
 be waiting the appearance of the chaise, in order to return home. 
 
 " You must put on a more amicable look," said I to the mate, 
 as we went on our way, " or you will frighten your niece, with 
 whom, you will remember, you are about to make an acquain- 
 tance." 
 
 " The cheating vagabond! to take advantage of a poor, lonely,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 39 
 
 old woman, whose only husband was in the grave, and only son at 
 sea ! " the mate continued to mutter. " Talk about the command- 
 ments ! I should like to know what commandment this was break- 
 ing. The whole six, in a batch." 
 
 " The tenth, I am inclined to think, my friend; and that is a com- 
 mandment broken all day, and every day." 
 
 The denunciations of the mate continued for some time longer, 
 and then went off like the rumbling of distant thunder in the heavens 
 after the passage of the gust. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 No Moorish maid might hope to vie 
 
 With Laila's cheek, or Laila's eye ; 
 
 No maiden loved with purer truth, 
 
 Or ever loved a lovelier youth. SOCTHEY. 
 
 "Miles," said Moses, suddenly, after riding a short distance in 
 silence, " I must quit the old lady, this very night, and go down 
 with you to town. We must have that money up at the place of 
 sale, in readiness for the vagabond ; for, as to letting him have the 
 smallest chance at Willow Grove, that is out of the question." 
 
 ''As you please, Marble 5 but, now, get yourself in trim to meet 
 another relation ; the second you have laid eyes on, in this world." 
 
 "Think of that, Miles! Think of my having two relations! A 
 mother and a niece ! Well, it is a^rue saying, that it never rains 
 but it pours." 
 
 "You probably have many more, uncles, aunts, and cousins in 
 scores. The Dutch are famous for counting cousins 5 and no doubt 
 you'll have calls on you from half the county." 
 
 I saw that Marble was perplexed, and did not know, at first, but 
 he was getting to be embarrassed by this affluence of kindred. The 
 mate, however, was not the man long to conceal his thoughts from 
 me ; and in the strength of his feelings he soon let his trouble be 
 known. 
 
 " I say, Miles," he rejoined, "a fellow may be bothered with fe- 
 licity, I find. Now, here, in ten minutes, perhaps, I shall have to 
 meet my sister's darter my own, born, blood niece ; a full grown, 
 and I dare say, a comely young woman ; and, hang me if I know 
 exactly what a man ought to say in such a state of the facts. Gene- 
 ralising wont do with these near relations ;,andl suppose a sister's 
 darter is pretty much the same to a chap as his own darter would 
 be, provided he had one." 
 
 " Exactly ; had you reasoned a month, you could not have hit 
 upon a better solution of the difficulty than this. Treat this Kitty 
 Huguenin just as you would treat Kitty Marble."
 
 40 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 "Ay, ay ; all this is easy enough aforehand, and to such scholars 
 as you ; but it comes hard on a fellow like myself to heave his idees 
 out of him, as it might be, with a windlass. I managed the old 
 woman right well, and could get along with a dozen mothers better 
 than with one sister's darter. Suppose she should turn out a girl 
 with black eyes, and red cheeks, and all that sort of thing $ I dare 
 say she would expect me to kiss her ? " 
 
 " Certainly 5 she will expect that, should her eyes even be white, 
 and her cheeks black. Natural affection expects this much even 
 among the least enlightened of the human race." 
 
 "I am disposed to do every thing according to usage," returned 
 Marble, quite innocently, and more discomposed by the situation in 
 which he so unexpectedly found himself, than he might have been 
 willing to own ; "while, at the same time, I do not wish to do any 
 thing that is not expected from a son and an uncle. If these rela- 
 tions had only come one at a time." 
 
 "Poh, poh, Moses do not be quarrelling with your good luck, 
 just as it 's at its height. Here is the house, and I'll engage one of 
 those four girls is your niece that with the bonnet, for a dollar ; 
 she being ready to go home, and the whole having come to the door, 
 in consequence of seeing the chaise driving down the road. They 
 are puzzled at finding us in it, however, instead of the usual driver." 
 
 Marble hemmed, attempted to clear his throat, pulled down both 
 sleeves of his jacket, settled his black handkerchief to his mind, 
 slily got rid of his quid, and otherwise " cleared ship for action," 
 as he would have been very apt to describe his own preparations. 
 After all, his heart failed him at the pinch ; and just as I was pulling 
 up the horse, he said to me, in a voice so small and delicate, that it 
 sounded odd to one who had heard the man's thunder, as he hailed 
 yards and tops in gales of wind 
 
 "Miles, my dear boy, I do not half like this business ; suppose 
 you get out, and open the matter to the ladies. There's four of them, 
 you see, and that 's three too many. Go, now, Miles, that 's a good 
 fellow, and I'll do the same for you another time. I can't have 
 four nieces here, you'll own yourself." 
 
 "And while I an telling your story to your niece, your own 
 sister's daughter, what will you be doing here, pray?" 
 
 " Doing? Why, any thing, my dear Miles, that can be useful 
 I say, boy, do you think she looks any thing like me ? . When you 
 get nearer, if you should think so, just hold up a hand as a signal, 
 that I may not be taken by surprise. Yes, yes ; you go first, and 
 I'll follow , and as for ' doing,' why, you know, I can hold this 
 bloody horse." 
 
 I laughed, threw the reins to Marble, who seized them with both 
 hands, as if the beast required holding, while I alighted, and walked 
 to the cluster of girls, who awaited my movements in surprise and 
 silence. Since that day, I have seen more of the world than might
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 41 
 
 have been expected in one of my early career ; and often have I had 
 occasion to remark the tendency there exists to extremes in most 
 things 5 in manners as well as in every other matter connected with 
 human feelings. As we become sophisticated, acting takes the 
 place of nature, and men and women often affect the greatest in- 
 difference in cases in which they feel the liveliest interest. This is 
 the source of the ultra sang-froid of what is termed high breeding, 
 which would have caused the four young women, who then stood 
 in the door-yard of the respectable farmhouse at which I alighted, 
 to assume an air as cold, and as marble-like, at the sudden appear- 
 ance of Mrs. Wetmore's chaise, containing two strange faces, as if 
 they had been long expecting our arrival, and were a little displeased 
 it had not occurred an hour sooner. Such, however, was not 
 my reception. Though the four girls' were all youthful, blooming, 
 pretty, delicate in appearance, according to the fashion of American 
 women, and tolerably well attired, they had none of the calm ex- 
 terior of conventional manner. One would speak quick to another ; 
 looks of surprise were often exchanged; there were not a few 
 downright giggles, and then each put on as dignified an air to meet 
 the stranger as under the circumstances she could assume. 
 
 " I presume Miss Kitty Huguenin is among you, young ladies," I 
 commenced, bowing as civilly as was necessary 5 " for this appears 
 to be the house to which we were directed." 
 
 A girl of about sixteen, of decidedly pleasing appearance, and one 
 who bore a sufficient resemblance to old Mrs. Wctmore to be re- 
 cognised, advanced a step out of the group, a little eagerly, and 
 then as suddenly checked herself with the timidity of her years and 
 sex, as if afraid of going too far. 
 
 "I am Kitty," she said, changing colour once or twice; now 
 flushing and now growing pale "Is any thing the matter, sir 
 has grandmother sent for me ? " 
 
 " Nothing is the matter, unless you can call good news something 
 the matter. We have just left your grandmother's on business, 
 having been up to 'Squire Van Tassel's on her affairs ; rather than 
 let us go on foot, she lent us her chaise, on condition that we should 
 stop on our return and bring you home with us. The chaise is the 
 evidence that we act under orders." 
 
 In most countries, such a proposition would have excited distrust ; 
 in America, and in that day, more especially among girls of the 
 class of Kitty Huguenin, it produced none. Then, I flatter myself, 
 I was not a very frightful object to a girl of that age, and that my 
 countenance was not of such a cast as absolutely to alarm her. 
 Kitty, accordingly, wished her companions hasty adieus, and in a 
 minute she was placed between Marble and myself, the old vehicle 
 being suflicienlly spacious to accommodate three. I made my 
 bows, and away we trotted, or ambled would be a belter word. 
 For a brief space there was silence in the chaise, though I could
 
 42 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 detect Marble stealing side-long glances at his pretty little niece. 
 His eyes were moist, and he hemmed violently once, and actually 
 blew his nose, taking occasion, at the same time, to pass his hand- 
 kerchief over his forehead no less than three times in as many mi- 
 nutes. The furtive manner in which he indulged in these feelings 
 provoked me to say 
 
 " You appear to have a bad cold this evening, Mr. Wetmore," for 
 I thought the opportunity might also be improved, in the way of 
 breaking ground with our secret. 
 
 " Ay, you know how it is in these matters, Miles somehow, I 
 scarce know why myself, but somehow I feel bloody womanish this 
 evening." 
 
 I felt little Kitty pressing cipher to my side, as if she had certain 
 misgivings touching her other neighbour. 
 
 " I suppose you are surprised, Miss Kitty," I resumed, " at find- 
 ing two strangers in your grandmother's chaise? " 
 
 " I did not expect it but you said you had been to Mr. Van 
 Tassel's, and that there was good news for me does 'Squire Van 
 Tassel allow that grandfather paid him the money ? " 
 
 "Not that exactly, but you have friends who will see that no 
 wrong shall be done you. I suppose you have been afraid your 
 grandmother and yourself might be turned away from the old 
 place?" 
 
 " 'Squire Van Tassel's daughters have boasted as much," 
 answered Kitty, in a very subdued tone a voice, indeed, that 
 grew lower and more tremulous as she proceeded " but I don't 
 much mind them, for they think their father is to own the whole 
 country one of these days." This was uttered with spirit. " But 
 the old house was built by grandmother's grandfather, they say, 
 and grandmother was born in it, and so was I. It is hard to leave 
 a place like that, sir, and for a debt, too, that grandmother says she 
 is sure has once been paid." 
 
 " Ay, bloody hard ! " growled Marble. 
 
 Kitty again pressed nearer to me, or, to speak more properly, 
 farther from the mate, whose countenance was particularly grim 
 just at that moment. 
 
 " All that you say is very true, Kitty," I replied ; "but Provi- 
 dence has sent you friends to take care that no wrong shall be done 
 your grandmother or yourself." 
 
 " You're right enough in that, Miles," put in the mate. "God 
 bless the old lady ; she shall never sleep out of the house , with my 
 consent, unless it is when she sails down the river to go to the 
 theatre, and the museum, the ten or fifteen Dutch churches there 
 are in town, and all of them 'ere sort o' thingumerees." 
 
 Kitty gazed at her left-hand neighbour with surprise, but I could 
 feel that maiden bashfulness induced her to press less closely to 
 my side than she had done the minute before.
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 43 
 
 " I don't understand, you," Kitty answered, after a short pause, 
 during which she was doubtless endeavouring to comprehend what 
 she had heard. "Grandmother has no wish to go to town; she 
 only wants to pass the rest of her days, quietly, at the old place ; 
 and one church is enough for any body." 
 
 Had the little girl lived a few years later, she would have ascer- 
 tained that some persons require half a dozen. 
 
 " And you, Kitty, do you suppose your grandmother has no 
 thought for you, when she shall be called away herself? " 
 
 " Oh, yes I know she thinks a good deal of that, but I try to 
 set her heart at ease, poor, dear, old grandmother, for it's of no 
 use to be distressing herself about me! I can take care of myself 
 well enough, and have plenty of friends who will never see me 
 want. Father's sisters say they'll take care of me" 
 
 " You have one friend, Kitty, of whom you little think, just now, 
 and he will provide for you." 
 
 "I don't know whom you mean, sir, unless and yet you 
 can't suppose I never think of God, sir?" 
 
 " I mean a friend on earth have you no friend on earth, whom 
 you have not mentioned yet ? " 
 
 "I am not sure perhaps you do not mean Horace Bright, 
 do you, sir?" 
 
 This was said with a bright blush, and a look in which the 
 dawning consciousness of maiden shame was so singularly blended 
 with almost childish innocence, as both to delight me, and yet 
 cause me to smile. 
 
 " And who is Horace Bright?" I asked, assuming as grave an 
 air as possible. 
 
 " Oh! Horace is nobody only the son of one of our neighbours. 
 There, don't you see the old stone house that stands among the 
 apple and cherry trees on the banks of the river, just here in a line 
 with this barn ? " 
 
 " Quite plainly ; and a very pretty place it is. We were ad- 
 miring it as we drove up the road." 
 
 " Well, that is Horace Bright's father's ; and one of the best farms 
 in the neighbourhood. But you mustn't mind what he says, grand- 
 mother always tells me -, boys love to talk grandly, and all the folks 
 about here feel for us, though most of them are afraid of 'Squire 
 Van Tassel, too." 
 
 "I place no reliance at all on Horace's talk not I. It is just 
 as your grandmother tells you ; boys are fond of making a parade, 
 and often utter things they don't mean." 
 
 "Well, I don't think that is Horace's way, in the least; though 
 I wouldn't have you suppose I ever think, the least in the world 
 about what Horace says concerning my never being left to want. 
 My own aunts will take care of that." 
 
 "And should they fail you, my dear," cried Marble, with strong
 
 44 LUCY HARDINGE 
 
 feeling, " your own uncle would step into their places, without wait- 
 ing to have his memory jogged." 
 
 Again Kitty looked surprised, a very little startled, and again she 
 pressed to my side. ..; . 
 
 " I have no uncle," she answered timidly. " Father never had 
 a brother, and grandmother's son is dead." 
 
 " No, Kitty," I said, giving a look at Marble to keep him quiet ; 
 " in the last you are mistaken. This is the good news of which 
 we spoke. Your grandmother's son is not dead, but living, and in 
 good health. He is found, acknowledged, has passed the afternoon 
 with your grandmother, has money more than enough to satisfy 
 even the unjust demand of the miserly Van Tassel, and will be a fa- 
 ther to you." 
 
 " dear me ! can this be true? " exclaimed Kitty, pressing still 
 closer than ever to my side. " And are you uncle, after all, and 
 will it all come out as you say? Poor, poor grandmother, and 
 I not at home to hear it all, and to help her under such a great 
 trial ! " 
 
 " Your grandmother was a little distressed of course, at first, but 
 she bore it all remarkably well, and is as happy, at this moment, as 
 you yourself could wish her to be. You are under a mistake, 
 however, in supposing I am your uncle do I look old enough to be 
 your mother's brother ? " 
 
 "Dear me, no I might have seen that, hadn't I been so silly. 
 Can it be this other gentleman?" 
 
 Here Marble took his hint from nature, and clasping the pretty 
 young creature in his arms, he kissed .her with an affection and 
 warmth that were truly paternal. Poor Kitty was frightened at 
 first, and I dare say, like her grandmother, in a slight degree dis- 
 appointed -, but there was so much heartiness in the mate's manner, 
 that it reassured her in a degree. 
 
 "I am a bloody poor uncle, I know, Kitty, for a young woman 
 like you to own /'Marble got out, though sorely tempted to blubber-, 
 "but there's worse in the world, as you'll discover, no doubt, in 
 time. Such as I am, you must take me, and from this time hence- 
 forth do not care a straw for old Van Tassel, or any other griping 
 vagabond like him, in York State." 
 
 " Uncle is a sailor! " Kitty answered, after being fairly released 
 from the mate's rough embrace. " Grandmother heard once that 
 he was a soldier." 
 
 *' Ay, that comes of lying. I don't think they could have made 
 a soldier of me, had two wicked nurses ran away with me, and had 
 they placed me on fifty tombstones, by way of commencing life. My 
 natur' would revolt at carrying a musket, for sartain, while the seas 
 have always been a sort of home to me." 
 
 Kitty made no answer to this, being a little in doubt, I believe,
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 45 
 
 as to the manner in which she was to regard this new acquisition of 
 an uncle. 
 
 "Your grand-parents did suppose your uncle a soldier," I re- 
 marked; " but after the man was seen the mistake was discovered, 
 and now the truth has come out in a way that will admit of no 
 dispute." 
 
 " How is uncle named ? " demanded the niece, in a low voice and 
 a hesitating manner. "Mother's brother was christened Oloff, I 
 have heard grandmother say." 
 
 " Very true, dear; we 've been all over that, the old lady and I. 
 They tell me, too, I was christened by the name of Moses. I sup- 
 pose you know who Moses was, child?" 
 
 " To be sure, uncle," said Kitty, with a little laugh of surprise. 
 " He was the great lawmaker of the Jews." 
 
 "Ha, Miles, is that so?" 
 
 I nodded assent. 
 
 " And do you know about his being found in the bulrushes, and 
 the story of the king of Ethiopia's daughter?" 
 
 " The king of Egypt, you mean, do you not, Uncle Oloff?" cried 
 Kitty, with another little laugh. 
 
 " Well, Ethiopia or Egypt ; it's all pretty much the same this 
 girl has been wonderfully edicated, Miles, and will turn out famous 
 company for me, in the long winter evenings, some twenty years 
 hence, or when I 've worked my way up into the latitude of the 
 dear, good, old soul under the hill yonder." 
 
 A slight exclamation from Kitty was followed by a blush, and a 
 change of expression that showed she was thinking, just at that 
 moment, of any thing but Uncle Oloff. I asked an explanation. 
 
 " It's only Horace Bright, out yonder in the orchard, looking at 
 us. He will be puzzled to kndw who is with me, here, in the old 
 chaise. Horace thinks he can drive a horse better than any one 
 about here, so you must be careful how you hold the reins, or use 
 the whip, Horace ! " 
 
 This boded no good to Marble's plans for passing the evenings of 
 his old age with Kitty to amuse him ; but, as we were now on the 
 brow of the hill, with the cottage in sight, Horace Bright was soon 
 lost to view. To do the girl justice, she appeared now to think 
 only of her grandmother, and of the effects the recent discovery of 
 her son would be likely to produce on one of her years and infirmi- 
 ties. As for myself, I was surprised to see Mr. Hardinge in earnest 
 conversation with old Mrs. Wetmore, both seated on the stoop of 
 the cottage, in the mild summer's evening, and Lucy walking to 
 and fro, on the short grass of the willow bottom, with an impatience 
 and restlessness of manner it was very unusual for her to exhibit. 
 No sooner was Kitty alighted, than she ran to her grandmother, 
 Marble following, while I hastened to the point where was to be 
 found the great object of my interest. Lucy's face was full of feel-
 
 46 LDCY HARDINGE. 
 
 ing and concern, and she received me with an extended hand, that, 
 gracious as was the act itself, and most grateful as it would have 
 proved to me under other circumstances, I now feared boded no 
 good. 
 
 "Miles, you have been absent an age!" Lucy commenced. 
 " I should be disposed to reproach you, had not the extraordinary 
 story of this good old woman explained it all. I feel the want of 
 air and exercise ; give me your arm, and we will walk a short 
 distance up the road. My dear father will not be inclined to quit 
 that happy family so long as any light is left." 
 
 I gave Lucy my arm, and we did walk up the road together, ac- 
 tually ascending the hill I had just descended ; but all this did not 
 induce me to overlook the fact that Lucy's manner was hurried and 
 excited. The whole seemed so inexplicable, that I thought I would 
 wait her own pleasure in the matter. 
 
 " Your friend, Marble,' ? she continued "I do not know why I 
 ought not to say our friend, Marble, must be a very happy man at 
 having, at length, discovered who his parents are, and to havedis- 
 covered them to be so respectable and worthy of his affection." 
 
 " As yet, he seems to be more bewildered than happy, as, in- 
 deed, does the whole family. The thing has come on them so un- 
 expectedly, that there has not been time to bring their feelings in 
 harmony with the facts." 
 
 " Family affection is a blessed thing, Miles," Lucy resumed, after 
 a short pause, speaking in her thoughtful manner ; ''there is little 
 in this world that can compensate for its loss. It must have been 
 sad sad, to the poor fellow to have lived so long without father, 
 mother, sister, brother, or any other known relative." 
 
 " I believe Marble found it so 5 yet, I think, he felt the supposed 
 disgrace of his birth more than his' solitary condition. The man 
 has warm affections at the bottom, though he has a most uncouth 
 manner of making it known." 
 
 " I am surprised one so circumstanced never thought of marry- 
 ing ; he might, at least, have lived in the bosom of his own family, 
 though he never knew that of a father. " 
 
 " These are the suggestions of a tender and devoted female heart, 
 dear Lucy j but what has a sailor to do with a wife? I have heard 
 it said Sir John Jervis the present Lord St. Vincent always de- 
 clared a married seaman, a seaman spoiled ; and I believe Marble 
 loves a ship so well he would hardly know how to love a woman." 
 
 Lucy made no answer to this indiscreet and foolish speech. Why 
 it was made I scarce knew myself; but the heart has its bitter 
 moods, when it prompts sentiments and declarations that are very 
 little in accordance with its real impulses. I was so much ashamed 
 of what I had just said, and, in truth, so much frightened, that, 
 instead of attempting to laugh it off, as a silly unmeaning opinion, 
 or endeavouring to explain that this was not my own way of think-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 47 
 
 ing, I walked on some distance in silence myself, and suffered my 
 companion to imitate me in this particular. I have since had rea- 
 son to think that Lucy was not pleased at my manner of treating 
 the subject, though, blessed creature ! she had another matter to 
 communicate, that lay too heavy on her heart to allow one of her 
 generous disinterested nature to think much of any thing else. 
 
 "Miles," Lucy at length broke the silence, by saying'* I wish, 
 I do wish we had not met that other sloop this morning." 
 
 I stopped short in the highway, dropped my beautiful compa- 
 nion's arm, and stood gazing intently in her face, as if I would read 
 her most inmost thoughts through those windows of the soul, her 
 serene, mild, tender, blue eyes. I saw that the face was colour- 
 less, and that the beautiful lips, out of which the words that had 
 alarmed me more by their accents than their direct signification, 
 were quivering in a way that their lovely mistress could not con- 
 trol. Tears, as large as heavy drops of rain, too, were trembling 
 on the long silken eye-lashes, while the very attitude of the pre- 
 cious girl denoted hopelessness and grief! 
 
 "This relates to Grace ! " I exclaimed, though my throat was so 
 parched as almost to choke my utterance. 
 
 " Whom, or what else, can now occupy our minds, Miles ; I can 
 scarce think of any thing but Grace ; when 1 do, it is to remember 
 that my own brother has killed her ! " 
 
 What answer could I have made to such a speech, had my mind 
 been sufficiently at ease as respects my sister to think of any thing 
 else ? As it was, I did not even attempt the vain office of saying 
 any thing in the way of alleviating my companion's keen sense of 
 the misconduct of Rupert. 
 
 ' ' Grace is then worse in consequence of this unhappy rencontre ? " 
 I observed, rather than asked. 
 
 " Oh, Miles! what a conversation I have had with her this after- 
 noon ! She speaks, already, more like a being that belongs to the 
 regions of the blessed than like one of earth ! There is no longer 
 any secret between us. She would gladly have avoided telling me 
 her precise situation with Rupert, but we had already gone so far 
 I would know more. I thought it might relieve her mind ; and 
 there was the chance, however slight, of its enabling us to suggest 
 some expedient to produce still further good. I think it has had 
 some of the first effect, for she is now sleeping." 
 
 "Did Grace say any thing of youV communicating the miserable 
 tale to me?" 
 
 "It is, indeed, a miserable tale ! Miles, they were engaged from 
 the time Grace was fifteen ! Engaged distinctly, and in terms, I 
 mean ; not by any of the implied understandings by which those 
 who were so intimate generally might believe themselves bound to 
 each other,"
 
 48 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 "And in what manner did so early and long-continued an en- 
 gagement cease?" 
 
 " It came from Rupert, who should have died first, before he was. 
 so untrue to himself, to my poor father, to me, to all of us, Miles, 
 as well as to his own manhood. It has been as we supposed 5 he 
 has been deluded by the eclat that attaches to these Mertons in our 
 provincial society j and Emily is rather a showy girl, you know, 
 at least for those who are accustomed only to our simple habits." 
 
 Alas ! little did Lucy then know she has learned better since 
 that "showy" girls belong much more to our "simple" state of 
 society than to the state of those which are commonly conceived to 
 be more advanced. But Emily Merton was, in a slight degree, more 
 artificial in manner than it was usual for a Manhattanese female of 
 that day to be, and this was what Lucy meant , Lucy, who always 
 thought so humbly of herself, and was ever so ready to concede to 
 her rivals all that could plausibly be asked in their behalf. 
 
 " I am well aware how much importance the leading set among 
 ourselves attaches to English connexion and English rank," I an- 
 swered ; " but it does not strike me Emily Merton is of a class so 
 elevated that Rupert Hardinge need break his faith, in order to reap 
 the advantage of belonging to her, or her family." 
 
 " It cannot be altogether that. Miles," Lucy added, in an ap- 
 pealing, but touchingly confidential manner, ' ' you and I have 
 known each other from children, and, whatever may be the weak- 
 nesses of one who is so dear to me, and who, I hope, has not al- 
 together lost his hold on your own affections, we can still rely on 
 each other. I shall speak to you with the utmost dependence on 
 your friendship, and a reliance on your heart that is not second to 
 that which I place on jny dear father's ; for this is a subject on which 
 there ought to be no concealment between us. It is impossible that 
 one as manly, as upright, as honest, I will say, as yourself, can 
 have lived so long in close intimacy with Rupert, and not be aware 
 that he has marked defects of character." 
 
 " I have long known that he is capricious," I answered, unwill- 
 ing to be severe on the faults of Lucy's brother, to Lucy's own ear ; 
 " perhaps 1 might add, that I have known he pays too much atten- 
 tion to fashion, and the opinions of fashionable people." 
 
 "Nay, as we cannot deceive ourselves, let us not attempt the 
 ungrateful task of endeavouring to deceive each other," that true- 
 hearted girl replied, though she said this with so great an effort, 
 that I was compelled to listen attentively to catch all she uttered. 
 "Ruppert has failings worse than these. He is mercenary 5 nor 
 is he always a man of truth. Heaven knows how I have wept over 
 these defects of character, and the pain they have given me from 
 childhood! But my dear, dear father overlooks them all, or, 
 rather, seeing them, he hopes all things ; it is hard for a parent to 
 believe a child irreclaimable."
 
 LLCY H\R])1NG. 49 
 
 I was unwilling to let Lucy say any more on this subject, for her 
 voice, her countenance, I might almost say her whole figure, 
 showed how much it cost her to say even this much of Rupert. I 
 had long known that Lacy did not respect her brother as much as 
 she could wish ; but this was never before betrayed to me in words, 
 nor in any other manner, indeed, that would not have eluded the 
 observation of one who knew the parties less thoroughly than my- 
 self. I could perceive that she felt the awful consequences she 
 foresaw from her brother's conduct gave me a claim on her sin- 
 cerity, and that she was suffering martyrdom, in order to do all 
 that lay in her own power to lessen the force of the blow that un- 
 worthy relative had inflicted. It would have been ungenerous in 
 me to suffer such a sacrifice to continue a moment longer than was 
 necessary. 
 
 "Spare yourself, and me, dearest Lucy," I eagerly said, "all 
 explanations but those which are necessary to let me know the 
 exact state of my sister's case. I confess, I could wish to under- 
 stand, however, the manner in which Rupert has contrived to 
 explain away an engagement that has lasted four years, and which 
 must have been the source of so much innocent confidence between 
 Grace and himself." 
 
 "I was coming to that, Miles; and when you know it, you will 
 know all. Grace has felt his attentions to Emily Merton for a long 
 time; but there never was a verbal explanation between them 
 until just before she left town. Then she felt it due to herself to 
 know the truth ; and, after a conversation which was not very par- 
 ticular, your sister offered to release Rupert from his engagement, 
 did he in the least desire it." 
 
 " And what answer did he make to a proposal that was as gene- 
 rous as it was frank ?" 
 
 "I must do Grace the justice to say, Miles, that in all she said, 
 she used the utmost tenderness towards my brother. Still, I could 
 not but gather the substance of what passed. Rupert, at first, 
 affected to believe that Grace, herself, wished to break the en- 
 gagement; but, in this, you well know, her ingenuous simplicity 
 would not permit him to succeed. She did not attempt to conceal 
 how deeply she should feel the change in her situation, and how 
 much it might influence her future happiness." 
 
 "Ay, that was like both of them like Rupert, and like Grace," 
 I muttered, huskily. 
 
 Lucy continued silent an instant, apparently to allow me to regain 
 my self-command ; then she continued 
 
 "When Rupert found that the responsibility of the rupture must 
 rest on him, he spoke more sincerely. He owned to Grace that 
 his views had changed ; said they were both too young to contract 
 themselves when they did, and that he had made an engagement 
 to marry, at a time when he was unfit to bind himself to so solemn 
 
 4
 
 50 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 a contract said something about minors, and concluded by speak- 
 ing of his poverty and total inability to support a wife, now that 
 Mrs. Bradfort had left me the whole of her property." 
 
 "And this is the man who wishes to make the world believe 
 that he is the true heir! nay, who told me, himself, that he con- 
 siders you as only a sort of trustee, to hold half, or two-thirds of the 
 estate, until he has had leisure to sow his wild oats! " 
 
 " I know he has encouraged such notions, Miles," Lucy answered 
 in a low voice ; " how gladly would I realize his hopes, if things could 
 be placed where we once thought they were ! Every dollar of Mrs. 
 Bradfort's fortune would I relinquish with joy, to see Grace happy, 
 or Bupert honest." 
 
 " I am afraid we shall never see the first, Lucy, in this evil world 
 at least." 
 
 " I have never wished for this engagement, since I have been 
 old enough to judge of my brother's true character. He would ever 
 have been too fickle, and of principles too light, to satisfy Grace's 
 heart, or her judgment. There may have been some truth in his plea 
 that the engagement was too early and inconsiderately made. Per- 
 sons so young can hardly know what will, or what will not be ne- 
 cessary to their own characters, a few years later. As it is, even 
 Grace would now refuse to marry Rupert. She owned to me that 
 the heaviest part of the blow was being undeceived in relation to 
 his character. I spoke to her with greater freedom than a sister 
 ought to have used, perhaps, but I wished to arouse her pride, as the 
 means of saving her. Alas ! Grace is all affections, and those once 
 withered, I fear, Miles, the rest of her being will go with them." 
 
 I made no answer to this prophetic remark, Lucy's visit to the 
 shore, her manner, and all that she had said, convincing me that 
 she had, in a great degree, taken leave of hope. We conversed 
 some time longer, returning toward the cottage ; but there was 
 nothing further to communicate that is necessary to record. Neither 
 of us thought of self, and I would as soon have attempted to desecrate 
 a church as attempt to obtain any influence over Lucy, in my own 
 behalf, at such a moment. All my feelings reverted to my poor 
 sister again, and I was dying with impatience to return to the sloop, 
 whither, indeed, it was time to repair, the sun having some time 
 before disappeared, while even the twilight was drawing to a 
 close.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 5.1 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The serpent of the field, by art 
 And spells, is won from harming ; 
 But that which coils around the heart, 
 Oh ! who hath power of charming ? 
 
 Hebrew JHelodiet. 
 
 It was not easy to make Mr. Hardinge a sharer in my impatience. 
 He had taken a fancy to Marble, and was as much rejoiced at this 
 accidental discovery of the mate's parentage, as if he had been one 
 of the family himself. With such feelings, therefore, I had a good 
 deal of difficulty in getting him away. I asked Marble to go off with 
 me, it being understood that he was to be landed again, in order to 
 pass the first night of his recognition under his mother's roof. To 
 this scheme, however, he raised an objection, as soon as told it was 
 my intention to go down the river as far as New York, in quest of 
 further medical advice, insisting on accompanying me, in order to 
 obtain the thousand dollars with which to face 'Scjuire Van Tassel, 
 or, at least, his mortgage sale. Accordingly, there were leave- 
 takings, and about eight we were all on board the sloop. 
 
 I did not see, nor did I ask to see, my sister again that night. I 
 had not seen her, indeed, since the moment Rupert was discovered 
 in company with the Mertons 5 and, to own the truth, I felt afraid to 
 see her, knowing, as I did, how much her frame was apt to be 
 affected by her mind. It appeared to me there remained but the 
 single duty to perform, that of getting below as fast as possible, in 
 order to obtain the needed medical aid. It it true we possessed 
 Post's written instructions, and knew his opinion that the chief thing 
 was to divert Grace's thoughts from dwelling on the great cause of 
 her malady 5 but, now he had left us, it seemed as if I should neglect 
 a most sacred duty did I delay obtaining some other competent phy- 
 sician. 
 
 The tide turned at nine, and we got immediately under way, with 
 a light south-west wind. As for Marble, ignorant as Mr. Hardinge 
 himself of the true condition of my sister, he determined to celebrate 
 his recent discoveries by a supper. I was about to object to the 
 project, on account of Grace, but Lucy begged me to let him have 
 his way ; such convives as my late guardian and my own mate were 
 not likely to be very boisterous ; and she fancied that the conver- 
 sation, or such parts of it as should be heard through the bulk-head, 
 might serve to divert the invalid's mind from dwelling too intently 
 on the accidental rencontre of the morning. The scheme was con- 
 sequently carried out; and, in the course of an hour, the cabins of 
 the Wallingford presented a singular spectacle. In her berth was 
 Grace, patiently and sweetly lending herself to her friend's wish to
 
 5* LfcCY HARDINGE. 
 
 seem to listen to her own account of the reason of the mate's fe&ta, 
 and to be amused by his sallies ; Lucy, all care and attention for her 
 patient, as I could discover through the open door of tjie after-cabin, 
 while she endeavoured to appear to enter into the business that was 
 going on at the table, actually taking wine with the mate, and 
 drinking to the happiness of his newly-found relatives-, Mr. Har- 
 dinge, overflowing with philanthropy, and so much engrossed with 
 his companion's good fortune as not to think of aught else at the 
 moment; Marble, himself, becoming gradually more under the in- 
 fluence of his new situation, as his feelings had time to gather force 
 and take their natural direction ; while I was compelled to wear the 
 semblance of joining in his festivities, at an instant when my whole 
 soul was engrossed with anxiety on behalf of Grace. 
 
 " This milk is just the richest and best that ever came on board 
 a vessel ! " exclaimed the mate, as he was about to wind up his 
 own share of the repast with a cup of coffee ; " and as for butter, I 
 can say I never tasted the article before. Little Kitty brought both 
 down to the boat with her own hands, and that makes them so much 
 the sw r eeter, too-, for, if any thing can add to the excellence of 
 eatables, it is to have them pass through the hands of one's own 
 relations. I dare say, Mr. Hardinge, now, you have verified this, 
 time and again, in your own experience ? " 
 
 " In feeling, my friend ; in feeling, often though little in practice, 
 in the sense that you mean. My family has been my congregation, 
 unless, indeed, Miles here, and his beloved sister, can be added to 
 ray own children in fact, as they certainly are in affection. But I can 
 understand how butter made by the hands of one's own mother, or 
 by those of such a pretty niece as your Kitty, would taste all the 
 sweeter." 
 
 " It's such a providential thing, as you call it, to find such a 
 mother in the bargain ! Now I might have discovered a slattern, 
 or a scold, or a woman of bad character 5 or one that never went to 
 church ; or even one that swore and drank ; for, begging your par- 
 don, Miss Lucy, just such creatur's are to be met with : whereas, 
 instead of any of these disagreeable recommendations, I've fallen in 
 with an A. No. 1., mother-, ay, and such an old lady as the King of 
 England himself need not be ashamed to own.* I felt a strong 
 desire, Mr. Hardinge, to get down on my knees, and to ask the dear 
 good old soul just to say, ' God bless you, my dear son, Moses, Van 
 Duzer, or Oloff, vhatever your name may be.' " 
 
 " And if you had, Mr. Marble, you would not have been any the 
 worse for it. Such feelings do you honour, and no man need be 
 ashamed of desiring to receive a parent's blessing." 
 
 " I suppose now, my dear sir," added Marble, innocently, " that 
 
 * In that day, all allusions to royalty were conBned to the majesty of Great Britain ; 
 it being no uncommon thing, at the commencement of this century, to hear" The King" 
 toa?ld at many of th bsi tables of th country.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 5$ 
 
 is what is called having a religious turn? I've often foreseen, that 
 religion would fetch me up, in the long run ; and now that I am 
 altogether relieved from bitterness of heart on the subject of belong- 
 ing to none, and no one's belonging to me, my sentiments have 
 undergone a great alteration, and I feel a wish to be at peace with 
 the whole human family no, not with the whole; I except that 
 rascally old Van Tassel." 
 
 " You must except no one we are told to ' love those that hate 
 us, to bless those that curse.us, and to pray for those that despitefully 
 use us.' " 
 
 Marble stared at Mr. Hardinge 5 for, to own the truth, it would 
 have been difficult, in a Christian land, to meet with one of his 
 years who had less religious instruction than himself. It is quite 
 probable that these familiar mandates had never been heard by him 
 before 5 but I could see that he was a little struck with the profound 
 morality that pervaded them ; a morality to which no human heart 
 appears to be so insensible as not in secret to acknowledge its 
 sublimity. Still he doubted. 
 
 " Where are we told to do this, my dear sir?" demanded Marble, 
 after looking intently at the rector for a moment. 
 
 " Where ? why, where we get all our divine precept and inspired 
 morality the Bible. You must come to wish this Mr. Van Tassel 
 good, instead of evil ; try to love, instead of hating him." 
 
 " Is that religion ? " demanded the mate, in his most dogmatical 
 and determined manner. 
 
 " It is Christianity Its spirit, its very essence; without which 
 the heart cannot be right, let the tongue proclaim what delusion 
 it may." 
 
 Marble had imbibed a sincere respect for my late guardian, 
 equally from what he had heard me say in his favour, and what 
 he had seen himself, of his benevolent feelings, kind-hearted mo- 
 rality, and excellent sense. Nevertheless, it was not an easy matter 
 to teach a being like Marble the lesson that he was to do good to 
 those who used him despitefully 5 and just at that moment he was 
 in a frame of mind to do almost any thing else, sooner than pardon 
 Van Tassel. All this I could see, understanding the man so well ; 
 and, in order to prevent a useless discussion that might disturb my 
 sister, I managed to change the discourse before it was too late ; I 
 say too late, because it is not easy to shake off two moralists who 
 sustain their doctrines as strongly as Mr. Hardinge and my mate. 
 
 "I am glad the name of this Mr. Van Tassel has been mentioned," 
 I observed, " as it may be well to have your advice, sir, concern- 
 ing our best mode of proceeding in his affair." 
 
 I then related to Mr. Hardinge the history of the mortgage, and 
 the necessity there was for promptitude, inasmuch as the sale was 
 advertised for the ensuing week. My late guardian was better ac- 
 quainted with the country, up the river, than I was myself; and
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 it was fortunate the subject was broached, as he soon convinced me 
 the only course to be pursued was to put Marble ashore at Hudson, 
 where, if too late for the regular stage, he might obtain some other 
 conveyance, and proceed to town by land. This would barely 
 leave him time to transact all the necessary business, and to be 
 back in season to prevent the title to the Willow Cove from passing 
 into the usurer's grasp. As was usual with Mr. Hardinge, he entered 
 into this, as into every good work, heart and hand, and immedi- 
 ately set about writing directions for Marble's government when he 
 got ashore. This put an end to the banqnet, and glad was I to see 
 the table removed, and the other signs of a tranquil night reappear. 
 
 It was twelve before the sloop was as low as Hudson, and I saw, 
 by our rate of sailing, that, indeed, there was little prospect of her 
 reaching New York in time for Marble's necessities. He was 
 landed, therefore, and Mr. Hardinge and myself accompanied him 
 to the stage-house, where we ascertained that the next morning 
 after breakfast he would be enabled to get into the stage, which 
 would reach town in the evening of the succeeding day. But this 
 was altogether too slow for Marble's impatience. He insisted on 
 procuring a private conveyance, and we saw him drive out of the 
 long street that then composed most of the city of Hudson, at a 
 slapping pace, about one o'clock in the morning. This important 
 duty discharged, Mr. Hardinge and I returned to the sloop in which 
 Neb had been standing off and on, in waiting for us, and again 
 made sail down the river. When I turned in, the Wallingford was 
 getting along at the rate of about five miles the hour 5 the wind 
 having freshened, and come out at the westward, a quarter that 
 just enabled her to lay her course. 
 
 The reader will easily imagine I did not oversleep myself the fol- 
 lowing morning. My uneasiness was so great, indeed, that I 
 dreamed of the dreadful accident which had produced my father's 
 death, and then fancied that I saw him, my mother, and Grace, all 
 interred at the same time, and in the same grave. Fortunately, the 
 wind stood at the west, and the sloop was already within twenty 
 miles of the creek at Clawbonny, when I got on deck. All was 
 quiet in the after-cabin; and, Mr. Hardinge still continuing in his 
 berth, I went out to breathe the fresh morning air, without speaking 
 to any below. There was no one on the quarter-deck but the pilot, 
 who was at the helm ; though I saw a pair of legs beneath the 
 boom, close in with the mast, that I knew to be Neb's, and a neat, 
 dark petticoat that I felt certain must belong to Chloe. I approached 
 the spot, intending to question the former on the subject of the 
 weather during his watch-, but, just as about to hail him, I heard 
 the young lady say, in a more animated tone than was discreet for 
 the character of the conversation 
 
 " No, nebber, sah nebber, widout de apperbation of my modder 
 and de whole famerly. Mattermony a berry differ t'ing, Neb, from
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 55 
 
 what you supposes. Now, many a young nigger gentleman ima- 
 gine dathe has only to coax his gal to say 'yes,' and den dey goes 
 to de clergy and stands up for de blessin', and imagines all right for de 
 futur',and for de present time, all which is just aderlusion andader- 
 ception. No, sah ; mattermony a berry differ t'ing from dat, as any 
 old lady can tell you. De fuss t'ing in mattermony is to hab a consent." 
 
 "Well, Chloe, and hab'n't I had dis berry consent from you, now 
 for most two year?" 
 
 "Ay, dat not de consent I surposes. You wouldn't t'ink, Neb, 
 ongrateful feller, to get marry widout first askin' de consent of Masser 
 Mile, I do surpose ! You, who has been his own waiter so long, 
 and has gone to sea wid him so often ; and has saved his life ; and 
 has helped kill so many hateful saverges ; and has been on a desert 
 conternent wid him." 
 
 "I nebber told you dat, Chloe I said on an island." 
 
 "Well, what's the differ? You cannot tell me any t'ing of eder- 
 cation, Neb; for I hab hear Miss Grace and Miss Lucy say deir les- 
 son so often, dat I sometimes surposes I can say 'em all, one by one, 
 almost as well as my young lady, 'emselves. No, Neb 5 on dat sub- 
 ject better be silent. You been much too busy, ebber to be eder- 
 cated 5 and, if I do marry you, remember, I now tell you, I shall 
 not enter into mattermony wid you on account of any edercation 
 you hab." 
 
 " All Clawbonny say dat we can make as good a couple, Chloe, 
 as ebber stood up togedder." 
 
 " All Clawbonny don't know much of mattermony, Neb. People 
 talks inderskrimernaterly, and doesn't know what dey says, too 
 often. In de fuss place my modder, my own born modder, upposes 
 our uner, and dat is a great differculty to begin wid. When a born 
 modder upposes, a darter ought to t'ink sebberal time." 
 
 " Let me speak to Masser Mile ; he'll fetch up her objeckshun wid 
 a round turn." 
 
 "What dat, Neb?" 
 
 " It mean, Masser will order her to consent." 
 
 " Dat nebber saterfy my conscience, Neb. We be nigger, dat 
 true ; but no Clawbonny master ebber tell a Clawbonny slabe to get 
 marry, or not to get marry, as he choose. Dat would be intollabull, 
 and not to be supported ! No ; mattermony is religion ; and religion 
 free. No colour' young lady hab vergin affeckshun, to t'row 'em 
 away on just whom her masser say. But, Neb, dere one odder 
 differculty to our uner dat I don't know some time, I feel awful 
 about it!" 
 
 As Chloe now spoke naturally, for the first |time, Neb was 
 evidently startled -, and I had sufficient amusement, and sufficient 
 curiosity, to remain stationary in order to hear what this new ob- 
 stacle might be. The voice of the negress was music itself; almost 
 as sweet as Lucy's ; and I was struck with a slight tremor that per-
 
 56 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 vadcd it, as she so suddenly put an end to all her own affectation 
 of sentiment, and nipped her airs and graces, as it might be, in the 
 bud. 
 
 " Nebber talk to me of mattermony, Neb," Chloe continued, al- 
 most sobbing as she spoke, " while Miss Grace be in this berry bad 
 way! It hard enough to see her look so pale and melercholy 
 widout t'inking of becomin' a wife." 
 
 " Miss Grace will grow better, now Masser Mile carry her on de 
 water. If he only take her to sea, she get so fat and hearty, no 
 libbin'widher!" 
 
 Chloe did not acquiesce in this opinion ; she rather insisted that 
 " Miss Grace" was altogether too delicate and refined a person to 
 live in a ship. But the circumstance that struck me with the 
 greatest force in this characteristic dialogue, was the fact that Chloe 
 betrayed to me the consciousness of the cause of my sister's indis- 
 position 5 while true to her sex's instincts, and faithful to her duty, 
 the girl completely concealed it from her lover. I was also oppres- 
 sively struck with the melancholy forebodings that appeared in 
 Chloe's manner, rather than in her words, and which made it ap- 
 parent that she doubted of her young mistress's recovery. She con- 
 cluded the conversation by saying 
 
 " No, no, Neb don't talk to me of mattermony while Miss Grace 
 so ill ; and if any t'ing should happen, you need nsbber talk to me 
 of it at all. I could nebber t'ink of any uner (union) should any 
 t'ing happen to Miss Grace. Lub (love) will die forebber in de fa- 
 mily, when Miss Grace die ! " 
 
 I turned away at this speech, the tears starting to my eyes, and 
 saw Lucy standing in the companion-way. She was waiting to 
 speak to me, and no sooner caught my eye, than beckoning me 
 to her side, she let me know that my sister desired to see me. 
 Erasing every sign of emotion as soon as possible, I descended with 
 Lucy, and was soon at the side of my sister's berth. 
 
 Grace received me with an angelic smile ; but I almost gasped for 
 breath as I noticed the prodigious change that had come over her 
 in so brief a space. She now looked more like a being of another 
 world than ever 5 and this, too, immediately after coming from the 
 refreshment of a night's rest. I kissed her forehead, which had an 
 unnatural chill on it, I thought; and I felt the feeble pressure of an 
 arm that was thrown affectionately round my neck. I then sat down 
 on the transom, still holding my sister's hand. Grace looked 
 anxiously at me for half a minute, ere she spoke, as if to ascertain 
 how far I was conscious of her situation. 
 
 " Lucy tells me, brother," she at length said, " that you think of 
 carrying me down the river, as far as town, in order to get further 
 advice. I hope this is a mistake of our dear Lucy's, however ! " 
 
 " It is not, Grace. If the wind stand here at the westward, I hope 
 to have you in Lucy's own house, in Wall-street, by to-morrow
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 57 
 
 evening. I know she will receive you hospitably, and have ventured 
 to form the plan without consulting you on the subject. 
 
 a Better that I should be at Clawbonny if any thing can now 
 do me good, brother, it will be native air, and pure country air. 
 Hearken to my request, and stop at the creek." 
 
 "Your serious request, Grace, will be a law to me, if made on 
 due reflection. This growing feebleness, however, alarms me 5 and 
 I cannot justify it to myself not to send for advice." 
 
 " Remember, Miles, it is not yet twenty-four hours since one of 
 the ablest men of the country saw me. We have his written in- 
 structions ; and all that man can do for me, they will do for me. No, 
 brother ; listen to my entreaties, and go into the creek. I pine, I 
 pine to be again at dear Clawbonny, where alone I can enjoy any 
 thing like peace of body or mind. This vessel is unsuited to me ; I 
 cannot think of a iuture, or pray in it. Brother, dearest brother, 
 carry me home, if you love me ! " 
 
 There was no resisting such an appeal. I went on deck with a 
 heavy heart, and gave the necessary orders to the pilot; and, in 
 about eight-and-forty hours after we emerged into the Hudson, 
 we left that noble stream again, to shoot beneath the shaded, leafy 
 banks of our own inlet. Grace was so feeble as to be carried to the 
 chaise, in which she was supported by Lucy during the short drive 
 to the house. When I reached my own dwelling, I found Mr. Har- 
 dinge pacing the little portico, or piazza, waiting for my arrival, 
 with an uneasiness of manner that at once proclaimed his anxiety 
 to see me. He had driven the horse of the chaise, and had imbibed 
 a first impression of Grace's danger. 
 
 "Miles, my dear boy my second son" the simple-hearted, 
 excellent old man commenced ; " Miles, my dear boy, the hand of 
 God has been laid heavily on us your beloved sister, my own 
 precious Grace, is far more ill than I had any idea of, before this 
 morning." 
 
 " She is in the hands of her merciful Creator," I said, struggling 
 to command myself, " who, I greatly fear, is about to call her from 
 a world that is not good enough for one so innocent and pure, to 
 take her to himself. I have foreseen this from the hour I first met 
 her, after my return ; though a single ray of hope dawned on me, 
 when Post advised the change of scene. So far from producing 
 good, this excursion has produced evil ; and she is much worse 
 than when we left home." 
 
 " Such short-sighted mortals are we! But what can we do, my 
 boy ! I confess my judgment, my faculties themselves, are nearly 
 annihilated by the suddenness of this shock. I had supposed her 
 illness some trifling complaint that youth and care would certainly 
 remove $ and here we stand, as it might be, at the call of the trum- 
 pest's blast, almost around her grave ! " 
 
 " I am most anxious to lean on your wisdom and experience, my
 
 58 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 dear sir, at this critical moment; if you will advise, I shall be happy 
 to follow your instructions." 
 
 " We must lean on God, Miles," answered my worthy guardian, 
 still pacing the piazza, the tears running down his cheeks in streams, 
 and speaking so huskily as barely to be intelligible; " yes, we will 
 have the prayers of the congregation next Sunday morning ; and 
 most devout and heartfelt prayers they will be ; for her own sainted 
 mother was not more deservedly loved ! To be called away so 
 young to die in the first bloom of youth and loveliness, as it were 
 but it is to go to her God ! We must endeavour to think of her 
 gain to rejoice over, rather than mourn her loss." 
 
 " I grieve to perceive that you regard my sister's case as so en- 
 tirely hopeless, sir." 
 
 " Hopeless! It is full of the brightest promise; and when I 
 come to look calmly at it, my reason tells me I ought not to grieve. 
 Still, Miles, the loss of Lucy, herself, would scarce be a more severe 
 blow to me. I have loved her from childhood, cared for her as for 
 one of my own, and feel the same love for her that I should feel for 
 a second daughter. Your parents were dear to me, and their chil- 
 dren have always appeared to me to belong to my own blood. Had 
 I not been your guardian, boy, and you and Grace been compara- 
 tively so rich, while I and mine were so poor, it would have been the 
 first wish of my heart to have seen Rupert and Grace, you and Lucy, 
 united, which would have made you all my beloved children alike. 
 I often thought of this, until I found it necessary to repress the 
 hope, lest I should prove unfaithful to my trust. Now, indeed, 
 Mrs. Bradfort's bequest might have smoothed over every diffi- 
 culty ; but it came too late I It was not to be ; Providence had or- 
 dered otherwise." 
 
 " You had an ardent supporter of your scheme in one of your 
 children, at least, sir." 
 
 " So you have given me to understand, Miles, and I regret that I 
 was informed of the fact so late, or I might have contrived to keep 
 off other young men while you were at sea, or until an opportunity 
 offered to enable you to secure my daughter's affections. That 
 done, neither time nor distance could have displaced you; the 
 needle not being more true than Lucy, or the laws of nature more 
 certain." 
 
 " The knowledge of these sterling qualities, sir, only makes me 
 regret my having come too late, so much the more." 
 
 " It was not to be ; at one time, I did think Rupert and Grace 
 had a preference for each other ; but I must have been deceived. 
 God had Ordered it otherwise, and wisely no doubt ; as his omni- 
 science foresaw the early drooping of this lovely flower. I suppose 
 their having been educated together, so much like brother and 
 sister, has been the reason there was so much indifference to each 
 other's merits, You have been an exception on account of your
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 59 
 
 long absences, Miles, and you must look to those absences for the 
 consolation and relief you will doubtless require. Alas ! alas! that 
 I could not now fold Grace to my heart, as a daughter and a bride, 
 instead of standing over her grave! Nothing but Rupert's diffi- 
 dence of his own claims, during our days of poverty, could have 
 prevented him from submitting himself to so much loveliness and 
 virtue. I acquit the lad of insensibility, for nothing but the sense 
 of poverty, and the pride of a poor gentleman, added perhaps to the 
 brotherly regard he has always felt for Grace, could have kept him 
 from seeking her hand. Grace, properly enough, would have re- 
 quited his affection." 
 
 Such is a specimen of the delusion under which we live, daily. 
 Here was my sister dying of blighted affections, under my own 
 roof 5 and the upright, conscientious father of the wretch who had 
 produced this withering evil, utterly unconscious of the wrong that 
 had been done ; still regarding his son with the partiality and in- 
 dulgence of a fond parent. To me it seemed incredible at the 
 time, that unsuspecting integrity could carry its simplicity so far; 
 but I have since lived long enough to know that mistakes like these 
 are constantly occurring around us; effects being hourly attributed 
 to causes with which they have no connexion ; and causes being 
 followed down to effects that are as imaginary as human sagacity 
 is faulty. As for myself, I can safely say, that in scarce a circum- 
 stance of my life, that has brought me the least under the cognizance 
 of the public, have I ever been judged justly. In various instances 
 have I been praised for acts that were either totally without any 
 merit, or, at least, the particular merit imputed to them ; while I 
 have been even persecuted for deeds that deserved praise. An 
 instance or two of the latter of these cases of the false judgment of 
 the world will be laid before the reader as I proceed. 
 
 Mr. Hardinge continued for some time to expatiate on the love- 
 liness of Grace's character, and to betray the weight of the blow he 
 had received, in gaining this sudden knowledge of her danger. He 
 seemed to pass all at once from a state of inconsiderate security to 
 one of total hopelessness, and found the shock so much harder to 
 endure. At length he sent for Lucy, with whom he continued 
 closeted for near an hour. I ascertained, afterwards, that he ques- 
 tioned the dear girl closely on the subject of my sister's malady ; 
 even desiring to know if her affections were any way connected 
 with this extraordinary sinking of the vital powers 5 but not in the 
 slightest degree inclining to the distrust of Rupert's being in any 
 manner implicated in the affair. Lucy, truthful and frank as she 
 was, felt the uselessness, nay, the danger, of enlightening her 
 father, and managed to evade all his more delicate inquiries without 
 involving herself in falsehoods. She well knew, if he were ap- 
 prised of the real state of the case, that Rupert would have been sent 
 for; and every reparation it was in his power to make would have
 
 60 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 been insisted on, as an act of justice ; a hopeless and distressing 
 attempt to restore the confidence of unbounded love, and the esteem 
 which, once lost, is gone for ever. Perhaps the keenest of all 
 Grace's sufferings proceeded from the consciousness of the total 
 want of merit in the man she had so effectually enshrined in her 
 heart, that he could only be ejected by breaking in pieces and 
 utterly destroying the tenement that had so long contained him. 
 With ordinary notions, this change of opinion might have sufficed 
 for the purposes of an effectual cure; but my poor sister was differ- 
 ently constituted. She had ever been different from most of her 
 sex in intensity of feeling, and had come near dying, while still a 
 child, on the occasion of the direful catastrophe of my father's loss ; 
 and the decease of even our mother, though long expected, had 
 come near to extinguish the flame of life in the daughter. As I have 
 already said more than once, a being so sensitive and so pure ever 
 seemed better fitted for the regions of bliss than for the collisions 
 and sorrows of the world. 
 
 Now we were at Clawbonny again, I scarce knew how to employ 
 myself. Grace I could not see ; Lucy, who took the entire manage- 
 ment of the invalid, requiring for her rest and quiet. In this she 
 did but follow the directions of reason, as well as those left by Post 5 
 and I was fain to yield, knowing that my sister could not possibly 
 have a more judicious or a more tender nurse. 
 
 The different persons belonging to the mill and the farm came to 
 me for directions, which I was compelled to give with thoughts 
 engrossed with the state of my sister. More than once I endea- 
 voured to arouse myself; and, for a few minutes, seemed to enter, if 
 I did not truly enter, wiih interest into the affairs presented to my 
 consideration; but these little rallies were merely so many attempts 
 at self-delusion, and I finally referred every thing to the respective 
 persons entrusted with the different branches of the duty, bidding 
 them act as they had been accustomed to do in my absence. 
 
 44 Why, yes, Masser Mile," answered the old negro, who was the 
 head man in the field, "dis berry well, if he can do it. Remember 
 I alway hab Masser Hardinge to talk to me about 'e crop, and sich 
 t'ing, and dat a won'erful help to a poor nigger when he in a 
 nonplush." 
 
 " Surely, Hiram, you are a better husbandman than Mr. Hardinge 
 and myself put together, and cannot want the advice of either to tell 
 you how to raise corn, or to get in hay ! " 
 
 "Dat berry true, sah so true, I wont deny him. But, you know 
 how it be, Masser Mile ; a nigger do lub to talk, and it help along 
 work woh'erfully, to get a good dispute afore he begin." 
 
 As respects the blacks, this was strictly true. Though as 
 respectful as slavery and habit could make thenr, they were so 
 opinionated and dogmatical, each in his or her sphere, that nothing 
 short of a downright assertion of authority could produce submission
 
 LUCY HARDINGK. 61 
 
 to any notions but their own. They loved to argue the different 
 points connected with their several duties, but they did not like to 
 be convinced. Mr. Hardinge would discuss with them, from a 
 sense of duty, and he would invariably yield, unless in cases that 
 involved moral principles. On all such points and they were not of 
 unfrequent occurrence in a family of so many blacks he was as 
 inflexible as the laws of the Medes and Persians ; but, as respected 
 the wheat, the potatoes, the orchards, the mill, or the sloop, he 
 usually submitted to the experience of those more familiar with the 
 business, after having discussed the matters in council. This 
 rendered him exceedingly popular at Clawbonny, the persuaded 
 usually having the same sort of success in the world as a good 
 listener. As for the rector himself, after so many long discussions, 
 he began to think he had actually influenced the different steps 
 adopted ; the cause of one of the illusions I have already pour- 
 tray ed. 
 
 Old Hiram did not quit me when he came for instructions, alias a 
 " dispute," without a word of inquiry touching Grace. I could see 
 that the alarm had passed among the slaves, and it was quite touch- 
 ing to note the effect it produced on their simple minds. It would 
 have been sufficient for them to love her, that Grace was their young 
 mistress ; but such a mistress as she had ever been, and one so 
 winning in manner and person, they might be said almost to worship 
 her. 
 
 " I berry sorry to hear Miss Grace be onwell, sah," said old 
 Hiram, looking at me sorrowfully. "It go hard wid us all, if 
 anyt'ing happen dere ! I alway s'pose, Masser Mile, dat Miss Grace 
 and Masser Rupert come together, some time, as we all expects you 
 and Miss Lucy will. Dem are happy days, sah, at Clawbonny, for 
 den we all know our new masser and new missus from de cradle. 
 No, no we can nebber spare Miss Grace, sah ; even I should miss 
 her in 'e field!" 
 
 The very blacks had observed the state of things which had de- 
 luded my poor sister ; and the slave had penetrated his master's 
 secret. I turned away abruptly from the negro, lest he should also 
 detect the evidence of the weakness extorted by his speech from 
 the eyes of manhood. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 i 
 
 Like the lily 
 
 That once was mistress of the field, and flourished, 
 
 I'll hang my head, and perish. Queen Catherine. 
 
 I saw litle of Lucy that night. She met us at evening prayers, 
 and tears were in her eyes as she arose from her knees. Without 
 speaking, she kissed her father for good night, more affectionately
 
 62 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 than ever, I thought, and then turned to me. Her hand was ex- 
 tended (we had seldom met or parted for eighteen years without 
 observing this little act of kindness), but she did not nay, could 
 not, speak. I pressed the little hand fervently in my own, and re- 
 linquished it again, in the same eloquent silence. She was seen 
 no more by us until next day. 
 
 The breakfast had ever been a happy meal at Clawbonny. My 
 father, though merely a shipmaster, was one of the better class 5 
 and he had imbibed many notions, in the course of his different 
 voyages, that placed him much in advance of the ordinary habits 
 of his day and country. Then an American shipmaster is usually 
 superior to those of other countries. This arises from some of the 
 peculiarities of our institutions, as well as from the circumstance 
 that the navy is so small. Among other improvements, my father 
 had brflken in upon the venerable American custom of swallowing 
 a meal as soon as out of bed. The breakfast of Clawbonny, from 
 my earliest infancy, or as long as I can remember, had been eaten 
 regularly at nine o'clock, a happy medium between the laziness of 
 dissipation and the hurry of ill-formed habits. At that hour the 
 whole family used to meet, still fresh from a night's repose, and yet 
 enlivened and gay by an hour or two of exercise in the open air, 
 instead of coming to the family board half asleep, with a sort of 
 drowsy sulkiness, as if the meal were a duty, and not a pleasure. 
 We ate as leisurely as keen appetites would permit; laughed, 
 chatted, related the events of the morning, conversed of our plans 
 for the day, and indulged our several tastes and humours, like 
 people who had been up and stirring, and not like so many drowsy 
 drones swallowing our food for form's sake. The American break- 
 fast has been celebrated by several modern writers, and it deserves 
 to be, though certainly not to be compared to that of France. Still 
 it might be far better than it is, did the people understand the mood 
 in which it ought to be enjoyed. 
 
 While on this subject, the reader will excuse an old man's pro- 
 lixity, if I say a word on the state of the science of the table in ge- 
 neral, as it is put in practice in the great republic. An American 
 writer, one Mr. Cooper, has somewhere said that the Americans 
 are the grossest feeders in the civilised world, and warns his 
 countrymen to remember that a national character may be formed 
 in the kitchen. This remark is commented on by Captain Mar- 
 ryatt, who calls it both unjust and ill-natured. As for the ill-nature 
 I shall say nothing, unless it be to remark that I do not well see 
 how that which is undeniably true ought to be thought so very 
 ill-natured. That it is true, every American who has seen much 
 of other lands must know. Captain Marryatt's allegation, that the 
 tables are good in the large towns, has nothing to do with the me- 
 rits of this question. The larger American towns are among the 
 best eating and drinking portions of the world. But what are they
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 63 
 
 as compared to the whole country? What are the public tables, 
 or the tables of the refined, as compared to the tables of the mass, 
 even in these very towns ! All things are to be judged of by the rules, 
 and not by the exceptions. Because a small portion of the Ame- 
 rican population understand what good cookery is, it by no means 
 follows that all do. Who would think of saying that the people of 
 England live on white bait and venison, because the nobility and 
 gentry (the aldermen inclusive) can enjoy both, in the seasons, 
 ad libitum ? I suspect this Mr. Cooper knows quite as well what 
 he his about, when writing of America, as any European. If pork 
 fried in grease, and grease pervading half the other dishes, vege- 
 tables cooked without any art, and meats done to rags, make a 
 good table, then is this Mr. Cooper wrong, and Captain Marryatt 
 right, and vice versa. As yet, while nature has done so much in 
 America, art has done but little. Much compared with numbers 
 and time, certainly, but little as compared with what numbers and 
 time have done elsewhere. Nevertheless, I would make an excep- 
 tion in favour of America, as respects the table of one country, 
 though not so much] in connexion with the coarseness of the 
 feeding as in the poverty of the food. I consider the higher parts 
 of Germany to be the portions of the Christian world where eating 
 and drinking are in the most primitive condition ; and that part of 
 this great republic, which Mr. Alison would probably call the State 
 of New England, to come next. In abundance and excellence of 
 food in the native form, America is particularly favoured 5 Balti- 
 more being at the very nucleus of all that is exquisite in the great 
 business of mastication. Nevertheless, the substitution of cooks 
 from the interior of New England fort the present glistening tenants 
 of her kitchens would turn even that paradise of the epicure into a 
 sort of oleaginous waste. Enough of cookery. 
 
 Lucy did not appear at prayers next morning ! I felt her absence 
 as one feels the certainty of some dreadful evil. Breakfast was an- 
 nounced 5 still Lucy did not appear. The table was smoking and 
 hissing^ and Romeo Clawbonny, who acted as the every-day 
 house-servant, or footman, had several times intimated that it might 
 be well to commence operations, as a cold breakfast was very cold 
 comfort. 
 
 " Miles, my dear boy," observed Mr. Hardinge, after opening 
 the door to look for the absentee half a dozen times, " we will wait 
 no longer. My daughter, no doubt, intends to breakfast with 
 Grace, to keep the poor dear girl company $ for it is dull work to 
 breakfast by one's self. You and I miss Lucy sadly, at this very 
 moment, though we have each other's company to console us. 
 
 We had just taken our seats , when the door slowly opened, and 
 Lucy entered the room. 
 
 " Good morning, dearest father," said the sweet girl, passing an 
 arm round Mr. Hardinge's neck, with more than her usual ten-
 
 84 LUCY RARBINGG. 
 
 derness of manner, and imprinting a long kiss on his bald head. 
 " Good morning, Miles," stretching towards me a hand, but avert- 
 ing her face, as if afraid it might reveal too much, when exposed 
 fully to my anxious and inquiring gaze. " Grace passed a pretty 
 quiet night, and is, I think, a little less disturbed this morning than 
 she was yesterday." 
 
 Neither of us answered or questioned the dear nurse. What a 
 breakfast was that, compared to so many hundreds in which I had 
 shared at that very table, and in that same room ! Three of the 
 accustomed faces were there, it is true ; all the appliances were 
 familiar, some dating as far back as the time of the first Miles ; 
 Romeo, now a grey-headed and wrinkled negro, was in his usual 
 place 5 but Chloe, who was accustomed to pass often between her 
 young mistress and a certain closet, at that meal, which never 
 seemed to have all we wanted arranged on the table at first, was 
 absent, as was that precious " young mistress" herself. " Gra- 
 cious Providence!" I mentally ejaculated, " is it thy will it should 
 ever be thus ? Am I never again to see those dove-like eyes turned 
 on me in sisterly affection from the head of my table, as I have so 
 often seen them, on hundreds and hundreds of occasions? " Lucy's 
 spirits had sometimes caused her to laugh merrily, and her musical 
 voice once used to mingle with Rupert's and my own more manly 
 and deeper notes, in something like audible mirth ; not that Lucy 
 was ever boisterous or loud ; but, in early girlhood, she had been 
 gay and animated, to a degree that often blended with the noisier 
 clamour of us boys. With Grace, this had never happened. She 
 seldom spoke, except in moments when the rest were still , and her 
 laugh was rarely audible, though so often heartfelt and joyous. It 
 may seem strange to those who have never suffered the pang of 
 feeling that such a customary circle was broken up for ever ; but, 
 that morning, the first in which I keenly felt that my sister was lost 
 to me, I actually missed her graceful, eloquent silence ! 
 
 "Miles," said Lucy, as she rose from the table, tears trembling 
 on her eyelids as she spoke, "half an hour hence come to the family 
 room. Grace wishes to see you there this morning, and I have not 
 been able to deny her request. She is weak, but thinks the visit 
 will do her good. Do not fail to be punctual, as waiting might dis- 
 tress her. Good morning, dearest papa ; when I want you, I will 
 send for you." 
 
 Lucy left us with these ominous notices, and I felt the necessity 
 of going on the lawn for air. I walked my half hour out, and 
 returned to the house in time to be punctual to the appointment. 
 Chloe met me at the door, and led the way in silence towards the 
 family room. Her hand was no sooner laid on the latch than Lucy 
 appeared, beckoning me to enter. I found Grace reclining on that 
 small settee, or causeuse, on which we had held our first interview, 
 looking pallid and uneasy, but still looking lovely and as ethereal
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 65 
 
 as ever. She held out a hand affectionately, and then I saw her 
 glance towards Lucy, as if asking to be left with me alone. As for 
 myself, I could not speak. Taking my old place, I drew my sister's 
 head on my bosom, and sat holding it in silence for many painful 
 minutes. In that position I could conceal the tears which forced 
 themselves from my eyes, it exceeding all my powers to repress 
 these evidences of human grief. As I took my place, the figure of 
 Lucy disappeared, and the door closed. 
 
 1 never knew how long a time Grace and I continued in that ten- 
 der attitude. I was not in a state of mind to note such a fact, and 
 have since striven hard to forget most that occurred in that solemn 
 interview. After a lapse of so many years, however, I find memory 
 painfully accurate on all the leading circumstances, though it was 
 impossible to recall a point of which I took no heed at the moment. 
 Such things only as made an impression is it in my power to 
 relate. 
 
 When Grace gently, and I might add faintly, raised herself from 
 my bosom, she turned on me eyes that were filled with a kind 
 anxiety on my account rather than on her own. 
 
 " Brother," she said, earnestly, " the will of God must be sub- 
 mitted to I am very, very ill broken in pieces I grow weaker 
 every hour. It is not right to conceal such a truth from ourselves, 
 or from each other." 
 
 I made no reply, although she evidently paused to give me an op- 
 portunity to speak. I could not have uttered a syllable to have 
 saved my life. The pause was impressive, rather than long. 
 
 " I have sent for you, dearest Miles," my sister continued, " not 
 that I think it probable I shall be called away soon or suddenly 
 God will spare me for a little while, I humbly trust, in order to 
 temper the blow to those I love 5 but he is about to call me to him, 
 and We must all be prepared for it 5 you, and dear, dear Lucy, and 
 my beloved guardian, as well as myself. I have not sent for you 
 even to tell you this ; for Lucy gives me reason to believe you expect 
 the separation ; but I wish to speak to you on a subject that is very 
 near my heart, while I have strength and fortitude to speak on it at 
 all. Promise me, dearest, to be calm, and to listen patiently." 
 
 " Your slightest wish will be a law to me, beloved, most precious 
 sister $ I shall listen as if we were in our days of childish confidence 
 and happiness though I fear those days are never to return ! " 
 
 " Feel not thus, Miles, my noble-hearted, manly brother. Hea- 
 ven will not desert you, unless you desert your God ; it does not 
 desert me, but angels beckon me to its bliss ! Were it not for you 
 and Lucy, and my dear, dear guardian, the hour of my departure 
 would be a moment of pure felicity. But we will not talk of this 
 now. You must prepare yourself, Miles, to hear me patiently, and 
 to be indulgent to my last wishes, even should they seem unrea- 
 sonable to your mind at first." 
 
 5
 
 66 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 " I have told you, Grace, that a request of your's will be a law to. 
 me ; have no hesitation, therefore, in letting me know any, or all 
 your wishes." 
 
 "Let us, then, speak of worldly things, for the last time, I trust, 
 my brother. Sincerely do I hope that this will be the last occasion 
 on which I shall ever be called to allude to them. This duty dis- 
 charged, all that will remain to me on earth will be the love I bear 
 my friends. This Heaven itself will excuse, as I shall strive not to 
 let it lessen that I bear my God." 
 
 Grace paused, and I sat wondering what was to follow, though 
 touched to the heart by her beautiful resignation to a fate that to 
 most so young would seem hard to be borne. 
 
 "Miles, my brother," she continued, looking at me anxiously, 
 "we have not spoken much of your success in your last voyage, 
 though I have understood that you have materially increased your 
 means." 
 
 "It has quite equalled my expectations; and, rich in my ship 
 and ready money, I am content, to say nothing of Clawbonny. Do 
 what you will with your own, therefore, my sister ; not a wish of 
 mine shall ever grudge a dollar ; I would rather not be enriched by 
 your loss. Make your bequests freely, and I shall look on each 
 and all of them as so many memorials of your affectionate and many 
 virtues." 
 
 Grace's cheeks flushed, and I could see that she was extremely 
 gratified, though still tremblingly anxious. 
 
 " You doubtless remember that by our father's will, Miles, my 
 property becomes your's, if I die without children before I reach 
 the age of twenty-one ; while your's would have been mine under 
 the same circumstances. As I am barely twenty, it is out of my 
 power to make a legal will." 
 
 " It is in your power to make one that shall be equally binding, 
 Grace. I will go this instant for pen, ink, and paper ; and, as you 
 dictate, will I write a will that shall be even more binding than one 
 that might come within the rules of the law." 
 
 " Nay, brother, that is unnecessary ; all I wish I have already 
 said in a letter addressed to yourself; and which, should you now 
 approve of it, will be found among my papers as a memorandum. 
 But there should be no misapprehension between you and me, 
 dearest Miles ; I do not wish you even fully to consent to my wishes 
 now ; take time to consider, and let your judgment have as much 
 influence on your decision as your own excellent heart." 
 
 " I am as ready to decide at this moment as I shall be a year 
 hence. It is enough for me that you wish the thing done, to have 
 it done, sister." 
 
 " Bless you bless you brother," said Grace, affectionately 
 pressing my hand to her heart, " not so much that you consent to 
 do as I wish, as for the spirit and manner in which you comply.
 
 LUCY HAUDINGE. 67 
 
 Still, as I ask no trifle, it is proper that I release you from all 
 pledges here given, and allow you time for reflection. Then, it is 
 also proper you should know the full extent of what you promise." 
 
 " It is enough for me that it will be in my power to perform what 
 you desire ; further than that I make no stipulation." 
 
 I could see that Grace was profoundly struck with this proof of 
 my attachment ; but her own sense of right was too just and active 
 to suffer the matter to rest there. 
 
 " I must explain further," she added. " Mr. Hardinge has been 
 a most faithful steward ; and, by means of economy, during my long 
 minority, the little cost that has attended my manner of living, and 
 some fortunate investments that have been made of interest-money, 
 1 find myself a good deal richer than I had supposed. In relinquish- 
 ing my property, Miles, you will relinquish rather more than two- 
 and-twenty thousand dollars, or quite twelve hundred a year. There 
 ought to be no misapprehensions on this subject between us, least of 
 all at such a moment." 
 
 " I wish it were more, my sister, since it gives you pleasure to 
 bestow it. If it will render you any happier to perfect any of your 
 plans, take ten thousand of my own, and add to the sum which is 
 now yours. I would increase rather than lessen your means of 
 doing good." 
 
 "Miles Miles," said Grace, dreadfully agitated, "talk not thus 
 it almost shakes my purpose! But, no; listen now to my 
 wishes, for I feel this will be the last time I shall ever dare to 
 speak on the subject. In the first place, I wish you to purchase 
 some appropriate ornament, of the value of five hundred dollars, 
 and present it to Lucy, as a memorial of her friend. Give also one 
 thousand dollars in money to Mr. Hardinge, to be distributed in 
 charity. A letter to him on the subject, and one to Lucy, will also 
 be found among my papers. There will still remain enough to 
 make suitable presents to the slaves, and leave the sum of twenty 
 thousand dollars entire and untouched." 
 
 ' ' And what shall I do with these twenty thousand dollars, sister ? " 
 I asked, Grace hesitating to proceed. 
 
 "That sum, dearest Miles, I wish to go to Rupert. You know 
 that he is totally without fortune, with the habits of a man of estate. 
 The little I can leave him will not make him rich, but it may be the 
 means of making him happy and respectable. I trust Lucy will 
 add to it, when she comes of age, and the future will be happier for 
 them all than the past." 
 
 My sister spoke quick, and was compelled to pause for breath. 
 As for myself, the reader can better imagine than I can describe my 
 sensations, which were of a character almost to overwhelm me. 
 The circumstance that I felt precluded from making any serious 
 objections, added to the intensity of my suffering, left me in a state 
 of grief, regret, indignation, wonder, pity, and tenderness, that it
 
 68 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 is wholly out of my power to delineate. Here, then, was the ten- 
 derness of the woman enduring to the last ; caring for the heartless 
 wretch who had destroyed the very springs of life in her physical 
 being, while it crushed the moral like a worm beneath the foot ; yet 
 bequeathing, with her dying breath, as it might be, all the worldly 
 goods in her possession, to administer to his selfishness and vanity ! 
 
 " I know you must think this strange, brother," resumed Grace, 
 who doubtless saw how utterly unable I was to reply ; " but 1 shall 
 not die in peace with myself without it. Unless he possess some 
 marked assurance of my forgiveness, my death will render Rupert 
 miserable ; with such a marked assurance, he will be confident of 
 possessing my pardon and my prayers. Then, both he and Emily 
 are pennyless, I fear, and their lives may be rendered blanks for 
 the want of the little money it is in my power to bestow. At the 
 proper time, Lucy, I feel confident, will add her part , and you, who 
 remain behind me, can all look on my grave, and bless its humble 
 tenant ! " 
 
 " Angel !" I murmured " this is too much ! Can you suppose 
 Rupert will accept this money ? " 
 
 111 as I thought of Rupert Hardinge, I could not bring my mind to 
 believe he was so base as to receive money coming from such a 
 source, and with such a motive. Grace, however, viewed the 
 matter differently ,- not that she attached any thing discreditable to 
 Rupert's compliance ; for her own womanly tenderness, long and 
 deeply-rooted attachment, made it appear to her eyes more as an 
 act of compliance with her own last behest, than as the act of de- 
 grading meanness it would unquestionably appear to be to all the 
 rest of the world. 
 
 "How can he refuse this to me, coming to him, as the request 
 will, from my grave?" rejoined the lovely enthusiast. " He will 
 owe it to me he will owe it to our former affection, for he once loved 
 me, Miles; nay, he loved me even more than you ever did or could, 
 dearest, much as I know you love me." 
 
 " By Heavens ! Grace," I exclaimed, unable to control myself any 
 longer, " that is a fearful mistake. Rupert Hardinge is incapable 
 of loving any thing but himself 5 he has never been worthy of oc- 
 cupying the most idle moment of a heart true and faithful as 
 yours." 
 
 These words escaped me under an impulse I found entirely im- 
 possible to control. Scarcely were they uttered, ere I deeply re- 
 gretted the indiscretion. Grace looked at me imploringly, turned as 
 pale as death, and trembled all over, as if on the verge of dissolution. 
 I took her in my arms, I implored her pardon, I promised to com- 
 mand myself in future, and I repeated the most solemn assurances 
 of complying with her wishes to the very letter. I am not certain I 
 could have found it in my heart not to have recalled my promise, 
 but for the advantage my sister obtained over me, by means of this
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 69 
 
 act of weakness. There was something so exceedingly revolting to 
 me in the whole affair, that even Grace's holy weakness failed to 
 sanctify the act in my eyes, at least so far as Rupert was concerned. 
 I owe it to myself to add that not a selfish thought mingled with my 
 reluctance, which proceeded purely from the distaste I felt to seeing 
 Lucy's brother, and a man for whom I had once entertained a boyish 
 regard, making himself so thoroughly an object of contempt. As I 
 entertained serious doubts of even Rupert's .sinking so low, I felt 
 the necessity of speaking to my sister on the subject of such a con- 
 tingency. 
 
 " One might hesitate about accepting your money after all, 
 dearest sister," I said; "and it is proper you give me directions 
 what I am to do, in the event of Rupert's declining the gift." 
 
 " I think that is little probable, Miles," answered Grace, who 
 lived and died under a species of hallucination on the subject of her 
 early lover's real character. " Rupert may not have been able to 
 command his affections, but he cannot cease to feel a sincere friend- 
 ship for me to remember our ancient confidence and intimacy. 
 He will receive the bequest as you would take one from dear Lucy," 
 added my sister, a painful-looking smile illuminating that angelic 
 expression of countenance to which I have so often alluded, " or, as 
 that of a sister. You would not refuse such a thing to Lucy's dying 
 request, and why should Rupert to mine ? " 
 
 Poor Grace ! Little did she see the immense difference there 
 was in my relation to Lucy and that which Rupert bore to her. I 
 could not explain this difference, however ; but merely assented to 
 her wishes, renewing, for the fourth or fifth time, my pledges of 
 performing with fidelity all she asked at my hands. Grace then put 
 into my hands an unsealed letter addressed to Rupert, which she 
 desired me to read when alone, and which I was to have delivered 
 with the legacy or donation of money. 
 
 "Let me rest once more on your bosom, Miles," said Grace, 
 reclining her head in my arms, quite exhausted under the reaction 
 of the excitement she had felt while urging her request. " I feel 
 happier at this moment than I have been for a long time ; yet my 
 increasing weakness admonishes me it cannot last long. Miles, 
 darling, you must remember all our sainted mother taught you in 
 childhood, and you will not mourn over my loss. Could I leave you 
 united to one who understood and appreciated your worth, I should 
 die contented. Rut you will be left alone, poor Miles ! for a time, at 
 least, you will mourn for me." 
 
 " For ever long as life lasts, beloved Grace,"! murmured almost 
 in her ear. 
 
 Exhaustion kept my sister quiet for a quarter of an hour, though 
 I felt an occasional pressure of her hands, both of which held one 
 of mine ; and I could hear words asking blessings and consolation 
 for me, whispered, from time to time, in heartfelt petitions to Hea-
 
 ?0 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 ven. As she gained strength by repose, my sister felt the desire to 
 continue the discourse revive. I begged her not to incur the 
 risk of further fatigue 5 but she answered, smiling affectionately in 
 my face 
 
 " Rest ! There will be no permanent rest for me, until laid by 
 the side of my parents. Miles, do your thoughts ever recur to that 
 picture of the future that is so precious to the believer, and which 
 leads us to hope, if no absolutely to confide in it as a matter of 
 faith, that we may recognise each other in the next state of 
 being, and that in a communion still sweeter than any of this life, 
 since it will be a communion free from all sin, and governed by 
 holiness ? " 
 
 " We sailors give little heed to these matters, Grace; but I feel 
 that, in future, the idea you have just mentioned will be full of con- 
 solation to me." 
 
 " Remember, my best-beloved brother, it is only the blessed that 
 can enjoy such a recognition ; to the accursed it must add an addi- 
 tional weight to the burthen of their woe." 
 
 " Felix trembled ! " The thought that even this chance of again 
 meeting my sister, and of communing with her in the form in which 
 I had ever seen and loved her, might be lost, came in aid of other 
 good resolutions that the state of the family had quickened in my 
 heart. I thought, however, it might be well not to let Grace lead 
 the conversation to such subjects, after all that had just passed, 
 repose becoming necessary to her again. I therefore proposed 
 calling Lucy, in order that she might be carried to her own room. 
 I say carried , for, by a remark that fell from Chloe, I had ascer- 
 tained that this was the mode in which she had been brought to the 
 place of meeting. Grace acquiesced ; but while we waited for Chloe 
 to answer the bell, she continued to converse. 
 
 " I have not exacted of you, Miles," my sister continued, " any 
 promise to keep my bequest a secret from the world ; your own 
 sense of delicacy would do that ; but I will make it a condition that 
 you do not speak of it to either Mr. Hardinge or Lucy. They may 
 possibly raise weak objections, particularly the last, who has, and 
 ever has had, some exaggerated opinions about receiving money. 
 Even in her days of poverty, and poor as she was, you know, not- 
 withstanding our true love for each other, and close intimacy, I 
 never could induce Lucy to receive a cent. Nay, so scrupulous has 
 she been, that the little presents which friends constantly give and 
 receive, she would decline, because she had not the means of offer- 
 ing them in return." 
 
 I remembered the gold the dear girl had forced on me, when I 
 first went to sea, and could have kneeled at her feet and called her 
 "blessed." 
 . " And this did not make you love and respect Lucy the less,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE 71 
 
 my sister? But do not answer; so much conversing must distress 
 
 you." 
 
 " Not at all, Miles. I speak without suffering, nor does the little 
 talking I do enfeeble me in the least. When I appear exhausted, it 
 is from the feelings which accompany our discourse. I talk much, 
 very much, with dear Lucy, who hears me with more patience than 
 yourself, brother ! " 
 
 I knew that this remark applied to Grace's wish to dwell on the 
 unknown future, and did not receive it as a reproach in any other 
 sense. As she seemed calm, however, I was willing to indulge her 
 wish to converse with me, so long as she dwelt on subjects that did 
 not agitate her. Speaking of her hopes of heaven had a contrary 
 effect, and I made no further opposition. 
 
 " Lucy's hesitation to be under the obligations you mention did 
 not lessen her in your esteem? " I repeated. 
 
 " You know it could not, Miles. Lucy is a dear, good girl; and 
 the more intimately one knows her, the more certain is one to es- 
 teem her. I have every reason to bless and pray for Lucy 5 still, 
 I desire you not to make either her or her father acquainted with 
 my bequest." 
 
 " Rupert would hardly conceal such a thing from so near and 
 dear friends." 
 
 " Let Rupert judge of the propriety of that for himself. Kiss me, 
 brother; do not ask to see me again to-day, for I have much to ar- 
 range with Lucy ; to-morrow I shall expect a long visit. God bless 
 you, my own, dear, my only brother, and ever have you in his 
 holy keeping!" 
 
 I left the room as Chloe entered ; and, in threading the long pas- 
 sage that led to the apartment which was appropriated to my own 
 particular purposes , as an office, cabinet, or study, I met Lucy near 
 the door of the latter. I could see she had been weeping, and she fol- 
 lowed me into the room. 
 
 " What do you think of her, Miles?" the dear girl asked, uttering 
 the words in a tone so low and plaintive as to say all that she antici- 
 pated herself. 
 
 " We shall lose her, Lucy ; yes, 'tis God's pleasure to call her 
 to himself." 
 
 Had worlds depended on the effort, I could not have got out another 
 syllable. The feelings which had been so long pent up in Grace's 
 presence broke out, and I am not ashamed to say that I wept and 
 sobbed like an infant." 
 
 How kind, how woman -like, how affectionate did Lucy show 
 herself at that bitter moment. She said but little, though I think 
 I overheard her murmuring " poor Miles ! " "poor, dear Miles ! " 
 " what a blow it must be to a brother! " " God will temper this 
 loss to him!" and other similar expressions. She took one of my 
 hands and pressed it warmly between both her own ; held it there
 
 72 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 for two or three minutes ; hovered round me, as the mother keeps 
 near its slumbering infant when illness renders rest necessary; and 
 seemed more like a spirit sympathizing with my grief than a mere 
 observer of its violence. In reflecting on what then passed months 
 afterwards, it appeared to me that Lucy had entirely forgotten 
 herself, her own causes of sorrow, her own feelings as respected 
 Grace, in the single wish to solace me. But this was ever her 
 character , this was her very nature -, to live out of herself, as it 
 might be, and in the existences of those whom she esteemed or 
 loved. During this scene, Lucy lost most of the restraints which 
 womanhood and more matured habits had placed on her deport- 
 ment ; and she behaved towards me with the innocent familiarity 
 that marked our intercourse down to the time I sailed in the Crisis. 
 It is true, I was too dreadfully agitated at first to take heed of all 
 that passed ; but I well remember, that, before leaving me in 
 obedience to a summons from Grace, she laid her head affec- 
 tionately on mine, and kissed the curls with which nature had 
 so profusely covered the last. I thought, at the time, notwith- 
 standing, that the salute would have been on the forehead, or 
 cheek, three years before, or previously to her acquaintance with 
 Drewett. 
 
 I was a long time in regaining entire self-command ; but, when 
 I did, I opened my sister's letter to Rupert, agreeably to her request, 
 and perused it thrice without a pause, even to reflect. It was con- 
 ceived in these words : 
 
 "My dearest Rupert, 
 
 " God, in his infinite and inscrutable wisdom, when you read 
 this letter, will have seen fit to call me to himself. Let not this 
 seeming loss, in any manner affect you, my friend ; for 1 feel the 
 humble assurance that I shall reap the full benefit of the Saviour's 
 great sacrifice. I could not have been happy in this life, Rupert ; 
 and it is a mercy that I am taken, thus early, to a better. It grieves 
 me to part from your excellent father, from yourself, from our pre- 
 cious and rightfully beloved Lucy, and from dear, dear Miles, This 
 is the last tribute I pay to nature, and I hope it will be pardoned for 
 its character. There is a strong hope within me, that my death will 
 be sanctified to the benefit of my friends. With this view and this 
 view only, beloved Rupert, I wish you to remember it. In all other 
 respects let it be forgotten. You have found it impossible to com- 
 mand your affections, and worlds would not have tempted me to 
 become your wife without possessing all your heart. I pray daily, 
 almost hourly" tears had evidently blotted this portion of the letter 
 " for you and Emily. Live together, and make each other happy. 
 She is a sweet girl ; has enjoyed advantages that Clawbonny could 
 not bestow, and which will contribute to your gratification. In 
 order that you may sometimes think of me" poor Grace was not
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 73 
 
 aware of this contradiction in her requests'* Miles will send you 
 a legacy that I leave you. Accept it as a little fortune with Emily. 
 I wish, sincerely, it were much larger , but you will not overlook 
 the intention, and forget the insufficiency of the sum. Small as it 
 is, I trust it will enable you to marry at once, and Lucy's heart may 
 be confided in for the rest. 
 
 " Farewell, Rupert I do not say, farewell Emily 5 for I think 
 this letter, as well as its object, had better remain a secret between 
 you and me, and my brother-, but I wish your future wife all earthly 
 happiness, and an end as full of hope as that which attends the 
 death-bed of your affectionate 
 
 " GRACE WALLINGFORD." 
 
 Oh ! woman, woman, what are ye not, when duly protected and 
 left to the almost divine impulses of your generous natures ! What 
 may ye not become, when rendered mercenary and envious by too 
 close a contact with those worldly interests which are never admit- 
 ted to an ascendency without destroying all your moral beauty. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 And the beautiful, whose record 
 
 Is the verse that cannot die, 
 
 They too are gone, with their glorious bloom, 
 
 From the love of human eye. 
 
 MRS. REMANS. 
 
 I cannot dwell minutely on the events of the week that succeeded. 
 Grace sunk daily, hourly ; and the medical advice that was obtained, 
 more as a duty than with any hope of its benefiting the patient, 
 failed of assisting her. Mr. Hardinge saw the invalid often, and I 
 was admitted to her room each day, where she would lie reclining 
 on my bosom for hours at a time, seemingly fond of this innocent 
 indulgence of her affections, on the eve of her final departure. As 
 it was out of the question that my sister should again visit the fa- 
 mily room, the causeuse was brought into her chamber, where it 
 was made to perform the office to which it had been several times 
 devoted in its proper apartment since my return from sea. That 
 venerable chair still exists, and I often pass thoughtful hours in it 
 in my old age, musing on the past, and recalling the different scenes 
 and conversations of which it could tell, did it possess conscious- 
 ness and the faculty of speech. 
 
 Mr. Hardinge officiated in his own church, agreeably to his in- 
 tention, on the succeeding Sunday. Lucy remained with her friend; 
 and I make no doubt their spirits devoutly communed with ours the 
 while j for I mustered sufficient fortitude to be present at St. Mi- 
 chael's, I could observe au earnest sympathy in every member of
 
 74 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 the little congregation ; and tears fell from nearly every eye when 
 the prayer for the sick was read. Mr. Hardinge remained at the 
 rectory for the further duties of the day ; but I rode home immedi- 
 ately after morning service, too uneasy to remain absent from the 
 house longer than was necessary, at such a moment. As my horse 
 trotted slowly homeward, he overtook Neb, who was walking 
 towards Clawbonny, with an air so different from his customary 
 manner, I could not help remarking it. Neb was a muscular, active 
 black, and usually walked as if his legs were all springs ; but he 
 moved along now so heavily, that I could not but see some weight 
 upon the spirits had produced this influence on the body. The 
 change was, naturally enough, attributed to the state of affairs with 
 Chloe ; and I felt disposed to say a word to my faithful slave, who 
 had been unavoidably overlooked in the pressure of sorrow that had 
 weighed me down for the last ten days. I spoke to the poor fellow 
 as cheerfully as I could, as I came up, and endeavoured to touch on 
 such subjects as I thought might interest without troubling him. 
 
 " This is a famous windfall that has crossed Mr. Marble's track, 
 Neb," I said, pulling up, in order to go a short distance at an even 
 pace with my brother-tar. "As nice an old woman for a mother, 
 as pretty a little girl for a niece, and as snug a haven to moor in, at 
 the end of the voyage, as any old worn-out sea-dog could or ought 
 to wish." 
 
 "Yes, sir Masser Mile," Neb answered, as I fancied, in the 
 manner of one who was thinking of something different from what 
 he said ; " yes, sir, Mr. Marble a reg'lar sea-dog." 
 
 " And as such not the less entitled to have a good old mother, a 
 pretty niece, and a snug home." 
 
 "No, sir; none de wuss for bin' sea-dog, all must allow. 
 Nebberdeless, Masser Mile, I sometime wish you and I nebber hab 
 see salt water." 
 
 " That is almost as much as wishing we never looked down the 
 Hudson from the hills and banks of Clawbonny, boy ; the river itself 
 being salt not far below us. You are thinking of Chloe, and fancy- 
 ing, that, had you stayed at home, your chance of getting into her 
 good graces would have been better." 
 
 "No, Masser Mile 5 no, sir. Nobody at Clawbonny t'ink, just 
 now, of anyt'ingbut deaf." 
 
 I started in surprise. Mr. Hardinge kept every thing like exagge- 
 ration and those physical excitements, which it is so much the habit 
 of certain sects to mistake for religious impulses, even from the 
 negroes of the Clawbonny property. Neb's speech sounded more 
 like an innovation of this nature than I had ever heard among my 
 people-, and I looked hard at the fellow for an instant before I 
 answered. 
 
 " I am afraid I understand you, Neb," was my reply, after a 
 meaning pause. " It is a relief to me to find that my people retain
 
 LUCt HA.RDINGE. 75 
 
 all their affections for the children of their old master and mistress." 
 
 " We hard-hearted indeed, sir, if we don't. Ah ! Masser Mile, 
 you and I see many dreadful t'ing togeder, but we nebber see any 
 t'ing like dis ! " 
 
 Neb's dark cheek was glistening with tears as he spoke, and I 
 spurred my horse, lest, my own manhood might give way, there in 
 the road, and in* the presence of those who were fast approaching. 
 Why Neb had expressed sorrow for having ever gone to sea, I could 
 not account for in any other manner than by supposing that he 
 imagined Grace was, in some manner, a sufferer by my absence 
 from home. 
 
 When I reached the house, not a soul was visible. The men 
 had all gone to church, and were to be seen in the distance, coming 
 along the road, singly and in a melancholy manner, not a sign 
 of the customary, thoughtless merriment of a negro escaping 
 a single individual among them j but it was usual for some of the 
 black Venuses to be seen sunning themselves at that season, exhibit- 
 ing their summer finery to each other and their admirers. Not one 
 was now visible. All the front of the house, the lawn, the kitchens, 
 of which there were no less than three, and the kitchen yards ; in 
 short, every familiar haunt of the dwelling was deserted and empty. 
 This boded evil : and, throwing the bridle over a post, I walked 
 hurriedly towards the part of the building, or buildings would be a 
 better word, inhabited by Grace. 
 
 As I entered the passage which communicated with my sister's 
 own room, the departure from ordinary appearances was explained. 
 Six or seven of the negresses were kneeling near the door, and I 
 could hear the low, solemn, earnest voice of Lucy, reading some 
 of the collects and other prayers suited to the sick chamber and to 
 the wants of a parting soul. Lucy's voice was music itself, but never 
 before had it sounded so plaintively sweet. The lowest intonation 
 was distinctly audible, as if the dear, devout creature felt that the 
 Being she addressed was not to be approached in any other manner, 
 while the trembling earnestness of the tones betrayed the depth of 
 feeling with which each syllable escaped from the heart. Talk of 
 liturgies impairing the fervour of prayer ! This may be the fact 
 with those who are immersed in themselves while communing with 
 God, and cannot consent even to pray without placing their own 
 thoughts and language, however ill-digested and crude, uppermost 
 in the business of the moment. Do not such persons know that, as 
 respects united worship, their own prayers are, to all intents and pur- 
 poses, a formulary to their listeners, with the disadvantage of being 
 received without preparation or direction to the mind? nay, too 
 often substituting a critical and prurient curiosity for humble and 
 intelligent prayer? In these later times, when Christianity is re- 
 assuming the character of the quarrels of sects, and, as an old man 
 who has lived, and hopes to die, in communion with the Anglo-
 
 76 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 American church, I do not wish to exculpate my own particular 
 , branch of the Catholic body from blame ; but, in these later times, 
 when Christianity is returning to its truculency, forgetful of the 
 chiefest of virtues, Charity, I have often recalled the scene of that 
 solemn noon-tide, and asked myself the question, " if any man 
 could have heard Lucy, as I did, on that occasion, concluding 
 with the petition which Christ himself gave to his disciples as 
 a comprehensive rule, if not absolutely as a formulary, and imagine 
 the heart could not fully accompany words that had been previously 
 prescribed?" 
 
 No sooner had Lucy's solemn tones ceased than I passed through 
 the crowd of weeping and still kneeling blacks, and entered my 
 sister's room. Grace was reclining in an easy chair; her eyes 
 closed, her hands clasped together, but lying on her knees, and her 
 whole attitude and air proclaiming a momentary but total abstrac- 
 tion of the spirit. I do not think she heard my footstep at all, and 
 I stood at her side an instant, uncertain whether to let her know of 
 my presence or not. At this instant I caught the eye of Lucy, who 
 seemed intent on the wish to speak to me. Grace had three or 
 four small rooms that communicated with each other in her part of 
 the dwelling ; and into one of these, which served as a sort of bou- 
 doir, though the name was then unknown in America, I followed 
 the dear girl, whose speaking but sad look had bidden me do so. 
 
 " Is my father near at hand ?" Lucy asked, with an interest I did 
 not understand, since she must have known he intended to remain 
 at his own residence, in readiness for the afternoon service. 
 
 " He is not. You forget he has to attend to evening prayers." 
 
 " I have sent for him, Miles," taking one of my hands in both 
 her own, with the tenderness a mother would manifest to a very 
 dear child. " Dear Miles, you must summon all your fortitude." 
 
 "Is my sister worse?" I demanded, huskily; for, prepared as I 
 was for the result, I was not expecting it by any means so soon. 
 
 " I cannot call it worse, Miles, to be about to be called away to 
 God in such a frame of mind. But it is proper I should tell you all. 
 Rather less than an hour sjnce, Grace toid me that the hour was at 
 hand. She has the knowledge of her approaching end, though she 
 would not let me send for you. She said you would have ample 
 time to witness it all. For my father, however, I have sent, and he 
 must soon be here." 
 
 " Almighty Providence ! Lucy, do you really think we shall lose 
 Grace so soon?" 
 
 "As it is the will of God to take her from us, Miles, I can scarce re- 
 pine that her end should be so easy, and, in all respects, so tranquil." 
 
 So long as memory is granted to me will the picture that Lucy 
 presented at that moment remain vividly impressed on my mind. 
 She loved Grace as a most dear sister ; loved her as an affectionate, 
 generous-minded, devoted woman alono can love -, and yet so keenly
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 77 
 
 was she alive to the nature of the communication it was her duty to 
 make, that concern for me alone reigned in her saddened and 
 anxious eye. Her mind had schooled itself to bear its own grief; 
 and meek, believing, and disposed to foresee all that her profound 
 faith taught her to hope, I do believe she considered my sister a 
 subject of envy rather than of regret, though her solicitude on my 
 account was so absorbing. This generous self-denial touched my 
 feelings in more ways than one, enabling me to command myself 
 to a degree that might otherwise have been out of my power, during 
 the few succeeding hours. I felt ashamed to manifest all I endured 
 in the presence of so much meek but pious fortitude, and that exhi- 
 bited by one whose heart I so well knew to be the very seat 
 of the best human affections. The sad smile that momentarily illu- 
 minated Lucy's countenance, as she gazed anxiously in my face 
 when speaking, was full of submissive hope and Christian faith. 
 
 "God's will be done," I rather whispered than uttered aloud. 
 "Heaven is a place more suited to such a spirit than the abodes of 
 men." 
 
 Lucy pressed my hand, and appeared relieved from a load of in- 
 tense anxiety by this seeming fortitude. She bade me remain 
 where I was until she had herself apprised Grace of my return from 
 church. I could see through the open door that the negresses had 
 been directed to retire, and presently I heard the footstep of Mr. 
 Hardinge approaching the room adjoining that in which I then was, 
 and which answered the purpose of a sort of ante-chamber for those 
 who came to the sick-room from the more public side of the house. 
 I met my excellent old guardian in that apartment, and Lucy was 
 at my side at the next instant. One word from the last sufficed to 
 keep us in this room while she returned to that of Grace. 
 
 " God have mercy on us, my dear boy" the divine ejaculated, 
 as much in prayer as in grief" and I say on us, as well a on you, 
 for Grace has ever been dear to me as a child of my own. I knew 
 the blow must come, and have prayed the Lord to prepare us all 
 for it, and to sanctify it to us, old and young; but, notwithstanding, 
 death has come ' literally ' when no man knoweth. I must have 
 materials for writing, Miles, and you will choose an express for me 
 out of your people ; let the man be ready to mount in half an hour, 
 for I shall not require half that time to prepare my letter." 
 
 "Medical advice is useless, I am afraid, dear sir," I answered. 
 " We have Post's directions, and very respectable attendance from 
 our own family physician, Dr. Wurtz, who gave me to understand' 
 several days since that he saw no other means of averting the evil 
 we dread than those already adopted. Still, sir, I shall be easier, 
 if we can persuade Dr. Bard to cross the river, and have already 
 thought of sending Neb once more on that errand." 
 
 " Do so," returned Mr. Hardinge, drawing towards him a little 
 table on which Dr. Wurtz had written a few prescriptions that were
 
 78 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 used more for form, I believe, than any expectation of the good 
 they could do , and beginning to write, even while talking " Do 
 so" he added "and Neb can put this letter in the post-office on 
 the eastern bank of the river, which will be the quickest mode of 
 causing it to reach Rupert" 
 
 " Rupert ?" I exclaimed, on a key that I instantly regretted. 
 
 u Certainly ; we can do no less than send for Rupert, Miles. He 
 has ever been like a brother to Grace, and the poor fellow would 
 feel the neglect keenly, did we overlook him on an occasion like 
 this. You seem astonished at my thinking of summoning him to 
 Clawbonny." 
 
 " Rupert is at the springs, sir happy in the society of Miss 
 Merton would it not be better to leave him where he is?" 
 
 " What would you think, Miles, were Lucy on her death-bed, 
 and we should fail to let you know it ? " 
 
 I gazed so wildly at the good old man, I believe, that even his 
 simplicity could not avoid seeing the immense difference between 
 the real and the supposititious case. 
 
 "Very true, poor Miles; very true," Mr. Hardinge added, in an 
 apologetic manner; "I see the weakness of my comparison, though 
 I was beginning to hope you were already regarding Lucy, once 
 more, with the eyes of a brother. But Rupert must not be forgotten 
 neither 5 and here is my letter'already written. 
 
 " It will be too late, sir," I got out, hoarsely " my sister cannot 
 survive the day." 
 
 I perceived that Mr. Hardinge was not prepared for this ; his 
 cheek grew pale, and his hand trembled as he sealed the epistle. 
 Still he sent it, as I afterwards discovered. 
 
 "Gad's will be done! " the excellent divine murmured. " If such 
 should really be his holy will, we ought not to mourn that another 
 humble Christian spirit is called away to the presence of its great 
 Creator? Rupert can, at least, attend, to do honour to all that we 
 can honour of the saint we lose." 
 
 There was no resisting or contending with so much simplicity 
 and goodness of heart ; and, had it been in my power, a summons 
 to the room of Grace called all my thoughts to her. My sister's eyes 
 were now open. I shuddered, felt a sinking of the heart like that 
 produced by despair, as I caught their unearthly or rather their su- 
 pernatural expression. . It was not that any thing which indicated 
 death in its more shocking aspects met my look, but simply that I 
 could trace the illumination of a spirit that already felt itself on the 
 eve of a new state of being, and one that must at least separate all 
 that remained behind from any further communication with itself. 
 I am not certain that I felt no pang at the thought my sister could 
 be entirely happy without any participation on my part in her 
 bliss. We are all so selfish that it is hard to say how far even
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 79 
 
 our most innocent longings are free from the taint of this feature of 
 our nature. 
 
 But Grace, herself, could not entirely shake off the ties of kindred 
 and human love so long as her spirit continued in its earthly tene- 
 ment. So far from this, every glance she cast on one or all of us 
 denoted the fathomless tenderness of her nature, and was filled with 
 its undying affection. She was weak, frightfully so I fancied 5 for 
 death appeared to hasten in order to release her as swiftly and 
 easily as possible 5 yet did her interest in me and in Lucy sustain 
 her sufficiently to enable her to impart much that she wished to 
 say. In obedience to a sign from her, I knelt at her side, and re- 
 ceived her head on my bosom, as near as possible in that attitude in 
 which we had already passed hours since her illness. Mr. Har- 
 dinge hovered over us, like a ministering spirit, uttering, in a sup- 
 pressed and yet distinct voice, some of the sublimest of those 
 passages from Scripture that are the most replete with consola- 
 tion to the parting spirit. As for Lucy, to me she seemed to be 
 precisely in that spot where she was most wanted ; and often 
 did Grace's eyes turn towards her with gleamings of gratitude and 
 love. 
 
 " The hour is near, brother," Grace whispered, as she lay on my 
 bosom. " Remember, I die asking forgiveness as much for those 
 who may have done me wrong, as for myself. Forget nothing that 
 you have promised me ; do nothing to cause Lucy and her father 
 sorrow." 
 
 "I understand you, sister," was my low answer. " Depend on all 
 I have said all you can wish." 
 
 A gentle pressure of the hand was the token of contentment with 
 which this assurance was received. 
 
 From that moment it seemed to me that Grace was less than usual 
 attached to the things of the world. Nevertheless, her interest in 
 those she loved, and who loved her, continued to the last. 
 
 " Let all the slaves that wish to see me, enter," Grace said, rousing 
 herself to perform a trying but necessary duty. " I never can repay 
 them for all they have done for me 5 but I trust them to you, Miles, 
 with confidence." 
 
 Lucy glided from the room, and in a few minutes the long train 
 of dark faces was seen approaching the door. The grief of these un- 
 tutored beings, like their mirth, is usually loud and vociferous ; but 
 Lucy, dear, considerate, energetic Lucy energetic even in the 
 midst of a sorrow that nearly crushed her to the earth had fore- 
 seen all this, and the blacks were admitted only on the condition of 
 their preserving a command over themselves in the interview. 
 
 Grace spoke to every one of the females, taking leave of each 
 calmly and with some useful and impressive admonition, while all 
 the older men were also noticed personally. 
 
 *' Go, and rejoice that I am so soon released from the cares of this
 
 80 LUCY HARDWGE. 
 
 world," she said, when the sad ceremony was over. " Pray for 
 me, and for yourselves. My brother knows my wishes in your be- 
 half; and will see them executed. God bless you, my friends, and 
 have you in his holy keeping." 
 
 So great was the ascendency Lucy had obtained over these poor 
 simple creatures during the short time they had been under her mild 
 but consistent rule, that each and all left the room as quiet as 
 children, awe-struck by the solemnity of the scene. Still, the oldest 
 and most wrinkled of their cheeks was wet with tears, and it was 
 only by the most extraordinary efforts that they were enabled to 
 repress the customary outbreakings of sorrow. I had gone to a 
 window to conceal my own feelings after this leave-taking, when a 
 rustling in the bushes beneath it caught my ear. Looking out, 
 there lay Neb, flat on his face, his Herculean frame extended at full 
 length, his hands actually griping the earth under the mental agony 
 he endured, and yet the faithful fellow would not even utter a groan, 
 lest it might reach his young mistress's ears, and disquiet her last 
 moments. I afterwards ascertained he had taken that post in order 
 that he might learn from time to time, by means of signs from 
 Chloe, how things proceeded in the chambers above. Lucy soon re- 
 called me to my old post, Grace having expressed a wish to that 
 effect. 
 
 " It will be but an hour, and we shall all be together again," 
 Grace said, startling us all, by the clearness and distinctness of her 
 enunciation. " The near approach of death places us on a 
 height whence we can see the entire world and its vanities at a 
 single view." 
 
 I pressed the dying girl closer to my heart, a species of involun- 
 tary declaration of the difficulty I experienced in regarding her loss 
 with the religious philosophy she was inculcating. 
 
 " Mourn not for me, Miles " she continued " yet I know you 
 will mourn. But God will temper the blow, and in his mercy may 
 cause it to profit you for ever." 
 
 I did not, could not answer. I saw Grace endeavouring to get a 
 look at my countenance, as if to observe the effect of the scene. 
 By my assistance she was so placed as to obtain her wish. The 
 sight, I believe, aroused feelings that had begun to yield to the in- 
 fluence of the last great change 5 for, when my sister spoke next, it 
 was with a tenderness of accent that proved how hard it is for those 
 who are deeply affectionate to lose their instincts. 
 
 " Poor Miles! I almost wish we could go together! You have 
 been a dear, good brother to me " ( What a sweet consolation I 
 afterwards found in these words) " It grieves me to leave you so 
 nearly alone in the world. But you will have Mr. Hardinge, and 
 our Lucy " 
 
 The pause and the look that succeeded caused a slight tremor to 
 pass over my frame. Grace's eyes turned anxiously from me to the
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 81 
 
 form of the kneeling and weeping Lucy. I fancied that she was about 
 to express a wish, or some regret, in connexion with us two, that 
 even at such a moment I could not have heard without betraying 
 the concern it would give me. She did not speak, however, though 
 her look was too eloquent to be mistaken. I ascribed the forbear- 
 ance to the conviction that it would be too late, Lucy's affections 
 belonging to Andrew Drewett. At that instant I had a bitter re- 
 membrance of Neb's words of " I sometime wish, Masser Mile, you 
 and I nebber had see salt water." But that was not the moment to 
 permit such feelings to get the mastery ; and Grace, herself, felt too 
 clearly that her minutes were numbered to allow her mind to dwell 
 on the subject. 
 
 " An Almighty Providence will direct every thing for the best, 
 in this as in other things," she murmured ; though it was still some 
 little time, I thought, before her mind reverted to her own situation. 
 The welfare of two as much beloved as Lucy and myself could not 
 be a matter of indifference to one of Grace's disposition, even in the 
 hour of death. 
 
 Mr. Hardinge now knelt, and the next quarter of an hour passed 
 in prayer. When the divine rose from his knees, Grace, her coun- 
 tenance beaming with an angelic serenity, gave him he^hand, and 
 in a clear, distinct voice, she uttered a prayer for blessings, con- 
 necting her petitions with the gratitude due to him for his care of 
 us orphans. I never saw the old man so much touched before. 
 This unexpected benediction, for it had that character, coming from 
 youth to age, quite unmanned him. The old man sunk into a chair, 
 weeping uncontrollably. This aroused Lucy, who regarded the 
 grey hairs of her father with awe, as she witnessed the strength of 
 his emotions. But feelings of this nature could not long absorb 
 a man like Mr. Hardinge, who soon regained as much of the 
 appearance of composure as it was possible to maintain by such a 
 death-bed. 
 
 " Many may think me young to die," Grace observed 5 "but I 
 am weary of the world. It is my wish to submit myself to the will 
 of God ; but, blessed be his holy name, that he sees fit to call me to 
 him this day. Lucy beloved one! go into the next room, and 
 draw the curtain asunder , I shall then be enabled to gaze on the 
 fields of dear Clawbonny once more : that will be my last look at 
 the outer world." 
 
 This leave-taking of inanimate things, objects long known and 
 loved, is of frequent occurrence with the dying. It is not in our 
 natures to quit for ever this beautiful world, without casting "one 
 longing, lingering look behind." The hand of its divine Creator 
 was gloriously impressed on the rural loveliness of my native fields 
 that day, and a holy tranquillity seemed to reign over the grain, the 
 orchards, the meadows, and the wooded heights. The couch of 
 Grace was purposely placed at a point in her own chamber that 
 
 6
 
 82 LUCY HARDIHGE. 
 
 commanded a wide view of the farm, through the vista formed by 
 the door and windows of the adjoining room. Here she had often 
 sat, during her confinement to her rooms, contemplating scenes so 
 familiar and so much loved. I saw her lips quiver as she now 
 gazed on them for the last time, and was convinced some unusual 
 sentiment, connected with the past, pressed on her feelings at that 
 instant. I could see the same view myself, and perceived that her 
 eyes were rivetted on the little wood where Rupert and I had met 
 the girls on our return from sea ; a favourite place of resort, and one 
 that, I doubted not, had often been the witness of the early confi- 
 dence between Grace and her recreant lover. Death was actually 
 hovering over that sainted being at the moment ; but her woman's 
 heart was not, could not, be insensible to the impressions produced 
 by such a sight. In vain the warm light from the heavens bathed 
 the whole landscape in a flood of glory; in vain the meadows put 
 forth their flowers, the wood their variegated, bright, American 
 verdure, and the birds their innocent gaiety and brilliant plumage ; 
 the fancy of Grace was portraying scenes that had once been con- 
 nected with the engrossing sentiment of her life. I felt her 
 tremble, as she lay in my arms ; and bending my head towards her 
 in tender concern, I could just distinguish the murmuring of a 
 prayer that it was easy to understand was a petition offered up in 
 behalf of Rupert. This done, she asked, herself, to have the curtain 
 drawn again, to shut out the obtrusive thought for ever. 
 
 I have often thought, since the events of that sad day, that 
 Grace's dissolution was hastened by this accidental recurrence of 
 her mind to Rupert and his forgotten love. I call it love, though 
 I question if a being so thoroughly selfish ever truly loved any one 
 but himself; perhaps not himself, indeed, in a way to entitle the 
 feeling to so respectable an epithet. Grace certainly drooped the 
 faster from that unfortunate moment. It is true, we all expected 
 her death, thought it would occur that day even, though surprised 
 at the suddenness with which it came at last ; but we did not ex- 
 pect it within an hour. 
 
 And what an hour was that which succeeded ! Roth Mr. Hardinge 
 and Lucy passed quite half of it on their knees, engaged in silent 
 prayer; for it was thought petitions uttered aloud might disturb the 
 sick. There were minutes in which the stillness of the tomb already 
 reigned among us. I am not enough of a physician to say whether 
 the change that now came over my sister's mind was the conse- 
 quence of any shock received in that long, intense look at the 
 wood, or whether it proceeded from the sinking of the system, and 
 was connected with that mysterious link which binds the immor- 
 tal part of our being so closely to the material, until the tie is 
 loosened for ever. It is certain, however, that Grace's thoughts 
 wandered ; and, while they never lost entirely their leaning to- 
 <wards faith and a bright Christian hope, they became tinctured
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 83 
 
 with something allied to childish simplicity, if not absolutely to 
 mental weakness. Nevertheless, there was a moral beauty about 
 Grace, that no failing of the faculties could ever totally eradicate. 
 
 It was fully half an hour that the breathing quiet of prayer lasted. 
 In all that time my sister scarcely stirred, her own hands being 
 clasped together, and her eyes occasionally lifted to heaven. At 
 length she seemed to revive a little, and to observe external objects. 
 In the end, she spoke. 
 
 "Lucy, dearest," she said, "what has become of Rupert? Does 
 he know 1 am dying ? If so, why does he not come and see me, for 
 the last time?" 
 
 It is scarcely necessary for me to say how much Lucy and myself 
 were startled at this question. The former buried her face in her 
 hands without making any reply ; but good Mr. Hardinge, altoge- 
 ther unconscious of any thing's being wrong, was eager to excul- 
 pate his son. 
 
 " Rupert has been sent for, my dear child," hesaid , " and, 
 though he is engrossed with love and Miss Merton, he will not fail 
 to hasten hither the instant he receives my letter." 
 
 " Miss Merton ! " repeated Grace, pressing both her hands on her 
 temples, " who is she? I do not remember anybody of that name?" 
 We now understood that the mind of the dear patient was losing 
 its. powers ; of course no efforts were made to give a truer direc- 
 tion to her thoughts. We could only listen, and weep. Presently, 
 Grace passed an arm round the neck of Lucy, and drew her towards 
 her, with a childish earnestness. 
 
 " Lucy, love," she continued, " we will persuade these foolish 
 boys from this notion of going to sea. What if Miles's father and 
 Rupert's great-grand-father were sailors ; it is no reason they should 
 be sailors too ! " 
 
 She paused, appeared to meditate, and turned towards me. Her 
 head was still inclining on my bosom, and she gazed upwards at 
 my face, as fondly as she did in that tender meeting we held just 
 after my return home, in the family room. There was sufficient 
 strength to enable her to raise her pallid but not emaciated hand 
 to my face, even while she passed it over my cheeks, once more 
 parting the curls on my temples, and playing with my hair, with 
 infantile fondness. 
 
 " Miles," the dear angel whispered, utterance beginning to fail 
 her, " do you remember what mother told us about always speak- 
 ing the truth? You are a manly boy, brother, and have too much 
 pride to say any thing but the truth ; I wish Rupert were as Frank." 
 This was the first, the last, the only intimation I had ever heard 
 from Grace, of her being conscious of any defect in Rupert's cha- 
 racter. Would to God she had seen this important deficiency ear- 
 lier ! though this is wishing a child to possess the discernment and 
 intelligence of a woman. The hand was still on my cheek, and
 
 84 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 I would not have had it removed at that bitter moment to have 
 been well assured of Lucy's love. 
 
 " See," my sister resumed, though she now spoke merely in a 
 whisper, " how brown his cheek is, though his forehead is white. 
 I doubt if mother would know him, Lucy. Is Rupert's cheek as 
 brown as this, dear?" 
 
 " Rupert has not been as much exposed of late as Miles," Lucy 
 answered huskily, Grace's arm still clinging to her neck. 
 
 The well-known voice appeared to awaken a new train of 
 thought. 
 
 "Lucy," my sister asked, " are you as fond of Miles as we both 
 used to be, when children?" 
 
 " I have always had, and shall ever retain, a deep affection for 
 Miles Wallingford," Lucy answered, steadily. 
 
 Grace now turned towards me, releasing her hold of Lucy's neck, 
 from pure inability to sustain it , and she fastened her serene blue 
 eyes on my countenance, whence they never deviated while she 
 breathed. My tears were uncontrollable, and they seemed to per- 
 plex rather than distress her. Of a sudden, we heard her voice 
 aloud, speaking gently, but with a fervour that rendered it distinct. 
 The words she uttered were full of the undying affection of a heart 
 that never turned away from me for a single instant 5 no, not even 
 in the petulance of childhood. " Almighty Father," she said, 
 " look down from thy mercy-seat on this dear brother keep him 
 for thyself; and, in thy good time, call him, through the Saviour's 
 love, to thy mansions of bliss." 
 
 These were the last words that Grace Wallingford ever spoke. 
 She lived ten minutes longer; and she died on my bosom like the 
 infant that breathes its last in the arms of its mother. Her lips 
 moved several times; once I fancied I caught the name of "Lucy," 
 though I have reason to think she prayed for us all, Rupert in- 
 cluded, down to the moment she ceased to exist. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 There have been sweet- singing voices 
 
 In your walks, that now are still ; 
 There are seats left void in your earthly homes, 
 
 Which none again may fill. 
 
 MRS. IlEMAX'S. 
 
 I never saw the body of my sister, after I handed it, resembling 
 a sleeping infant, to the arms of Lucy. There is a sort of mania in 
 some, a morbid curiosity, to gaze on the features of the dead ; but, 
 with me, it has ever been the reverse. I had been taken to the 
 family room to contemplate and weep over the faces of both my 
 parents, but this was at an age when it became me to be passive.
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 85 
 
 I was now at a time of life when I might be permitted to judge for 
 myself; and, as soon as I began to think at all on the subject, which 
 was not for some hours, however, I resolved that the last look of 
 love, the swet countenance, sinking in death it is true, but still animate 
 and beaming with the sentiments of her pure heart, should be the 
 abiding impression of my sister's form. I have cherished it ever 
 since, and often have I rejoiced that I did not permit any subse- 
 quent images of a corpse to supplant it. As respects both my 
 parents, the images left on my mind, 4br years and years, was 
 painful rather than pleasing. 
 
 Grace's body was no sooner out of my arms, I had scarcely im- 
 printed the last long kiss on the ivory-like but still warm forehead, 
 than I left the house. Clawbonny had no impertinent eyes to drive 
 a mourner to his closet, and I felt as if it were impossible to breathe 
 unless I could obtain the freedom of the open air. As I crossed 
 the little lawn, the wails from the kitchens reached me. Now that 
 the invalid could no longer be disturbed by their lamentations, 
 the unsophisticated negroes gave vent to their feelings without 
 reserve. I heard their outcries long after every other sound from 
 the house was lost on my ear. 
 
 I held my way along the road, with no other view but to escape 
 from the scene I had just quitted, and entered the very little wood 
 which might be said to have been the last object of the external 
 world that had attracted my sister's attention. Here every thing 
 reminded me of the past 5 of the days of childhood and youth 5 of 
 the manner in which the four Clawbonny children had lived toge- 
 ther, and roamed these very thickets, in confidence and love. I 
 sat in that wood an hour ; a strange unearthly hour it seemed to 
 me! I saw Grace's angel countenance imprinted on the leaves, 
 heard her low but gay laugh, as she was wont to let it be heard in 
 the hours of happiness, and the tones of her gentle voice sounded 
 in my ears almost as familiarly as in life. Rupert and Lucy were 
 there too. I saw them, heard them, and tried to enter into their 
 innocent merriment, as I had done of old ; but fearful glimpses of 
 the sad truth would interpose, in time to break the charm. 
 
 When I left that little wood, it was to seek a larger cover, and 
 fields farther removed from the house. It was dark before I thought 
 of returning ; all that time was passed in a species of mystical hal- 
 lucination, in which the mind was lost in scenes foreign to those 
 actually present. I saw Grace's sweet image everywhere ; I heard 
 her voice at every turn. Now she was the infant I was permitted 
 to drag in her little waggon, the earliest of all my impressions of 
 that beloved sister ; then, she was following me as I trundled my 
 hoop; next came her little lessons in morals, and warnings against 
 doing wrong, or some grave but gentle reproof for errors actually 
 committed ; after which, I saw her in the pride of young woman- 
 hood, lovely and fitted to beloved, the sharer of my confidence,
 
 86 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 and one capable of entering into all my plans of life. How 
 often that day did the murmuring of a brook or the humming of 
 a bee become blended in my imagination with the song, the laugh, 
 the call, or the prayers of that beloved sister whose spirit had 
 ascended to heaven, and who was no more to mingle in my con- 
 cerns or those of life! 
 
 At one time I had determined to pass the night abroad, and 
 commune with the stars, each of which I fancied, in turn, as they 
 began slowly to show themselves in the vault above, might be the 
 abiding-place of the departed spirit. If I thought so much and so 
 intensely of Grace, I thought also of Lucy. Nor was good Mr. 
 Hardinge entirely forgotten. I felt for their uneasiness, and saw 
 it was my duty to return. Neb, and two or three others of the 
 blacks, had been looking for me in all directions but that in which 
 I was 5 and I felt a melancholy pleasure as I occasionally saw these 
 simple-minded creatures meet and converse. Their gestures, their 
 earnestness, their tears, for I could see that they were often weep- 
 ing, indicated alike that they were speaking of their " young 
 mistress 5 " how they spoke, I wanted no other communications 
 to understand. 
 
 Ours had ever been a family of love. My father, manly, affec- 
 tionate, and strongly attached to my mother, was admirably suited 
 to sustain that dominion of the heart which the last had established 
 from her earliest days at Clawbonny. This power of the feel- 
 ings had insensibly extended itself to the slaves, who seldom 
 failed to manifest how keenly alive they all were to the interest 
 and happiness of their owners. Among the negroes there was but 
 one who was considered as fallen below his proper level, or who 
 was regarded as an outcast. This was an old fellow who bore 
 the name of Vulcan, and who worked as a blacksmith on the skirts 
 of the farm, having been named by my grandfather with the ex- 
 press intention of placing him at the anvil. This fellow's trade 
 caused him to pass most of his youth in an adjacent village, or 
 hamlet, where unfortunately he had acquired habits that unsuited 
 him to live as those around him were accustomed to live. He 
 became in a measure alienated from us, drinking, and otherwise 
 living a life that brought great scandal on his sable connexions, 
 who were gathered more closely around the homestead. Never- 
 theless, a death, or a return home, or any important event in the 
 family, was sure to bring even Vulcan back to his allegiance ; and, 
 for a month afterwards, he would be a reformed man. On this 
 occasion he was one of those who were out in the fields and woods 
 in quest of me, and he happened to be the very individual by 
 whom I was discovered. 
 
 The awe-struck solemn manner in which the reckless Vulcan 
 approached, were all other proof wanting, would have proclaimed 
 the weight of the blow that had fallen on Clawbonny. The eyes of
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 87 
 
 this fellow were always red ; but it was easy to see that even he 
 had been shedding tears. He knew he was no favourite ; sel- 
 dom came near me, unless it were to excuse some of his neglects 
 or faults, and lived under a sort of ban for his constantly recurring 
 misdeeds. Nevertheless, a common cause of grief now gave him 
 confidence, and Neb himself could hardly have approached me 
 with a manner of more easy but respectful familiarity. 
 
 "Ah! Masser Mile! Masser Mile!" Vulcan exclaimed, certain 
 that we felt alike on this topic, if on no other 5 " poor young mis- 
 sus! when we ebber get 'noder like she!" 
 
 "My sister is in heaven, Vulcan, where I hope all at Clawbonny, 
 blacks as well as whites, will endeavour to meet her, by living in 
 a manner that will improve the mercy of God." 
 
 " You t'ink dat posserbul, Masser Mile ! " demanded the old man, 
 fixing his dull eyes on me, with an earnest intentness that proved 
 he had not entirely lost all sensibility to his moral condition. 
 
 " All things are possible with God, Vulcan. Keeping him and 
 his commandments constantly in mind, you may slill hope to see 
 your young mistress, and to share in her happiness." 
 
 " Wonnerful ! " exclaimed the old man; "dat would be a great 
 conserlation. Ah ! Masser Mile, how often she come when a little 
 lady to my shop door, and ask to see 'e spark fly ! Miss Grace hab 
 a great taste for blacksmit'in, and a great knowledge too. I do 
 t'ink, dat next to some oder t'ing, she lub to see iron red-hot, and 
 'e horse shod ! " 
 
 " You have come to look for me, Vulcan, and I thank you for this 
 care. I shall return to the house presently ; you need give your- 
 self no further trouble. Remember, old man, that the only hope 
 that remains of either of us ever seeing Miss Grace again, isinliving 
 as Mr. Hardinge so often tells us all we ought to live." 
 
 "Wonnerful!" repeated old Vulcan, whose mind and feelings 
 were in a happy condition to receive such a lesson. "Yes, sah, 
 Masser Mile , she come to my shop to see 'e spark fly ; I shall miss 
 her like a darter." 
 
 This was a specimen of the feelings that prevailed among the 
 negroes, though the impression on most of the others was more 
 lasting than that made on the blacksmith, whom I now dismissed, 
 taking the path myself that led to the house. It was quite dark 
 when I crossed the lawn. A figure was just visible in the shadows 
 of the piazza, and I was on the point of turning in the direction of 
 a side door, in order to avoid the meeting, when Lucy advanced 
 eagerly to the edge of the steps to receive me. 
 
 " Oh! Miles dear Miles, how happy I am to see you again!" 
 the precious girl said, taking my hand with the warmth and frank- 
 ness of a sister. " My father and myself have been very uneasy 
 about you ; my father, indeed, has walked towards the rectory, 
 thinking you may have gone thither."
 
 LUCY IIARBINGE. 
 
 " I have been with you, and Grace, and your father, my good 
 Lucy, ever since we parted. I am more myself now, however, and 
 you need feel no further concern on my account. I thank you from 
 the bottom of my heart for that which you have already felt, and 
 will give you no further concern." 
 
 The manner in which Lucy now burst into tears betrayed the in- 
 tensity of the feelings that had been pent up in her bosom, and the 
 relief she found in my assurances. She did not scruple even about 
 leaning on my shoulder, so long as the paroxysm lasted. As soon 
 as able to command herself, however, she wiped her eyes, again 
 took my hand with confiding affection, looked anxiously towards 
 me as she said soothingly 
 
 " We have met with a great loss, Miles ; one that even time 
 cannot repair. Neither of us can ever find another to fill the place 
 that Grace has occupied. Our lives cannot be lived over again ; we 
 cannot return to childhood ; feel as children ; love as children ; live 
 as children 5 and grow up together, as it might be, with one heart, 
 with the same views, the same wishes, the same opinions ; I hope 
 it is not presuming on too great a resemblance to the departed angel 
 if I add, the same principles." 
 
 u No, Lucy 5 the past, for us, is gone for ever. Clawbonny will 
 never again be the Clawbonny it was." 
 
 There was a pause, during which I fancied Lucy was struggling 
 to repress some fresh burst of emotion. . 
 
 "Yet, Miles," she presently resumed, "^we could not ask to 
 have her recalled from that bliss which we have so much reason to 
 believe she is even now enjoying. In a short time Grace will be 
 to you and me a lovely and grateful image of goodness, and virtue, 
 and affection , and we shall have a saddened, perhaps, but a deep- 
 felt pleasure in remembering how much we enjoyed of her affection, 
 and how closely she was united to us both in life." 
 
 " That will be indeed a link between us two, Lucy, that I trust 
 may withstand all the changes and withering selfishness of the 
 world!" 
 
 "I hope it may, Miles," Lucy answered, in a low voice; and as 
 I fancied at the moment, with an embarrassment that I did not fail 
 to attribute to the consciousness she felt of Andrew Drewett's claims 
 on all such intimate association of feeling. " We, who have known 
 each other from children, can scarcely want causes for continuing 
 to esteem and to regard each other with affection." 
 
 Lucy now appeared to think she might trust me to myself, and 
 she led the way into the house. I did not see her again until Mr. 
 Hardinge caused the whole household to be assembled at evening 
 prayers. The meeting of the family that night was solemn and 
 mournful . For myself, I fancied that the spirit of Grace was hovering 
 around us , more than once did I fancy that I heard her sweet voice 
 mingling in the petitions, or leading the service, as was her prac-
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 89 
 
 tice on those occasions when our good guardian could not attend. 
 1 observed all the negroes looking at me with solicitude, like those 
 who recognised my right to feel the blow the deepest. It was a 
 touching evidence of respectful interest that each man bowed to 
 me reverently, and each woman courtesied, as he or she left the 
 room. As for Chloe, sobs nearly choked her-, the poor girl 
 having refused to quit the body of her mistress except for that 
 short moment. I thought Lucy would have remained witlj her 
 father and myself for a few minutes, but for the necessity of 
 removing this poor heart-stricken creature, who really felt as 
 if the death of her young mistress was a loss of part of her own 
 existence. 
 
 I have already dwelt on the circumstances attending the death of 
 Grace longer than I intended, and shall now cease to harass my 
 own feelings, or to distress those^of my readers, by unnecessarily 
 enlarging on more of the details. The next three or four days pro- 
 duced the usual calm ; and though it was literally years ere Lucy 
 or myself ceased altogether to weep for her loss, we both obtained 
 the self-command that was necessary for the discharge of our ordi- 
 nary duties. Grace, it will be remembered, died on a Sunday, 
 about the usual hour for dinner. Agreeably to the custom of the 
 country, in which there is usually a little too much of an indecent 
 haste in disposing of the dead, owing in some degree to climate, 
 however, the funeral would have taken place on Wednesday, and 
 that would have been delaying twenty-four hours longer than might 
 have been granted in most cases ; but Mr. Hardinge, who gave all 
 the directions, had named Thursday noon as the hour for the in- 
 terment. We had few relatives to expect 5 most of those who 
 would have been likely to attend, had circumstances admitted of it, 
 living in distant places that rendered it inconvenient, and indeed 
 scarcely possible. 
 
 I passed most of the intervening time in my study, reading and 
 indulging in such contemplations as naturally suggest themselves 
 to the mourner. Lucy, dear girl, had written me two or three 
 short notes, asking my wishes on various points ; among other 
 things, when I wished to pay a last visit to the body. My answer 
 to this question brought her to my room, with some little surprise 
 of manner ; for she had been so much with Grace, living and dead, 
 as to think it strange one who had loved her so well while living 
 should not desire to take a final look at the beautiful remains. I 
 explained my feelings on this head, and Lucy seemed struck with 
 them. 
 
 " I am not sure you will not have decided wisely, Miles," she 
 said " the picture being one too precious to destroy. You will 
 be gratified in knowing, however, that Grace resembles an angel 
 quite as much in death as she did in life ; all who have seen her being 
 struck with the air of peaceful tranquillity her features now present."
 
 90 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 " Bless you bless you, Lucy, this is all-sufflcient. Idid wish 
 for some such assurance, and am now content." 
 
 " Several of your family are in the house, Miles, in readiness to 
 attend the funeral ; a stranger has just arrived who seems to have 
 some such desire, too, though his face is unknown to all at the 
 place. He has asked to see you with an earnestness that my father 
 scarcely knows how to refuse." 
 
 " Let him come here, then, Lucy. I can only suppose it to be 
 some one of the many persons Grace has served ; her short life was 
 all activity in that particular." 
 
 Lucy's face did not corroborate that notion ; but she withdrew to 
 let my decision be known. In a few minutes a large hard-featured, 
 but not ill-looking man, approaching fifty, entered my room, 
 walked up to me with tears in his eyes, squeezed my hand warmly, 
 and then seated himself without ceremony. He was attired like a 
 thriving countryman, 'though his language, accent, and manner 
 denoted one superior to the ordinary run of those with whom he 
 was otherwise associated in externals. I had to look at him a 
 second time ere I could recognise Jack Wallingford, my father's 
 bachelor cousin, the western land-holder. 
 
 " I see by your look, cousin Miles, that you only half remember 
 me," my visiter remarked 5 " I deeply regret that I am obliged to 
 renew our acquaintance on so melancholy an occasion." 
 
 " There are so few of us left, Mr. Wallingford, that this kindness 
 will be doubly appreciated," I answered. " If I did not give orders 
 to have you apprised of the loss we have all sustained, it is because 
 your residence is so far from Clawbonny as to render it improbable 
 you could have received the intelligence in time to attend the 
 solemn ceremony that remains to be performed. I did intend to 
 write to you, when a little better fitted to perform such a duty." 
 
 " I thank you, cousin. The blood and name of Wallingford are 
 very near and dear to me, and Clawbonny has always seemed a sort 
 of home." 
 
 " The dear creature who now lies dead under its roof, cousin 
 John, so considered you ; and you may be pleased to know that she 
 wished me to leave you this property in my will the last time I 
 went to sea, as of the direct line, a Wallingford being the proper 
 owner of Clawbonny. In that particular, she preferred your claims 
 to her own." 
 
 " Ay, this agrees with all I ever heard of the angel," answered 
 John Wallingford, dashing a tear from his eyes, a circumstance 
 that gave one a favourable opinion of his heart. " Of course you 
 refused, and left the property to herself, who had a better right 
 to it." 
 
 " I did sir ; though she threatened to transfer it to you, the mo- 
 ment it became hers." 
 
 " A threat she would have found it difficult to execute, as I cer-
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 91 
 
 tainly would have refused to receive it. We are half savages, no 
 doubt, out west of the bridge but our lands are beginning to tell in 
 the markets, and we count already some rich men among us." 
 
 This was said with a self-satisfied manner, that my cousin was a 
 little too apt to assume when property became the subject of conver- 
 sation. I had occasion several times that day, even, to remark that 
 he attached a high value to money 5 though, at the same time, it 
 struck me that most of his notions were just and honourable. He 
 quite worked his way into my favour, however, by the respect he 
 manifested for Clawbonny, and all that belonged to it. So deep 
 was this veneration, that I began to think of the necessity of making 
 a new will, in order to bequeath him the place in the event of my 
 dying without heirs, as I now imagined must sooner or later occur. 
 As Lucy was not likely to be my wife, no one else, I fancied, ever 
 should be. I had nearer relations than Jack Wallingford, some of 
 whom were then in the house cousins-german by both father and 
 mother; but they were not of the direct line 5 and I knew that Miles 
 the First would have made this disposition of the place, could he 
 have foreseen events, and had the law allowed it. Then Grace 
 had wished such an arrangement, and I had a sad happiness in 
 executing all the known wishes of my sister. 
 
 The funeral did not occur until the day after the arrival of John 
 Wallingford, who accidentally heard of the death that had occurred 
 in the family, and came uninvited to attend the obsequies, as has 
 been mentioned. I passed most of the evening in the company of 
 this relative, with whom I became so much pleased as to request, he 
 would walk with me next day as second nearest of kin. This ar- 
 rangement, as I had reason to know in the end, gave great offence 
 to several who stood one degree nearer in blood to the deceased, 
 though not of her name. Thus are we constituted ! we will quarrel 
 over a grave even, a moment that should lay open eternity to our 
 view, with all its immense consequences and accompaniments, in 
 order to vindicate feelings and passions that can only interest us, as 
 it might be, for a day. Fortunately I knew nothing of the offence 
 that was taken at the time, nor did I see any of my kinsmen but John 
 Wallingford that evening ; his presence in my room being owing 
 altogether to a certain self-possession and an aplomb that caused 
 him to do very much as he pleased in such matters. 
 
 I rose on the following morning at a late ho'ur, and with a heavi- 
 ness at the heart that was natural to the occasion. It was a lovely 
 summer's day; but all in and around Clawbonny wore the air of a 
 Sunday. The procession was to form at ten o'clock , and, as I cast 
 my eyes from my window, I could see the negroes moving about on 
 the lawns, and in the lanes, attired in their best, but wearing no 
 holiday faces. It seemed to me to be a species of unnatural Sab- 
 bath, possessing all its solemnity, its holy stillness, its breathing 
 calm, but wanting in that solacing spirit of peace which is so apt
 
 92 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 to be imparted to the day of rest in the country, most particularly 
 at that season of the year. Several of the neighbours, who did not 
 belong to Clawbonny, were beginning to appear 5 and I felt the ne- 
 cessity of dressing in order to be in readiness for what was to 
 follow. 
 
 I had eaten alone in my little study or library from the time my 
 sister died, and had seen no one since my return to the house, the 
 servants excepted, besides my guardian, Lucy, and John Walling- 
 ford. The last had taken a light supper with me the previous 
 night 5 but he was then breakfasting with the rest of the guests in 
 the family eating-room, Mr. Hardinge dooing the honours of the 
 house. 
 
 As for myself, I found my own little table prepared with its coffee 
 and light meal, as I had ordered before retiring. It had two cups, 
 however, and a second plate had been laid in addition to my own. 
 I pointed to this arrangement, and demanded of the old white-headed 
 house servant, who was in waiting, what it meant. 
 
 " Miss Lucy, sah she say she mean to breakfast wid Masser Mile, 
 dis mornin', sah." 
 
 Even the accents of this negro were solemn and sad as he made 
 this familiar explanation, like those of a man who was conscious of 
 having reached an hour and an occasion that called for peculiar awe. 
 I bade him let Miss Lucy know that T was in the study. 
 
 " Ah, Masser Mile," added the old man, with tears in his eyes as 
 he left the room, " Miss Lucy 'e only young missus now, sah!" 
 
 In a few minutes Lucy joined me. She was in deep black of 
 course, and that may have added to the appearance of paleness ; 
 but no one could be deceived in the manner in which the dear girl 
 had mourned and wept since we parted. The subdued expression 
 of her face gave it a peculiar sweetness ; and, in spite of the absence 
 of colour, I thought, as Lucy advanced towards me, both hands ex- 
 tended, and a smile of anxious inquiry on her lips, that she had 
 never appeared more lovely. I did not hesitate about pressing 
 those hands with fervour, and of kissing the warm though colourless 
 cheek. All this passed as it might have done between an affectionate 
 brother and sister, neither of us thinking, I am persuaded, of aught 
 but the confidence and friendship of childhood. 
 
 " This is kind of you, dear Lucy," I said, as we took our seats 
 at the little table; " my cousin John Wallingford, though a good 
 man in the main, is scarcely near enough, or dear enough, to be 
 admitted at a time like this." 
 
 " I have seen him," Lucy replied the tremor in her voice show- 
 ing how hard she found it to avoid melting in tears, " and rather 
 like him. I believe he was a favourite with mamma Wallingford," 
 so Lucy was accustomed to call my mother, " and that ought to be a 
 high recommendation with us, Miles." 
 
 " I am disposed to like him, and shall endeavour to keep up
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 93 
 
 more intercourse with him than I have hitherto done. It is as we 
 begin to find ourselves alone in the world, Lucy, that we first feel 
 the necessity of counting blood and kin, and of looking around us 
 for support." 
 
 " Alone you are not, Miles, and never can be while I and my 
 dear father live. We are certainly nearer to you than any that now 
 remain among your blood relatives ! You can neither suffer nor be 
 happy without our partaking in the feelings." 
 
 This was not said without an effort; that much I could detect : 
 yet it was said firmly, and in a way that left no doubt of its entire 
 sincerity. I even wished there had been less of nature and more of 
 hesitation in the dear girl's manner while she was endeavouring to 
 assure me of the sympathy she felt in my happiness orunhappiness. 
 But the waywardness of a passion as tormenting, and yet as delightful 
 as love, seldom leaves us just or reasonable. 
 
 Lucy and I then talked of the approaching ceremony. Each of 
 us was grave and sorrowful, but neither indulged in any outward 
 signs of grief. We knew the last sad offices were to be performed, 
 and had braced ourselves to the discharge of this melancholy duty. 
 It was not customary with the females of purely New York families 
 of the class of the Hardinges to be present at the performance of 
 the funeral rites-, but Lucy told me she intended to be in the little 
 church, and to share in as much of the religious offices as were 
 performed within the building. In a population as mixed as ours 
 has become, it is not easy to say what is and what is not now a na- 
 tional or state usage on such an occasion ; but I knew this was going 
 further than was usual for one of Lucy's habits and opinions, and I 
 expressed a little surprise at her determination. 
 
 " Were it at any other funeral, I would not be present, Miles," 
 she said, the tremor of her voice sensibly increasing ; "bull cannot 
 divest myself of the idea that the spirit of Grace will be hovering 
 near; that the presence of her more than sister will be acceptable. 
 Whatever the Providence of God may have ordered for the dear de- 
 parted, I know it will be grateful to myself to join in the prayers 
 of the church besides, I am not altogether without the womanly 
 feeling of wishing to watch over the form of Grace while it remains 
 above ground. And now, Miles, brother, friend, Grace's brother, 
 or by whatever endearing term I may address you," added Lucy, 
 rising, coming to my side of the table, and taking my hand, " I 
 have one thing to say that I alone can say, for it would never sug- 
 gest itself as necessary to my dear father." 
 
 I looked earnestly at Lucy's sweet countenance, and saw it was 
 full of concern I had almost said of alarm. 
 
 "I believe I understand you, Lucy," I answered, though a sen- 
 sation at the throat nearly choked me " Rupert is here? " 
 
 "He is, Miles; I implore you to remember what would be the 
 wishes of her who is now a saint in Heaven -what her entreaties.
 
 94 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 her tears would implore of you, had not God placed a barrier be- 
 tween us." 
 
 "I understand you, Lucy" was the husky reply "I do re- 
 member all you wish, though that recollection is unnecessary. I 
 would rather not see him ; but never can I forget that he is your 
 brother!" 
 
 "You will see as little of him as possible, Miles bless you, 
 bless you, for this forbearance ! " 
 
 I felt Lucy's hasty but warm kiss on my forehead as she quitted 
 the room. It seemed to me the seal of a compact between us that 
 was far too sacred ever to allow me to dream of violating it. 
 
 I pass over the details of the funeral procession. This last was 
 ordered as is usual in the country, the friends following the body 
 in vehicles or on horseback, according to circumstances. John 
 Wallingford went with me agreeably to my own arrangement, and 
 the rest look their places in the order of consanguinity and age. I 
 did not see Rupert in the procession at all, though I saw little be- 
 sides the hearse that bore the body of my only sister. When we 
 reached the church-yard, the blacks of the family pressed forward 
 to bear the coffin into the building. Mr. Hardinge met us there, 
 and then commenced those beautiful and solemn rites which seldom 
 fail to touch the hardest heart. The rector of St. Michael's had Ihe 
 great excellence of reading all the offices of the church as if he felt 
 them 5 and, on this occasion, the deepest feelings of the heart 
 seemed to be thrown into his accents. I wondered how he could 
 get on 5 but Mr. Hardinge felt himself a servant of the altar, stand- 
 ing in his master's house, and ready to submit to his will. Under 
 such circumstances it was not a trifle that could unman him. The 
 spirit of the divine communicated itself to me. I did not shed a 
 tear during the whole of the ceremony, but felt myself sustained 
 by the thoughts and holy hopes that ceremony was adapted to in- 
 spire. I believe Lucy, who sat in a far corner of the church, was 
 sustained in a similar manner; for I heard her low sweet voice 
 mingling in the responses. Lip service! Let those who would 
 substitute their own crude impulses for the sublime rites of our 
 liturgy, making ill-digested forms the supplanter of a ritual care- 
 fully and devoutly prepared, listen to one of their own semi-conver- 
 sational addresses to the Almighty over a grave, and then hearken 
 to these venerable rites, and learn humility. Such men never ap- 
 proach sublimity, or the sacred character that should be impressed 
 on a funeral ceremony, except when they borrow a fragment here 
 and there from the very ritual they affect to condemn. In their 
 eagerness to dissent, they have been guilty of the weakness of 
 dissenting, so far as forms are concerned, from some of the loftiest, 
 most comprehensive, most consolatory, and most instructive pas- 
 sages of the inspired Book ! 
 
 It was a terrible moment when the first clod of the valley fell on
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 95 
 
 my sister's coffin. God sustained me under the shock! I neither 
 groaned nor wept. When Mr. Hardinge returned the customary 
 thanks to those who had assembled to assist me " in burying my dead 
 out of my sight," I had even sufficient fortitude to bow to the little 
 crowd, and to walk steadily away. It is true, that John Wallingford 
 very kindly took my arm to sustain me, but I was not conscious of 
 wanting any support. I heard the sobs of the blacks as they 
 crowded around the grave, which the men among them insisted 
 on filling with their own hands, as if " Miss Grace " could only 
 rest with their administration to her wants ; and I was told not one 
 of them left the spot until the place had resumed all the appearance 
 of freshness and verdure which it possessed before the spade had 
 been applied. The same roses, removed with care, were restored 
 to their former beds; and it would not have been easy for a stranger 
 to discover that a new-made grave lay by the side of those of the 
 late Captain Miles Wallingford and his much respected widow. 
 Still it was known to all in that vicinity, and many a pilgrimage 
 was made to the spot within the next fortnight, the young maidens 
 of the adjoining farmc in particular coming to visit the grave of 
 Grace Wallingford, the "Lily of Clawbonny," as she had once 
 been styled. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 I knew thai we must part no power could save 
 
 Thy quiet goodness from an early grave ; 
 
 Those eyes so dull, though kind each glance they cast, 
 
 Looking a sister's fondness to the last; 
 
 Thy lips so pale, that gently press'd my cheek ; 
 
 Thy voice alas ! thou couldst but try to speak; 
 
 AH told thy doom; I felt it at my heart; 
 
 The shaft had struck I knew that we must part. 
 
 SPRAGUE. 
 
 It is not easy to describe the sensation of loss that came over me 
 after the interment of my sister. It is then we completely feel the 
 privation with which we have met. The body is removed from out 
 of our sight; the places that knew them shall know them no more; 
 there is an end to all communion, even by the agency of sight, the 
 last of the senses to lose its hold on the departed, and a void exists 
 in the place once occupied. I felt all this very keenly, for more 
 than a month, but most keenly during the short time I remained at 
 Clawbonny. The task before me, however, will not allow me to 
 dwell on these proofs of sorrow, nor do I know that the reader could 
 derive much advantage from their exhibition. 
 
 I did not see Rupert at the funeral. That he was there I knew ; 
 but either he himself, or Lucy for him, had managed so well, as 
 not to obtrude his person on my sight. John Wallingford, who 
 well knew my external or visible relation to all the Hardinges,
 
 96 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 thinking to do me a pleasure, mentioned, as the little procession 
 returned to the house, that young Mr. Hardinge had, by dint of great 
 activity, succeeded in reaching Clawbonny in time for the funeral. 
 I fancy that Lucy, under the pretence of wishing his escort, contrived 
 to keep her brother at the rectory during the time I was abroad. 
 
 On reaching the house, I saw all my connexions, and thanked 
 them in person for this proof of their respect for the deceased. 
 This little duty performed, all but John Wallingford took their leave, 
 and I was soon left in the place alone with my bachelor cousin. 
 What a house it was ! and what a house it continued to be as long 
 as I remained at Clawbonny ! The servants moved about it stealthi- 
 ly 5 the merry laugh was no longer heard in the kitchen ; even 
 the heavy-footed seemed to tread on air, and all around me ap- 
 peared to be afraid of disturbing the slumbers of the dead. Never 
 before, nor since, have I had occasion to feel how completely a 
 negative may assume an affirmative character, and become as posi- 
 tive as if it had a real existence. I thought I could see as well as 
 feel my sister's absence from the scene in which she had once been 
 so conspicuous an actor. 
 
 As none of the Hardinges returned to dinner, the good divine 
 writing a note to say he would see me in the evening after my con- 
 nexions had withdrawn, John Wallingford and myself took that 
 meal t$te a ttte. My cousin, with the apparent motive of diverting 
 my thoughts from dwelling on the recent scene, began to converse 
 on subjects that he was right in supposing might interest me. 
 Instead of flying off to some topic so foreign to my feelings as con- 
 stantly to recall the reason, he judiciously connected the theme with 
 my loss. 
 
 " I suppose you will go to sea again as soon as your ship can be 
 got ready, cousin Miles," he commenced, after we were left with 
 the fruit and wine. "These are stirring limes in commerce, and the 
 idle man misses golden opportunities." 
 
 " Gold has no longer any charm for me, cousin John," I answered 
 gloomily. " I am richer now than is necessary for my wants, and, 
 as I shall probably never marry, I see no great use in toiling for 
 more. Still, I shall go out in my own ship, and that as soon as pos- 
 sible. Here I would not pass the summer for the place, and I love 
 the sea. Yes, yes ; I must make a voyage to some part of Europe 
 without delay. It is the wisest thing I can do." 
 
 "That is hearty, and like a man! There is none of your 
 mopes about the Wallingfords , and I believe you to be of the 
 true stock. But why never marry, Miles ? Your father was a sailor 
 and he married, and a very good time I 've always understood he 
 had of it." 
 
 " My father was happy as a husband, and, did I imitate his 
 example, I should certainly rnarry too. Nevertheless, I feel I am to 
 be a bachelor."
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 97 
 
 " In that case, what will become of Clawbonny? " demanded Jack 
 Wallingford, bluntly. 
 
 I could not avoid smiling at the question, as I deemed him my 
 heir, though the law would give it to nearer relatives, who were not 
 of the name ; but it is probable that John, knowing himself to be so 
 much my senior had never thought of himself as one likely to out- 
 live me. 
 
 " I shall make a new will the instant I get to town, and leave 
 Clawbonny to you," I answered steadily, and truly, for such a 
 thought had come into my mind the instant I saw him. " You 
 are the person best entitled to inherit it, and, should you survive 
 me, yours it shall be." 
 
 "Miles,! like that," exclaimed my cousin, with a strange sin- 
 cerity, stretching out a hand to receive mine, which he pressed most 
 warmly. "You are very right; I ought to be the heir of this place 
 should you die without children even though you left a widow." 
 
 This was said so naturally, and was so much in conformity with 
 my own notions on the subject, that it did not so much offend as 
 surprise me. I knew John Wallingford loved money, and, all men 
 having a very respectful attachment to the representative of value, 
 such a character invariably means that the party named suffers that 
 attachment to carry him too far. I wished, therefore, my kinsman 
 had not made just such a speech, though it in no manner shook my 
 intentions in his favour. 
 
 " You are more ready to advise your friends to get married than 
 to set the example," I answered, willing to divert the discourse a 
 little. " You, who must be turned of fifty, are still a bachelor." 
 
 " And so shall I remain through life. There was a time I might 
 have married, had I been rich; and now I am reasonably rich, I 
 find other things to employ my affections. Still, that is no reason 
 you should not leave me Clawbonny, though it is not probable I 
 shall ever live to inherit it. Notwithstanding, it is family property, 
 and ought not to go out of the name. I was afraid, if you were lost 
 at sea, or should die of any of those outlandish fevers that sailors 
 sometimes take, the place would get into females, and there would 
 no longer be a Wallingford at Clawbonny. Miles, I do not grudge 
 you the possession of the property the least in the world ; but it 
 would make me very unhappy to know one of those Hazens, or 
 Morgans, or Van-der-Schamps had it." Jack had mentioned the 
 names of the children of so many Miss Wallingfords, aunts or great 
 aunts of mine, and cousins of his own. " Some of them may be 
 nearer to you, by a half-degree, or so, but none of them are as 
 near to Clawbonny. It is Wallingford land, and Wallingford land 
 it ought to remain." 
 
 I was amused in spite of myself, and felt a disposition now to 
 push the discourse further, in order better to understand my 
 kinsman's character. 
 
 7
 
 98 LUCY HARDWGE. 
 
 " Should neither of us two marry," I said, " and both die bache- 
 lors, what would then be the fate of Clawbonny ? " 
 
 " I have thought of all that, Miles, and here is my answer. Should 
 such a thing happen, and there be no other Wallingford left, then 
 no Wallingford would live to have his feelings hurt by knowing 
 that a Vander-dunder-Schamp, or whatever these Dutchmen ought 
 to be called, is living in his father's house ; and no harm would be 
 done. But there are Wallingfords besides you and I." 
 
 " This is quite new ; for I had supposed we two were the last." 
 " Not so : Miles the First left two sons; our ancestor, the eldest, 
 and one younger, who removed into the colony of New Jersey, and 
 whose descendants still exist. The survivors of us two might go 
 there in quest of our heir, in the long run. But do not forget I 
 come before these Jersey Blues, let them be who or what they 
 may." 
 
 I assured my kinsman he should come before them, and changed 
 the discourse ; for, to own the truth, the manner in which he spoke 
 began to displease me. Making my apologies, I retired to my own 
 room, while John Wallingford went out, professedly with the in- 
 tention of riding over the place of his ancestors, with a view to 
 give it a more critical examination than it had hitherto been in his 
 power to do. 
 
 It was quite dark, when I heard the arrival of the Hardinges, as 
 the carriage of Lucy drove up to the door. In a few minutes 
 Mr. Hardinge entered the study. He first inquired after my health, 
 and manifested the kind interest he had ever taken in my feelings; 
 after which he proceeded : 
 
 " Rupert is here," he said, " and I have brought him over to see 
 you. Both he and Lucy appeared to think it might be well not to 
 disturb you to-night j but I knew you better. Who should be at 
 your side at this bitter moment, my dear Miles, if it be not Rupert, 
 your old friend and playmate ; your fellow truant, as one might say, 
 and almost your brother?" 
 
 Almost my brother ! Still I commanded myself. Grace had 
 received my solemn assurances, and so had Lucy, and Rupert had 
 nothing to apprehend. I even asked to see him, desiring, at the 
 same time, that it might be alone. I waited several minutes for 
 Rupert's appearance, in vain. At length the door of my room 
 opened, and Chloe brought me a note. It was from Lucy, and 
 contained only these words : " Miles, for her sake, for mine, com- 
 mand yourself." Dear creature ! She had no reason to be alarmed. 
 The spirit of my sister seemed to me to be present ; and I could 
 recall every expression of her angel-countenance as it had passed 
 before my eyes in the different interviews that preceded her death. 
 At length Rupert appeared. He had been detained by Lucy until 
 certain her note was received, when she permitted him to quit her 
 gide, His manner was full of the conciousness of undeserving, and
 
 f 
 
 LUCY HARDINGK. 99 
 
 it-; humility aided my good resolutions. Had he advanced to take 
 my hand had he attempted consolation had he, in short, behaved 
 differently in the main from what he actually did, I cannot say what 
 might have been the consequences. But his deportment, at first, 
 was quiet, respectful, distant rather than familiar ; and he had the 
 tact,, or grace, or caution, not to make the smallest allusion to the 
 sad occasion which had brought him to Clawbonny. When I asked 
 him to be seated, he declined the chair I offered, a sign he intended 
 the visit to be short. I was not sorry, and determined, at once, to 
 make the interview as much one of business as possible. I had a 
 sacred duty confided to me, and this might be as fit an occasion as 
 could offer in which to acquit myself of the trust. 
 
 " I am glad so early an opportunity has offered, Mr. Hardinge," 
 I said, as soon as the opening civilities were over, " to acquaint 
 you with an affair that has been entrusted to me by Grace, and 
 which I am anxious to dispose of as soon as possible." 
 
 " By Grace by Miss Wallingford ! " exclaimed Rupert, actually 
 recoiling a step in surprise, if not absolutely in alarm " I shall feel 
 honoured that is, shall have a melancholy gratification in en- 
 deavouring to execute any of her wishes. No person commanded 
 more of my respect, Mr. Wallingford, and I shall always consider 
 her one of the most amiable and admirable women with whom it 
 was ever my happy fortune to be acquainted." 
 
 I had no difficulty now in commanding myself, for it was easy to 
 see Rupert scarcely knew what he said. With such a man I saw no 
 great necessity for using extraordinary delicacy or much reserve. 
 
 "You are doubtless aware of two things in our family history," 
 I continued, therefore, without circumlocution: "one, that my 
 sister would have been mistress of a small fortune, had she reached 
 the term of twenty-one years 5 and the other, that she died at 
 twenty." 
 
 Rupert's surprise was now more natural, and I could see that 
 his interest shame on our propensities for it ! was very natural, 
 too. 
 
 "lam aware of both, and deeply deplore the last," he an- 
 swered. 
 
 " Being a minor, she had it not in her power to make a will, but 
 her requests are legal legacies in my eyes, and I stand pledged to 
 her to see them executed. She has left rather less than 22,000 dol- 
 lars in all :> with 500 dollars of this money I am to present Lucy with 
 some suitable memorial of her departed friend ; some small chari- 
 table dispositions are also to be made, and the balance, or the round 
 sum of 20,000 dollars, is to be given to you." 
 
 " To me, Mr. Wallingford ! Miles ! Did you really say to me?" 
 
 " To you, Mr. Hardinge, such is my sister's earnest request 
 and this letter will declare it, as from herself. I was to hand you 
 this letter, when acquainting you with the bequest," I put Grace's
 
 JOO LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 letter into Rupert's hand, as I concluded, and I sat down to write, 
 while he was reading it. Though employed at a desk for a minute 
 or two, I could not avoid glancing at Rupert, in order to ascertain 
 the effect of the last words of her he had once professed to love. I 
 would wish not to be unjust even to Rupert Hardinge. He was 
 dreadfully agitated, and he walked the room, for some little time, 
 without speaking. I even fancied I overheard a half-suppressed 
 groan. I had the compassion to affect to be engaged, in order to 
 allow him to recover his self-possession. This was soon done, as 
 good impressions were not lasting in Rupert ; and I knew him so 
 well, as soon to read in his countenance, gleamings of satisfaction 
 at the prospect of being master of so large a sum. At the proper mo- 
 ment, I arose and resumed the subject. 
 
 "My sister's wishes would be sacred with me," I said, "even 
 had she not received my promise to see them executed. When a 
 thing of this character is to be done, the sooner it is done the better. 
 I have drawn a note at ten days, payable at the Rank of New York, 
 and in your favour, for 20,000 dollars : it will not inconvenience 
 me to pay it when due, and that will close the transaction." 
 
 " I am not certain, Wallingford, that I ought to receive so large a 
 sum I do not know that my father, or Lucy, or indeed the world, 
 would altogether approve of it." 
 
 " Neither your father, nor Lucy, nor the world will know any 
 thing about it, sir, unless you see fit to acquaint them. I shall not 
 speak of the bequest ; and I confess that, on my sister's account, I 
 should prefer that you would not." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Wallingford," answered Rupert, coolly putting the 
 note into his wallet, " I will think of this request of poor Grace's, 
 and if I can possibly comply with her wishes, I will certainly do so. 
 There is little that she could ask that I would deny, and my effort 
 will be to honour her memory. As I see you are distressed, I will 
 now retire 5 you shall know my determination in a few days." 
 
 Rupert did retire, taking my note for 20,000 dollars with him. I 
 made no effort to detain him, nor was I sorry to hear he had re- 
 turned to the rectory to pass the night, whither his sister went with 
 him. The next day he proceeded to New York, without sending 
 me any message, retaining the note however ; and, a day or two 
 later, I heard of him on his way to the springs to rejoin the party of 
 the Merlons. 
 
 John Wallingford left me the morning of the day after the funeral, 
 promising to see me again in town. " Donot forget the will, Miles," 
 said that singular man, as he shook my hand, " and be certain to 
 let me see that provision in it about Clawbonny, before I go west of 
 the bridge again. Retween relations of the same name, there should 
 be no reserves in such matters." 
 
 I scarcely knew whether to smile or to look grave at so strange 
 a request, but I did not change my determination on the subject of
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 10 1 
 
 the will, itself: feeling that justice required of me such a disposition 
 of the property. I confess there were moments when I distrusted 
 the character of one who could urge a claim of this nature in so plain 
 a manner; and that, too, at an instant when the contemplated con- 
 tingency seemed the more probable from the circumstance that 
 death had so recently been among us. Notwithstanding, there was 
 so much frankness in my kinsman's manner, he appeared to sym- 
 pathize so sincerely in my loss, and his opinions were so similar 
 to my own, that these unpleasant twinges lasted but for brief inter- 
 vals. On the whole, my opinion was very favourable to John 
 Wallingford, and, as will be seen in the sequel, he soon obtained 
 my entire confidence. 
 
 After the departure of all my kindred, I felt, indeed, how com- 
 pletely I was left alone in the world. Lucy passed the night at the 
 rectory, to keep her brother company ; and good Mr. Hardinge, 
 though thinking he remained with me to offer sympathy and con- 
 solation, found so many demands on his time, that I saw but little 
 of him. It is possible he understood me sufficiently well to know 
 that solitude and reflection, while the appearance of the first was 
 avoided, were better for one of my temperament than any set forms 
 of condolence. At any rate he was at hand, while he said but little 
 to me on the subject of my loss. 
 
 At last I got through the day , and a long and dreary day it was 
 to me. The evening came, bland, refreshing, bringing with it the 
 softer light of a young moon. I was walking on the lawn, when the 
 beauty of the night brought Grace and her tastes vividly to my mind, 
 and, by a sudden impulse, 1 was soon swiftly walking towards her 
 now silent grave. The highways around Clawbonny were never 
 much frequented 5 but at this hour, and so soon after the solemn 
 procession it had so lately seen, no one was met on the road towards 
 the church-yard. It was months, indeed, after the funeral, that 
 any of the slaves ventured into the latter by night 5 and, even during 
 the day, they approached it with an awe that nothing could have 
 inspired but the death of a Wallingford. Perhaps it was owing to 
 my increased age and greater observation, but I fancied that these 
 simple beings felt the death of their young mistress more than they 
 had felt that of my mother. 
 
 St. Michael's church-yard is beautifully ornamented with flourish- 
 ing cedars. These trees had been cultivated with care, and formed 
 an appropriate ornament for the place. A fine cluster of them 
 shaded the graves of my family, and a rustic seat had been placed 
 beneath their branches, by order of my mother, who had been in 
 the habit of passing hours in meditation at the grave of her husband. 
 Grace and I and Lucy had often repaired to the same place at night, 
 after my mother's death, and there we used to sit many an hour in 
 deep silence ; or, if utterance were given to a thought, it was in a 
 respectful whisper. As I now approached this seat, I had a bitter
 
 102 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 satisfaction in remembering that Rupert had never accompanied us 
 in these pious little pilgrimages. Even in the day of her greatest 
 ascendancy, Grace had been unable to enlist her admirer in an act 
 so repugnant to his innate character. As for Lucy, her own family 
 lay on one side of that cluster of cedars, as mine lay on the other ; 
 and often had I seen the dear young creature weeping, as her eyes 
 were rivetted on the graves of relatives she had never known. But 
 my mother had been her mother, and for this friend she felt an 
 attachment almost as strong as that which was entertained by 
 ourselves. I am not certain I ought not to say, an attachment quite 
 as strong as our own . 
 
 I was apprehensive some visitors might be hovering near the 
 grave of my sister at that witching hour, and I approached the cedars 
 cautiously, intending to retire unseen should such prove to be the 
 case. I saw no one, however, and proceeded directly to the line 
 of graves, placing myself at the foot of the freshest and most newly 
 made. Hardly was this done, when I heard the word "Miles!" 
 uttered in a low half-stifled exclamation. It was not easy for 
 me to mistake the voice of Lucy , she was seated so near the 
 trunk of a cedar that her dark dress had been confounded with 
 the shadows of the tree. I went to the spot, and took a seat at 
 her side. 
 
 " I am not surprised to find you here," I said, taking the dear 
 girl's hand, by a sort of mechanical mode of manifesting affection 
 which had grown up between us from childhood, rather than from 
 any sudden impulse "you that watched over her so faithfully 
 during the last hours of her existence." 
 
 "Ah, Miles!" returned a voice that was filled with sadness, 
 "how little did I anticipate this when you spoke of Grace in the 
 brief interview we had at the theatre ! " 
 
 I understood my companion fully. Lucy had been educated su- 
 perior to cant and false morals. Her father drew accurate and 
 manly distinctions between sin and the exactions of a puritanical 
 presumption that would set up its own narrow notions as the law of 
 God ; and, innocent as she was, no thought of error was associated 
 with the indulgence of her innocent pleasures. But Grace, suffer- 
 ing and in sorrow, while she herself had been listening to the 
 wonderful poems of Shakspeare, did present a painful picture to 
 her mind, which, so far from being satisfied with what she had done 
 in my sister's behalf, was tenderly reproachful on account of fancied 
 omissions. 
 
 " It is the will of God, Lucy," I answered. " It must be our ef- 
 fort to be resigned." 
 
 "If you can think thus, Miles, how much easier ought it to be for 
 me! yet' 
 
 "Yet, what, Lucy? I believe you loved my sister as affection- 
 ately as I did myself, but I am sensitive on this point ; and, tender,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 103 
 
 true, warm as I know your heart to be, I cannot allow that even you 
 loved her more." 
 
 "It is not that, Miles it is not that. Have I no cause of parti- 
 cular regret no sense of shame no feeling of deep humility, to 
 add to my grief for her loss?" 
 
 " I understand you, Lucy, and at once answer, no. You are not 
 Rupert any more than Rupert is you. Let all others become what 
 they may, you will ever remain Lucy Hardinge." 
 
 " I thank you, Miles," answered my companion, gently pressing 
 the hand that still retained hers, "and thank you from my heart. 
 Rut your generous nature will not see this matter as others might. 
 We were aliens to your blood, dwellers under your own roof, re- 
 ceived into the bosom of your own family, and were bound by every 
 sacred obligation to do you no wrong. I would not have my dear 
 upright father know the truth for worlds." 
 
 "He never will know it, Lucy, and it is my earnest desire that 
 we all forget it. Henceforth Rupert and I must be strangers, though 
 the tie that exists between me and the rest of your family will only 
 be drawn the closer for this sad event." 
 
 "Rupert is my brother," Lucy answered, though it was in a 
 voice so low that her words were barely audible. 
 
 " You would not leave me quite alone in the world?" I said, 
 with something like reproachful energy. 
 
 " No, Miles, no that tie, as you have said, must and should 
 last for life. Nor do I wish you to regard Rupert as of old. It is 
 impossible improper even , but you can concede to us some of 
 that same indulgence which I am so willing to concede to you." 
 
 " Certainly Rupert is your brother, as you say, and I do not 
 wish you ever to regard him otherwise. He will marry Emily 
 Merton, and I trust he may be happy. Here, over my sister's grave, 
 Lucy, I renew the pledge already made to you, never to act on 
 what has occurred." 
 
 I got no answer to this declaration in words*: but Lucy would 
 actually have kissed my hand in gratitude had I permitted it. This 
 I could not suffer, however, but raised her own hand to my lips, 
 where it was held until the dear girl gently withdrew it herself. 
 
 " Miles," Lucy said, after a long and thoughtful pause " it is 
 not good for you to remain at Clawbonny, just at this time. Your 
 kinsman, John Wallingford, has been here, and I think you like 
 him. Why not pay him a visit? He resides near Niagara, ' West 
 of the Rridge,' as he calls it *, and you might take the opportunity 
 of seeing the ' Falls.' " 
 
 * In the western part of the State of New York, there are several small lakes that lie 
 nearly parallel to each other, and not far asunder, with lengths that vary from fifteen to 
 forty miles. The outlet of one of these lakes the Cayuga lies in the route of ihe 
 great thoroughfare to Buffalo, and a bridge of a mile in length was early thrown across 
 it. From this circumstance has arisen the expression of saying, "West of the Bridge ;" 
 meaning the frontier counties, which include, among other districts, that which is also 
 known as the "Genessee Country."
 
 104 LUCY HARDLNGE. 
 
 " I understand you, Lucy, and am truly grateful for the interest 
 you feel in my happiness. I do not intend to remain long at 
 Clawbonny, which I shall leave to-morrow" 
 
 "To-morrow!" interrupted Lucy, and I thought like one who 
 was alarmed. 
 
 " Does that appear too early? I feel the necessity of occupation, 
 as well as of a change of scene. You will remember I have a ship 
 and interests, of moment to myself, to care for : I must turn my 
 face, and move towards the east, instead of towards the west." 
 
 "You intend then, Miles, to pursue this profession of yours?" 
 Lucy said, as I thought, with a little like gentle regret in her manner 
 and tones. 
 
 " Certainly what better can I do ? I want not wealth, I allow 
 am rich enough already for all my wants, but I have need of 
 occupation. The sea is to my liking, I am still young, and can 
 afford a few more years on the water. I shall never marry" 
 Lucy started "and having now no heir nearer than John 
 Wallingford" 
 
 " John Wallingford! you have cousins much nearer than he ! " 
 
 " That is true ; but not of the old line. It was Grace's wish that 
 I should leave our cousin John the Clawbonny property at least, 
 whatever I do with the rest. You are so rich now as not to need 
 it, Lucy , else would I leave every shilling to you." 
 
 " I believe you would, dear Miles," ansvered Lucy, with fervent 
 warmth of manner. "You have ever been all that is good and 
 kind to me, and I shall never forget it." 
 
 " Talk of my kindness to you, Lucy, when you parted with every 
 cent you had on earth to give me the gold you possessed, on my 
 going to sea. I am almost sorry you are now so much richer than 
 myself, else would I certainly make you my heir." 
 
 " We will not talk of money any longer in this sacred place," 
 Lucy answered tremulously. " What I did as a foolish girl you 
 will forget; we were but children t then, Miles." 
 
 So Lucy did not wish me to remember certain passages in our 
 earlier youth ! Doubtless her present relations to Andrew Drewett 
 rendered the recollection delicate, if not unpleasant. I thought 
 this less like herself than was her wont Lucy, who was usually 
 so simple-minded, so affectionate, so frank, and so true. Never- 
 theless, love is an engrossing sentiment, as I could feel in my own 
 case, and it might be that its jealous sensitiveness took the alarm 
 at even that which was so innocent and sincere. The effect of 
 these considerations, added to that of Lucy's remark, was to change 
 the discourse, and we conversed long, in melancholy sadness, of 
 her we had lost, for this life, altogether. 
 
 " We may live, ourselves, to grow old, Miles," Lucy observed ; 
 " but never shall we cease to remember Grace as she was, and to 
 love her memory, as we loved her dear self in life. There has not
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 105 
 
 been an hour since her death, that I have not seen her sitting at 
 my side, and conversing in sisterly confidence, as we did from 
 infancy to the day she ceased to live ! " 
 
 As Lucy said this, she rose, drew her shawl around her, and held 
 out her hand to take leave, for I had spoken of an intention to quit 
 Clawbonny early in the morning. The tears the dear girl shed 
 might have been altogether owing to our previous conversation, or 
 I might have had a share in producing them. Lucy used to weep 
 at parting from me, as well as Grace, and she was not a girl to 
 change with the winds. But I could not part thus : I had a sort of 
 feeling that when we parted this time, it would virtually be a final 
 separation, as the wife of Andrew Drevett never could be exactly 
 that which Lucy Hardinge had now been to me for nearly twenty 
 years. 
 
 "I will not say farewell, now, Lucy," I observed. " Should 
 you not come to town before I sail, I will return to Clawbonny to 
 take leave of you. God only knows what will become of me, or 
 whither I shall be led, and I could wish to defer the leave-takings 
 to the last moment. You and your excellent father must have my 
 final adieus." 
 
 Lucy returned the pressure of my hand, uttered a hasty good- 
 night, and glided through the little gate of the rectory, which by 
 this time we had reached. No doubt she fancied I returned imme- 
 diately to my own house. So far from this, however, I passed hours 
 alone in the church-yard, sometimes musing on the dead, and then 
 with all my thoughts bent on the living. I could see the light in 
 Lucy's window, and not till that was extinguished did I retire. It 
 was long past midnight. 
 
 I passed hours teeming with strange emotions among those 
 cedars. Twice I knelt by Grace's grave, and prayed devoutly to 
 God. It seemed to me that petitions offered in such a place must 
 be blessed. I thought of my mother, of my manly, spirited father, 
 of Grace, and of all the past. Then I lingered long beneath Lucy's 
 window, and, in spite of this solemn visit to the graves of the dead, 
 the brightest and most vivid image that I carried away with me was 
 of the living. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats well. 
 
 Bast. Ay, sir, for three months. 
 
 Shy. For three months well. 
 
 Jiass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall become bound. 
 
 Shy. Antonio shall become boundwell, 
 
 Merchant of Venice. 
 
 I found John Wallingford in town, awaiting my appearance. He 
 had taken lodgings at the City Hotel, on purpose to be under the 
 same roof with me, and we occupied adjoining rooms. I dined
 
 106 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 with him ; and after dinner he went with me to take a look at the 
 Dawn. The second-mate told me that Marble had made a flying 
 visit to the ship, promised to be back again in a few days, and dis- 
 appeared. By comparing dates, I ascertained that he vould be in 
 time to meet the mortgage sale, and felt no further concern in that 
 behalf. 
 
 " Miles," said John Wallingford, coolly, as we were walking up 
 Pine Street, on our way back towards the tavern, " did you not tell 
 me you employed Richard Harrison as a legal adviser?" 
 
 " I did. Mr. Hardinge made me acquainted with him, and I 
 understand he is one of the oldest lawyers in the country. That is 
 his office, on the other side of the street here, directly opposite." 
 
 " I saw it, and that was the reason I spoke. It might be well 
 just to step in and give some directions about your will. I wish to 
 see Clawbonny put in the right line. If you would give me a deed 
 of it for one dollar, I would not take it from you, the only son of an 
 eldest son ; but it would break my heart to hear of its going out of 
 the name. Mr. Harrison is also an old adviser and friend of mine." 
 
 I was startled with this plain dealing 5 yet there was something 
 about the manner of the man that prevented my being displeased. 
 
 "Mr. Harrison would not be visible at this hour, but I will cross 
 to the office, and write him a letter on the subject," I answered, 
 doing as I said on the instant, and leaving John Wallingford to pursue 
 his way to the house alone. The next day, however, the will was 
 actually drawn up, executed, and placed in my cousin's hands, he 
 being the sole executor. If the reader should ask me why I did 
 this, especially the last, I might be at a loss to answer. A strange 
 confidence had come over me, as respects this relative, whose 
 extraordinary frankness even a more experienced man might have 
 believed to be either the height of honesty, or the perfection of 
 art. Whichever was the case, I not only left my will with him, 
 but in th6 course of the next week I let him into the secret of all 
 my pecuniary affairs; Grace's bequest to Rupert, alone, excepted. 
 John Wallingford encouraged this confidence, telling me that plung- 
 ing at once, heart and hand, into the midst of business, was the 
 most certain mode of forgetting my causes of sorrow. Plunge into 
 any thing with my whole heart, I could not, then, though I en- 
 deavoured to loose my cares in business. 
 
 One of my first acts, in the way of affairs, was to look after the 
 note I had given to Rupert. It had been made payable at the bank 
 where I kept my deposits, and I went thither to inquire if it had 
 been left for collection. The following conversation passed be- 
 tween myself and the cashier on this occasion. 
 
 "Good morning, Mr. ," I said, saluting the gentleman. "I 
 
 have come to inquire if a note for twenty thousand dollars, made by 
 me in favour of Rupert Hardinge, Esquire, at ten days, has been 
 left for collection. If so, I am ready to pay it now."
 
 
 LUCY KARD1NGE. 107 
 
 The cashier gave me a business smile, one that spoke favour- 
 ably of my standing as a monied man, before he answered the 
 question. This smile was, also, a sign that money was plenty. 
 
 "Not absolutely for collection, Captain Wallingford, as nothing 
 would give us more pleasure than to renew it, if you would just go 
 through the form of obtaining a city endorser." 
 
 "Mr. Hardinge has then left it for collection," I observed, pained, 
 in spite of all that had passed, at Rupert's giving this conclusive 
 evidence of the inherent meanness of his character. 
 
 " Not exactly for collection, sir," was the cashier's answer ; " for, 
 wishing to anticipate the money, by a few days, and being under the 
 necessity of leaving town, we discounted it for him." 
 
 "Anticipate ! you have discounted the note, sir! " 
 
 "With the greatest pleasure, knowing it to be good. Mr. Har- 
 dinge remarked that you had not found it convenient to draw for so 
 large a sum on the spot, and had given this note at short date ; and 
 the consideration having been received in full, he was desirous of 
 being put in cash at once. We did not hesitate, of course." 
 
 "Consideration received in full !" escaped me, spite of a determi- 
 nation to be cool; but, luckily, the appearance of another person 
 on business prevented the vords, or the manner, from being noted. 
 "Well, Mr. Cashier, I will draw a check, and take up the note, 
 now." 
 
 More smiles followed. The check was given-, the note was can- 
 celled and handed to me, and I left the bank with a balance in my 
 favour of rather more than ten thousand dollars instead of the thirty 
 thousand odd, which I had held previously to entering it. It is true, 
 I was heir at law to all Grace's assets, which Mr. Hardinge had 
 handed over to me, the morning I left Clawbonny, duly assigned 
 and transferred. These last consisted of stocks, and of bonds 
 and mortgages, drawing interest, being on good farms in our own 
 country. 
 
 "Well, Miles, what do you mean to do with your ship?" de- 
 manded Jack Wallingford, that evening. " I understand the freight 
 for which you bargained has been transferred to another owner, on 
 account of your late troubles 5 and they tell me, freights, just now, 
 are not very high." 
 
 "Really, cousin Jack, I am hardly prepared to answer the ques- 
 tion. Colonial produce commands high prices in the north of Ger- 
 many, they tell me ; and, were I in cash, I would buy a cargo on 
 my own account. Some excellent sugars and coffees, etc., were 
 offered me to-day, quite reasonably, for ready money." 
 
 "And how much cash would be necessary to carry out that 
 scheme, my man?" 
 
 "Some fifty thousand dollars, more or less, while I have but 
 about ten thousand on hand-, though I can command twenty thou-
 
 108 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 sand additional, by selling certain securities; so I must abandon the 
 notion." 
 
 " That does not follow necessarily. Let me think a night on it, 
 and we will talk further in the morning. I like quick bargains, 
 but I like a cool head. This hot town and old Madeira keep me in 
 a fever, and 1 wish a night's rest before I make a bargain." 
 
 The next morning, John Wallingford returned to the subject, 
 at breakfast, which meal we took by ourselves, in order to be at 
 liberty to converse without any auditors. 
 
 " I have thought over that sweet subject, the sugars, Miles," 
 commenced my cousin, " and approve of the plan. Can you give 
 me any further security, if I will lend you the money.?" 
 
 " I have some bonds and mortgages, to the amount of twenty-two 
 thousand dollars, with me, which might be assigned for such a 
 purpose." 
 
 But twenty-two thousand dollars are an insufficient security for 
 the thirty thousand, or thirty-five thousand, which you may need 
 to carry out your adventure." 
 
 "That is quite true, but I have nothing else worth mentioning 
 unless it be the ship, or Clawbonny." 
 
 "Tut for the ship ! she is gone, if you and your cargo go ; and 
 as for insurances, I want none of them I am a landed man, and 
 like landed securities. Give me your note at three months, or six 
 months if you will, with the bonds and mortgages you mention, 
 and a mortgage on Clawbonny, and you can have forty thousand 
 dollars, this very day, should you need them. 
 
 I was surprised at this offer, having no notion my kinsman was 
 rich enough to lend so large a sum. On a further conversation, 
 however, 1 learned he had near double the sum he had mentioned, 
 in ready money, and that his principal business in town was to 
 invest in good city securities. He professed himself willing, how- 
 ever, to lend me half, in order to help along a kinsman he liked. 
 I did not at all relish the notion of mortgaging, Clawbonny, but 
 John soon laughed and reasoned me out of that. As for Grace's 
 securities, I parted with them with a sort of satisfaction ; the idea 
 of holding her effects being painful to me. 
 
 "Were it out of the family, or even out of the name, I should 
 think something of it myself, Miles," he said, "but a mortgage 
 from you to me is like one from me to you . You have made me 
 your heir; and to be honest with you, boy, I have made you mine. 
 If you lose my money, you lose your own." 
 
 There was no resisting this. My kinsman's apparent frankness 
 and warmth of disposition overcame all my scruples, and I con- 
 sented to borrow the money on his own terms. John Wallingford 
 was familiar with the conveyancing of real estate, and, with his 
 own hand, he filled up the necessary papers, which I signed. The 
 money was borrowed at 5 per cent.: my cousin positively refusing
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 109 
 
 to receive the legal rate of interest from a Wallingford. Pay-day 
 was put at six month's distance, and all was done in due form. 
 
 "I shall not put this mortgage on record, Miles," Jack 
 Wallingford remarked, as he folded and endorsed the paper. " I 
 have too much confidence in your honesty to believe it necessary. 
 You have given one mortgage on Clawbonny with too much reluc- 
 tance, to render it probable you will be in a hurry to execute an- 
 other. As for myself, I own to a secret pleasure in having even 
 this incomplete hold on the old place, which makes me feel twice 
 as much of a Wallingford as I ever felt before." 
 
 For my part, I wondered at my kinsman's family pride, and I 
 began to think I had been too humble in my own estimate of our 
 standing in the world. It is true, it was not easy to deceive myself 
 in this particular, and, in point of fact, I was certainly right ; but 
 when I found a man who was able to lend forty thousand dollars 
 at an hour's notice, valuing himself on coming from Miles the First, 
 I could not avoid fancying Miles the First a more considerable per- 
 sonage than I had hitherto imagined. As for the money, I was 
 gratified with the confidence John Wallingford reposed in me, had 
 really a wish to embark in the adventure for which it supplied the 
 means, and regarded the abstaining from recording the mortgage 
 an act of delicacy and feeling that spoke well for the lender's 
 heart. 
 
 My cousin did not cast me adrift as soon as he had filled my 
 pockets. On the contrary, he went with me, and was a witness to 
 al 1th e purchases I made. The colonial produce was duly bought, 
 in his presence, and many a shrewd hint did I get from this cool- 
 headed and experienced man, who, while he was no merchant, in 
 the common sense of the term, had sagacity enough to make a first- 
 class dealer. As I paid for every thing in ready money, the cargo 
 was soon stowed. As soon as this was done, I ordered a crew 
 shipped and the hatches battened on. 
 
 As a matter of course, the constant and important business with 
 which I was now occupied, had a tendency to dull the edge of my 
 grief, though I can truly say that the image of Grace was never 
 long absent from my mind, even in the midst of my greatest exer- 
 tions. Nor was Lucy forgotten. She was usually at my sister's 
 side; and it never happened that I remembered the latter, without 
 seeing the beautiful semblance of her living friend, watching over 
 her faded form, with sisterly solicitude. John Wallingford left 
 me, at the end of a w6*K, after seeing me fairly under way as a 
 merchant, as well as ship-owner and ship-master. 
 
 Farewell, Miles,"' he said, as he shook my hand with a cordiality 
 that appeared to increase the longer he knew me-, "farewell, my 
 dear boy, and may God prosper you in all your lawful and just 
 undertakings. Never forget you are a Wallingford, and the owner 
 of Clawbonny. Should we meet again, you will find a true friend
 
 HO LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 in me 5 should we never meet, you will have reason to remember 
 me." 
 
 This leave-taking occurred at the inn. A few hours later I was 
 in the cabin of the Dawn, arranging some papers, when I hoard a 
 well-known voice, on deck, calling out to the stevedores and rig- 
 gers, in a tone of authority "Come, bear a hand, and lay aft-, off 
 that forecastle ; to this derrick, who ever saw a derrick standing 
 before, after the hatches were battened down, in a first-class ship 
 a regular A. No. 1? Bear a hand bear a hand 5 you've got an 
 old sea-dog among you, men." 
 
 There was no mistaking the person. On reaching the deck, I 
 found Marble, his coat off, but still wearing all the rest of his "go- 
 ashores," flourishing about among the labourers, putting into them 
 new life and activity. He heard my footsteps behind him, but never 
 turned to salute me, until the matter in hand was terminated. Then 
 I received that honour, and it was easy to see the cloud thad passed 
 over his red visage, as he observed the deep mourning in which I 
 was clad. 
 
 " Good morning to you, Captain Wallingford," he said, making 
 a mate's bow, " good morning, sir. God's will be done ! we are all 
 sinners, and so are some of the stevedores, who've left this derrick 
 standing as if the ship needed it for a jury-mast. Yes, sir, God's 
 will must be submitted to ; and sorry enough was I to read the 
 obittery in the newspapers Grace, etc., daughter, etc., and only 
 sister, etc. You'll be glad to hear, however, sir, that Willow Cove 
 is moored head and starn in the family, as one might say, and that 
 the bloody mortgage is cut adrift." 
 
 u I am glad to hear this, Mr. Marble," I answered, submitting 
 to a twinge, as I remembered that a mortgage had just been placed, 
 on my own paternal acres -, " and I trust the place will long remain 
 in your blood. How did you leave your mother and niece?" 
 
 "I've not left 'em at all, sir. I brought the old lady and Kitty 
 to town with me, on what I call the mutual sight-seeing principle. 
 They are both up at my boarding-house." 
 
 " I am not certain, Moses, that I understand this mutual principle, 
 of which you speak." 
 
 "God bless you, Miles," returned the mate, who could presume 
 to be familiar again, now we had walked so far aft as not to have 
 any listeners ; "call me Moses as often as you possibly can, for 
 it's little I hear of that pleasant sound n^w. Mother will dub me 
 Oloff, and little Kitty calls me nothing buf uncle. After all, I have 
 bulrush feelin' about me, and Moses will always seem the most 
 nat'ral. As for the mutual principle, it is just this; I'm to show 
 mother the Dawn, one or two of the markets -, for, would you be- 
 lieve it, the dear old soul never saw a market, and is dying to visit 
 one, and so I shall take her to see the Bear first, and the Oswego 
 next, and the Fly last, though she cries out agin' a market that is
 
 LUCY HA.RDINCE. til 
 
 much visited by flics. Then I must introduce her to one of the 
 Dutch churches; after that 'twill go hard with me, but I get the 
 dear soul into the theatre ; and they tell me there is a lion, up town, ' 
 that will roar as loud as a bull. That she must see, of course." 
 
 " And when you mother has seen all these sights, what will she 
 have to show you ? " 
 
 " The tomb-stone on which I was laid out, as a body might say, 
 at five weeks old. She tells me they traced the stone, out of feelin' 
 like, and followed it up until they fairjy found it, set down as the 
 headstone of an elderly single lady, with a most pious and edifying 
 incri ption on it. Mother says it contains a whole varse from the Bible ! 
 That stone may yet stand me in hand, for any thing I know to the 
 contrary, Miles." 
 
 I congratulated my mate on this important discovery, and inquired 
 the particulars of the affair with the old usurer ; in what manner 
 the money was received, and by what process the place had been 
 so securely " moored, head and starn, in the family." 
 
 " It was all plain sailing when a fellow got on the right course," 
 Marble answered. " Do you know, Miles, that they call paying off 
 one of your heavy loads on land, ' lifting the mortgage 5 ' and a lift 
 it is, I can tell you, when a man has no money to do it with. The 
 true way to get out of debt is to 'arn money ; I've found that much 
 out since I found my mother 5 and, the cash in hand, all you have to 
 do is to hand it over. Old Van Tassel was civil enough when he saw 
 the bag of dollars, and was full of fine speeches. He didn't wish 
 to distress the ' worthy Mrs. Wetmore, not he ; and she was welcome 
 to keep the money as long as she pleased, provided the interest was 
 punctually paid ; ' but I'd have none of his soft words, and laid down 
 the Spaniards and told him to count them. I 'lifted his encum- 
 brance,' as they called it, as easily as if it had been a pillow of fresh 
 feathers, and walked off with that bit of paper in my hands, with the 
 names tore off it, and satisfaction give me, as my lawyer said. 
 This law is droll business, Miles; if money is paid, they give you 
 satisfaction, just as gentlemen call on each other, you know, when 
 a little cross. But, whatever you do, never put your hand and seal 
 to a mortgage ; for land under such a curse is as likely to slide 
 one way as the other. Clawbonny is an older place than Willow 
 Gove even ; and both are too venerable and venerated to be mort- 
 gaged." 
 
 The advice came too late. Clawbonny was mortgaged already, 
 and I confess to several new and violent twinges, as I recalled the 
 fact, while Marble was telling his story. Still I could not liken 
 my kinsman plain-talking, warm-hearted, family-loving, John 
 Wallingford, to such a griping usurer as Mrs. Wetmore's perse- 
 cutor. 
 
 I was glad to see my mate on every account. He relieved me 
 from a great deal of irksome duty, and took charge of the ship,
 
 112 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 bringing his mother and Kitty, that very day, to live in the cabin. 
 I could perceive that the old woman was greatly surprised at the 
 neatness she found in all directions. According to her notions, a 
 ship floated nearly as much in tar as in the water ; and great was 
 her pleasure in finding rooms almost (conscience will not allow me 
 to say quite) as clean as her own residence. For one whole day 
 she desired to see no more than the ship, though it was easy to dis- 
 cover that the good woman had set her heart on the Dutch church 
 atnd the lion. In due time her son redeemed all his pledges, not 
 forgetting the theatre. With the last, good Mrs. Wetmore was 
 astounded, and Kitty infinitely delighted. The pretty little thing 
 confessed that she should like to go every night; wondered what 
 Horace Bright would think of it, and whether he would dare venture 
 alone to a play-house, should he happen to come to York. In 1803 
 America was still in the palmy slate of unsophistication. There 
 were few, scarcely any, strolling players , and none but those who 
 visited the cities, properly so called, enjoyed opportunities of wit- 
 nessing the wonders of paint, patch, and candlelight, as auxiliary to 
 the other wonders of the stage. Poor little Kitty ! There was a day 
 or two during which the sock and buskin wrought their usual effect 
 on her female nature, and almost eclipsed the glories of Horace 
 Bright in her own bright eyes. 
 
 1 could not refrain from accompanying Marble's party to the mu- 
 seum. In that day this was a somewhat insignificant collection of 
 curiosities, in Greenwich Street, but it was a miracle to the aunt and 
 niece. Even the worthy Manhattanese were not altogether guiltless 
 of esteeming it a wonder, though the greater renown of the Phila- 
 delphia Museum kept this of New York a little in the shade. I have 
 often had occasion to remark that, in this republic, the people in the 
 country are a little less country, and the people of the towns a good 
 deal less town, than is apt to be the case in great nations. The last 
 is easily enough accounted for ; the towns having shot up so rapidly, 
 and receiving their accessions of population from classes not ac- 
 customed to town-lives from childhood. Were a thousand villages 
 to be compressed into a single group of houses, their people would 
 long retain the notions, tastes, and habits of villagers, though they 
 would form a large town in the aggregate. Such, in a measure, is 
 still the fact with our American towns ; no one of them all having 
 the air, tone, or appearance of a capital, while most of them would 
 be paragons in the eyes of such persons as old Mrs. Wetmore and 
 her grand-daughter. Thus it was that the Greenwich-Street Museum 
 gave infinite satisfaction to these two unsophisticated visiters. 
 Kitty was most struck with certain villanous wax figures, works of 
 art that were much on a level with certain similar objets that were 
 lately, if they are not now, exhibited for the benefit of the Dean and 
 Chapter of Westminster Abbey, above the tombs of the Plantage- 
 nets,and almostin contact with that marvel of Gothic art, Henry VII. 's
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 113 
 
 Chapel ? It is said that " misery makes a man acquainted with 
 strange bed-fellows." So, it would seem, do shillings and six- 
 pences. To return to Kitty : After admiring divers beauties, such 
 as the New York Beauty, the South Carolina Beauty, and the Penn- 
 sylvania Beauty, she fastened her own pretty eyes on a nun, 
 wondering who a female in such an attire could be. In 1803, a nun 
 and a nunnery would be almost as great curiosities, in America, as 
 a rhinoceros, though the country has since undergone some changes 
 in this respect. 
 
 "Grandmother!" exclaimed Kitty, "who can that lady be it 
 isn't Lady Washington, is it ? " 
 
 " It looks more like a clergyman's wife, Kitty," answered the 
 worthy Mrs. Westmore, not a little fc non-plushed" herself, as she 
 afterwards admitted. " i should think Madam . Washington went 
 more gaily dressed, and looked happier, like. I'm sure if any 
 woman could be happy, it was she." 
 
 4 'Ay," answered her son, " there is truth in that remark. This 
 woman here is what is called a nun in the Roman Catholic quar- 
 ters of the world." 
 
 "A nun!" repeated little Kitty ; "isn't that the sort of woman 
 that shuts herself up in a house, and promises never to get married, 
 uncle?" 
 
 " You're quite right, my dear 5 and it's matter of surprise to me 
 how you should pick up so many useful idees in an out-of-the-way 
 place like Willow Cove." 
 
 " It was not out of your way, uncle," said Kitty, a little reproach- 
 fully, " or you never would have found us." 
 
 "In that partic'lar it was well enough, my dear. Yes, a nun is 
 a sort of she-hermit, a breed that I detest altogether." 
 
 " I suppose, Kitty," 1 inquired, " you think it wicked in man or 
 woman to take a vow never to get married? " 
 
 The poor girl blushed, and she turned away from the nun without 
 making any reply. No one can say what turn the conversation 
 might have taken, had not the grandmother's eye fell on an indif- 
 ferent copy of Leonardo's celebrated picture of the Last Supper, re- 
 ceiving at the same time a printed explanation, one got up by some 
 local antiquary, who had ventured to affix names to the different 
 personages of the group, at his own suggestion. I pointed out the 
 principal figure of the painting, which is sufficiently conspicuous, 
 by-the-way, and then referred the good woman to the catalogue for 
 the rest of the names. 
 
 "Bless me, bless me! " exclaimed the worthy mother, " that I 
 should live ever to see paintings of such people ! Kitty, my dear, 
 this bald-headed old man is St. Peter. Did you ever think that 
 St. Peter was bald! And there is St. John, with black eyes. 
 Wonderful, wonderful, that I should ever live to see likenesses of 
 such blessed men ! " 
 
 8
 
 114 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 Kitty was as much astonished as her grandmother; and even the 
 son was a little mystified. The latter remarked that "the world 
 was making great head-way in all such things ; and, for his part, 
 he did not see how the painters and authors found out all they drew 
 and recorded." 
 
 The reader may easily imagine that half a day spent in such com- 
 pany was not entirely thrown away. Still, half a day sufficed ; and 
 I went to the Old Coffee House at one, to eat a sandwich and drink 
 a glass of porter, that being the inn then most frequented for such 
 purposes, especially by the merchants. I was in-my box, with the 
 curtain drawn, when a party of three entered that which adjoined 
 it, ordering as many glasses of punch; which in that day was a 
 beverage much in request of a morning, and which it was permitted 
 even to a gentleman to drink before dining. It was the sherry-cobler 
 of the age ; although I believe every thing is now pronounced to be 
 out of fashion before dinner. 
 
 As the boxes were separated merely by curtains, it was impos- 
 sible to avoid hearing any conversation that passed in the one 
 adjoining my own, especially when the parties took no pains to 
 speak low, as happened to be the case with my three neighbours. 
 Consequently I recognised the voices of Andrew Drewett and 
 Rupert Hardinge in an instant ; that of the third person being un- 
 known to me. 
 
 "Well, Norton," said Rupert, a little affectedly as to manner, "you 
 have got Drewett and myself down here among you traders, and 
 I hope you will do the honours of the place, in a way to confer on 
 the latter some credit. A ra^r^ant is nothing without credit, you 
 know." 
 
 " Have no apprehensions for your gentility, Hardinge," returned 
 the person addressed. " Many of the first persons in town fre- 
 quent this house at this hour, and its punch is renowned. Ry- 
 the-way, I saw in a paper the other day, Rupert, that one of 
 your relatives is dead Miss Grace Wallingford, your sister's old 
 associate." 
 
 A short pause followed, during which I scarcely breathed. 
 
 "No, not a relation," Rupert at length answered; "only my 
 father's ward. You know how it is in the country ; the clergyman 
 being expected to take, care of all the sick and all the orphans." 
 
 " But these Wallingfords are people altogether above standing in 
 need of favours," Drewett hastily observed. " I have been at their 
 place, and really it is a respectable spot. As for Miss Wallingford, 
 she was a most charming girl, and her death will prove a severe blow 
 to your sister, Hardinge." 
 
 This was said with so much feeling, that I could almost forgive 
 the speaker for loving Lucy ; though I question if I could ever truly 
 forgive him for being beloved by her. 
 
 "Why, yes/' rejoined Rupert, affecting an indifference that I
 
 LUCY IIARD1NGE. 115 
 
 could detect he was far from feeling, " Grace was a good creature ; 
 though, living so much with her in childhood, she had less interest 
 in my eyes* perhaps, than she might have had in those of one less 
 accustomed to see her. Notwithstanding, I had a certain sort of 
 regard for Grace, 1 will confess." 
 
 " Respect and esteem her! I should think all who knew her 
 must," added Drewett, as if determined to win my heart ; " and, in 
 my opinion, she was both beautiful and lovely." 
 
 " This from a man who is confessedly an admirer nay, engaged 
 to your own sister, as the world says, Hardinge, must be taken as 
 warm praise," said the third. "But I suppose Drewett sees the 
 dear departed with the eyes of her friend for Miss Hardinge was 
 very intimate with her, I believe." 
 
 "As intimate as sisters, and loving each other as sisters," re- 
 turned Drewett, with feeling. "No intimate of Miss Hardinge's 
 can be any thing but meritorious." 
 
 " Grace Wallingford had merit beyond a question," added Ru- 
 pert, "as has her brother, who is a good, honest fellow enough. 
 When a boy, 7 was rather intimate with him." 
 
 " The certain proof of his excellencies and virtues," put in the 
 stranger, laughing. "But, if a ward, there must be a fortune. I 
 think I have heard these Wallingfords were richish." 
 
 "Yes, that is just it richish," said Drewett. "Some forty or 
 fifty thousand dollars between them, all of which the brother must 
 now inherit ; and glad am I it falls to so good a fellow." 
 
 "This is generous praise from you, Drewett; for I have heard 
 this brother might prove your rival." 
 
 "I had some such fears myself, once, I will confess," returned 
 the other; " but they are all vanished. I no longer fear him, and 
 can see and acknowledge his merits. Besides, I am indebted to him 
 for my life." 
 
 "No longer fear him!" This was plain enough, and was proof 
 of the understanding that' existed between the lovers. And why 
 should I be feared ! I, who had never dared to say a word to the 
 object nearest my heart that might induce her to draw the ordinary 
 distinction between passion and esteem love, and a brotherly re- 
 gard? 
 
 " Ay, Drewett is pretty safe, I fancy," Rupert remarked, laugh- 
 ing ; " though it will hardly do for me to tell tales out of school." 
 
 "This is a forbidden subject," rejoined the lover, " and we will 
 talk of Wallingford. He must inherit his sister's fortune." 
 
 " Poor Grace ! it was little she had to leave, I fancy," Rupert 
 quietly observed. 
 
 " Ay, little in your eyes, Hardinge," added the third person, 
 "but a good deal in those of her brother, the ship-master, one 
 might think. Ever since you have fallen heir to Mrs. Bradfort's es- 
 tate, a few thousands count for nothing."
 
 116 LtCY HARD1NGK. 
 
 " Were it a million, that brother would think it dearly purchased 
 by the loss of his sister ! " exclaimed Drewett. 
 
 "It's plain enough there is no rivalry between Andrew and 
 Miles," added the laughing Rupert. "Certainly, money is not quite 
 of s'o'much account with me now, as it used to be when I had no- 
 thing but a clergyman's salary to glean from. As for Mrs. Brad- 
 fort's fortune, it came from a common ancestor, and I do not see 
 who has a better right to it than those who now enjoy it." 
 
 "Unless it might be your father," said the third man, "who 
 stood before you, according to the laws of primogeniture. I dare 
 say Rupert made love to his venerable cousin, if the truth were 
 known, and induced her to overlook a generation, with his oily 
 tongue." 
 
 "Rupert did nothing of the sort 5 it is his glory to love Emily 
 Merlon, and Emily Merton only. As my worthy cousin could not 
 take her fortune with her, she left it among her natural heirs. How 
 do you know I have got any of it. I give you my honour, my ac- 
 count in bank is under twenty thousand dollars." 
 
 " A pretty fair account, that, by Jove!" exclaimed the other. 
 " It must be a rapping income that will permit a fellow like you to 
 keep up such a balance." 
 
 " Why, some persons say my sister has the whole fortune. I 
 dare say that Drewett can satisfy you on this head. The affair con- 
 cerns him quite as much as it does any other person of my 
 acquaintance." 
 
 " I can assure you I know nothing about it," answered Drewett, 
 honestly. "Nor do I desire to know. I would marry Miss Har- 
 dinge to-morrow, though she had not a cent." 
 
 ' It's just this disinterestedness, Andrew, that makes me like 
 you," observed Rupert, magnificently. " Depend on it, you'll fare 
 none the worse, in the long run, for this admirable trait in your 
 character. Lucy knows it, and appreciates it as she should." 
 
 I wished to hear no more, but left the box and the house, taking 
 care not to be seen. From that moment I was all impatience to get 
 to sea. I forgot even the intention of visiting my sister's grave ; nor 
 did I feel that I could sustain another interview with Lucy herself. 
 That afternoon I told Marble the ship must be ready to sail the 
 succeeding morning. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Go tenderness of years; take this key. Give enlargement to the swain bring him 
 festinately hither. 1 must employ him in a letter to my love. 
 
 Love't Labour Lott. 
 
 1 will not attempt to analyse the feelings which now impelled me 
 to quit America. I had discovered, or thought I had discovered,
 
 LUCY HARDDiGE. J17 
 
 certain qualities in Andrew Drewett, which rendered him, in some 
 measure at least, worthy of Lucy ; and I experienced how painful 
 it is to concede such an advantage to a rival. Still I must be just 
 enough to add that, in my cooler moments, when I came to con- 
 sider that Lucy could never be mine, I was rejoiced to find such 
 proofs of a generous disposition in her future husband. On the 
 other hand, I could not divest myself of the idea that perfect confi- 
 dence in his own position could alone enable him to be so liberal in 
 his opinions of myself. The reader will understand how extrava- 
 gant was this last supposition, when he remembers that I had never 
 given Lucy herself, or the world, any sufficient reason to suppose 
 that I was a suitor for the dear girl's hand. 
 
 I never saw Marble so industrious as he proved to be when he 
 received my hurried orders for sailing that afternoon. He shipped 
 his mother and niece for Willow Cove by an Albany sloop, the 
 same evening got the crew on board, and the Dawn into the stream 
 before sun-set, and passed half the night in sending off small stores. 
 As for the ship, she had been cleared the day the hatches were 
 battened down. According to every rule of mercantile thrift I 
 ought to have been at sea twenty-four hours when these orders 
 were given ; but a lingering reluctance to go further from the grave 
 of Grace, the wish to have one more interview with Lucy, and a 
 disposition to indulge my mate in his commendable zeal to amuse 
 his new-found relatives, kept me in port beyond my day. 
 
 All these delays, however, were over, and I was now in a fe- 
 verish hurry to be off. Neb came up to the City Hotel as I was 
 breakfasting, and reported that the ship was riding at single anchor, 
 with a short range, and that the fore top-sail was loose. I sent 
 him to the post-office for letters, and ordered my bill. All my trunks 
 had gone aboard before the ship hauled off, and the distances in 
 New York then being short Neb was soon back, and ready to 
 shoulder my carpet-bag. The bill was paid, three or four letters 
 were taken in my hand, and I walked towards the battery, followed 
 by the faithful black, who had again abandoned home, Chloe, and 
 Clawbonny, to follow my fortunes. 
 
 I delayed opening the letters until 1 reached the Battery. De- 
 spatching Neb to the boat, with orders to wait, I took a turn among 
 the trees still reluctant to quit the native soil, while I broke the 
 seals. Two of the letters bore the post-marks of the office nearest 
 Clawbonny , the third was from Albany ; and the fourth was a packet 
 of some size from Washington, franked by the secretary of state, 
 and bearing the seal of office. Surprised at such a circumstance, 
 I opened the last of these communications first. 
 
 The official letter proved to be an envelope, containing with a 
 civil request to myself to deliver the enclosures despatches ad- 
 dressed to the consul at Hamburg, for which port my ship had 
 been advertised some time. Of course, I could only determine to
 
 118 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 comply ^ and that communication was disposed of. One of the 
 Clawbonny letters was in Mr. Hardinge's hand, and I found it to 
 contain some excellent and parental advice. He spoke of my sister, 
 but it was calmly, and with the humble hope that became his sa- 
 cred office. I was not sorry to find that he advised me not to visit 
 Clawbonny before I sailed. Lucy, he said, was well, and a gentle 
 sadness was gradually taking the place of the livelier grief she had 
 endured, immediately after the loss of her friend. " You were not 
 aware, Miles, how keenly she suffered," my good old guardian 
 continued, " for she struggled hard to seem calm in your presence; 
 but from me my dear child had no secrets on this subject, whatever 
 she may see fit to have on another. Hours has she passed, weep- 
 ing on my bosom, and I much doubt if the image of Grace has been 
 absent from her waking thoughts a single minute, at any one time, 
 since we first laid your sister's head in the coffin. Of you she does 
 not speak often, but, when she does, it is ever in the kindest and 
 most solicitous manner; calling you " Miles," " poor Miles," or 
 " dear Miles," with all that sisterly frankness and affection you 
 have known inher from childhood." The old gentleman had under- 
 scored the " sisterly " himself. 
 
 To my delight and surprise, there was a long, very long, letter 
 from Lucy, too ! How it happened that I did not recognise her 
 pretty, delicate, lady-like handwriting, is more than I can say ; 
 but the direction had been overlooked in the confusion of receiving 
 so many letters together. That direction, too, gave me pleasure. 
 It was to "Miles Wallingford, Esquire ;" whereas the three others 
 were .addressed to "Capt. Miles Wallingford, ship Dawn. New 
 York." Now, a ship-master is no more entitled, in strict usage, 
 to be called a " captain," than he is to be called an "esquire." 
 Your man-of-war officer is the only true captain; a "master" being 
 nothing but a "master." Then, no American is entitled to be 
 called an "esquire" which is the correlative of "knight," and is a 
 title properly prohibited by the constitution, though most people 
 imagine that a magistrate is an " esquire" ex officio. He is an "es- 
 quire" as a member of congress is an "honourable," by assump- 
 tion, and not of right; and I wish the country had sufficient 
 self-respect to be consistent with itself. What should we think of 
 Mark Antony, Esquire ? or of 'Squire Lucius Junius Brutus? or His 
 Excellency Julius CaBsar, Esquire?* Nevertheless, "esquire" is an 
 appellation that is now universally given to a gentleman, who, in 
 truth, is the only man in America that has any right to it at all, and 
 he only b'y courtesy. Lucy had felt this distinction, and I was 
 grateful for the delicacy and tact with which she had dropped the 
 " captain," and put in the " esquire." To me it seemed to say that 
 
 * A few years since, the writer saw a marriage announced in a coloured paper, which 
 read, "Married, by the Rev. Julius Caesar, Washington, to Miss ."
 
 LUCY HARBINGE. 119 
 
 she recognised me as one of her own class, let Rupert, and his light 
 associates, think of me as they might. Lucy never departed a 
 hair's breadth from the strictly proper, in all matters of this sort, 
 something having been obtained from education, but far more from 
 the incrustable gifts of nature. 
 
 As for the letter itself, it is too long to copy 5 yet I scarce know 
 how to describe it. Full of heart it was, of course, for the dear 
 girl was all heart ; and it was replete with her truth and nature. 
 The only thing in it that did not give me entire satisfaction, was a 
 request not to come again to Clawbonny, until my return from Eu- 
 rope. "Time," she added, "will lessen the pain of such a visit; 
 and, by that time, you will begin to regard our beloved Grace as I 
 already regard her, a spotless spirit waiting for our union with it 
 in the mansions of bliss. It is not easy, Miles, to know how to 
 treat such a loss as this of ours. God may bless it to our lasting 
 good, and, in this light, it is useful to bear it ever in mind ; while a 
 too great submission to sorrow may only serve to render us un- 
 happy. Still, I think, no one who knew Grace, as we knew her, 
 can ever recall her image without feeling himself drawn nearer to 
 the dread Being who created her, and who has called her to him- 
 self so early. IVe, alone, thoroughly understood the beloved crea- 
 ture ! My dear excellent father loved her as he loves me ; but he 
 could not, did not know all the rare virtues of her heart. These 
 could be known only to those who knew her great secret, and, God 
 be praised ! even Rupert has little true knowledge of that. 
 
 "My father has spoken to me of Grace's wish that he and I should 
 accept some memorials of the affection she bore us. These were 
 unnecessary, but far too sacred to be declined. I sincerely wish 
 that their value, in gold, had been less, for the hair I possess (some 
 of which is reserved for you) is far more precious to me than any 
 diamonds or stones could possibly become. As, however, some- 
 thing must be purchased or procured, I have to request that my me- 
 morial may be the pearls you gave Grace, on your return from the 
 Pacific. Of course I do not mean the valuable necklace you have 
 reserved for one who will one day be still dearer to you than any 
 of us, but the dozen or two of pearls that you bestowed on your sis- 
 ter, in my presence, at Clawbonny. They are sufficiently|valuable 
 in themselves, to answer all the purposes of Grace's bequest, and I 
 know they were very much prized by her, as your gift, dear Miles. 
 I am certain you will not believe they will be the less valuable in 
 my eyes on that account. As I know where they are, I shall go to 
 Clawbonny and take possession of them at once, so you need give 
 yourself no further concern on account of the memorial that was 
 to be presented to me. I acknowledge its reception, unless you ob- 
 ject to my proposition." 
 
 I scarce knew what to think of this. 1 would gladly have 
 bestowed on Lucy pearls of equal value to those I had given Grace,
 
 120 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 . 
 
 but she refused to receive them ; and now she asked for these very 
 pearls, which, intrinsically, were not half the value of the sum I 
 had informed Mr. Hardinge Grace had requested me to expend in 
 purchasing a memorial. This avidity to possess these pearls for 
 so it struck me was difficult to account for, Grace having owned 
 divers other ornaments that were more costly, and which she had 
 much oftener worn. I confess, I had thought of attempting to per- 
 suade Lucy to receive my own necklace as the memorial of Grace, 
 but a little reflection satisfied me of the hopelessness of success, and 
 nothing had been said on the subject. Of course I acquiesced in the 
 wish of the dear girl to possess the pearls ; but, at the same time, I 
 determined to make an additional purchase, more thoroughly to 
 carry out the wishes of my sister. 
 
 On the whole, the letter of Lucy gave me a great and soothing 
 pleasure. I came to a resolution to answer it, and to send that 
 answer back by the pilot. I had no owner to feel any solicitude 
 in the movements of the ship ; had no longer a sister to care for 
 myself 5 and to whom else could my last words on quitting the land 
 be so appropriately addressed as to this constant and true-hearted 
 friend? That much, at least, I could presume to call Lucy, and 
 even to that I clung as the shipwrecked mariner clings to the last 
 plank that floats. 
 
 The fourth letter, to my astonishment, bore the signature of John 
 Wallingford, and the date of Albany. He had got thus far on his 
 way home, and had written me a line to let me know the fact. I 
 copy his epistle in full ; viz. : 
 a DEAR MILES, 
 
 " Here I am, and sorry am I to see, by the papers, there you are 
 still. Recollect, my dear boy, that sugars will melt. It is time 
 you were off : this is said for your own sake, and not for mine, as 
 you well know I am amply secured. Still, the markets may fall, 
 and he who is first in them can wait for a rise, while he who is last 
 must take what offers. 
 
 " Above all, Miles, do not take it into your head to alter your 
 will. Things are now arranged between us precisely as they 
 should be, and I hate changes. 1 am your heir, and you are 
 mine. Your counsel, Richard Harrison, Esq., is a man of great 
 respectability, and a perfectly safe repository of such a secret. I 
 leave many of my papers in his hands, and he has now been my 
 counsel ever since I had need of one ; and treads so hard on Ha- 
 milton's heels, that the last sometimes feels his toes. This is as 
 counsel, however, and not as an advocate. 
 
 "Adieu, my dear boy : we are both Wallingfords, and the nearest 
 of kin to each other of the name, Clawbonny will be safe with either 
 of us, and either of us will be safe with Clawbonny. 
 "Your affectionate cousin, 
 
 " JOH.N WALLINGFOBD. "
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 121 
 
 I confess that all this anxiety about Clawbonny began to give 
 me some uneasiness, and that I often wished I had been less ambi- 
 tious, or less hasty would be the better word, and had been content 
 to go to sea again, in my simple character of ship-master and ship- 
 owner ; leaving the merchant to those who better understood the 
 vocation. 
 
 I now went to the boat and to the ship. Marble was all ready 
 for me, and in ten minutes the anchor was clear of the bottom : in 
 ten more it was catted and fished, and the Dawn was beating down 
 the bay on a young flood, with a light breeze, at south-west. The 
 pilot being in charge, I had nothing to do but go below, and write 
 my letters. I answered everybody, even to the Secretary of State, 
 who, at that time, was no less a man than James Madison. To 
 him, however, I had nothing to say, but to acknowledge the receipt 
 of the despatches, and to promise to deliver them. My letter to 
 Mr. Hardinge was, I hope, such as a son might have written to a 
 revered parent. In it, I begged he would allow me to add to his 
 library by a purchase of theological works of value, and which, 
 in that day, conld only be procured in Europe. This was to be 
 his memorial of my sister. I also begged of his friendship an oc- 
 casional look at Clawbonny, though I did not venture to speak of 
 the mortgage, of which I now felt a sort of conviction he would not 
 approve. 
 
 The letter to John Wallingford was as pithy as his own to me. I 
 told him my will was made, on a conviction of its perfect propriety, 
 and assured him it would not be altered in a hurry : I told him the 
 sugars were safe, and let him understand that they were already on 
 their way to Hamburg, whence I hoped, ere long, to send him a 
 good account of their sale. 
 
 To Lucy I was by no means so laconic. On the subject of the 
 pearls of Grace, I begged her to do just as she pleased; adding a 
 request, however, that she would select such others of my sister's 
 ornaments as might be most agreeable to herself. On this point I 
 was a little earnest, since the pearls were not worth the sum Grace 
 had mentioned to me ; and I felt persuaded Lucy would not wish me 
 to remain her debtor. There was a pair of bracelets, in particular, 
 that Grace had highly prized, and which were very pretty in them- 
 selves. My father had purchased the stones rubies of some beauty 
 in one of his voyages, for my mother, who had fancied them too 
 showy for her to wear. I had caused them to be set for Grace, and 
 they would make a very suitable ornament for Lucy; and were to be 
 so much the more prized from the circumstance, that Grace had 
 once worn them. It is true, they contained a little, though very 
 little of my hair; for on this Grace had insisted : but this hair was 
 rather a blemish, and might easily be removed. I said as much in 
 my letter. 
 
 On the subject ofmysisters's death, I found it impossible to write
 
 122 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 much. The little I did say, however, was in full accordance with 
 her own feelings I felt persuaded, and I had no difficulty in believing 
 she would sympathise in all I did express, and in much that I had 
 not words to ex press. 
 
 On the subject of the necklace, I did find language to com- 
 municate a little, though it was done in the part of the letter where 
 a woman is said to give her real thoughts, the postscript. In 
 answer to what Lucy had said on the subject of my own necklace, 
 I wrote as follows, viz. : You speak of my reserving the more 
 valuable pearls for one, who, at some future day, may become my 
 wife. I confess this was my own intention originally ; and very 
 pleasant was it to me to fancy that one so dear would wear pearls that 
 had been brought up out of the sea by my own hands. But, dearest 
 Lucy, all these agreeable and delusive anticipations have vanished. 
 Depend on it, I shall never marry. I know that declarations of this 
 sort, in young men of three and twenty, like those of maidens of 
 nineteen, excite a smile oftener than they produce belief ; but I do 
 not say this without reflection, and I may add, without feeling. She 
 whom I once did hope to persuade to marry me, although much my 
 friend, is not accustomed to view me with the eyes that lead to love. 
 We were brought together under circumstances that have probably 
 induced her to regard me more as a brother than as a suitor, and 
 while the golden moments have passed away, her affections have 
 become the property of another. I resemble, in this particular at 
 least, our regretted Grace, and am not likely to change. My nature 
 may be sterner, and my constitution stronger, than those of my 
 poor sister proved to be, but I feel I cannot love twice ; not as I have, 
 and still do love, most certainly. Why should I trouble you with 
 all this, however ? I know you will not accept of the necklace 
 though so ready to give me your own last piece of gold, when I went 
 to sea, you have ever been so fastidious as to refuse every thing 
 from us that had the least appearance of a pecuniary obligation 
 and it is useless to say more about it. I have no right to trouble 
 you with my griefs, especially at a moment when I know your 
 affectionate heart is suffering so deeply from our recent loss." 
 
 I will confess that, while writing this, I fancied I was making a 
 sort of half declaration to Lucy one that might, at least, give her 
 some faint insight into the real state of my heart; and I had a 
 melancholy satisfaction in thinking that the dear girl might, by 
 these means, learn how much I had prized and stilt did prize her. 
 It was only a week later, while pondering over what I had written, 
 the idea occurred to me that every syllable I had said would apply 
 just as well to Emily Merton as to Lucy Hardinge. Peculiar cir- 
 cumstances had made me intimately acquainted with our young 
 English friend, and these circumstances might well have produced 
 the very results I had mentioned. We all believed Emily's affec- 
 tions to be engaged to Rupert , who must have succeeded during
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 123 
 
 my absence at sea. A modest and self-distrusting nature, like that 
 of Lucy's, would be very apt to turn to any other than herself in 
 quest of the original of my picture. 
 
 These letters occupied me for hours.' That to Lucy in particular 
 was very long, and it was not written wholly without care. When 
 all were done, and sealed, and enveloped to the address of the post- 
 master, I went on deck. The pilot and Marble had not been idle 
 while I had been below, for I found the ship just weathering the 
 south-west Spit, a position that enabled me to make a fair wind of 
 it past the Hook and out to sea. 
 
 Certainly I was in no haste to quit home. I was leaving my na- 
 tive land, Clawbonny, the grave of my sister, and Lucy, dearest 
 Lucy, all behind me ; and, at such an instant, one feels the ties 
 that are about to be separated. Still every seaman is anxious for 
 an offing, and glad was I to see the head of the Dawn pointing in the 
 right direction, with her yards nearly square, and a fore top-mast 
 studding-sail set. The pilot was all activity, and Marble, cool, 
 clear-headed in his duty, and instinctively acquainted with every- 
 thing belonging to a vessel, was just the man to carry out his views 
 to his heart's content. 
 
 The ship went, rising aud falling on the swells of the ocean, that 
 now began to make themselves felt, past the light and the low point 
 of the Hook, within a few minutes after we had squared away, and 
 once more the open ocean lay before us. I could not avoid smiling 
 at Neb, just as we opened the broad waste of waters and got an 
 unbroken view of the rolling ocean to the southward. The fellow 
 was on the main-top-sail yard, having just run out, and lashed the 
 heel of a top-gallant studding-sail boom, in order to set the sail. 
 Before he lay in to the mast he raised his Herculean frame, and took 
 a look to windward : his eyes opened, his jaostrils dilated, and I 
 fancied he resembled a hound that scented game in the gale, as he 
 snuffed the sea-air which came fanning his glistening face, filled 
 with the salts and peculiar flavours of the ocean. I question if Neb 
 thought at all of Chloe for the next hour or two. 
 
 As soon as we got over the bar I gave the pilot my package, and 
 he got into his boat. It was not necessary to shorten sail in order 
 to do this, for the vessel's way did not exceed five knots. 
 
 " Do you see the sail hereaway in the south-eastern board," said 
 the pilot, as he went over the side, pointing towards a white speck 
 on the ocean 5 "take care of that fellow, and give him as wide 
 a berth as possible, or he may give you a look at Halifax or Ber- 
 muda," 
 
 "Halifax, or Bermuda! I have nothing to do with either, and 
 shall not go there. Why should I fear that sail?" 
 
 " On account of your cargo, and on account of your men. That 
 is His Majesty's ship Leander : she has been off here now more than 
 a week. The inward-bound craft say she is acting under some
 
 124 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 new orders, and they name several vessels that have been seen 
 heading north-east after she had boarded them. This new war is 
 likely to lead to new troubles on the coast, and it is well for all 
 outward-bound ships to be on the look-out." 
 
 ii His Majesty's ship" was a singular expression for an American 
 to use, towards any sovereign, twenty years after the independence 
 of America was acknowledged. But it was common then, nor has 
 it ceased entirely even among the newspapers of the. present hour ; 
 so much harder is it to substitute a new language than to produce a 
 revolution. Notwithstanding this proof of bad taste in the pilot, I 
 did not disregard his caution. There had been certain unpleasant 
 rumours, up in town, for more than a month, that the two great bel- 
 ligerants would be apt to push each other into the old excesses, 
 England and France at that day having such a monopoly of the 
 ocean as to render them somewhat independent of most of the old- 
 fashioned notions of the rights of neutrals. As for America, she 
 was cursed with the cant of economy an evil that is apt to pro- 
 duce as many bad consequences as the opposite vice, extravagance. 
 The money paid as interest on the sums expended in the war of 1812, 
 might have maintained a navy that would have caused both belli- 
 gerants to respect her rights, and thereby saved the principal 
 entirely, to say nothing of all the other immense losses dependent 
 on an interrupted trade; but demagogues were at work with their 
 raven throats, and it is not reasonable to expect that the masses can 
 draw very just distinctions on the subject of remote interests, when 
 present expenditure is the question immediately before them. It is 
 true, I remember a modern French logician, who laid down the 
 dogma that the tendency of democracies being to excesses, if you 
 give a people the power, they would tax themselves to death ; but, 
 however true this theory may be in the main, it certainly is not true 
 quoad the good citizens of the great model republic. It was bad 
 enough to be accursed with a spurious economy , but this was not 
 the heaviest grievance that then weighed upon the national interests. 
 The demon of faction, party spirit, was actively at work in the 
 country ; and it was almost as rare to find a citizen who was in- 
 fluenced purely by patriotic and just views, as it would be to find an 
 honest man in the galleys. The nation, as a rule, was either English 
 or French. Some swore by the First Consul, and some by Billy 
 Pitt. As for the commercial towns, taken in connexion with the 
 upper classes, these were little more than so many reflections of 
 English feeling, exaggerated and rendered still more factitious by 
 distance. Those who did not swallow all that the English Tories 
 chose to pour down their throats, took the pillules Napoleons 
 without gagging. If there were exceptions, they were very few, 
 and principally among travelled men pilgrims who, by approach- 
 ing tJie respective idols, had discovered they were made by human 
 hands I
 
 LtJCY HARDINGE. 125 
 
 Impressment at sea, and out of neutral vessels, was revived, as a 
 matter of course, with the renewal of the war, and all American ships 
 felt the expediency of avoiding cruisers that might deprive them of 
 their men. Strange as it may seem, a large and leading class of 
 Americans justified this claim of the English, as it was practised on 
 board their own country's vessels. What will not men defend when 
 blinded and excited by faction? As this practice was to put the 
 mariner on the defensive, and to assume that every man was an 
 Englishman who could not prove, out on the ocean, a thousand 
 miles from land perhaps, that he was an American, it followed that 
 English navy officers exercised a jurisdiction over foreigners and 
 under a foreign flag, that would not be tolerated in the Lord High 
 Chancellor himself, in one of the streets of London that of throw- 
 ing the burthen of proving himself innocent on the accused party! 
 There was an abundance of other principles that were just as db- 
 vious and just as unanswerable as this, which w r ere violated by the 
 daily practices of impressment, but they all produced no effect on 
 the members of Congress and public writers that sustained the right 
 of the English, who as blindly espoused one side of the main ques- 
 tion as their opponents espoused the other. Men acting under the 
 guidance of factions are not compos mentis. 
 
 I think I may say, without boasting unreasonably of my own good 
 sense, that I have kept myself altogether aloof from the vortex of 
 parties, from boyhood to the present hour. My father had been a 
 federalist, but a federalist a good deal cooled off, from having seen 
 foreign countries, and no attempts had ever been made to make me 
 believe that black was white in the interest of either faction. I knew 
 that impressment from foreign vessels out of the waters of Great Bri- 
 tain at least, could be defended on no other ground but that of power; 
 and as for colonial produce, and all the subtleties that were depen- 
 dent on its transportation, I fancied that a neutral had a perfect right 
 to purchase of one belligerant and sell to another, provided he found 
 it his interest so to do, and he violated no positive not paper 
 blockade, or did not convey articles that are called contraband of war. 
 
 With these views, then, it is not surprising that I easily came 
 into the pilot's opinion, and determined to give the Leander a 
 sufficient berth, as sailors express it. 
 
 The Leander was a fifty, on two decks, a very silly sort of a craft; 
 though she had manfully played her part at the Nile, and on one or 
 two other rather celebrated occasions, and was a good vessel of 
 the build. Still, I felt certain the Dawn could getaway from her, 
 under tolerably favourable circumstances. The Leander after- 
 wards became notorious, on the American coast, in consequence of 
 a man killed in a coaster by one of her shot, within twenty miles of 
 the spot where I now saw her, an event that had its share in awaken- 
 ing the feeling that produced the war of 1812, a war of which the 
 effects are just beginning to be made manifest in the policy of the
 
 126 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 republic; a fact, by the way, that is little understood at home or 
 abroad. The Leander was a fast ship of her kind, but the Dawn 
 was a fast ship of any kind; and I had great faith in her. It is 
 true the fifty had the advantage of the wind; but she was a long way 
 off* well to the southward, and might have something in sight that 
 could not be seen even from our top-gallant yards, whither Neb 
 was sent to take a look at the horizon. 
 
 Our plan was soon laid. The south side of Long Island trending 
 a little to the north of east, I ordered the ship to be steered east by 
 south, which, with the wind at south-south-west, gave me an 'op- 
 portunity to carry all our studding-sails. The soundings were as 
 regular as the ascent on the roof of a shed, or on that of a graded 
 lawn ; and the land in sight less than two leagues distant. In this 
 manner we ran down the coast, with about six knots' way on the 
 ship, as soon as we got from under the Jersey shore. 
 
 In less than an hour, or when we were about four leagues from 
 Sandy Hook Light, the Englishman wore short round, and made 
 sail to cut us off. By this time he was just forward of our weather 
 beam, a position that did not enable him to carry studding-sails on 
 both sides ; for, had he kept off enough for this, he would have 
 fallen into our wake; while, by edging away to close with us, his 
 after-sails becalmed the forward, and this at the moment when 
 everything of ours pulled like a team of well-broken cart-horses. 
 Notwithstanding all this, we had a nervous afternoon's and night's 
 work of it. These old fifties are great travellers off the wind ; and 
 more than once I fancied the Leander was going to lay across my 
 bows, as she did athwart those of the Frenchman at the Nile. The 
 Dawn, however, was not idle, and, as the wind stood all that day, 
 throughout the night, and was fresher, though more to the southward 
 than it had hitherto been, next morning I had the satifaction of 
 seeing Montauk a little on my lee-bow at sun-rise, while my 
 pursuer was still out of gun-shot on my weather beam. 
 
 Marble and 1 now held a consultation on the subject of the best 
 mode of proceeding. I was half disposed to let the Leander come 
 up, and send a boat on board us. What had we to fear ? We were 
 bound to Hamburg with a cargo, one half of which came from the 
 English, while the other half came from French islands. But what 
 of that? Marble, however, would not listen to such a project. He 
 affirmed that he was a good pilot in all the sounds, and that it would 
 be better to risk every thing rather than let that fifty close with us. 
 
 " Keep the ship away for Montauk, sir," exclaimed the mate 
 " keep her away for Montauk, and let that chap follow us if he dare! 
 There's a reef or two inside that I'll engage to lead him on, should 
 he choose to try the game, and that will cure him of his taste for 
 chasing a Yankee." 
 
 "Will you engage, Moses, to carry the ship over the shoals, if I 
 will do as you desire, and go inside ?"
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 127 
 
 " I'll carry her into any port east of Block Island, Captain Wall- 
 ingford. Though New York born, as it now turns out, I'm ' down 
 east' edicated, and have got a 'coasting pilot' of my own in my 
 head." 
 
 This settled the^matter, and I came to the resolution to stand on. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The wind blows fair, the vessel feels 
 
 The pressure of the rising breeze, 
 And, swiftest of a thousand keels, 
 
 She leaps to the careering seas. 
 
 WILLIS. 
 
 Half an hour later, things drew near a crisis. We had been 
 obliged to luff a little, in order to clear a reef that even Marble ad- 
 mitted lay off Montauk, while the Leander had kept quite as much 
 away, with a view to close. This brought the fifty so near us, di- 
 rectly on our weather beam, as to induce her commander to try the 
 virtue of gunpowder. Her bow-gun was fired, and its shot, only a 
 twelve-pounder, ricoched until it fairly passed our fore -foot, distant 
 a hundred yards, making its last leap from the water precisely in a 
 line with the stem of the Dawn. This was unequivocal evidence 
 that the game could not last much longer, unless the space between 
 the two vessels should be sensibly widened. Fortunately, we now 
 opened Montauk fort, and the option was offered us of doubling that 
 point, and entering the sound, or of standing on towards Block Is- 
 land, and putting the result on our heels. After a short consultation 
 with Marble, I decided on the first. 
 
 One of the material advantages possessed by a man-of-war in a 
 chase with a merchant-vessel, is in the greater velocity with which 
 her crew can make or take in sail. I knew that the moment we 
 began to touch our braces, tacks, and sheets, that the Leander 
 would do the same, and that she would effect her objects in half the 
 time in which we could effect ours. Nevertheless, the thing was 
 to be done, and we set about the preparations with care and assi- 
 duity. It was a small malter to round in our weather braces, until 
 the yards were nearly square, but the rigging out of her studding- 
 sail booms, and the setting of the sails, was a job to occupy the 
 Dawn's people several minutes. Marble suggested that by edging 
 gradually away, we should bring the Leander so far on our quarter 
 as to cause the after-sails to conceal what we were about forward, 
 and that we might steal a march on our pursuers, by adopting this 
 precaution. I thought the suggestion a good one, and the necessary 
 orders were given to carry it out. 
 
 Any one might be certain that the Englishman's glasses were 
 levelled on us the whole time. Some address was used, therefore,
 
 128 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 in managing to get our yards in without showing the people at the 
 braces. This was done by keeping off first, and then by leading the 
 ropes as far forward as possible, and causing the men to haul on 
 them, seated on deck. In this manner we got our yards nearly 
 square, or as much in as our new course required, when we sent 
 hands aloft, forward, to get out the lee booms. But we reckoned 
 without our host. John Bull was not to be caught in that way. 
 The hands were hardly in the lee fore rigging, before I saw the 
 fifty falling off to our course , her yards squared, and signs aboard 
 her that she had larboard studding-sails as well as ourselves. The 
 change of course had one good effect, however : it brought our 
 pursuer so far on our quarter, that standing at the capstan, I saw 
 him through the mizen rigging. This took the Dawn completely 
 from under the Leander's broadside, leaving us exposed to merely 
 four or five of her forward guns, should she see fit to use them. 
 Whether the English were reluctant to resort to such very decided 
 means of annoyance, so completely within the American waters 
 as we were clearly getting to be, or whether they had so much con- 
 fidence in their speed, as to feel no necessity for firing, I never 
 knew ; but they did not have any further recourse to shot. 
 
 As might have been foreseen, the fifty had her extra canvas 
 spread some time before we could open ours, and I fancied she 
 showed the advantage thus obtained in her rate of sailing. She cer- 
 tainly closed with us, though we closed much faster with the land : 
 still, there was imminent danger of her overhauling us before we 
 could round the point, unless some decided step were promplly 
 taken' to avoid it. 
 
 " On the whole, Mr. Marble," I said, after my mates and myself 
 had taken a long and thoughtful look at the actual state of things 
 " On the whole, Mr. Marble, itmaybe well to take in our lightsails, 
 haul our wind, and let the man-of-war come up with us. We are 
 honest folk, and there is little risk in his seeing all we have 
 to show him." 
 
 " Never think of it! " cried the mate. " After this long pull, 
 the fellow will be as savage as a bear with a sore head. He'd not 
 leave a hand on board us, that can take his trick at the wheel ; and 
 it's ten chances to one that he would send the ship to Halifax, 
 under some pretence or other; that the sugars are not sweet enough, 
 or that the coffee was grown in a French island, and tastes French. 
 No no Captain Wallingford here's the wind at sou'-sou'-west, 
 and we're heading nothe-east, and-by-nothe-half-nothe already, 
 with that fellow abaft the mizen riggin' 5 as soon as we get a p'int 
 more to the nor'ard, we'll have him fairly in our wake." 
 
 " Ay, that will do very well as a theory, but what can we make of 
 it in practice? We are coming up towards Montauk at the rate of 
 eight knots, and you have told me yourself there is a reef off that 
 point, directly towards which we must this moment be standing.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 129 
 
 At this rate, fifteen minutes might break us up into splinters." 
 I could see that Marble was troubled, by the manner in which he 
 rolled his tobacco about, and the riveted gaze he kept on the water 
 ahead. I had the utmost confidence in his seaman-like prudence 
 and discretion, while I knew he was capable of suggesting any 
 thing a ship could possibly perform , in an emergency that called 
 for such an exercise of decision. At that moment he forgot our 
 present relations, and went back, as he often did when excited, to 
 the days of our greater equality, and more trying scenes. 
 
 " Harkee, Miles," he said, " the reef is dead ahead of us, but 
 there is a passage between it and the point. I went through that 
 passage in the revvylution-war, in chase of an English West Injyman, 
 and stood by the lead the whole way, myself. Keep her away, Neb 
 keep her away, another p'int : so steady very well, dyce (an- 
 glice, thus) keep her so, and let John Bull follow us if he dare." 
 "You should be very sure of your channel, Mr. Marble," 1 said 
 gravely, "to take so much responsibility on yourself. Remember, 
 my all is embarked in this ship, and the insurance will not be 
 worth a sixpence, if we are lost running through such a place as 
 this in broad daylight. Reflect a moment, I beg of you, if not 
 certain of what you do." 
 
 "And what will the insurance be worth, ag'in Halifax, or Ber- 
 muda? I'll put my life on the channel, and would care more for 
 your ship. Miles, than my own. If you love me, stand on, and let 
 us see if that lubberly make-believe two-decker dare follow." 
 
 I was fain to comply, though I ran a risk that I find it impos- 
 sible, now, to justify to myself. I had my cousin John Walling- 
 ford's property in charge, as well as my own, or what was quite as 
 bad, I placed Clawbonny in imminent jeopardy. Still, my feelings 
 were aroused, and to the excitement of a race was added the serious 
 but vague apprehensions all American seamen felt, in that day, of 
 the great belligerants. It is a singular proof of human justice, that 
 the very consequences of these apprehensions are made matter of 
 reproach against them. 
 
 It is not my intention to dwell further on the policy of England 
 and France, during their great contest for superiority, than is ne- 
 cessary to the narrative of events connected with my own adven- 
 tures ; but a word in behalf of American seamen in passing may not 
 be entirely out of place or season. Men are seldom wronged with- 
 out being calumniated, and the body of men of which I was then 
 one, did not escape that sort of reparation for all the grievances 
 they endured, which is dependent on demonstrating that the injured 
 deserve their sufferings. We have been accused of misleading 
 English cruisers by false information, of being liars to an unusual 
 degree, and of manifesting a grasping love of gold, beyond the or- 
 dinary cupidity of man. Now, I will ask our accusers, if it were at 
 all extraordinary that they who felt themselves daily aggrieved 
 
 9
 
 130 LUCY HAHDINGE. 
 
 should resort to the means within their power to avenge them- 
 selves? As for veracity, no one who has reached my present time 
 of life, can be ignorant that truth is the rarest thing in the world, 
 nor are those who have been the subjects of mystifications got up 
 in payment for wrongs, supposed or real, the most impartial judges 
 of character or facts. As for the charge of an undue love of money, 
 it is unmerited. Money will do less in America than in any other 
 country of my acquaintance, and infinitely less than in either France 
 or England. There is truth in this accusation, as applied either to 
 a particular class or to the body of the American people, only in 
 one respect. It is undeniable that, as a new nation, with a civilisa- 
 tion that is wanting in so many of its higher qualities, while it is 
 already so far advanced in those which form the basis of national 
 greatness, money does not meet with the usual competition among 
 us. The institutions, too, by dispensing with hereditary consider- 
 ation, do away with a leading and prominent source of distinction 
 that is known to other systems, thus giving to riches an exclusive 
 importance, that is rather apparent, however, than real. I acknow- 
 ledge that little or no consideration is yet given among us to any of 
 the more intellectual pursuits, the great bulk of the nation regard- 
 ing literary men, artists, even professional men, as so many public 
 servants, that are to be used like any other servants, respecting 
 them and their labours only as they can contribute to the great 
 stock of national wealth and renown. This is owing, in part, to the 
 youth of a country in which most of the material foundation was so 
 recently to be laid, and in part to the circumstance that men, being 
 under none of the factitious restraints of other systems, coarse and 
 vulgar-minded declaimers make themselves heard and felt to a de- 
 gree that would not be tolerated elsewhere. Notwithstanding all 
 these defects, which no intelligent, and, least of all, no travelled 
 American should or can justly deny, I will maintain that gold is not 
 one tittle more the goal of the American than it is of the native of 
 other active and energetic communities. It is true, there is little 
 besides gold, just now, to aim at in America 5 but the great number 
 of young men who devote themselves to letters and the arts, under 
 such unfavourable circumstances, a number greatly beyond the 
 knowledge of foreign nations, proves it is circumstances, and not 
 the grovelling propensities of the people themselves, that give gold 
 a so nearly undisputed ascendency. The great numbers who de- 
 vote themselves to politics among us, certainly any thing but a 
 money-making pursuit, proves that it is principally the want of 
 other avenues to distinction that renders gold apparently the sole 
 aim of American existence. To return from this touch of philoso- 
 phy to our ships. 
 
 The progress of the Dawn soon left us no choice in the course 
 to be steered. We could see by the charts that the reef was already 
 outside of us, and there was now no alternative between going
 
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 131 
 
 ashore or going through Marble's channel. We succeeded in the 
 last, gaining materially on the Leander by so doing, the English- 
 man hauling his wind when he thought himself as near to the 
 danger as was prudent, and giving up the chase. I ran on to the 
 northward an hour longer ; when, finding our pursuer was hull 
 down to the southward and westward, I took in our larboard stud- 
 ding-sails, and brought the ship by the wind, passing out to sea 
 again, to the eastward of Block Island. 
 
 Great was the exultation on board the Dawn at this escape ; for 
 escape it proved to be. Next morning, at sun-rise, we saw a sail 
 a long distance to the westward, which we supposed to be the 
 Leander ; but she did not give chase. Marble and the people were 
 delighted at having given John Bull the slip ; while I learned cau- 
 tion from the occurrence, determining not to let another vessel 
 of war get near enough to trouble me again, could I possibly 
 prevent it. 
 
 From this time, for twenty days, the passage of the Dawn had 
 nothing unusual. We crossed the Banks in forty-six, and made as 
 straight a course for the western extremity of England as the winds 
 would allow. * For several days I was uncertain whether to go 
 north-about, or not, believing that I should fall in with fewer cruisers 
 by doubling Scotland, than by running up channel. The latter 
 was much the nearest route ; though so much depends on the winds, 
 that I determined to let these last govern. Until we had made two- 
 thirds of our distance across the ocean, the winds had stood very 
 much at south-west ; and, though we had no heavy weather, our 
 progress was good; but in 20 E. from Greenwich, we got north- 
 easters, and our best tack being the larboard, I stood for ten days 
 to the southward and eastward. This brought us into the track of 
 every thing going to or coming from the Mediterranean ; and had we 
 stood on far enough, we should have made the land somewhere in 
 the Bay of Biscay. I knew we should find the ocean dotted with 
 English cruisers, however, as soon as we got into the European 
 waters; and we tacked to the north-west when about a hundred 
 leagues from the land. 
 
 The thirty-third day out proved one of great importance to me. 
 The wind had shifted to south-west, and it was blowing fresh, with 
 very thick weather, rain, mingled with a fine mist, that often pre- 
 vented one's seeing a quarter of a mile from the ship. The change 
 occurred at midnight, and there was every prospect of the wind's 
 standing until it shoved us into the chops of the channel, from 
 which we were then distant about four hundred miles, according 
 to my own calculation. Marble had the watch at four o'clock, and 
 he sent for me, that I might decide on the course to be steered and 
 the sail to be carried. The course was N. N. E. ; but, as for the sail, 
 I determined to stand on under our topsails and forecourse, spanker 
 and jib, until I could get a look by daylight. When the sun was
 
 13? LUCY HARDINGfc. 
 
 fairly up, there was no change, and I gave orders to get along some 
 of the larger studding-sails, and to set the main-top-gallant sail, 
 having my doubts whether the spars would bear any more canvas 
 under the stiff breeze that was blowing. 
 
 "This is no great distance from the spot where we surprised 
 the Lady of Nantes, Captain Wallingford," Marble observed to me, 
 as I stood overlooking the process of bending a fore-topmast studding- 
 sail, in which he was engaged with his own hands , " nor was the 
 weather any thicker then than it is now, though that was a haze, and 
 this is a mist." 
 
 " You are out of your longitude a few hundred miles, Master 
 Moses, but the comparison is well enough otherwise. We have 
 twice the wind and sea we had then, moreover, and that was dry 
 weather, while this is, to speak more gingerly, a little moist." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir ; there is just that difference. Them were 
 pleasant days, Captain Wallingford I say nothing ag'in these 
 but them 'ere were pleasant times, as all in theCrisis must allow." 
 
 " Perhaps we shall think the same of these some five or six 
 yoars hence." 
 
 "Well, that's natur', I must confess. It's amazing how the last 
 v'y'ge hangs in a man's memory, and how little we think of the 
 present! I suppose the Lord made us all of this disposition, for 
 it's sartain we all manifest it. Come, bear a hand, Neb, on that fore- 
 yard, and let us see the length of the stun-sail boom." 
 
 But Neb, contrary to his habits, stood upright on the yard, hold- 
 ing on by the lift, and looking over the weather leach of the topsail, 
 apparently at some object that either was just then visible, or which 
 had just before been visible. 
 
 "What is it?" cried Marble, struck with the black's attitude and 
 manner. "What d'ye see?" 
 
 " I don't see him now, sir ; nuttin' now ; but dere was a 
 ship." 
 
 " Where-away ? " I demanded. 
 
 " Off, here, MasserMile larboard bow, well forrard; look sharp 
 and soon see him, yourself, sir." 
 
 Sharp enough we did look, all hands of us on deck, and, in less 
 than a minute, we caught a pretty good view of the stranger from 
 the forecastle. He might have been visible to us half a minute, in 
 one of those momentary openings in the mist, that were constantly 
 occurring, and which enabled the eye to command a range around 
 the ship of half a mile, losing it again, however, almost as soon as 
 it was obtained. Notwithstanding the distance of time, 1 can per- 
 fectly recall the appearance of that vessel, seen as she was, for a 
 moment only, and seen too so unexpectedly. It was a frigate, as 
 frigates then were 5 or a ship of that medium size between a heavy 
 sloop-of-war and a two-decker, which, perhaps, offers the greatest 
 proportions for activity and force. We plainly saw her cream-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 133 
 
 coloured, or, as it is more usual to term it, her yellow streak, dotted 
 with fourteen ports, including the bridle, and gleaming brightly 
 in contrast to the dark and glistening hull, over which the mist and 
 the spray of the ocean cast a species of sombre lustre. The stranger 
 was under his three topsails, spanker and jib, each of the former 
 sails being double reefed. His courses were in the brails. As the 
 wind did not blow hard enough to bring a vessel of any size to more 
 than one reef, even on a bowline, this short canvas proved that the 
 frigate was on her cruising ground, and was roaming about in quest 
 of any thing that might offer. This was just the canvas to give a 
 cruiser a wicked look, since it denoted a lazy preparation, which 
 might, in an instant, be improved into mischief. As all cruising 
 vessels, when on their stations doing nothing, reef at night, and 
 the hour was still early, it was possible we had made this ship 
 before her captain, or first-lieutenant, had made his appearance 
 on deck. There she was, at all events, dark, lustrous, fair in her 
 proportions, her yards looming square and symmetrical, her canvas 
 damp, but stout and new, the copper bright as a tea-kettle, resem- 
 bling a new cent, her hammock-cloths with the undress appearance 
 this part of a vessel of war usually offers at night, and her quarter- 
 deck and forecastle guns frowning through the lanyards of her 
 lower rigging like so many slumbering bull-dogs muzzled in their 
 kennels. 
 
 The frigate was on an easy bowline, or, to speak more correctly, 
 was standing directly across our fore-foot, with her yards nearly 
 square. In a very few minutes, each keeping her present course, 
 the two ships would have passed within pistol-shot of each other. 
 I scarcely knew the nature of the sudden impulse which induced me 
 to call out to the man at the wheel to starboard his helm. It was 
 probably from instinctive apprehension that it were better for a 
 neutral to have as little to do with a belligerant as possible, mingled 
 with a presentiment that I might lose some of my people by impress- 
 ment. Call out I certainly did, and the Dawn's bows came up to the 
 wind, looking to the westward, or in a direction contrary to that in 
 which the frigate was running, as her yards were square, or nearly 
 so. As soon as the weather leaches touched, the helm was righted, 
 and away we went with the wind abeam, with about as much breeze 
 as we wanted for the sail we carried. 
 
 The Dawn might have been half a mile to windward of the frigate 
 when this manoeuvre was put in execution. We were altogether 
 ignorant whether our own ship had been seen ; but the view we got 
 of the stranger satisfied us that he was an Englishman. Throughout 
 the whole of the long wars that succeeded the French Revolution, 
 the part of the ocean which lay off the chops of the channel was vi- 
 gilantly watched by the English, and it was seldom, indeed, a 
 vessel could go over it, without meeting more or less of their 
 cruisers.
 
 134 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 I was not without a hope that the two ships would pass each 
 other without our being seen. The mist became very thick just as 
 we hauled up, and, had this change of course taken place after we 
 were shut in, the chances were greatly in favour of its being ef- 
 fected. Once distant a mile from the frigate, there was little danger 
 of her getting a glimpse of us, since, throughout all that morning, I 
 was satisfied we had not got an horizon with that much of diameter. 
 
 As a matter of course, the preparations with the studding-sails 
 were suspended. Neb was ordered to lie aloft, as high as the cross- 
 trees, and to keep a vigilant look out, while all eyes on deck were 
 watching as anxiously, in the mist, as we had formerly watched for 
 the shadowy outline of La Dame de Nantes. Marble's long expe- 
 rience told him best where to look, and he caught the next view of 
 the frigate. She was directly under our Ice, gliding easily along 
 under the same canvas ; the reefs still in, the courses in the brails, 
 and the spanker rolled up, as it had been for the night. 
 
 "By George," cried the mate, "all them Johnny Bulls are still 
 asleep, and they haven't seen us ! If we can give this fellow the 
 slip, as we did the old Leander, Captain Wallingford, the Dawn will 
 become as famous as the Flying Dutchman ! See, there he jogs 
 on, as if going to mill, or to church, and no more stir aboard him 
 than there is in a Quaker meetin' ! How my good old soul of a 
 mother would enjoy this! " 
 
 There the frigate went, sure enough, without the smallest sign of 
 any alarm having been given on board her. The vessels had ac- 
 tually passed each other, and the mist was thickening again. Pre- 
 sently, the veil was drawn, and the form of that beautiful ship was 
 entirely hid from sight. Marble rubbed his hands with delight ; 
 and all our people began to joke at the expense of the Englishman. 
 " If a merchantman could see a man of war," it was justly enough 
 said, "a man-of-war ought certainly to see a merchantman." Her 
 look-outs must have all been asleep, or it would not have been pos- 
 sible for us to pass so near, under the canvas we carried, and escape 
 undiscovered. Most of the Dawn's crew were native Americans, 
 though there were four or five Europeans among them. Of these 
 last, one was certainly an Englishman, and (as I suspected) a de- 
 serter from a public ship ; and the other, beyond all controversy, 
 was a plant of the Emerald Isle. These two men were particularly 
 delighted, though well provided with those veracious documents 
 called protections, which, like beggars' certificates, never told any 
 thing but truth ; though, like beggars' certificates, they not unfre- 
 quently fitted one man as well as another. It was the well-estab- 
 lished laxity in the character of this testimony, that gave the Eng- 
 lish officers something like a plausible pretext for disregarding all 
 evidence in the premises. Their mistake was in supposing they 
 had a right to make a man prove any thing on board a foreign ship ; 
 while that of America was, in permitting her citizens to be ar-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 135 
 
 raigned before foreign judges, under any conceivable circumstances. 
 If England wanted her own men, let her keep them within her own 
 jurisdiction 5 not attempt to follow them into the jurisdiction of 
 neutral states. 
 
 Well, the ship had passed; and I began myself to fancy that we 
 were quit of a troublesome neighbour, when Neb came down the rig- 
 ging, in obedience to an order from the mate. 
 
 " Relieve the wheel, Master Clawbonny," said Marble, who often 
 gave the negro his patronymic, "we may want some of your touches 
 before we reach the foot of the dance. Which way was John Bull 
 travelling when you last saw him? " 
 
 " He goin' eastward, sir." Neb was never half as much 
 " nigger" at sea as when he was on shore there being something 
 in his manly calling that raised him nearer to the dignity of white 
 men. " But, sir, he was gettin' his people ready to make sail." 
 
 "How do you know that? No such thing, sir 5 all hands were 
 asleep, taking their second naps." 
 
 "Well, you see, Misser Marble, den you know, sir." 
 Neb grinned as he said this ; and I felt persuaded he had seen 
 something that he understood, but which very possibly he could 
 not explain ; though it clearly indicated that John Bull was not 
 asleep. We were not left long in doubt on this head. The mist 
 opened again, and distant from us about three-quarters of a mile, 
 bearing on our lee-quarter, we got another look at the frigate, and 
 a look that satisfied everybody what she was about. The English- 
 man was in stays, in the very act of hauling his head-yards 5 a cer- 
 tain sign he was a quick and sure-working fellow, since this ma- 
 noeuvre had been performed against a smart sea, and under double- 
 reefed topsails. He must have made us just as we lost sight of him, 
 and was about to shake out his reefs. 
 
 On this occasion the frigate may have been visible from our decks 
 three minutes. I watched all her movements as the cat watches the 
 mouse. In the first place her reefs were shaken out, as the ship's 
 bows fell off far enough to get the sea on the right side of them, 
 and her topsails appeared to me to be mast-headed by instinct, or 
 as the bird extend its wings. The fore and main top-gallant sails 
 were fluttering in the breeze at this very moment it blew rather too 
 fresh for the mizen, and then their bosoms were distended, and 
 their bowlines hauled. How the fore and main tacks got aboard I 
 could not tell, though it was done while my eyes were on the upper 
 sails. I caught a glimpse of the fore-sheet, however, as the clew 
 was first flapping violently, and then was brought under the res- 
 traint of its own proper powerful purchase. The spanker had been 
 hauled out previously, to help the ship in tacking. 
 
 There was no mistaking all this. We were seen, and chased ; 
 every thing on board the frigate being instantly and accurately trim- 
 mad, " full and by." She looked up into our wake, and I knew
 
 136 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 must soon overtake a heavily-laden ship like the Dawn, in the style 
 in which she was worked and handled. Under the circumstance, 
 therefore, I motioned Marble to follow me aft, where we consulted 
 together, touching our future proceedings. I confess I was disposed 
 to shorten sail, and let the cruiser come alongside ; but Marble, as 
 usual, was for holding on. 
 
 "We are bound to Hamburg," said the mate, "which lies, 
 hereaway, on our lee-beam, and no man has a right to complain of 
 our steering our course. The mist has shut the frigate in again, 
 and, it being very certain he will overhaul us on a bowline, I advise 
 you, Miles, to lay the yards perfectly square, edge away two points 
 more, and set the weather stun'-sails. If we do not open John very 
 soon again, we may be off three or four miles to leeward before he 
 learns where we are, and then, you know, a ' starn-chase ' is 
 always a 'long-chase.'" 
 
 This was good advice, and I determined to follow it. It blew 
 rather fresh at the instant, and the Dawn began to plunge through 
 the seas at a famous rate, as soon as she felt the drag of the stud- 
 ding-sails. We were now running on a course that made an obtuse 
 angle with that of the frigate, and there was the possibility of so far 
 increasing our distance as to get beyond the range of the openings 
 of the mist, ere our expedient were discovered. So long did the 
 density of the atmosphere continue, indeed, that my hopes were 
 beginning to be strong, just as one of our people called out " the 
 frigate ! " This time she was seen directly astern of us, and nearly 
 two miles distant ! Such had been our gain, that ten minutes 
 longer would have carried us clear. As we now saw her, I felt 
 certain she would soon see us, eyes being on the look-out on 
 board her, beyond a question. Nevertheless, the cruiser was 
 still on a bowline, standing on the course on which we had been 
 last seen. 
 
 This lasted but a moment, however. Presently the Englishman's 
 bow fell off, and by the time he was dead before the wind, we could 
 see his studding-sails flapping in the air, as they were in the act of 
 being distended, by means of halyards, tacks, and sheets, all going 
 at once. The mist shut in the ship again before all this could be 
 executed. What was to be done next? Marble said, as we were 
 not on our precise course, it might serve a good turn to bring the 
 wind on our starboard quarter, set all the studding-sails we could 
 carry on the same side, and run off east-north-east. I inclined to 
 this opinion, and the necessary changes were made forthwith. 
 The wind and mist increased, and away we went, on a diverging 
 line from the course of the Englishman, at the rate of quite ten 
 knots in the hour. This lasted full forty minutes, and all hands of 
 us fancied we had at last given the cruiser the slip. Jokes and 
 chuckling flew about among the men, as usual, and everybody 
 began to feel as happy as success could make us, when the dark
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 137 
 
 veil lifted at the south-west , the sun was seen struggling through 
 the clouds, the vapour dispersed, and gradually the whole curtain 
 which had concealed the ocean throughout that morning arose, ex- 
 tending the view around the ship, little by little, until nothing li- 
 mited it but the natural horizon. 
 
 The anxiety with which we watched this slow rising of the 
 curtain need scarcely be described. Every eye was turned eagerly 
 in the direction in which its owner expected to find the frigate ; 
 and great was our satisfaction as mile after mile opened in the circle 
 around us, without bringing her beautiful proportions within its 
 range. But this could not last for ever, there not being sufficient 
 time to carry so large a vessel over the curvature of the ocean's 
 surface. As usual, Marble saw her first. She had fairly passed to 
 leeward of us, and was quite two leagues distant, driving ahead 
 with the speed of a race-horse. With a clear horizon, an open 
 ocean, a stiff breeze, and hours of daylight, it was hopeless to at- 
 tempt escape from as fast a vessel as the stranger, and I now deter- 
 mined to put the Dawn on her true course, and trust altogether to 
 the goodness of my cause; heels being out of the question. The 
 reader, who will do me the favour to peruse the succeeding chapter, 
 will learn the result of this resolution. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " Whom have we here, Buckingham, to disturb me? 
 The King hath sent him, sure : I must dissemble." 
 
 King Henry VI. 
 
 At first, the frigate took single reefs in her topsails, set topgal- 
 lant-sails over them, and hauled up on taut bowlines. But seeing 
 no signs of our studding-sails coming down, she shook out her 
 reefs, squared her yards, set topmast studding-sails, and kept off to 
 a course that would be certain to intercept us. She was up on our 
 line of sailing some little time before we got down to her, and she 
 kept standing off and on, hauling up her courses, and furling her 
 topgallant-sails, and hauling down all of her light sails, the jib ex- 
 cepted. As for the Dawn, she kept steadily on, carrying every 
 thing she could bear. We had topmast and lower studding-sails, 
 and not a tack or sheet had been touched when we got within a 
 quarter of a mile of the frigate. The Englishman now showed his 
 colours, when we let him see the stars and stripes. Still no sail 
 was touched on board us. As if surprised at our obstinacy, John 
 Bull let fly a chase-gun, taking good care not to send the shot very 
 near us. I thought it time now to shorten sail, and to pretend to 
 see him. We began to haul down our studding-sails, merchant- 
 fashion, and were fairly alongside of the frigate before even this
 
 138 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 preliminary step to heaving-to was effected. As we approached, 
 the frigate bore up, and ran off in company with us, keeping a 
 hundred fathoms distance from us, and watching us closely. At 
 this instant, I ordered the topgallant-sails settled on the caps, as a 
 sign we intended to let him board us. 
 
 At length, having reduced the sail to the three -topsails, reefed, I 
 hove-to the Dawn, and waited for a visit from the Englishman's 
 boat. As soon as the frigate saw us fairly motionless, she shot up 
 on our weather quarter, half a cable's length distant, swung her 
 long saucy-looking yards, and lay-to herself. At the same instant, 
 her lee-quarter boat dropped into the water, with the crew in it, a 
 boy of a midshipman scrambled down the ship's side and entered 
 it also, a lieutenant followed, when away the cockle of a thing swept 
 on the crest of a sea, and was soon pulling round under our stern. 
 I stood on the lee quarter, examining my visitors, as they struggled 
 against the swell, in order to get a boat-hook into our main chains. 
 The men were like any other man-of-war's men, neat, sturdy, and 
 submissive in air. The reefer was a well-dressed boy, evidently a 
 gentleman's son ; but the lieutenant was one of those old weather- 
 beaten sea-dogs, who are seldom employed in boats unless some- 
 thing more than common is to be done. He was a man of forty, 
 hard-featured, pock-marked, red-faced, and scowling. I afterwards 
 ascertained he was the son of some underling about the Portsmouth 
 dockyard, who had worked his way up to a lieutenancy, and owed 
 his advancement principally to his readiness in impressing seamen. 
 His name was Sennit. 
 
 We threw Mr. Sennit a rope, as a matter of course, and Marble 
 met him at the gangway with the usual civilities. I was amused 
 with the meeting between these men, who had strictly that analogy 
 to each other which is well described as " diamond cut diamond." 
 Each was dogmatical, positive, and full of nautical conceit, in his 
 own fashion , and each hated the other's country as heartily as man 
 could hate, while both despised Frenchmen. But Sennit knew a 
 mate from a master, at a glance ; and, without noticing Marble's 
 sea bow, a slight for which Marble did not soon forgive him, 
 he walked directly aft to me, not well pleased, as I thought that 
 a ship-master had neglected to be at the gangway to meet a sea 
 lieutenant. 
 
 " Your servant, sir,", commenced Mr. Sennit, condescending 
 to notice my bow ; " your servant, sir. I suppose we owe the 
 pleasure of your company, just now, to the circumstance of the 
 weather's clearing." 
 
 This sounded hostile from the go off 5 and I was determined to give 
 as good as I received. 
 
 " Quite likely, sir," was my answer, uttered as coolly as I could 
 speak " I do not think you got much the advantage, as long as there 
 was thick weather."
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 139 
 
 tl Ay, you're a famous fellow at hide and go seek, and I do not 
 doubt would make a long chase in a dark night. But His Majesty's 
 ship, Speedy, is not to be dodged by a Yankee." 
 
 " So it would seem, sir, by your present success." 
 
 " Men seldom run away without there is a cause for it. It's 
 my business to find out the reason why you have attempted it ; 
 so, sir, I will thank you for the name of your ship, to begin 
 with ? " 
 
 "The Dawn, of New York." 
 
 " Ay, full-blooded Yankee I knew you were New England, by 
 your tricks." 
 
 " New York is not in New England ; nor do we call a New York 
 ship a Yankee," put in Marble. 
 
 ' ' Ay, ay if one were to believe all you mates from the t'other side 
 say, he would soon fancy that King George held his throne by virtue 
 of a commission from President Washington. 
 
 " President Washington is dead, Heaven bless him!" retorted 
 Marble " and if one were to believe half of what you English say, 
 he would soon fancy that President Jefferson held his office as one 
 of King George's waiting men." 
 
 1 made a sign for Marble to be silent, and intimated to the lieu- 
 tenant I was ready to answer any further inquiries he wished to make. 
 Sennit did not proceed, however, without giving a significant look 
 at the mate, which, to me, seemed to say, " I have pressed a mate 
 in my time." 
 
 " Well, sir, the Dawn, of New York," he continued, noting the 
 name in his pocket-book " How are you called yourself?" 
 
 "The Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford, master." 
 
 " Miles Wallingford, master! Where from, whither bound, and 
 with what laden?" 
 
 " From New York ; bound to Hamburg ; cargo sugars, coffee, and 
 cochineal." 
 
 " A very valuable cargo, sir," observed Mr. Sennit, a little drily. 
 " I wish, for your sake, it had been going to ahy other part of the 
 world, as this last war has sent the French into that part of Ger- 
 many, and Hamburg is suspected of being rather too much under 
 Boney's influence." 
 
 u And were we bound to Bordeaux, sir, what power have you to 
 stop a neutral, at this distance at sea ? " 
 
 " If you put it on power, Mr. Wallingford, you depend on a crutch 
 that will betray you. We have power enough to eat you, should that 
 be necessary. I suppose you mean right." 
 
 " I shall not dispute with you, sir, about words." 
 
 " Well, to prove to you that I am as amicably disposed as 
 yourself, I will say no more on the subject. With your permis- 
 sion, I will now examine your papers j and to show you that I feel
 
 140 LUCY HARDINGE 
 
 myself among friends, I will first send my own boat back to the 
 Speedy." 
 
 I was infinitely disgusted with this man's manner. It had the 
 vulgar sort of witticism about even his air, that he so much affected 
 in his speech ; the whole being deformed by a species of sly malig- 
 nancy, that rendered him as offensive as he seemed to me to be 
 dangerous. I could not refuse to let a belligerant look at my papers, 
 however, and went below to get them, while Sennit gave some pri- 
 vate orders to his reefer, and sent him away to the frigate. 
 
 While on this subject the reader must excuse an old man's pro- 
 pensity to gossip, if I say a word on the general question of the 
 right of search. As for the pretence that was set up by some of the 
 advocates of impressment out of neutral ships, which laid down the 
 position, that the belligerant being on board in the exercise of an 
 undoubted right to inquire into the character of the ship and cargo, 
 he took with him the right to lay hands on all the subjects of his 
 own sovereign he might happen to find there, it is not worthy of a 
 serious reply. Because a man has a right to take the step prelimi- 
 nary to the discharge of an admitted power, as an incident of that 
 power, it does not follow that he can make the incident a principle, 
 and convert it into a justification of acts unlawful in themselves. On 
 this head, therefore, I shall say nothing, holding it to be beyond 
 dispute among those who are competent to speak on the subject at 
 all. But the abuse of that admitted power to board and ascertain 
 the character of a ship has created so lively a feeling in us Ame- 
 ricans, as to induce us to forego some of the wholesome principles 
 that are necessary to the well-being of all civilised nations. It is 
 thus, in my judgment, that we have quite recently and erroneously 
 laid down the doctrine that foreign vessels of war shall not board 
 American ships on the coast of Africa, in a time of peace, in order 
 to ascertain their character. 
 
 On this subject I intend to speak plainly. In the first place, I lay 
 no claim to that spurious patriotism which says, " our country, 
 right or wrong." This may do for the rabble ; but it will not do 
 for God, to whom our first and highest obligations are due. Neither 
 country, nor man, can justify that which is wrong $ and I conceive 
 it to be wrong, in a political if not in a moral sense, to deny a vessel 
 of war the privilege which England here claims. I can see but one 
 plausible argument against it, and that is founded on the abuses 
 which may arise from the practice. But it will not do to anticipate 
 abuses in this instance more than in any other. Every right, 
 whether national or international, may be abused in its exercise ; 
 and the argument, if good for any thing, is as good against every 
 other right of international law as it is against this. Abuse, after it 
 has occurred, might be a justifiable reason for suspending the exer- 
 cise of an admitted right, until some remedies were applied to pre- 
 vent their recurrence, but it can never be urged as a proper argu-
 
 LUCY IURDINGE. 1*1 
 
 ment against the right itself. If abuses occur, we can get them 
 remedied by proper representations ; and if these last fail we have 
 the usual appeal of nations. As well might it be said, the law of 
 the land shall not be administered, because the sheriffs officers are 
 guilty of abuses, as to say the law of nations shall cease because we 
 apprehend that certain commercial rivalries may indue others to 
 transcend them. When the wrong is done, it will be time enough 
 to seek the remedy. 
 
 That it is the right of a vessel of war to ascertain the character 
 of a ship at sea, is dependent on her right to arrest a pirate, for in- 
 stance. In what manner can this be done, if a pirate can obtain 
 impunity, by simply hoisting the flag of some other country, which 
 the cruiser is obliged to respect? All that the latter asks is the 
 power to ascertain if that flag is not an imposition; and this much 
 every regularly commissioned public ship should be permitted to 
 do, in the interests of civilisation and in maintenance of the police 
 of the seas. 
 
 The argument on the other side goes the length of saying, that a 
 public cruiser is in the situation of a sheriff's officer on shore, who 
 is compelled to arrest his prisoner on his own responsibility. In 
 the first place, it may be questioned if the dogma of the common 
 law, which asserts the privilege of the citizen to conceal his name, 
 is worthy of a truly enlightened political freedom. It must not be 
 forgotten that liberty first look the aspect of franchises, in which 
 men sought protection from the abuses of power in any manner they 
 could, and often without regarding the justness of the general prin- 
 ciples with which they were connected-, confusion in these princi- 
 ples arising as a consequence. But, admitting the dogma of the 
 common law to be as inherently wise as it is confessedly a practice, 
 there is no parallel in the necessity of the case of an arrest on shore 
 and of an arrest at sea. In the former instance the officer may apply 
 to witnesses 5 he has the man before him, and compares him with 
 the description of the criminal ; and, should he make an erroneous 
 arrest, under misleading circumstances, his punishment would be 
 merely nominal in many cases, nothing. But the common law, 
 whilst it gives the subject this protection, does not deny the right 
 of the officer to arrest. It only punishes the abuse of this power ; 
 and that is precisely what nations ought to do, in a case of the abuse 
 of the right to examine a merchantman. 
 
 The vessel of war cannot apply to witnesses, and cannot judge of 
 national character by mere external appearances, since an Ameri- 
 can-built ship can be sailed by Portuguese. The actual necessities 
 of the case are in favour of the present English claim, as well as 
 that great governing principle, which says that no great or prin- 
 cipal right can exist, in international law, without carrying with it 
 all the subordinate privileges which are necessary to its discreet 
 exercise.
 
 142 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 Thus much I could not refrain from saying, not that I think John 
 Bull is very often right in his controversies with ourselves, but be- 
 cause I think, in this case, he is ; and because I believe it far safer, 
 in the long run, for a nation, or an individual, to have justice on 
 his side, than always to carry his point. 
 
 I was soon on deck carrying my writing-desk under my arm, Mr. 
 Sennit preferring to make his examination in the open air to making 
 it below. He read the clearance and manifest with great attention. 
 Afterwards he asked for the shipping articles. I could see that he 
 examined the names of the crew with eagerness, for the man was 
 in his element when adding a new hand to his frigate's crew. 
 
 " Let me see this Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny, Mr. Wallingford," 
 he said, chuckling. " The name has an alias in its very absurdity, 
 and I doubt not I shall see a countryman perhaps a townsman." 
 
 " By turning your head, sir, you can easily see the man. He is 
 at the wheel." 
 
 " A black ! umph yes , those fellows do sometimes sail under 
 droll titles. I do not think the lad was born at Gosport." 
 
 " He was born in my father's house, sir, and is my slave." 
 
 " Slave ! A pretty word in the mouth of a free and independent 
 son of liberty, Mr. Wallingford. It is lucky you are not bound to 
 that land of despotism, Old England, or you might see the fetters 
 fall from about the chap's limbs." 
 
 I was nettled, for I felt there was some justice in this sarcasm, 
 and this, too, at the very moment I felt it was only half-merited 
 and not at all, perhaps, from an Englishman. But Sennit knew as 
 much of the history of my country as he did of his own, having 
 obtained all he had learned of either out of newspapers. Never- 
 theless, I succeeded in keeping silent. 
 
 " Nathan Hitchcock ; this chap has a suspiciously Yankee name : 
 will you let me see him, sir," observed the lieutenant. 
 
 " The chap's name, then, does him no more than justice, for I 
 believe he is strictly what we call a Yankee." 
 
 Nathan came aft at the call of the second mate, and Sennit no 
 sooner saw him than he told him to go forward again. It was easy 
 to see that the man was perfectly able to distinguish, by means of 
 the eye alone, between the people of the two countries, though the 
 eye would sometimes deceive even the most practised judges. As 
 the Speedy was not much in want of men, he was disposed not to 
 lay his hands on any but his own countrymen. 
 
 ''I shall have to ask you, sir, to muster all your people in the 
 gangway, ".said Sennit, rising, as he passed me the ship's papers. 
 " 1 am only a supernumerary of the Speedy, and I expect we shall 
 soon have the pleasure of seeing her first onboard, the Honourable 
 Mr. Powlelt. We are a nob ship, having Lord Harry Dermond for 
 our captain, and lots of younger sons in the cock-pit." 
 I cared little who commanded or officered the Speedy, but I felt
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 14 
 
 all the degradation of submitting to have my crew mustered by a 
 foreign officer, and this, too, with the avowed object of carrying 
 away such portions of them as he might see fit to decide were 
 British subjects. In my judgment it would have been much more 
 creditable and much wiser for the young Hercules to have made an 
 effort to use his club, in resisting such an offensive and unjustifiable 
 assumption of power, than to be setting up doubtful claims to 
 establish principles of public law that will render the exercise of 
 some of the most useful of all international rights perfectly nugatory. 
 I felt a disposition to refuse compliance with Sennit's request ; and 
 did the result only affect myself, I think I should have done so : but 
 conscious that my men would be the sufferers, I thought it more 
 prudent to comply. Accordingly, all the Dawn's people were or- 
 dered to muster near the quarter-deck. 
 
 While I endeavour to do justice to principles, I wish to do no 
 injustice to Sennit. To own the truth, this man picked out the 
 Englishman and Irishman as soon as each had answered his first 
 questions. They were ordered to get their things ready to go on 
 board the Speedy, and I was coolly directed to pay them any wages 
 that might be due. Marble was standing near when this command 
 was given ; and seeing disgust, most likely, in my countenance, 
 he took on himself the office of replying : 
 
 " You think accounts should be balanced, then, before these men 
 quit the ship ? " he asked, significantly. 
 
 " I do, sir 5 and it's my duty to see it done. I will thank you to 
 attend to it at once," returned the lieutenant. 
 
 " Well, sir, that being the case, we shall be receivers instead of 
 payers. By looking at the shipping articles, you will see that each 
 of these men received fifty dollars, or two months' advance," 
 (seamen's wages were as high, frequently, in that day, as twenty or 
 thirty dollars) ; "and quite half of the ' dead-horse ' remains to be 
 worked out. We will, therefore, thank His Majesty to pay us the 
 odd twenty-five dollars for each of the. men." 
 
 " What countryman are you?" demanded the lieutenant, with a 
 menacing look : "Cornish, by your impudence. Have a care, sir; 
 I have carried off mates, before now, in my day." 
 
 " I came from the land of tombstones, which is an advantage ; 
 as I know the road we all must travel, sooner or later. My name 
 is Marble, at your service ; and there's a hard natur' under it, as 
 you '11 find on trial." 
 
 Just at this moment, the frigate's boat came round her stern, 
 carrying the Hon. Mr. Powlett, or the gentleman whom Sennit had 
 announced as her first-lieutenant. I thought the rising anger of the 
 last was a little subdued by the appearance of his senior officers- 
 social position and private rank making even a greater difference 
 between the two than mere date of commission. Sennit suppressed 
 his wrath, therefore 5 though I make no doubt the resentment he
 
 144 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 felt at the contumelious manner of my mate had no little influence 
 on what subsequently occurred. As things were, he waited, be- 
 fore he proceeded any further, for the Speedy's boat to come along- 
 side. 
 
 Mr. Powlett turned out to be a very different sort of person from 
 his brother lieutenant. There was no mistaking him for any thing 
 but a gentleman, or for a sailor. Beyond a question, he owed his rank 
 in his ship to family influence, and he was one of those scions of aris- 
 tocracy (by no means the rule, however, among the high-born of 
 England) who never was fit for any thing but a carpet-knight, though 
 trained to the seas. As I afterwards learned, his father held high 
 ministerial rank ; a circumstance that accounted for his being the 
 first-lieutenant of a six-and-thirty, at twenty, with a supernumerary 
 lieutenant under him who had been a sailor some years before he 
 was born. But the captain of the Speedy himself, Lord Harry Der- 
 mond, was only four-and-twenty ; though he had commanded 
 his ship two years, and fought one very creditable action in her. 
 
 After making my best bow to Mr. Powlett, and receiving a 
 very gentleman-like salutation in return, Sennit led his brother 
 officer aside, and they had a private conference of some little length 
 together. 
 
 " I shall not meddle with the crew, Sennit," 1 overheard Powlett 
 say, in a sort of complaining tone, as he walked away from his 
 companion. "Really, I cannot become the master of a press- 
 gang, though the Speedy had to be worked by her officers. You 
 are used to this business, and I leave it all to you." 
 
 I understood this to be a carle blanche to Sennit to carry off as 
 many of my people as he saw fit ; there being nothing novel or sur- 
 prising in men's tolerating in others, acts they would disdain to per- 
 form in person. As soon as he left his junior in rank, the youthful 
 first-lieutenant approached me. I call him youthful, for he ap- 
 peared even younger than he was, though I myself had com- 
 manded a ship when only of his own age. It was easy to see 
 that this young man felt he was employed on an affair of some im- 
 portance. 
 
 " It is reported to us, on board the Speedy, sir," the Hon. Mr. 
 Powlett commenced, " that you are bound to Hamburg ?" 
 " To Hamburg, sir, as my papers will show." 
 " Our government regards all trade with that part of the con- 
 tinent with great distrust, particularly since the late movements 
 of the French. I really wish, sir, you had not been bound to 
 Hamburg." 
 
 " I believe Hamburg is still a neutral port, sir 5 and, if it were 
 not, I do not see why an American should not enter it, until actually 
 blockaded." 
 
 "Ah! these are some of your very peculiar American ideas on 
 such subjects I I cannot agree with you, however, it being my duty
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 145 
 
 to obey my orders. Lord Harry has desired us to be very rigorous 
 in our examination, and I trust you will understand we must comply, 
 however unpleasant it may be, sir. I understand, now, sugar and 
 coffee are exceedingly suspicious! " 
 
 " They are very innocent things rightly used, as I hope mine 
 will be." 
 
 " Have you any particular interest in the cargo, Captain Wal- 
 lingford?" 
 
 " Only that of owner, sir. Both ship and cargo are my own 
 private property." 
 
 " And you seem to be English, or American^ for I confess 
 myself unable to tell the difference between the people of the two 
 countries, though I dare say there is a very great difference." 
 
 " lam an American by birth, as have been my ancestors for 
 generations." 
 
 " I declare that is remarkable! Well, I can see no difference. 
 But, if you are American, I do not see why the sugar and coffee are 
 not American too. Lord Harry, however, desired us to be very 
 particular about these things, for some reason or other. Do you 
 happen to know, now, where this sugar grew? " 
 
 " The canes of which it was made grew, I believe, in St. Do- 
 mingo." 
 
 " St. Domingo! Is not that a French island? " 
 
 "Certainly, in part, sir; though the Spaniards and the negroes 
 dispute the possession with the French." 
 
 " I declare I must send Lord Harry word of this ! I am exceed- 
 ingly sorry, Captain Wallingford, to detain your ship, but my duty 
 requires me to send a young gentleman on board the Speedy for 
 orders." 
 
 As I could urge no plausible objection, the young gentleman was 
 again sent back to the frigate. In the meantime, Sennit had not 
 been idle. Among my crew were a Swede and a Prussian, and both 
 these men having acquired their English in London or Liverpool, 
 he affected to believe they were natives of the old island, ordering 
 them to get their dunnage ready to go under the pennant. Neither 
 of the men, however, was disposed to obey him, and when I joined 
 the group, leaving the Hon. Mr. Powlett waiting the return of his 
 boat, on the quarter-deck, I found the three in a warm discussion 
 on the subject. 
 
 " I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Wallingford," Sennit cried, as I 
 approached, " we will compromise matters. Here are two fellows 
 who are Lancashire men, if the truth were known, that pretend to 
 be Norwegians, or Fins, or to come from some other outlandish 
 country or other, and I wish to place them under His Majesty's pen- 
 nant, where they properly belong-, as they are so reluctant to 
 receive this honour, I will consent to take that fine-looking Kentish 
 man, who is worth them both put together? " 
 
 10
 
 146 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 As this was said, Sennit pointed to Tom Voorhees an athletic, 
 handsome young North River man, of Dutch extraction, a fellow 
 who had not a drop of English blood in his veins, and the ablest- 
 bodied and the best seaman in the Dawn ; a fact that the lieutenant's 
 nautical tact had not been slow to detect. 
 
 " You are asking me to let you have a man who was born within 
 ten miles of myself," I answered, " and vhose family I know to be 
 American fornear two centuries." 
 
 *' Ay, ay ; you're all of old families in America, as everybody 
 knows. The chap is English born, for a hundred guineas; and I 
 could name a spot in Kent, not ten miles distant from that where 
 he first saw the light. I do not say, however, you were not his 
 neighbour for you have a Dover look yourself." 
 
 " You might be less disposed to pleasantry, sir, were this a 
 thirty-six, or were you and I on shore." 
 
 Sennit gave me a disdainful look, and terminated the affair by 
 ordering Voorhees to get his chest ready, and to join the two other 
 men he had pressed. Taking example, however, from the Swede 
 and the Prussian, Voorhees walked away, using no measures to 
 obey. As for myself, thoroughly disgusted with this man, a vulgar 
 rogue, I walked aft to the other lieutenant, who was only a 
 gentleman-like dunce. 
 
 Mr. Powlett now began to converse of London ; and he told me 
 how often he had been at the opera when last in town , and remarked 
 what an exceedingly delightful ftte champgtre was lady somebody's 
 entertainmentof that sort. This occupied us until the boat returned, 
 with a very civil request from the captain of the Speedy, that I 
 would do him the favour to pay him a visit, bringing with me the 
 ship's papers. As this was what no belligerant had a right to 
 demand, though privateersmen constantly did it, I could comply or 
 not. Fancying it might expedite matters, regarding the civility of 
 the request as a good omen, and feeling a desire to deal with prin- 
 cipals, in an affair that was very needlessly getting to be serious, I 
 consented to go Marble was called, and formally told to take 
 charge of the ship. I could see a smile of contempt on Sennit's 
 face at this little ceremony, though he made no objection in terms. 
 I had expected that the first-lieutenant would go to the frigate with 
 me, but, after a short consultation with his junior, the last was 
 deputed to do me this honour. 
 
 Sennit now appeared disposed to show me every slight and indig- 
 nity it was in his power to manifest. Like all vulgar-minded 
 men, he could not refrain from maltreating those whom he designed 
 to injure. He made me precede him into the boat, and went up 
 the Speedy's side first himself on reaching the vessel. His cap- 
 tain's conduct was very different. Lord Harry was not a very noble 
 looking personage, as your worshippers of rank imagine nobility to 
 appear, but he was decidedly well-mannered ; and it was easy
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 147 
 
 enough to see he commanded his own ship, and was admirably 
 fitted so to do. I have had occasion to learn that there is a vast deal 
 of aristocratic and democratic canton the subject of the appearance, 
 abilities, qualities, and conduct of Europeans of birth and station. 
 In the first place, nature has made them very much as she makes 
 other people ; and the only physical difference there is proceeds 
 from habits and education. Then, as to the enervating effects 
 of aristocracy, and noble effeminacy, I have seen ten times as 
 much of it among your counter-jumpers and dealers in bobbinet as 
 I have seen in the sons of dukes and princes ; and, in my later days, 
 circumstances have brought me much in contact with many of 
 these last. Manliness of character is far more likely to be the con- 
 comitant of aristocratic birth than of democratic, I am afraid ; for, 
 while those who enjoy the first feel themselves above popular opi- 
 nion, those who possess the last bow to it, as the Asiatic slave bows 
 to his master. I wish I could think otherwise; but experience has 
 convinced me of these facts, and I have learned to feel the truth of 
 an axiom that is getting to be somewhat familiar among ourselves, 
 viz. " that it takes an aristocrat to make a true democrat." Certain 
 I am, that all the real, manly, independent democrats I have ever 
 known in America have been accused of aristocracy, and this sim- 
 ply because they were disposed to carry out their principles, and 
 not to let that imperious sovereign, " the neighbourhood," play the 
 tyrant over them. As for personal merit, quite as fair a propor- 
 tion of talent is found among the well-born as among the low ; and 
 he is but an ad captandum vulgus sort of a philosopher who holds 
 the contrary doctrine. Talleyrand was of one of the most ancient 
 and illustrious houses of Europe, as was Turenne ; while Mansfield, 
 Erskine, Grey, Wellington, and a host of Englishmen of mark of our 
 time, come of noble blood. No no the cause of free institutions 
 has much higher and much juster distinctions to boast of than this 
 imaginary superiority of the humbly born over those who come of 
 ancient stock. 
 
 Lord Harry Dermond received me just as one of his station ought 
 to receive one of mine-, politely, without in the least compromising 
 his own dignity. There was a good-natured smile on his face, of 
 which, at first, I did not know what to make. He had a private 
 conversation with Sennit, too; but the smile underwent no change. 
 In the end, I came to the conclusion that it was habitual with him, 
 and meant nothing. But, though so much disposed to smile, Lord 
 Harry Dermond was equally disposed to listen to every suggestion 
 of Sennit that was likely to favour the main chance. Prize-money is 
 certainly a great stain on the chivalry of all navies, but it is a stain 
 with which the noble wishes to be as deeply dyed as the plebeian. 
 Human nature is singularly homogeneous on the subject of money ; 
 and younger-son nature, in the lands ofmajorats and entails, enjoys 
 a liveliness of longing on the silbject, that is quite as conspicuous
 
 148 LUCY HARDINCE. 
 
 as the rapacity of the veriest plebeian who ever picked a pocket. 
 
 "lam very sorry, Captain Wallingford," Captain Lord Harry 
 Dermond observed to me, when his private conference with Sennit 
 was ended, and altogether superior to the weakness of Powlett, who 
 would have discussed the point, " that it is my duty to send your 
 ship into Plymouth. The French have got such an ascendency on 
 the continent, that we are obliged to use every act of vigilance to 
 counteract them : then your cargo is of enemy's growth/' 
 
 "As for the ascendency, my lord, you will see we Americans 
 have nothing to do with it ; and my cargo, being necessarily of last 
 year's crops, must have been grown and manufactured in a time of 
 general peace. If it were not, I do not conceive it would legalise 
 mycapture." 
 
 " We must leave Sir William Scott to decide that, my good sir," 
 answered the captain, with his customary smile 5 "and there is no 
 use in our discussing the matter. An unpleasant duty" as if he 
 thought the chance of putting two or three thousand pounds in his 
 pocket unpleasant! " an unpleasant duty, however, need not be 
 performed in a disagreeable manner. If you will point out what 
 portion of your people you could wish to keep in your ship, it 
 shall be attended to. Of course, you remain by your property 
 yourself; and I confess, whatever may be done with the cargo, I 
 think the ship will be liberated. As the day is advancing, and it 
 will require some little time to exchange the people, I should be 
 exceedingly happy if you would do me the favour to lunch in my 
 cabin." 
 
 This was gentlemanly conduct, if it were not lawful. I could 
 foresee a plenty of evil consequences to myself in the delay, though 
 I own 1 had no great apprehensions of a condemnation. There 
 was my note to John Wallingford to meet, and two months' deten- 
 tion might keep me so long from home, as to put the payment at 
 maturity quite out of the question. Then came the mortgage on 
 Clawbonny, with its disquieting pictures ; and I was in any thing 
 but a good humour to enjoy Lord Harry Dermond's hospitality. 
 Still I knew the uselessness of remonstrances, and the want of dig- 
 nity there would be in repining, and succeeded in putting a good 
 face on the matter. I simply requested that my chief mate, the 
 cook, and Neb, might be left in the Dawn, submitting it to the dis- 
 cretion of my captors to take out of her as many of the remainder 
 of her people as they saw fit. Lord Harry remarked it was not 
 usual to leave a mate, but to oblige me, he would comply. The 
 frigate would go in for water, in the course of a fortnight, when I 
 might depend on having the entire crew, His Majesty's subjects 
 excepted, restored to my command.
 
 WCY HAIIDJNGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 mf. Gent. What is my ransom, master? Let me know. 
 Mast. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head. 
 Mate. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours. 
 
 King Henry VI. 
 
 I never saw a man more astounded, or better disposed to fly into 
 a passion, than was the case with Mr. Moses Oloff Van Duzen Mar- 
 ble, when he was told that the Dawn was to be sent into England for 
 adjudication. Nothing kept his tongue within the bounds of moder- 
 ation, and I am far from certain I might not add his fists, but my as- 
 surances he would be sent on board the Speedy unless he behaved 
 with prudence. As our people were sent outof the ship, I thought, 
 several times, he would break out in open hostilities ; and he did ac- 
 tually propose to me to knock Sennit down, and throw him over- 
 board. With a significant look, I told him it was not time for this. 
 The mate nowlaidafingeron his nose, winked, and from that moment 
 he not only seemed cheerful, but he assisted in hoisting in and out 
 the different articles that were exchanged, in shifting the crews. 
 
 When all was ready, it appeared that Sennit was to be our prize- 
 master. Although a lieutenant in commission, he had only been 
 lent to Lord Harry Dermond by the admiral, in order to fill up the 
 crew of that favoured officer; the Speedy having her regular com- 
 plement of lieutenants without him. As the cruise was so nearly 
 up, and the ship had experienced great success in impressing since 
 she sailed, Sennit could he spared 5 and, if the truth were said, I 
 make no doubt his messmates in the frigate were glad to be rid of 
 him, now they had no further occasion for his peculiar skill and 
 services. 
 
 Mr. Sennit brought on board with him, as a prize-crew, ten fore- 
 mast men, besides a master's mate, of the name of Diggins. Un- 
 der ordinary circumstances, this last dignitary would have been 
 of sufficient skill to take the ship in : but this was the first prize Lord 
 Harry had taken ; she promised to be valuable if condemned : and 
 I suppose he and his young, gentleman-like luffs were desirous of 
 getting rid of their vulgar associate. At any rate Messrs. Sennit 
 and Diggins both came on board of us, bag and baggage. 
 
 The various changes, the lunch, and the chase of the morning, 
 had so far worn away the day, that the two vessels did not make sail 
 until four o'clock, p. M., when both ships filled at the same time 5 
 the Speedy on a wind, with two reefs in her top-sails, as when 
 first seen, to play about for more prizes, and the Dawn under stud- 
 ding-sails, with the wind nearly over the taffrail. When all was 
 ready, each ship started away from the vacant point on the ocean, 
 where they had been lying for hours, moving on diverging lines,
 
 150 LUCY HARDWGE. 
 
 at a rate that soon put a wide expanse of water between them. 
 
 I felt the circumstance of being left under the command of 
 such a man as Sennit almost as sensibly as I felt the loss of my 
 ship. He and the mate established themselves in my cabin within 
 the first hour, in a way that would have brought about an explosion, 
 had not policy forbade it, on my part. Sennit even took possession 
 of my state-room, in which he ordered his own cot to be swung, 
 and from which he coolly directed my mattress to be removed. As 
 the lockers were under locks and keys, I permitted him to take 
 possession without a remonstrance. Diggins stowed his bedding in 
 Marble's berth, leaving my mate and myself to shift for ourselves. 
 At a suggestion from Marble, I affected great indignation at this 
 'treatment, directing Neb to clear away a place in the steerage, in 
 which to live, and to swing hammocks there for Marble and myself. 
 This movement had some effect on Sennit, who was anxious to get 
 at the small stores; all of which were. under good locks, and locks 
 that he did not dare violate, under an order from the Admiralty. It 
 was, therefore, of much importance to him to belong to my mess ; 
 and the necessity of doing something to appease my resentment 
 became immediately apparent to him. He made some apologies 
 for his cavalier conduct, justifying what he had done on the score 
 of his rank and the usages of navies, and I thought it prudent to 
 receive his excuses in a way to avoid an open rupture. Sennit was 
 left in possession of the state-room, but 1 remained in the steerage, 
 consenting, however, to mess in the cabin. This arrangement, which 
 was altogether premeditated on my part, gave me many opportu- 
 nities of consulting privately with Marble, and of making sundry pre- 
 parations for profiting by the first occasion that should offer to retake 
 the ship. In thatday re-captures were of pretty frequent occurrence ; 
 and I no sooner understood the Dawn was to be sent in than I began 
 to reflect on the means of effecting my purpose. Marble had been 
 kept in the ship by me, expressly with this object. 
 
 I suppose the reader to have a general idea of the position of the 
 vessel, as well as of the circumstances in which she was placed. 
 We were just three hundred and fifty-two miles to the southward and 
 westward of Scilly, when I observed at meridian, and the wind 
 blowing fresh from the south-south-west, there was no time to lose, 
 did I meditate any thing serious against the prize-crew. The first 
 occasion that presented to speak to my mate offered while we were 
 busy together in the steerage, stowing away our effects, and in mak- 
 ing such dispositions as we could to be comfortable. 
 
 " What think you, Moses, of this Mr. Sennit and his people?" I 
 asked, in a low voice, leaning forward on a water cask, in order to 
 get my head nearer to that of the mate. " They do not look like 
 first-rate man-of-war's-men ; by activity and surprise, could we not 
 handle them?" 
 
 Marble laid a finger on his nose, winked, looked as sagacious as he
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 151 
 
 knew how, and then went to the steerage door, which communicated 
 with the companion way, to listen if all were safe in that quarter. 
 Assured that there was no one near, he communicated his thoughts 
 as follows : 
 
 " The same idee has been at work here," he said, tapping his 
 forehead with a fore-finger, " and good may come of it. This Mr. 
 Sennit is a cunning chap, and will want good looking after, but his 
 mate drinks like a coalheaver $ I can see that in his whole face ; a top 
 lantern is not lighter. He must be handled by brandy. Then, a 
 more awkward set of long-shore fellows were never sent to manage 
 a square-rigged craft than these which have been sent from the 
 Speedy. They must have given us the very sweepings of the hold." 
 
 " You know how it is with these dashing young man-of-war cap- 
 tains ; they keep all their best materials for a fight. French frigates 
 are tolerably plenty, they tell me, and this Lord Harry Dermond, 
 much as he loves sugar and coffee, would like to fall in with a La 
 Vigilante, or La Diane, of equal force, far better. This is the secret 
 of his giving Sennit such a set of raw ones. Besides he supposes 
 the Dawn will be at Plymouth in eight and forty hours, as will cer- 
 tainly be the case should this wind stand." 
 
 " The fellows are just so many London loafers. (I have always 
 thought Marble had the merit of bringing this word into fashion.) 
 There are but three seamen among them, and they are more fit for a 
 hospital than for a lower yard or a jib-boom." 
 
 There was a good deal of truth, blended with some exaggeration, 
 mixed up with this statement of the mate. As a matter of course, 
 the captain of the Speedy had not sent away his best men, though 
 they were not quite as bad as Marble, in his desire to overcome 
 them, was disposed to fancy. It is true, there were but three of their 
 number whom the quick, nautical instinct of the mate had recog- 
 nised as real seamen, though all had been on board ship long enough 
 to render them more or less useful. 
 
 "Whatever we do must be done at once," I rejoined. "We 
 are four athletic men, to act against twelve. The odds are heavy, 
 but we shall have the advantage of being picked men, and of attack- 
 ing by surprise." 
 
 " I wish you had thought of asking to keep Voorhees in the ship, 
 Miles-, that fellow would be worth three ordinary men to us." 
 
 " I did think of it, but the request would never have been grant- 
 ed. One could ask for a cook, or a mate, or a servant like Neb, 
 but to ask for an able seaman or two would have been to declare 
 our object ." 
 
 " I believe you 're right, and we must be thankful for the good 
 stuff we have, as it is. How far will the law bear us out in knocking 
 men on the head in such an undertaking? It's peace for America, 
 and we must steer clear of piracy! " 
 
 " I've thought of all that, Mos^s, and see no great cause of appre-
 
 152 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 hension. A man has certainly a right to recover that by the strong 
 hand which he has lost by the strong hand. Should blood be spilt, 
 which I hope to avert, the English courts might judge us harshly, 
 while the American would acquit us. The law would be the same 
 in both cases, though its administration would be very different. I 
 am ready to cast my own fortune on the issue, and I wish no man 
 to join me who will not do so heart and hand. I see no reason to 
 suppose it will be necessary to take life, to which I have as strong 
 reluctance as you can have yourself." 
 
 " There's my hand ! " exclaimed Marble, " and as for its 
 owner's heart, you well know where that is to be found, Miles. 
 Enough has been said for a beginning. We will look about us this 
 afternoon, and talk further after supper." 
 
 " Good. Do you say a word to Billings, the cook, and I will 
 open the matter to Neb. Of the last we are certain, but it may be 
 well to make some promise to your man." 
 
 " Leave that to me, Miles. I know my chap, and will deal with 
 him as I would with an owner." 
 
 Marble and myself now separated, and I went on deck to observe 
 how things promised in that quarter. By this time the Speedy's 
 top-sails were beginning to dip, and the Dawn was driving forward 
 on her course, with every thing drawing that she could carry. All 
 the English were on deck, Sennit included. The last gave me a 
 sufficiently civil salute as I put my foot on the quarter-deck, but I 
 avoided falling into any discourse with him. My cue was to note 
 the men, and to ascertain all I could concerning their distribution 
 during the approaching night. Diggins, I could see, was a red- 
 faced fellow, who probably had lost his promotion through love of 
 the bottle, though, as often happens with such persons, a prime 
 seaman and a thorough man-of-war's-man. Of him I thought I 
 could make sure by means of brandy. Sennit struck me as being 
 a much more difficult subject to get along with. There^were signs 
 of cogniac about his face too, but he had more rank, more at stake, 
 and brighter hopes than the master's mate. Then he was evidently 
 better practised in the ways of the world than his companion, and 
 had constantly a sort of uneasy vigilance about his eye and manner 
 that gave me no little concern. 
 
 It was my wish to strike a blow, if possible, that very night, 
 every minute carrying us fast towards the chops of the channel, 
 where the English had so many cruisers in general, as to render 
 ultimate escape next to impossible, should we even be so lucky as 
 lo regain command of our own ship. I was afraid, moreover, Sen- 
 nit might take it into his head to have all hands all night, under the 
 pretext of drawing in with the land. Should he actually adopt this 
 course, our case was nearly hopeless. 
 
 " Your mate seems to love the cupboard, Mr. Wallingford," Sen- 
 nit remarked to me, in a good-natured manner, with an evident
 
 LUCY HARDUNGE. 153 
 
 wish to establish still more amicable relations between us than had 
 yet existed ; " he has been in and about that galley these ten minutes, 
 fidgeting with his tin-pot, like a raw hand who misses his mother's 
 tea!" 
 
 Sennit laughed at his own humour, and I could hardly answer with 
 a smile, for I knew my mate had adopted this experiment to open 
 communications with the cook. 
 
 " Mr. Marble is famous for his love of slops," I answered eva- 
 sively. 
 
 "Well, he does not look it. I have seldom seen a more 
 thorough-looking sea-dog than your mate, Captain Wallingford " 
 this was the first time Sennit had dignified me with this title, 
 " and I took a fancy to him on that account, as soon as I saw him. 
 You will do me the favour to sup with us in the cabin, I hope, for 
 I see signs at the galley that it will soon be ready ? " 
 
 " I shall expect to join your mess, sir, now explanations have 
 passed between us. I suppose my mate is to be one of my party, 
 as well as yours ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I shall ask the favour of you to let Mr. Marble re- 
 lieve Diggins, for half an hour or so, while the poor fellow gets a 
 bite. We'll do as much for you another time." 
 
 This was said in a dry, laughing sort of a way, which showed 
 that Mr. Sennit was fully aware he was making a request a little out 
 of rule, to ask a man to aid in carrying his own ship into port as a 
 prize j but I took it^as it was meant, for a rough joke that had con- 
 venience at the bottom. 
 
 It was not long ere Neb came to announce that supper was ready. 
 Sennit had made but an indifferent dinner, it would seem, and he ap- 
 peared every way disposed to take his revenge on the present occasion. 
 Calling out to me to follow, he led the way cheerfully into the cabin, 
 professing great satisfaction at finding we were to make but one 
 mess of it. Strictly speaking, a prize-crew, under circumstances 
 like those in which the Dawn was now placed, had no right to con- 
 sume any portion of the vessel's own stores, condemnation being 
 indispensable to legalise Lord Harry Dermond's course, even ac- 
 cording to the laws of his own country. But I had ordered Neb to 
 be liberal with my means, and a very respectable entertainment 
 was spread before our eyes when we reached the cabin. Sennit 
 was soon hard at work ; but, under pretence of looking for some 
 better sugar than had been placed on the table, I got three bottles 
 of brandy privately into Neb's hands, whispering him to give one 
 to the master's mate on deck, and the other two to the crew. I 
 knew there were too many motives for such a bribe connected with 
 our treatment, the care of our private property, and other things of 
 that nature, to feel any apprehension that the true object of this 
 liberality would be suspected by those who were to reap its advan- 
 tages.
 
 154 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 Sennit, Marble, and myself, sate quite an hour at table. The 
 former drank freely of wine ; though he declined having any thing 
 to do with the brandy. As he had taken two or three glasses of 
 the rejected liquor in my presence before the two ships parted, I 
 was convinced his present forbearance proceeded from a conscious- 
 ness of the delicate circumstances in which he was placed, and I 
 became rather more wary in my own movements. At length the 
 lieutenant said something about the " poor devil on deck," and 
 Marble was sent up to look out for the ship, while Diggins came 
 below to eat. The instant the master's mate appeared, I could see 
 the brandy had been doing its work on him, and I was fearful his 
 superior might notice it. He did not, however, being too well 
 pleased with the Madeira I had set before him to trouble himself 
 about a few drams, more or less, that might have fallen to the share 
 of his subordinate. 
 
 At length this memorable supper, like every thing else of earth, 
 came to an end, and all of us went on deck in a body, leaving Neb 
 and the cook to clear away the fragments. It was now night, 
 though a soft star-light was diffused over the surface of the rolling 
 water. The wind had moderated a little, and the darkness pro- 
 mised to pass without any extra labour to the people, several of the 
 studding-sails having been taken in by Diggins' orders when he 
 first went below. 
 
 When seamen first come on deck at sea there is usually a pause 
 in the discourse, while each notes the weathei^the situation of the 
 ship, and the signs of the hour. Sennit and myself did this, almost 
 as a matter of course, separating in order that each might make his 
 observations at leisure. As for Marble, he gave up the command of 
 the deck to Diggins, walking forward by himself, Neb and the cook 
 were keeping up the customary clattering with plates, knives, and 
 forks. 
 
 "Have the people had their suppers yet, Mr. Diggins?" de- 
 manded the lieutenant. 
 
 " Not yet, sir. We have no cook of our own, you know, sir; 
 and so have been obliged to wait, sir." 
 
 " The King's men wait for nobody. Order that black fellow to 
 let them have their suppers at once ; while that is doing, we'll tell 
 off the watches for the night." 
 
 Diggins was evidently getting more and more under the influence 
 of brandy, keeping the bottle hid somewhere near him, by which 
 means he took frequent draughts unperceived. He gave the neces- 
 sary orders, notwithstanding 5 and presently the men were mus- 
 tered aft, to be told off into the two watches that were required for 
 the service of the ship. This was soon done, Sennit choosing 
 five, and Diggins his five. 
 
 " It's past eight o'clock," said Sennit, when the selections were 
 made. " Go below the watch, and all but the man at the wheel of
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 155 
 
 the watch on deck can go below to the lights to eat. Bear a hand 
 with your suppers, my lads ; this is too big a craft to be left without 
 look-outs forward, though I dare say the Yankees will lend us a 
 hand while you are swallowing a mouthful?" 
 
 " To be sure we will, sir," cried Marble, who had come to the 
 gangway to witness the proceedings. " Here, you Neb come out 
 of that galley and play forecastle-man, while John Bull gets his 
 supper. He's always cross when he's hungry, and we'll feed him 
 well to make a good neighbourhood." 
 
 This caused some who heard it to laugh, and others to swear and 
 mutter. Every one, nevertheless, appeared willing to profit by the 
 arrangement, the Englishmen being soon below, hard at work 
 around the kids. It now struck me that Marble intended to clap the 
 forecastle-hatch down suddenly, and make a rush upon the prize- 
 officers and the man at the wheel. Leaving one hand to secure the 
 scuttle, we should have been just a man apiece for those on deck ; 
 and I make no doubt the project would have succeeded, had it been 
 attempted in that mode. I was, by nature, a stronger man than 
 Sennit, besides being younger and in my prime 5 while Diggins would 
 not have been more than a child in Marble's hands. As for the man 
 at the wheel, Neb could have thrown him half-way up to the mizen- 
 top, on an emergency. But it seemed that my mate had a deeper 
 project in view ; nor was the other absolutely certain, as I after- 
 wards learned, one of the Englishmen soon coming out of the fore- 
 castle, to eat on deck, quite likely aware that there might be some 
 risk in letting all hands remain below. It was now sufficiently dark 
 for our purposes, and I began to reflect seriously on Ihe best mode 
 of proceeding, when, all at once, a heavy, splash in the water was 
 heard, and Marble was heard shouting, " Man overboard ! " 
 
 Sennit and I ran to the lee main-rigging, where we just got a 
 glimpse oftlte hat of the poor fellow, who seemed to be swimming 
 manfully, as the ship foamed past him. 
 
 "Starboard your helm!" shouted Marble. "Starboard your 
 helm ! " Come to these fore-braces, Neb bear a hand this a -way, 
 you cook. Captain Wallingford, please lend us a pull. Lookout 
 for the boat, Mr. Sennit ; we'll take care of the head-yards." 
 
 Now all this had been regularly concocted in the mate's mind in 
 advance. By these means he not only managed to get all our 
 people together, but he got them away from the boat. The whole 
 was done so naturally, as to prevent the smallest suspicion of any 
 design. To do Sennit justice, I must acknowledge that he beaved 
 himself particularly well on this sudden appeal to his activity and 
 decision. The loss of a man was, to him, a matter of deep mo- 
 ment : all his habits and propensities inclining him to be solicitous 
 about the manning of ships. A man saved was as good as a man 
 impressed ; and he was the first person in the boat. By the time 
 the ship had lost her way, the boat was ready ; and I heard Sennit
 
 156 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 call out the order to lower. As for us Americans, we had our hands 
 full, to get the head-yards braced up in time, and to settle away the 
 top-gallant halyards, aft, in order to save the spars. In two mi- 
 nutes, however, the Dawn resembled a steed that had suddenly 
 thrown his rider, diverging from his course, and shooting athwart 
 the field at right angles to his former track, scenting and snuffing 
 the air. Forward all was full, but the after-yard having been square 
 from the first, their sails lay aback, and the ship was slowly forging 
 a-head, with the seas slapping against her bows, as if the last were 
 admonishing her to stop. 
 
 I now walked aft to the taffrail, in order to make certain of the 
 state of things. Just as I reached the stern, Sennit was encourag- 
 ing the men to " give way" with the oar. I saw that he had six 
 of his people with him, and no doubt six of his best men the 
 boldest and most active being always the most forward on such oc- 
 casions. There was no time to be lost ; and I turned to look for 
 JVIarble. He was at my elbow, having sought me with the same 
 object. We walked away from the man at the wheel together, to 
 get out of ear-shot. 
 
 " Now's your time, Miles," the mate muttered, slipping one of my 
 own pistols into my hands, as he spoke. " That master's mate is 
 as muzzy as a tapster at midnight, and I can make him do what I 
 please. Neb has his orders, and the cook is ready and willing. 
 You have only to say the word, to begin." 
 
 " There seems little necessity for bloodshed," I answered. " If 
 you have the other pistol, do not use it unnecessarily 5 we may want 
 it for the boat" 
 
 "Boat ! " interrupted Marble. *' What more have we to do with 
 the boat? No no Miles; let this Mr. Sennit go to England, 
 where he belongs. Now, see how I'll manage, Diggins," he added ; 
 "I want to get a luff purchase up out of the forecastle ; will you just 
 order two or three of your fellows forward, to go down and pass it 
 up for me ? " 
 
 "D'ye hear there, forward," called out Diggins, with a very 
 thick tongue. " Tumble down into that forecastle, three or four of 
 you, and pass up the tackle for Mr. Marble." 
 
 Now, there were but three of the Englishmen left in the ship, 
 exclusively of the master's mate himself, and the man at the wheel. 
 This order, consequently, sent all three immediately into the fore- 
 castle. Marble coolly drew over the hatch, secured it, ordered the 
 cook to keep a general look-out forward, and walking aft, as if 
 nothing occurred, said in his quiet way 
 
 "The ship 's yours, again, Captain Wallingford." 
 
 "Mr. Diggins," I said, approaching the master's mate, " as I 
 have a necessity, for this vessel, which is my property, if you 
 please, sir, I'll now take charge of her in person. You had better 
 go below, and make yourself comfortable : there is good brandy to
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 157 
 
 be had for the asking, and you may pass an agreeable evening, and 
 turn in whenever it suits you." 
 
 Diggins was a sot and a fool, but he did not want for pluck. His 
 first disposition was to give battle, beginning to call out for his men 
 to come to his assistance, but I put an end to this, by seizing him 
 by the collar, and dropping him, a little unceremoniously, down 
 the companion-way. Half an hour later, he was dead drunk, and 
 snoring on the cabin floor. 
 
 There remained only the man at the wheel to overcome. He 
 was a seaman, of course, and one of those quiet, orderly men, who 
 usually submit to the powers that be. Approaching him, I said 
 
 "You see how it is, my lad 5 the ship has again changed 
 owners. As for you, you shall be treated as you behave. Stand 
 to the wheel, and you '11 get good treatment and plenty of grog, 
 but, by becoming fractious, you '11 find yourself in irons before you 
 know where you are." 
 
 " Ay ay, sir," answered the man, touching his hat, and con- 
 tenting himself with this brief and customary reply. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Marble," I continued, " it is time to have an eye on 
 the boat, which will soon find the man, or give him up. I own, 
 that I wish we had recovered the ship without tossing the poor 
 fellow overboard." 
 
 u Fellow overboard! " cried Marble, laughing "I'd ha' thrown 
 all England into the sea had it been necessary and in my power, but 
 it wasn't necessary to throw overboard so much as a child. The 
 chap they're arter is nothing but one of the fenders, with the deep 
 sea lashed to its smaller end, and a tarpaulin stopped on the larger ! 
 Mr. Sennit need be in no great hurry, for I'll engage his ' man 
 overboard' will float as long as his yawl ! " 
 
 The whole of Marble's expedient was thus explained, and 1 con- 
 fess I was much relieved by a knowledge of the truth. Apart from 
 the general relief that accompanied the consciousness of not having 
 taken human life, should we again fall into English hands, a thing by 
 no means improbable, in the situation in which we were placed, 
 this circumstance might be of the last importance to us. In the 
 meantime, however, I had to look to the boat and the ship. 
 
 The first thing we did was to clew up the three top-gallant-sails. 
 This gave us a much easier command of the vessel, short-handed 
 as we were, and it rendered it less hazardous to the spars to keep 
 the Dawn on a wind. When this was done, I ordered the after- 
 braces manned, and the leaches brought as near as possible to touch- 
 ing. It was time ; for the oars were heard, and then I got a view of 
 theboatasit cameglancingdownon our weather quarter. I instantly 
 gave the order to fill the after sails, and to keep the ship full and 
 by. The braces were manned, as well as they could be, by Marble, 
 Neb, and the cook, while I kept an eye on the boat, with an occa- 
 sional glance at the man at the wheel.
 
 158 LDCY HARDINGE. 
 
 4 ' Boat ahoy ! " I hailed, as soon as the lieutenant got near enough 
 for conversation. 
 
 " Ay, boat ahoy!" sure enough, growle.d Sennit; " some gentle- 
 man's back will pay for this trick. The ' man overboard' is nothing 
 but a d d paddy made out of a fender, with a tarpaulin truck ! I 
 suspect your mate of this, Mr. Wallingford." 
 
 " My male owns the offence, sir ; it was committed to get yout out 
 of the ship, while we took charge of her, again. The Dawn is 
 under my orders once more, Mr. Sennit ; and before I permit you 
 to come on board her again, we must have an understanding on 
 the subject." 
 
 A long, meaning whistle, with a muttered oath or two, satisfied 
 me that the lieutenant had not the slightest suspicion of the truth, 
 until it was thus abruptly announced to him. By this time the boat 
 was under our stern, where she was brought in order to be hooked 
 on, the men intending to come up by the tackles. For this I cared 
 not, however, it being an easy matter for me, standing on the taf- 
 frail, to knock any one on the head who should attempt to board us, 
 in that fashion. By way of additional security, however, Neb was 
 called to the wheel, Marble taking the English sailor forward to 
 help haul the bow-lines, and trim the yards. The ship beginning 
 to gather way, too, I threw Sennit the end of a lower-studding-sail 
 halyards that were brought aft for the purpose, ordered his bowman 
 to let go his hold of the tackle, and dropped the boat a safe towing 
 distance astern. Neb being ordered to keep the weather leaches 
 touching, just way enough was got on the ship to carry out the 
 whole of this plan, without risk to anybody. 
 
 " You'll not think of leaving us out here, on the Atlantic, Mr. 
 Wallingford, five hundred miles from the Land's End," Sennit at 
 length called out, time having been taken to chew the cud of reflec- 
 tion. 
 
 " That's as you behave, sir. I wish you no harm personally, 
 Mr. Sennit, though I much wish my own ship. The night pro- 
 mises to be good, and the wind is moderating, so that the boat 
 will be perfectly safe. I will have you hauled up, and we will 
 throw you a spare sail for a covering, and you will have the conso- 
 lation of knowing that we shall have to keep watch, while you are 
 sleeping." 
 
 " Ay, sir, I understand it all , Job's comfort that will be. As I 
 do not suppose you are to be coaxed out of the advantage you have 
 obtained, we have no choice but compliance. Give us some food 
 and water in addition, and for God's sake don't cast us adrift in 
 this boat, so far from land." 
 
 I gave Sennit an assurance that we would take care of him, and 
 orders were issued to comply with his vishes. We passed the 
 sail into the boat, and lowered a bread-bag, a kid full of beef and 
 pork, and a breaker of fresh water. I took all these precautions
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 159 
 
 the more readily, as I did not know but we might be compelled to 
 cast the boat adrift, and one would not wish to resort to such a step, 
 without desiring to leave his crew the best possible chance for their 
 lives. I will- do Marble the justice to say, he was active in making 
 these arrangements, though, had the question of destroying the 
 entire prize-crew presented itself, on one side, and that of losing 
 the ship on the other, he would not have hesitated about sinking 
 Great Britain itself, were it possible to achieve the last. I was more 
 human, and felt exceedingly relieved when I again found myself in 
 command of the Dawn, after an interregnum of less than ten hours, 
 without a drop of blood having been spilled. 
 
 As soon as every thing required was passed into the boat, she 
 was dropped astern, nearly to the whole length of the studding-sail 
 halyards. This would make her tow more safely to both parties : 
 to those in her, because there was less risk of the ship's dragging 
 her under : and to ourselves, because it removed all danger of the 
 Englishman's returning our favour, by effecting a surprise in their 
 turn. At such a distance from the ship, there would always be 
 time for us to rally and defeat any attempt to get alongside. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Capt. And as for these whose ransome we have set, 
 It is our pleasure, one of them depart .- 
 Therefore come you with us, and let him go. 
 
 King Henry VI. 
 
 By such simple means, and without resistance, as it might be, 
 did I recover the possession of my ship, the Dawn. But, now that 
 the good vessel was in my power, it was by no means an easy thing 
 to say what was to be done with her. We were just on the verge 
 of the ground occupied by the channel cruisers, and it was prepos- 
 terous to think of running the gauntlet among so many craft, with 
 the expectation of escaping. It is true, we might fall in with 
 twenty English man-of-war vessels, before we met with 
 another Speedy, to seize us and order us into Plymouth, had every 
 thing been in order and in the usual state ; but no cruiser would 
 or could board us, and not demand the reasons why so large a 
 ship should be navigated by so small a crew. It was over matters 
 like these that Marble and 1 now consulted, no one being on the 
 quarter-deck but the mate, who stood at the wheel, and myself. 
 The cook was keeping alook-out on the forecastle. The Englishman 
 had lain down, in full view, by my orders, at the foot of the main- 
 mast ; while Neb, ever ready to sleep when not on duty, was catch- 
 ing a nap on ttye booms.
 
 
 160 LUCY fURDINGE. 
 
 " We have got the ship, Moses;" I commenced; " and the 
 question next arises, what we are to do with her ?" 
 
 " Carry her to her port of destination, Captain Wallingford, to 
 be sure. What else can we do with her, sir ? " 
 
 " Ay, that is well enough, if it can be done. But, in addition to 
 the difficulty of four men's taking care of a craft of five hundred 
 tons, we have a sea before us that is covered with English crui- 
 sers." 
 
 " As for the four men, you may safely set us down as eight. I'll 
 engage we do as much in a blow as eight such fellows as are 
 picked up now-a-days 'longshore. The men of the present time 
 are mere children to those one met with in my youth, Miles! " 
 
 " Neither Neb, nor the cook, nor I, am a man of other times, but 
 are all men of to-day ; so you must call us but three, after all. I 
 know we can do much 5 but a gale may come that would teach us 
 our insignificance. As it is, we are barely able to furl the main- 
 top-gallant sail in a squall, leaving one hand at the wheel, and an- 
 other to let go rigging. No, no, Moses ; we must admit we are 
 rather short-handed, putting the best face on the matter." 
 
 " If you generalise in that mode, Miles, my dear boy, I must 
 allow that we are. We can go up channel, and ten chances to one 
 but we fall in with some Yankee, who will lend us a hand or two." 
 "We shall be twice as likely to meet with King George's ships, 
 who will overhaul our articles, and want to know what has become 
 of the rest of our people." 
 
 "Then we '11 tell 'em that the rest of the crew has been pressed ; 
 they know their own tricks too well not to see the reasonableness of 
 such an idee." 
 
 "No officer would leave a vessel of this size with only her 
 master, mate, cook, and one man, to take care of her, even had he 
 found a crew of deserters from his own ship in her. In such a case, 
 and admitting a right to impress from a foreigner at all, it would be 
 his duty to send a party to carry the craft into port. No, no, Moses ; 
 we must give all the English a wide berth now, or they will walk 
 us into Plymouth yet." 
 
 " Blast the hole ! I was in it, a prisoner, during the revylushun, 
 and never want to see its face ag'in. They 've got what they call 
 the Mill Prison there, and it 's a mill that does grinding less to my 
 taste than the thing of your'n at Clawbonny. Why not go north- 
 about, Miles? There must be few cruisers up that-a-way." 
 
 " The road is too long, the weather is apt to be too thick, and the 
 coast is too dangerous for us, Moses. We have but two expedients 
 to choose between to turn our heads to the westward, and try to 
 get home, trusting to luck to bring us up with some American who 
 will help us, or steer due east and run for a French port Bordeaux, 
 for instance where we must either dispose of the cargo, or ship a 
 new crew, and sail for our port of destination."
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. IGt 
 
 "Then try the last by all means. With this wind, we might 
 shove the ship in with the land in the course of two or three days, 
 and go clear of every thing! I like the idee, and think it can he 
 carried out. Burdux is always full of Americans, and ihere must be 
 men enough, to be had for the asking, knocking about the quays." 
 
 After a little further conversation, we determined on this plan, 
 and set about carrying it into execution on the spot. In rounding- 
 to, the ship had been brought by the wind on the larboard tack, and 
 was standing to the northward and westward, instead of to the east- 
 ward, the course we now wished to steer. It was necessary, there- 
 fore, to ware round and get the ship's head in the right direction. 
 This was not a difficult manoeuvre at all, and the Englishman help- 
 ing us, with seeming good will, it was soon successfully executed. 
 When this was accomplished, I sent the English sailor into the 
 cabin to keep Diggins company, and we set a watch on deck of two 
 and two, Marble and myself taking charge four hours and four 
 hours, in the old mode. 
 
 I acknowledge that I slept little that night. Two or three times 
 we detected Sennit attempting to haul close up under the ship's 
 stern, out of all question with a view to surprise us, but as often 
 would he drop to the length of his tow-rope, as he saw Marble's 
 head, or mine, watching him above the taffrail. When the day 
 dawned I was called, and was up and on the look-out as our horizon 
 enlarged and brightened round the ship. The great object was to 
 ascertain, as early as possible, what vessels might be incur neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 But a solitary sail was visible. She appeared to be a ship of size, 
 close-hauled, heading to the southward and eastward. By steering 
 on our proper course, or certainly by diverging a little to the north- 
 ward, it would be an easy matter to speak her. As I could plainly 
 see she was not a ship of \var, my plan was formed in a moment. 
 On communicating it to Marble, it met with his entire approbation. 
 Measures were taken, accordingly, to carry it into immediate exe- 
 cution. 
 
 In the first place, I ordered Sennit, who was awake, and had been, 
 I believe, the whole night, to haul the boat up, and to lay hold of 
 one of the boat-tackles. This he did willingly enough, no doubt 
 expecting that he was to be received into the ship under a treaty. 
 I stood on the look-out, to prevent an attack, one man being abun- 
 dantly able to keep at bay a dozen who could approach only by as- 
 cending a rope hand over hand, while Marble went below to look 
 after the two worthies who had been snoring all night in the cabin. 
 In a minute my mate re-appeared, leading up the seaman, who was 
 still more asleep than awake. This man was directed to lay hold 
 of the tackle, and slide down into the boat. There being no re- 
 medy, and descending being far easier than ascending, this exploit 
 was soon performed, and we were well rid of one of our enemies. 
 
 11
 
 162 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 Sennit now began to remonstrate, and to point out the danger there 
 was of being towed under, the ship going through the water the 
 whole time at the rate of five or six knots. I knew, however, that 
 the English were too skilful to run the risk of being drowned, 
 unnecessarily, and that they would let go of the tackle before they 
 would suffer the boat to be swamped. It was ticklish w r ork, I allow; 
 but they succeeded surprisingly well in taking care of themselves. 
 
 We had more difficulty with Diggins. This fellow had been so 
 beastly drunk, that he scarce knew what he was about when awoke; 
 and Marble rather dragged him on deck, and aft to the taffrail, 
 than assisted him to walk. There we got him at last; and he was 
 soon dangling by the tackle. So stupid and enervated was the 
 master's mate, however, that he let go his hold, and went into the 
 ocean. The souse did him good, I make no doubt ; and his life 
 was saved by his friends, one of the sailors catching him by the 
 collar, and raising him into the boat. 
 
 Sennit availed himself of this accident, to make further remon- 
 strances on the subject of having any more men put in the boat. 
 It was easy to see it was as much his policy to get everybody out of 
 that little conveyance, as it was mine to get all the English into 
 her. 
 
 " For God's sake, Captain Wallingford, knock off with this, if 
 you please," cried the lieutenant, with a most imploring sort of ci- 
 vility of manner. " You see how it is ; we can barely keep the 
 boat from swamping, with the number we have in her; and a dozen 
 times during the night I thought the ship would drag her under. 
 Nothing can be easier than for you to secure us all, if you will let 
 us come on board, one at a time." 
 
 " I do not wish to see you in irons, Mr. Sennit; and this will 
 remove any necessity for resorting to an expedient so unpleasant. 
 Hold on upon the tackle, therefore, as I shall feel obliged to cast 
 you off entirely, unless you obey orders." 
 
 This threat had the desired effect. One by one the men were let 
 up out of the forecastle, and sent into the boat. Cooked meat, bread, 
 rum and water, were supplied to the English ; and, to be ready to 
 meet any accident, we lowered them a compass, and Sennit's quad- 
 rant. We did the last at his own earnest request, for he seemed 
 to suspect we intended sending him adrift, as indeed was my plan, 
 at the proper moment. 
 
 Although the boat had now twelve men in her, she was in no 
 danger, being a stout, buoyant six-oared yawl, that might have held 
 twenty on an emergency. The weather looked promising too, the 
 wind being just a good top-gallanl breeze fora ship steering full and 
 by. The only thing about which I had any qualms, was the cir- 
 cumstance that south-west winds were apt to bring mists, and that 
 the boat might thus be lost. The emergency, nevertheless, was 
 one that justified some risks, and I pursued my plan steadily.
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 1G3 
 
 As soon as all the English were in the boat, and well provided 
 with necessaries, we felt at more liberty to move about the ship, and 
 exert ourselves in taking care of her. The man at the wheel could 
 keep an eye on the enemy the Dawn steering like a pilot-boat. 
 Neb was sent aloft to do certain necessary duty, and the top-gal- 
 lant sails being loose, the clew-lines were overhauled, and the sails 
 set. I did this more to prevent the English ship from suspecting 
 something wrong, at seeing a vessel running off, before the wind, 
 under such short canvass, than from any desire to get ahead, since 
 we were already going so fast as to render it probable we should 
 pass the other vessel, unless we altered our course to meet her. 
 
 Diogenes Billings, the cook, had now a little leisure to serve us 
 a warm breakfast. If Mr. Sennit were living, I think he would do 
 us the justice to say he was not forgotten. We sent the people in 
 the boat some good hot coffee, well sweetened, and they had a 
 fair share of the other comfortable eatables, of which we partook 
 ourselves. We also got out, and sent them the masts and 
 regular sails of the boat, which was fitted to carry two sprits. 
 
 By this time the stranger ship was within two leagues of us, and 
 it became necessary to act. I sent Marble aloft to examine the 
 horizon, and he came down to report nothing else was in sight. 
 This boded well. I proceeded at once to the taffrail, where I hailed 
 the boat, desiring Sennit to haul her up within comfortable con- 
 versing distance. This was done immediately. 
 
 " Mr. Sennit," I commenced, " it is necessary for us to part 
 here. The ship in sight is English, and will take you up. 
 I intend to speak her, and will take care that she knows where 
 you are. By standing due east you will easily cut her off, and 
 there cannot be a doubt of her picking you up." 
 
 " For heaven's sake, consider a moment, Capt. Wallingford," 
 Sennit exclaimed," before you abandon us out here, a thousand 
 miles from land." 
 
 "You are just three hundred and twenty -six miles from Stilly, 
 and not much more from the Land's End, Mr. Sennit, with a wind 
 blowing dead for both. Then your own countrymen will pick 
 you up of a certainty, and carry you safe into port." 
 
 " Ay, into one of the West India Islands : if an Englishman at 
 all, yonder vessel is a running West Indiaman; she may take us 
 all the way to Jamaica." 
 
 " Well, then you will have an opportunity of returning at your 
 leisure. You wished to take me almost as much out of my course ; 
 or, if not absolutely out of my course, quite as much out of my 
 time. I have as little relish for Plymouth as you seem to have 
 for Jamaica." 
 
 " But, the stranger may be a Frenchman now I look at him, 
 he has a French look." 
 
 "If he should be French, he will treat you well. It will be
 
 J64 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 exchanging beef for soup-maigre for a week or two. Theso 
 Frenchmen eat and drink as well as you English." 
 
 " But, Capt. Wallingford, their prisons. This fellow, Buonaparte, 
 exchanges nobody this war ; and if I get into France I am a ruined 
 man !" 
 
 " And if I had gone into Plymouth, 1 fear I should have been a 
 ruined man, too." 
 
 " Bemember, we are of the same blood after all people of the 
 same stock just as much countrymen as the natives of Kent and 
 Suffolk. Old Saxon blood, both of us." 
 
 "Thank you, sir 5 I shall not deny the relationship, since it is 
 your pleasure to claim it. I marvel, however, you did not let your 
 cousin's ship pass without detaining her." 
 
 "How could I help it, my dear Wallingford? Lord Harry is a 
 nobleman , and a captain ; and what could a poor devil of a lieute- 
 nant, whose commission is not a year old, do against such odds ! No, 
 no 5 there should be more feeling and good fellowship between chaps 
 like you and me, who have their way to make in the world." 
 
 "You remind me of the necessity of being in motion. Adieu, 
 Mr. Sennit cut, Moses!" 
 
 Marble struck a blow with the axe on the studding-sail halyards, 
 and away the Dawn glided, leaving the boat tossing on the waves, 
 twenty fathoms further astern, on the very first send of the sea. 
 What Mr. Sennit said, I could not hear, now, but I very plainly 
 saw him shake his fist at me, and his head, too , and 1 make no 
 manner of doubt, if he called me any thing, that he did not call me 
 a gentleman. In ten minutes the boat was fully a mile astern. At 
 first Sennit did not appear disposed to do any thing, lying motion- 
 less on the water, in sullen stillness 5 but wiser thoughts succeeded, 
 and stepping his two masts, in less than twenty minutes I saw his 
 sails spread, and the boat making the best of its way to get into the 
 track of the stranger. 
 
 It had been my intention, originally, to speak the strange ship, 
 as I had told Sennit ; but seeing there was no probability of her al- 
 tering her course, so as to pass the boat, I changed my purpose , 
 and stood directly athwart her fore-foot, at about half a mile's dis- 
 tance. I set the Yankee bunting, and she showed the English ensign 
 in return. Had she been French, however, it would have made no 
 odds to me , for what did I care about my late captors becoming pri- 
 soners of war? They had endeavoured to benefit themselves at my 
 cost, and I was willing enough to benefit myself at theirs. 
 
 We made our preparations for setting studding-sails now, 
 though I thought there were signs of a desire in the Englishman to 
 speak me. I knew he must be armed, and felt no wish to gratify 
 him, inasmuch as he might take it into his head to make some 
 inquiries concerning the boat, which if not already visible from his
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE 165 
 
 decks, soon must bo. I was certain the Dawn, deep as she" was, 
 would go four feet to the Indiaman's three ; and once past him, I had 
 no apprehensions in the event of a chase. 
 
 The English ship caught sight of the boat, when we were about 
 a mile on his lee quarter, with lower and top-mast studding-sails set, 
 going quite eight knots, on a due east course. We became aware of 
 the fact, by her hoisting a jack at the fore. From that moment I 
 gave myself no concern on the subject of Sennit and his prize-crew. 
 Twenty minutes later we saw the ship back her main-topsail, and by 
 means of the glasses, we plainly perceived the boat alongside of 
 her. After some delay the yawl was hoisted on the deck of the 
 ship, and the latter filled her topsail. I had some curiosity to 
 ascertain what would come next. It would seem that Sennit ac- 
 tually induced the master of the West Indiaman to give chase ; for, 
 no sooner did the vessel gather way than she bore up after us, 
 packing on every thing that would draw. We were greatly re- 
 joiced at having improved the leisure time in making sail ourselves ; 
 for having a lower studding-sail and two topmast studding-sails on 
 the ship when this race began, I did not feel much apprehension 
 of being overtaken. By way of making more sure of an escape, 
 however, we set the royals. 
 
 When the West Indiaman bore up in chase, we were about two 
 leagues ahead of our pursuer. So far from lessening this distance, 
 though she carried royal studding-sails, we gradually increased it 
 to three, until satisfied he could do nothing, the master of the 
 strange ship took in his light sails, and hauled by the wind again, 
 carrying the late prize-crew in a direct line from England. 1 after- 
 wards learned that Sennit and his companions were actually landed 
 in the island of Barbadoes, after a pleasant passage of only twenty- 
 six days. 1 make no doubt it took them much longer to get back 
 again , for it was certain not one of them had reappeared in Eng- 
 land six months from that day. 
 
 We now had the ship to ourselves, though with a very diminished 
 crew. The day was the time to sleep ; and relieving each other at 
 the wheel, those who were off duty slept most of the time, when they 
 were not eating. At six in the evening, however, all hands were up, 
 making our preparations for the night. 
 
 At that hour the wind was steady and favourable ; the horizon 
 clear of vessels of every sort, and the prospects of a pleasant night 
 were sufficiently good. The run in the course of the day was equal 
 to one hundred miles, and I computed the distance to Brest at 
 something less than four hundred miles. By getting in nearer with 
 the land, I should have the option of standing for any French port 
 I pleased, that lay between Cherbourg and Bayonne. 
 
 " Well, Moses," I observed to my old friend and shipmate, when 
 we had finished our survey, " this looks promising ! As long as the 
 wind remains in this quarter, we shall do well enough ; should wo
 
 166 LUCY HARDllfGE. 
 
 actually get in safely, I shall not regret the delay, the credit of 
 having done so good a thing, and of having done it so well, being 
 worth as much to me as any interest on capital, or wear and tear of 
 gear, can possibly be. As for Mr. Sennit, I fancy he is some sixty or 
 eighty miles off here at the southward and westward, and we've done 
 with him for the voyage." 
 
 " Suppose he should fall in with the Speedy, and report what has 
 happened, Miles?" returned the mate. " I have been calculating 
 that chance. The stranger was standing directly for the frigate's 
 cruising ground, and he may meet her. We will not halloo till we're 
 out of the wood." 
 
 " That risk is so remote, I shall not let it give me any trouble. It 
 is my intention to run in for the land at our fastest rate of sailing, and 
 then profit by the best wind that offers, to get into the nearest haven. 
 If you can suggest a better scheme, Moses, I invite you to speak." 
 
 Marble assented, though I perceived he was not entirely free from 
 the apprehension he had named until the next morning arrived, 
 bringing with it no change, and still leaving us a clear sea. That 
 day and the succeeding night, too, we made a capital run ; and at 
 meridian of the third day after the recapture of the Dawn, I cal- 
 culated our position to be just one hundred and four miles to the 
 southward and eastward of Ushant. The wind had shifted, 
 however, and it had just come out light at north-east. We went 
 to work, all hands of us to get in the studding-sails, and to brace 
 up and haul aft ; an operation that consumed nearly two hours. 
 We were so busily employed, indeed, as to have little or no time 
 to look about us, and my surprise was the less, therefore, when 
 the cook called out " sail ho!" I was busy trimming the main- 
 yard, when this announcement was made, and looking up, I saw a 
 lugger standing towards us, and already within long gun-shot. I 
 afterwards ascertained that, perceiving us to be approaching her, 
 this craft had lain like a snake in the grass, under bare poles, until 
 she thought us sufficiently near, when she made sail in chase. I 
 saw, at a glance, several important facts. In the first place, the 
 lugger was French beyond all dispute ; in the second, she was a 
 cruiser, public or private ; in the third, escape from her, under 
 any circumstances, was highly improbable, under those which ac- 
 tually existed, impossible. But why should we endeavour to escape 
 from this vessel ? The countries were at peace : we had just bought 
 Louisiana from France, and paid fifteen millions of dollars for it, 
 thereby not only getting the country ourselves, but keeping it out 
 of the hands of John Bull, and we were said to be excellent friends 
 again. Then the Dawn had extricated herself from English clutches 
 only a day or two before ; no doubt the lugger would give us all the 
 aid we could require. 
 
 " She is French, for a thousand dollars, Moses!" I cried, 
 lowering my glass from the first good look of the stranger ; " and
 
 LUCY HA.RDINGE. 16f 
 
 by keeping away two points, we shall speak her in fifteen mi- 
 nutes." 
 
 " Ay, French," rejoined the mate, " but, blast 'em all round, 
 I'd much rather have nothing to do with any of the rogues. I'll 
 tell you how it is, Miles 5 these are onmoralizing times, and the sea 
 is getting to be sprinkled with so many Van Tassels, that I'm afeard 
 you and I'll be just that dear good old soul, my mother, and little 
 Kitty, to be frightened, or, if not exactly frightened, to be wronged 
 out of our just rights." 
 
 " Little fear of that this time, Moses this is a Frenchman ; as 
 we are bound into a French port, he'll not hesitate to lend us half- 
 a-dozen hands, in order to help us along." 
 
 "Ay, and take half the ship and cargo for salvage! I know 
 these piccaroons, and you ought to know' em too, Miles, for it's only 
 two or three years since you were a prisoner of war among 'enu 
 That was a delightful feelin', I rather conclude." 
 
 " Times are altered, Moses, and I'll show confidence in the 
 change. Keep the ship away, Neb so ; meet her steer for the 
 lugger's fore-mast-, that will do." 
 
 Of course these orders soon brought the two vessels alongside of 
 each other. As the lugger approached, we made her out to be a 
 stout, but active craft, of sixteen guns, and apparently full of men. 
 She set the tri-colour, when half a mile distant, sure of her prey, 
 should we turn out to be a prize. We showed him the stars and 
 stripes of course, fancying he vould treat them as a friend. 
 
 It was not long before both vessels had rounded-to, and prepar- 
 ations were made to hail. 
 
 " What sheep's zat?" demanded one in good broken English. 
 " The Dawn, of New York may I ask the name of your lugger?" 
 "Le Polisson corsair Francais what you load, eh?" 
 " Sugar and coffee, with cochineal, and a few other articles." 
 " Peste! Vere you boun', Monsieur, s'il vous plait?" 
 " Hamburg." 
 
 *' Diable zis is non ze chemin. How you come here, sair, viz 
 ze vin' at sow-vess ! " 
 
 " We are going in to Brest, being in need of a little succour." 
 " You vish salvage, eh! Parbleu, we can do you zatmosh good, 
 as veil asanodair." 
 
 I was then ordered, privateer fashion, to lower a boat, and to 
 repair on board the lugger with my papers. When told I had no 
 stern or quarter- boat to lower, the Frenchman manifested surprise; 
 but he sent his own yawl for me. My reception on board the 
 Polisson was a little free for Frenchmen. The captain received me 
 in person, and I saw, at a glance, I had to deal with men who were 
 out on the high seas, with the fear of English prison-ships con- 
 stantly before their eyes, in quest of gold. I was not invited into 
 the cabin, a crowded, dark and dirty hole, for, in that day. the
 
 168 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 French were notoriously foul in their vessels, but was directed to 
 show my papers seated on a hencoop. 
 
 As every thing was regular about the register, manifest, and 
 clearance, I could see that Monsieur Gallois was not in a particularly 
 good humour. He had one, whom I took to be a renegade 
 Englishman, with him, to aid in the examination, though, as this 
 man never spoke in my presence, I was unable precisely to ascer- 
 tain who he was. The two had a long consultation in private, after 
 the closest scrutiny could detect no flaw in the papers. Then Mon- 
 sieur Gallois approached and renewed the discourse. 
 "Vy you have no boat, sair? " he asked. 
 " I lost my boat, three days since, about a hundred leagues to 
 the southward and westward." 
 
 " It is not have bad veddair! Why you got no more marins in 
 your sheep? eh!" 
 
 I saw it would be best to tell the whole truth at once; for, were 
 I to get any aid from this lugger, the facts, sooner or later, must be 
 made known. Accordingly, I gave the Frenchman, and his English- 
 looking companion, a full account of what had occurred between us 
 and the Speedy. After this narrative, there was another long 
 conference between Mons. Gallois and his friend. Then the boat 
 was again manned, and the captain of the lugger, accompanied by 
 his privy-councillor and myself, went on board the Dawn. Here, 
 a very cursory examination satisfied my visiters of the truth of my 
 story. 
 
 I confess, I expected some commendation from a Frenchman, 
 when he heard the ready manner in which we had got our vessel 
 out of the hands of the Philistines. No such thing; an expressive 
 * bon ' had escaped Mons. Gallois, once or twice, it is true $ but it 
 was apparent he was looking much sharper for some pretext to 
 make us a prize himself, than for reasons to commend our conduct. 
 Each new aspect of the affair was closely scanned, arid a new con- 
 ference with the adviser was held, apart. 
 
 " Sair," said Mons. Gallois, "I have mosh regret, but your sheep 
 is bon prize. You have been prisonnier to ze English, ze enemy of 
 la France, and you shall not capture yourself. L'Amerique is not at 
 war is neutral, as you shall say, and ze Americains cannot make ze 
 prize. I considair your ship, monsieur, as in ze hand of ze English, 
 and shall capture him. Mes regrets sont vifs, mais, que voulez- 
 vous ? Ze corsair most do his devoir, ze same as ze sheep na- 
 tional. I shall send you to Brest, vere, if you be not sold 
 par un de'cret, 1 shall be too happy to restore votre bdtiment. 
 Allons!" 
 
 Here was a denouement to the affair, wi th a vengeance ! I was to be 
 captured because I had been captured. " Once a corporal, always a 
 corporal." As the English had taken me, the French would lake me. 
 A prize to-day, you must be a prize to-morrow. I have always
 
 LUCY HARD1NCE. 169 
 
 thought the case of the Dawn was the first of the long series of 
 wrongs that were subsequently committed on American commerce, 
 in virtue of this same principle, a little expanded and more effec- 
 tually carried out, perhaps, and which, in the end, terminated by 
 blockading all Europe, and interdicting the high seas, on paper. 
 
 I knew the uselessness of remonstrating with a rapacious pri- 
 vateersman. " Let him send me in," I thought to myself, at first ; 
 " it is just where I wished to go -, once in, the minister must get me 
 clear. The fellow will only be the dupe of his own covetousness, and 
 I shall profit by it, in the degree that he will be a loser ! " 
 
 I presume Mons. Gallois entertained a very different view of the 
 matter ; for he manifested great alacrity in throwing a crew of no 
 less than seventeen souls, big and little, on board us. I watched 
 these operations in silence, as did Neb and Diogenes. As for 
 Marble, he lighted a cigar, took his seat on the windlass, and sat 
 in dignified anger, ready to explode on the slightest occasion, yet 
 apprehensive he might be sent out of the ship, should he betray 
 one half of what he felt. Out of the ship, neither of us was sent, 
 however, the French probably feeling indisposed to be troubled 
 with passengers, in the narrow quarters they had for themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 You are safe ; 
 
 Nay, more, almost triumphant. Listen, then, 
 And hear my words of truth. 
 
 Marino Falieru. 
 
 It was just four o'clock P.M. when the Dawn and the Polisson parted 
 company, the former steering on her old course for Brest, while the 
 latter continued her cruise. The lugger sailed like a witch, and 
 away she went towards the chops of the channel, on a bowline ; 
 leaving us to stand towards the French coast close-hauled, also, 
 but on the opposite tack. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to dwell on the feelings with which we 
 four, who were eye-witnesses of all that passed, witnessed the 
 proceedings. Even Diogenes was indignant. As for Marble, I 
 have already alluded to his state of mind ; and, if I had not, the fol- 
 lowing dialogue, which took place at sunset (the first that occurred 
 between us in private since the second capture, while the French 
 were eating their suppers), would serve to explain it. 
 
 " Well, Miles," the mate drily observed, " whatever we have to 
 do must be done at once. When shall we begin ? in the middle, 
 or in the morning w 7 atch ? " 
 
 " Begin what, Moses? " I asked, a little surprised at the settled 
 manner in which he put his question.
 
 170 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 "To throw these Frenchmen overboard. Of course you don't 
 mean to let them carry your ship into Brest?" 
 
 "Why not? We were bound to Brest when we fell in with 
 them ; and, if they wn7/4ake us there, it will only save us the trouble 
 of doing it ourselves." 
 
 "Don't be deceived by any such hope, Miles. I've been in the 
 hands of Frenchmen before I knew you ; and there is little hope of 
 getting out of them, so long as the ship and cargo will pay for de- 
 tention. No, no, my dear boy ; you know I love you better than 
 any thing on 'arth, my dear old soul of a mother and little Kitty ex- 
 cepted, for it wouldn't be religious to like you better than my own 
 flesh and blood, but, after these two, I like you better than any 
 one on 'arth $ and I can't be quiet, and see you run your property 
 into the fire. Never let the ship go into France, after what has 
 happened, if you can help it." 
 
 " Can we possibly help it? Or do you propose that four men 
 shall retake this vessel from seventeen ? " 
 
 " Well, the odds are not so great, Miles," Marble rejoined, look- 
 ing coolly round at the noisy set of little Frenchmen, who were all 
 talking together over their soup ; certainly not a very formidable 
 band in a hand-to-hand encounter, though full of fire and animation. 
 "There are four of us, and only seventeen of them, such as they 
 are. I rather think we could handle 'em all, in a regular set-to, 
 with fists. There's Neb, he 's as strong as a jackass ; Diogenes is 
 another Hercules-, and neither you nor 1 am a kitten. I consider 
 you as a match, in a serious scuffle, for the best four among them 
 chaps." 
 
 This was not said in the least boastingly, though certainly the es- 
 timate of comparative force made by my mate was enormously out 
 of the way. It was true, that we four were unusually powerful and 
 athletic men j but it was also true, that six of the French might very 
 well be placed in the same category. I was not subject to the 
 vulgar prejudice of national superiority, I hope 5 one of the strongest 
 of all the weaknesses of our very weak nature. I have never yet 
 been in a country, of which the people did not fancy themselves, 
 in all particulars, the salt of the earth ; though there are very dif- 
 ferent degrees in the modes of bragging on such subjects. In the 
 present instance, Marble had not the least idea of bragging, how- 
 ever; for he really believed we four, in an open onslaught, fire- 
 arms out of the question, might have managed those seventeen 
 Frenchmen. I think, myself, we might have got along with twice 
 our number, taking a fair average of the privateer's men, and re- 
 ducing the struggle to the arms of nature ; but I should have' hesi- 
 tated a long time in making an open attack on even them. 
 
 Still, I began to regard my chances of escaping, should we be 
 sent into a French port by the privateer, as far less certain than 
 they had appeared at first. Marble had so much to say of the anar-
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 171 
 
 chists in France, as he had known them in the worst period of the 
 revolution, and so many stories to tell of ships seized and of mer- 
 chants ruined, that my confidence in the right was shaken. Bona- 
 parte was then in the height of his consular power, on the point 
 of becoming Emperor, indeed, and he had commenced this new 
 war with a virulence and disregard of acknowledged rights, in the 
 detention of all the English then resident in France, that served to 
 excite additional distrust. Whatever may be said of the com- 
 prehensiveness and vastness of the genius of Napoleon, as a soldier 
 and statesman, I presume few upright and enlightened men can now 
 be found to eulogise his respect for public law. At any rate, I 
 began to have lively misgivings on the subject-, and the consultation 
 between my mate and myself terminated in our coming to a resolu- 
 tion to serve the French prize-crew substantially as we had served 
 the English prize-crew, if possible, varying the mode only to suit 
 the new condition of things. This last precaution was necessary, 
 as, in the fulness of my confidence, I had made Mons. Gallois ac- 
 quainted with all the circumstances of throwing the fender over- 
 board, and the manner in which we had got possession of the ship. 
 It was not to be expected, therefore, that particular artifice could 
 be made to succeed with him. 
 
 It must have been the result of prejudice, and of constant reading 
 of articles extracted from the English journals, that influenced me ; 
 but I confess it seemed a much easier matter to retake my ship 
 from seventeen Frenchmen, than from twelve Englishmen. I was 
 not so besotted as to suppose surprise or artifice would not be ne- 
 cessary in either case ; but, had the issue been made up on brute 
 force, I should have begun the fray with greater confidence in the 
 first than in the last case. All this would have been very wrong in 
 our particular situation, though, as a rule and as applied to seafar- 
 ing men, it might be more questionable. How often, and how 
 much, have 1 seen reason to regret the influence that is thus silently 
 obtained amongst us, by our consenting to become the retailers of 
 other people's prejudices ! One of the reasons why we have so 
 long been mere serviles on this point is owing to the incompleteness 
 of the establishments of the different leading presses of the country. 
 We multiply, instead of enlarging these enterprises. The want of 
 concentration of talent compels those who manage them to resort 
 to the scissors instead of the pen ; and it is almost as necessary for 
 an American editor to be expert with the shears, as it is for a tailor. 
 Thus the public is compelled to receive hashes, instead of fresh 
 dishes 5 and things that come from a distance, notoriously possess- 
 ing a charm, it gets the original cookery of London, instead of that 
 of their own country. 
 
 Prejudice or not, confidence is not a bad thing when a conflict is 
 unavoidable. It may be well to respect your enemy down to the 
 very moment of making the charge ; but, that commenced, the
 
 172 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 more he is despised the better. When Diogenes and Neb were 
 told it would be necessary to go over again the work so lately 
 thought to be completed, neither of the negroes manifested the 
 least concern. Diogenes had been in the Crisis, as well as Neb, 
 and he had got to entertain a very Anglican sort of notion of French 
 prowess on the water; and, as for my own black, he would have 
 followed without the slightest remonstrance, wherever "Masser 
 Mile please to lead." 
 
 4 ' They's only French," said Diogenes, in a philosophical sort of 
 "way ; " we can handle 'em like children." 
 
 I would not discourage this notion, though I saw its folly. Telling 
 our two supporters to hold themselves ready for an attack, Marble 
 and 1 left them to cogitate and commence the manner of proceeding. 
 Whatever was done must be done that night, there being reason to 
 think the ship would get in somewhere next day. 
 
 The name of our prize-master was Le Gros. He was not aptly 
 designated, however, being a little, shrivelled, yellow-faced fellow, 
 who did not seem to be a Hercules at all. Nevertheless, unlike 
 Sennit, he was all vigilance and activity. He never left the deck, 
 and, being so near in with the coast, I felt pretty certain we should 
 have his company above board all night. Whatever was attempted, 
 therefore, must be attempted in defiance of his watchfulness. Nor 
 was this all; additional prudence was necessary, since we were 
 so near the coast as greatly to increase the chance of our being 
 picked up by some other French cruiser, should we even escape 
 from this. Extreme caution was our cue, therefore, and Marble 
 and I separated, seemingly each to take his repose with a perfect 
 understanding on all these points. 
 
 Mons. Le Gros paid no attention to the state-rooms, or to the 
 accommodations below. His whole care was bestowed on the 
 ship. Apprehension of falling in with some British cruiser kept 
 his eyes wide open, and his gaze constantly sweeping the horizon, 
 so far as the obscurity would allow. I was incessantly on the alert 
 myself, stealing up from the cabin as far as the companion-way at 
 least a dozen times in the course of the night, in the hope of find- 
 ing him asleep ; but on each occasion I saw him moving up and 
 down the .quarter-deck, in rapid motion, armed to the teeth, and 
 seemingly insensible to fatigue and all the other weaknesses of na- 
 ture. It was useless to attempt to find him off his guard ; and worn 
 put, Marble and myself fell into deep sleep, about three in the 
 morning, out of pure exhaustion. As for the two negroes, they 
 slept the entire night, waiting our summons for their rallying to 
 the work. Neb, in particular, had all the absence of responsibility 
 that distinguishes the existence of a slave, feeling very much the 
 same unconcern as to the movements of the vessel as any other 
 human being feels in connexion with those of the earth in which 
 he is a passenger. 

 
 LtCY HARDINGE. 173 
 
 It Was ton o'clock when I awoke, refreshed, but disrtppoinSrd. 
 Marble was still snoring in his berth, and I was compelled to give 
 him a call. I could perceive there was a breeze, and that the ship 
 was going through the water fast-, by her lurching, she was close 
 hauled. It takes a seaman but a minute or two to throw on his loose 
 attire, and no time was lost on the present occasion. While my 
 mate and I were thus engaged, the former happened to cast a look 
 out of the cabin windows, which were open on account of the 
 warmth of the weather, and offered no obstruction to a long view 
 of the ocean directly in our wake. 
 
 "Halloo, Miles ! " Marble exclaimed ; "by Jove, we are chased! 
 Such is the secret of Mr. Frog's being so much alive this fine 
 morning. Yonder comes a frigate, or my name is not Oloff 
 Marble." 
 
 A frigate there was, sure enough. She was about two leagues 
 astern of us, and resembled a pyramidal cloud, moving along the 
 water, so completely were her spars covered with canvass. That 
 she was an Englishman was more than probable, from the cruising 
 ground, as well as from the fact of the prize-crew running from her. 
 In that day, no French ship-of-war loitered long at any particular 
 point, her enemies being so numerous as to render pursuit certain, 
 ere many hours could elapse. After determining these facts in our 
 minds, Marble and I went on deck. 
 
 My first look was ahead. To my deep regret there lay the land 
 actually within three leagues of us ! The wind was fresh at north- 
 east, and Monsieur Le Gros appeared to be steering for a group of 
 islands that lay a little, and ever so little, on our lee bow. Brest 
 was out of the question , if we could get in with the land, among- 
 these islands, it was as much as we could do, before the racer 
 astern be up to us. The Frenchmen were evidently alarmed ; an 
 English prison-ship, with all its known horrors, being very vividly 
 placed before their eyes. Monsieur Le Gros screamed, and gave 
 twenty orders in a minute,- while the other sixteen men made more 
 noise than w^ould be heard among a thousand Americans. Heavens I 
 what a clamour these chaps kept up, and all about nothing, too, the 
 ship having every stitch of canvass on her that would draw. I felt 
 like the Arab who owned the rarest mare in the desert, but who was 
 coming up with the thief who had stolen her, himself riding an in- 
 ferior beast, and all because the rogue did not understand the secret 
 of making the mare do her best. " Pinch her right ear, or I shall 
 overtake you," called out the Arab ; and more than twenty times was 
 I disposed to trim the Dawn's sails, and send Neb to the wheel, in 
 order to escape the disgrace of being overhauled' by the frigate. 
 There was a chance for me, however, in this second recapture, and 
 I thought it preferable to let things take their course. My new 
 conquerors might be mystified, whereas there was little hope for 
 us, should Monsieur Lc Gros get in, after such an uproar.
 
 174 LUCY HARPIWGE. 
 
 la little more than an hour's time, the Dawn began to shorten 
 sail, hauling up her courses and top-gallant sails, rocks showing 
 themselves within half a mile of her. A large boat met us here, 
 coming alongside, as soon as certain who we were. The people in 
 this boat were fishermen, and were so much accustomed to all the 
 movements of the coast, that they understood the nature of the af- 
 fair as soon as they were apprised of our character. Of course they 
 were eagerly questioned touching the possibility of the Dawn's being 
 carried in through any of the rocky-looking passages that lay before 
 us. Monsieur Le Gros looked very blank when he was told that 
 alibis hopes lay in there being sufficient water in one channel, and 
 of that the fishermen confessed their own ignorance. If the noise 
 and confusion were annoying before these men came alongside, it 
 was astounding afterwards. All this time the frigate was drawing 
 near fast, and half an hour would certainly bring her within gun- 
 shot. There is something intoxicating in a race. I felt a strong 
 desire to get away from the Englishman at the very moment I 
 believed my chances for justice would be worst in the hands of 
 the French. Feeling the necessity of losing no time, 1 now made a 
 lively appeal to Monsieur Le Gros myself, proposing that we should 
 both go in with the fishing-boat, and examine the passage ourselves. 
 By using proper activity, the whole might be done in a quarter of an 
 hour-, we should then know whether to carry the ship in, or to run 
 on the rocks and save what we could of the cargo, by means of 
 lighters. 
 
 Order on board ship is out of the question without coolness, si- 
 lence, and submission. A fussy sailor is always a bad sailor, calm- 
 ness and quiet being the great requisites for the profession, after 
 the general knowledge is obtained. No really good officer ever 
 makes a noise except when the roar of the elements renders it in- 
 dispensable, in order to be heard. In that day French ships of war 
 did not understand this important secret, much less French pri- 
 vateers. I can only liken the clamour that was now going on in 
 the Dawn's lee-gangway to that which is raised by Dutch fish- 
 women, on the arrival of the boats from sea with their cargoes. 
 To talk of Billingsgate in comparison with these women is to do the 
 Holland and Flemish ladies gross injustice, English phlegm being far 
 more silent thanDutch phlegm. No sooner was my proposition made 
 than it was accepted by acclamation, and the privateersmen began 
 to pour into the boat, heels over head, without order, and I may say 
 without orders. Monsieur Le Gros was carried off in the current, 
 and, when the fishermen cast off, but three Frenchmen were left in 
 the ship , all the Bothers had been swept away by a zeal to be useful, 
 that was a little quickened, perhaps, by the horrors of an English 
 prison-ship. 
 
 Even Diogenes laughed at the random manner in which we were 
 thus left in possession of our own. There is no question ( that the
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 175 
 
 French intended to return ; while there is no question it was also 
 their intention to go. In short, they were in a tumult, and acted 
 under an impulse, instead of under the government of their rea- 
 sons. 
 
 " You will have the complaisance, Mons. Wallingford," cried Le 
 Gros, as the boat started away from the ship's side, " to fill the top- 
 sail, and run for the passage, when we wave our hats." 
 
 "Ay ay," I answered; " leave it to me to fill the top-sails, and 
 to give the John Bulls the slip." 
 
 This was said in French, and it drew cries of "Bon! "and of 
 " Vive la France ! " from all in the boat. What the fellows thought, 
 I will not pretend to say 5 but if they thought they were to get on 
 board the Dawn again, they did not know the men they left behind 
 them. As for the Frenchmen who remained, Marble and I could 
 have managed them alone ; and I was glad they were with us, since 
 they could be made to pull and haul. 
 
 The ship was under her three top-sails, spanker and jib, when 
 Mons. Le Gros thus singularly gave her up to my control 5 the main- 
 yard lying square. My first step was to fill the topsail, and gather 
 way on the vessel. This was soon done 5 and, keeping away, I 
 stood on towards the rocks, which soon bore on our weather bow, 
 determined to run as near them as I dared, thinking to frighten the 
 Englishman so much, as to induce him to keep at arm's-length. I 
 might castaway the ship, it is true; but even this would be prefer- 
 able to falling again into English hands, with all the occurrences 
 still so recent. A year or two later, the affair of the Speedy's men 
 might be forgotten $ but while a thing is fresh, there is always some 
 danger of its creating feeling. At least, thus I reasoned, and thus 
 I acted. 
 
 Once more I had the Dawn under my own orders ; and, could I 
 keep the frigate out of gun-shot, I cared very little for Mons. Le 
 Gros. At first, the privateersmen supposed that, in filling away, I 
 merely intended to further their views 5 but no sooner did they per- 
 ceive the ship standing on to leeward of the passage, than the truth 
 seemed to flash on their befogged faculties. This was not until the 
 depth of water was ascertained to be sufficient for their purposes 5 
 and such a flourishing of tarpaulins and greasy caps as succeeded, 
 I had not witnessed for many a day. All these signals and calls, 
 however, were disregarded ; but away went the Dawn, with her 
 yards just rounded in a point, with the wind fairly a-bcam, coasting 
 along as near the islands as I thought it at all prudent to venture. 
 As for the frigate, she was still keeping her luff, in order to get far 
 enough to windward to make sure of her prey. At this moment, 
 the two ships might have been a league asunder. 
 
 Mons. Le Gros was no sooner aware of the trick I had played him, 
 than out he dashed with his fishing-boat, making sail in chase, and 
 helping his dull craft along with Haifa dozen oars. Seeing this, I
 
 176 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 let the fore-sail drop, and sheeted home and hoisted the main-top- 
 gallant-sail ; not that I felt at all afraid of the boat, but because it 
 was my wish to avoid bloodshed:, if possible. Among the other 
 absurdities the French had committed, in their haste to get away 
 from the frigate, was that of leaving six or eight muskets, with 
 several cartridge-boxes, behind them. With these weapons, it 
 would have been easy for us to have given the privaleersmen such 
 a hint, as would not fail to keep them at bay. Then I always had 
 my pistols, which were not only valuable implements, but were 
 double-barrelled and well loaded. Our only ground of alarm, there- 
 fore, came from the Englishman. 
 
 Possibly, Monsieur Le Gros thought differently : for his chase was 
 animated, and apparently in earnest. But, notwithstanding all his 
 zeal, the Dawn left him astern, going through the water at the rate 
 of about six knots. But the frigate was coming up at the rate of 
 eight knots, making it certain that she would get us under her guns 
 in an hour or two at most, unless some great advantage was 
 obtained over her by means of the complicated navigation, and 
 shallow water. 
 
 When at Bordeaux, the previous year, I had purchased a chart 
 of the French coast, with a book containing directions similar to 
 those which are to be found in our own " Coasting Pilot," As a 
 matter of course, I had them both with me, and I found them of 
 great service on this occasion. The text described the islands we 
 were near as being separated by narrow channels of deep water, in 
 which the danger was principally owing to sunken rocks. It was 
 these rocks that had induced the fishermen to pronounce the 
 passage impracticable; and my coasting directions cautioned all 
 navigators to be wary in approaching them. The Dawn, however, 
 was in precisely the situation which might render thes^e rocks of 
 the last service to her; and, preferring shipwreck to seeing my 
 vessel in cither English or French hands again, I determined to 
 trust to the very dangers of the navigation as my safeguard. I might 
 go clear of the bottom, but it was certain, if I kept outside, I could 
 not escape from the frigate. An accidental occurrence, in con- 
 nexion with the boat, favoured us, and I was not slow to profit by the 
 advantage it offered. Finding it impossible to come up with the 
 ship by keeping in her wake, Monsieur Le Gros had taken a short 
 cut, in the boat, between some islets that we were obliged to round, 
 and he actually came out ahead of us. Instead of endeavouring to 
 close with the ship, however, he led into an excessively narrow 
 passage, making furious gestures for us to follow. This was at the 
 instant when the frigate fired her first gun at us, the shot of which 
 just fell a very little short. Did we pass the channel in which 
 Monsieur Le Gros had carried the boat, we should fall to leeward 
 of the whole group of islands, or islets, would be the better word, 
 all would literally depend on our heels. There was but a
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 177 
 
 moment in which to decide 5 in another minute, the ship would be 
 past the opening, which could only be regained by tacking, if it 
 could be regained at all. I gave the order to luff. 
 
 Our three Frenchmen, fancying themselves now certainly bound 
 to la belle France, were as active as cats. Neb and Diogenes 
 throwing their powerful force on the braces with a good-will, too, 
 we soon had the Dawn braced sharp up, heading well to windward 
 of the passage. Monsieur Le Gros was delighted. Apparently, he 
 thought all was right again ; and he led the way, flourishing both 
 hands, while all in the boat, fishermen inclusive, were bawling, 
 and shouting, and gesticulating, in a way that would certainly have 
 confused us, had I cared a straw about them. I thought it well 
 enough to follow the boat ; but, as for their cries, they were dis- 
 regarded. Had Monsieur Le Gros seen fit to wait for the ship in 
 the narrowest part of the inlet, he might have embarrassed us ; but, 
 so far from this, he appeared to be entirely carried away by the 
 excitement of the chase, and was as eager to push ahead, as a boy 
 who was struggling to be first in at the goal. 
 
 It was a nervous instant when the Dawn's bow first entered the 
 narrow passage. The width, from rock to rock, speaking only of 
 visible things, might have been thirty fathoms ; and this strait 
 narrowed, rather than widened, for several hundred feet, until it 
 was reduced fully one-third. The tide ran like a mill-tail, and it 
 was, perhaps, lucky for us that there was no time for reflection or 
 irresolution ; the aspect of things being so serious as might well 
 have thrown the most decided man into uncertainty and doubt. The 
 current sucked the vessel in, like the Maelstrom, and we were 
 whirling ahead at a rate that would have split the ship from her keel 
 to her top-timbers, had we come upon a sunken rock. The chances 
 were about even ; for I regarded the pilotage as a very random sort 
 of an affair. We glanced on in breathless expectation, therefore ; 
 not knowing but each instant would involve us in ruin. 
 
 This jeopardy endured about five minutes. At the end of that brief 
 space, the ship had run the gauntlet for the distance of a mile, driven 
 onward by the current rather than by the wind. So tremendous 
 was our velocity in the narrowest part, that I actually caught myself 
 grasping the rail of the ship, as we glanced past the rocks, as if to 
 keep myself from a fall. The French gave a loud and general shout 
 just as the boat issued out of this race-way into a wide capacious 
 bay, within the group pf islands, which had the appearance of form- 
 ing a roadstead of some note. There was a battery on the end of 
 the last island, a light-house, and a cluster of fishermen's huts ; all 
 indicating that the place was one of considerable resort. 
 
 Monsieur Le Gros was waiting for us, about two cables' length 
 from the place where we issued into the bay, having considerately 
 chosen an anchorage for us, at a point commanded by the four six- 
 and-thirty pounders of the battery. Thedistance enabled me to look 
 
 12
 
 178 LUCY IURDINGE. 
 
 about. Within the range of islands was a sort of sound, quite a 
 league in width, and on this sound the main coast presented several 
 bays in which coasters were at anchor. Most of the prominent 
 points iad small batteries, of no great force as against a fleet, or 
 even against a single heavy ship, but which were sufficiently for- 
 midable to keep a sloop of war or a frigate at a respectable distance. 
 As all the guns were heavy, a vessel passing through the middle of 
 this sound would hardly be safe ; more especially did the gunners do 
 their duty. By anchoring at the spot where the boat waited for us, 
 we at once gave up the ship to the privateersmen, the battery first 
 mentioned commanding that poin t completely . As good luck would 
 have it, however, an expedient offered, in the direction of the wind 
 and tide, which were opposed to each other, and I availed myself of 
 the circumstances as promptly as possible. 
 
 Do our best, the Dawn could not fetch the spot where the boat had 
 dropped her kedge. We passed within hail of it, notwithstanding, 
 and loud were the calls to us to shorten sail and anchor, as we came 
 within hearing. Affecting to be anxious to get up to the precise 
 point where the boat lay, I mystified Monsieur LeGros in my answers, 
 telling him I would stand on a short distance, or until I could fetch 
 him, when I would tack. As this was intelligible it satisfied my 
 captors, though a hundred " riimportes" were yelled after us; and 
 " rfimporte" it was, in fact, one spot being just as good to anchor 
 in as another, for half a league all round us. 
 
 The Dawn did her duty that day ; and there was occasion for it, 
 the frigate still continuing the chase. The circuit she had to make, 
 and the berth she thought it prudent to give the first battery, enabled 
 us to gain on her materially. When we passed the boat, the 
 Englishman's upper sails were visible on the outside of the island, 
 flying along the rocks at a rate that spoke well of his heels. He 
 rounded the point when we were mid-sound, but here the battery 
 served us a good turn, for, instead of hauling up close by the wind, 
 the English were obliged to run off with the wind free, to keep out 
 of harm's way. Their presence, notwithstanding, was probably of 
 great service to the Dawn, for there had been a communication 
 between Monsieur Le Gros and the battery, by means of a small 
 toat sent from the latter, and we should have been very likely to 
 have a messenger, in the shape of a shot, sent after us, when it was 
 seen we continued to stand across for the main instead of tacking 
 for the designated anchorage, had not the men in the battery had the 
 higher game of the frigate in view. As soon as John Bull got within 
 range, the gunners began to play on him, but it was at a distance 
 that rendered their fire next to useless. 
 
 Any one in the least acquainted with the movements of ships, 
 will understand the advantage we now possessed. The Dawn was 
 beating through a good wide passage, with a young flood breasting 
 her to windward, and a steady six-knot breeze blowing. The pas-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 179 
 
 sago between these islands and the main was about four leagues 
 long, while that which the fishermen had wished us first to enter 
 was near the middle of the group. We were already a mile from 
 the boat, and considerably to windward of her, the tide having 
 done that much for us, when Monsieur Le Gros saw fit to lift;his 
 kedge, and commence a new pursuit. He had the sagacity to see 
 that we should soon be obliged to tack, on account of the main 
 coast, and to stand over towards the island, again : accordingly, 
 instead of following in our wake, he profited by the set of the cur- 
 rent, and pulled directly to windward, with a view to cut us off. 
 All this we very plainly saw, but we cared very little for Monsieur Le 
 Gros and his boat. The ship could out-sail the last, very easily, in 
 such a breeze, and it was always in our power to tack in mid-channel, 
 instead of crossing her, or coming near her, at all. The frigate gave 
 me much more trouble. 
 
 The Englishman, as I afterwards learned, was a French-built 
 ship called the Fortunee 5 or, as Jack termed her, now she had got 
 to be designated in the Anglo-Saxon dialect, the Fortunes which was 
 liberally rendered into the vernacular, as the " Happy-Go-Lucky." 
 She was an old ship, but an exceedingly fast one, and her commander 
 had rendered himself famous by the manner in which he ventured 
 about on the French coast. This was the third time he had gone 
 through this very sound in spite of the batteries ; and having some 
 experience in the windings and turnings, he was now much better 
 able to get along scatheless, than on the two former occasions. As 
 soon as he thought himself at a safe distance from the six-and-thir ties, 
 he hauled up, and made five short stretches near the main, where he 
 had much the best of the tide, and the whole strength of the breeze, 
 and where there was nothing to molest him ; the usual roadstead being 
 under the island of course. 
 
 The first hour sufficed to let me understand there was no chance 
 of escaping the frigate; if we continued to beat up through the pas- 
 sage, we might reach its western end a little in advance of her it is 
 true, but no hope at all of getting away would remain when we again 
 reached the open ocean, and she in-shore of us. In this dilemma, 
 Marble made one of his happy suggestions, my merit amounting 
 to no more than seizing the right moment, and carrying out his 
 idea with promptitude. The passage first named lay in a line 
 with us, and we had every reason to believe the ship could go 
 through it. When we were invited to enter, the tide was not as high 
 by six feet as it had now risen to be, and my mate suggested the ex- 
 pedient of trying it, in going out. 
 
 " The Englishman will never dare follow on account of the bat- 
 tery which lies on the side of it," he added, " whereas the French 
 will not fire at us, believing us to be escaping from a common 
 enemy." 
 
 The whole force of what had been said flashed upon me in an
 
 180 II CY HA11D1NGE, 
 
 instant. I sot the tricolour over a Bristish ensign, to cause the 
 people of this second battery to think us an English prize, and 
 stood straight for the pass, just without which lay a small brig at 
 anchor. In order to make the deception more complete, we hauled 
 up our courses, and let run the top-gallant halyards, as if ready to 
 bring up. Seeing this, Monsieur Le tiros fancied we were about 
 to anchor under the battery, and that we had hoisted our flags to 
 taunt the English, for caps and hats were waved in exultation in 
 the boat, then distant from us a quarter of a mile. We passed close 
 to the brig, which greeted us with acclamations and " vive la 
 France," as we swept by her. My eye was on the battery the 
 whole time. It was built to command the roadstead, and without 
 any reference to the pass, which no enemy would be apt to at- 
 tempt. It is true, two heavy guns bore on this entrance, but they 
 were in a detached work that was never manned except in emer- 
 gencies. 
 
 I drew a long breath, and felt a mountain removed from my very 
 soul, as the ship passed out of the range of the last gun in the little 
 semi-circle. The soldiers were making gestures to us to indicate 
 we were getting too far west for a good berth, but we heeded them 
 not. Instead of shortening sail, the fore and main tacks were 
 boarded, and the top -gallant-sails set. This revealed our intention, 
 and the clamour on the shore even reached the ship. Preparations 
 were making to get apiece of light artillery to bear on us, and some 
 twenty gunners began to scamper towards the detached battery. 
 The whole thing was now reduced to a sheer race. We passed the 
 last battery ten minutes before the French could reach it, the latter 
 having to go round a considerable bay ; and six minutes later, we 
 went out to sea, with the American ensign, and jacks, and pennants 
 flying at each mast-head, and wherever else such an emblem of 
 triumph could be shown ! 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 0, 1 am out of breath in this fond chase ! 
 The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. 
 
 SHAKSPBARE. 
 
 Marble and I looked each other in the face, and then burst into a 
 laugh, as the French fired a single shot from the two-gun battery, 
 which flew beyond us, but which could scarcely hit us on account 
 of some intervening rocks. I altered the course of the ship in order 
 to get a little more out of the range-, after this, we had nothing to 
 fear from the French. The boat did not attempt to follow us, and 
 thus ended our communication with Le Polisson and her people, at 
 that'time. As for La Fortunee, it would require at least four hours 
 for her to beat round the end of the cluster of islands, and seeing
 
 LUCY 11A11D1NGE. 181 
 
 the hopelessness of doing this in time to overtake such a ship as the 
 Dawn, her commander made a dash in at the unfortunate brig, 
 which he actually succeeded in cutting out from the roadstead, in 
 spite of all the defences of the place. The last I heard of these 
 gentlemen, was the reports of the guns that were exchanged be- 
 tween the battery and the frigate, while the last I saw of them, was 
 the smoke that floated over the spot, long after the islands had sunk 
 beneath the horizon. The Dawn stood directly out to sea, with the 
 wind still at the northward, though it had drawn more through the 
 pass inshore. 
 
 " Well, Miles," cried Marble, as he and I sat eating our dinner on 
 deck, where Neb had been ordered to serve it, "you know what 
 I've always said of your luck. It's proof ag'in every thing but Pro- 
 vidence! Die you must and will, some of these times 5 but, not 
 until you've done something remarkable. Sail with you, my boy ! 
 I consider your company a standing policy of insurance, and have 
 no sort of consarn about fortin, while I'm under your orders. With 
 any other man, I should be nothing but a bloody hermit, instead of 
 the dutiful son and affectionate uncle 1 am. But, what do you mean 
 to perform next? " 
 
 " I have been thinking, Moses, our best step will be to shape our 
 course for Hamburg, whither we are bound. This northerly wind 
 can't last long at this season, and another southwester would just 
 serve our turn. In ten days or a fortnight, we might make our 
 haven." 
 
 "And then those French chaps that are attacking yonder kid of 
 pork, as if it were a wild beast, the fellows never saw good solid 
 food before ! " 
 
 "Feed them well, treat them well, and make them work. 
 They would never think of troubling us ; nor do I suppose they know 
 any thing of navigation. I see they smoke and chew; we will 
 give 'em as much tobacco as their hearts can wish, or their mouths 
 hold; and this will keep them in good humour." 
 
 "And John Bull?" 
 
 " Why, John is another sort of a person to deal with, certainly. 
 I am not sure that a third English cruiser would molest us. We 
 can keep our own secret concerning Sennit and his party ; and we 
 may not meet with another, after all. My plan is to run close in with 
 the English coast, and show our colours boldly, now, nine in ten of 
 the British men-of-war will let us pass unquestioned, believing we 
 are bound to London, unless they happen to have one of those press- 
 ing gentry, like Sennit, on board. I have often been told that 
 ships which pass close in with the English coast, generally pass 
 unquestioned ; by the large craft, uniformly ; though they may 
 have something to apprehend from the brigs and cutters. Your 
 small-fry always give the most trouble, Moses." 
 
 " We have not found it so this v'y'gc, Miles. However, you're
 
 182 LUCY HARDIKGE. 
 
 not only captain, but you're owner; and I leave you to paddle your 
 own canoe. We must go somewhere ; and I will not say your plan 
 is not as good. as any I can start, with thirty years more of expe- 
 rience." 
 
 We talked the matter over, canvassing it in all its bearings, until 
 it was settled to adopt it. 
 
 The ship was steered large, until the French coast was entirely 
 sunk ; and then we trimmed her by the wind, heading up as near 
 to our course as the breeze would permit. Nothing occurred in the 
 course of the remainder of the day to produce either trouble or 
 uneasiness, though my three Frenchmen came to certain explana- 
 tions with me, that at first menaced a little difficulty. They re- 
 fused to work ; and I was compelled to tell them, I should put them 
 on board the first English vessel-of-war we met. This had the 
 desired effect 5 and, after an amicable discussion, I agreed to pay 
 them high wages on our arrival in a friendly port : and they agreed 
 to serve me as well as they knew how. Seven men were rather less 
 than half a crew for a vessel of the Dawn's size, but it was possible 
 to get along with that number. The steering was the hardest part 
 of the duty neither of the Frenchmen being able to take his trick 
 at the helm. We got along with the necessary work, however; 
 and so glad were we all to be rid of both English and French, that 
 I hazard little in saying, we would have endured twice as much, 
 cheerfully, could we be certain of meeting no more of their crui- 
 sers. Providence had ordered matters very differently. 
 
 That night the wind shifted again to the south ward and westward. 
 We braced in the yards, and brought the ship to her course ; but 
 I thought it best not to carry sail hard in the dark. Accordingly, 
 I left orders to be called at sunrise, Marble having the watch at that 
 hour. When I came on deck, in consequence of this summons, I 
 found my mate examining the horizon with some earnestness, as if 
 he were looking for strangers. 
 
 " We are a merry party this morning, Captain Wallingford," 
 Marble cried out, as soon as he saw me. " I have found no less 
 than six sail in sight, since the day dawned." 
 
 " I hope that neither is a lugger. I feel more afraid of this Po- 
 lisson, just now, than of all the names in Christendom. That fellow 
 must be cruising in the chops of the channel, and we are working 
 our way w T ell in towards that part of the world." 
 
 " I hope so too, sir; but this chap, out here at north-west, has a 
 suspicious, lugger-like look. It may be that I see only the heads 
 of his topsails, but they are amazingly like luggs ! " 
 
 1 now took a survey of the ocean for myself. The vessel Marble 
 distrusted, I unhesitatingly pronounced to be a lugger ; quite as 
 likely the Polisson as any other craft. The other fourvessels were 
 all ships, the five forming a complete circle, of which the Da%vn was 
 in the centre. The lugger, however, was some miles the nearest
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 183 
 
 to us, while as to the strangers, if they saw each other across the 
 diameter of the circle at all, it was as much as was possible. Un- 
 der the circumstances, it struck me our wisest way was to keep 
 steadily on our course, like honest people. Marble was of the 
 same opinion, and to say the truth, there was little choice in the 
 matter, the ship being so completely surrounded. The worst feature 
 of the case was our position, which would be certain to draw all the 
 cruisers to the centre, and consequently to ourselves. 
 
 Two hours produced a material change. All five of the strangers 
 had closed in upon us, and we were now able to form tolerably ac- 
 curate notions of their characters. The two astern, one on our 
 larboard, and one on our starboard quarter, were clearly heavy 
 vessels and consorts, though of what nation it was not yet so easy 
 to decide. That they were consorts was apparent by their signal- 
 ling one another, and by the manner in which they were closing ; 
 as they carried studding-sails, alow and aloft, they were coming up 
 with us fast, and in all probability would be alongside in two or 
 three hours more. 
 
 Two of the ships ahead struck me as frigates, having their 
 broadsides exposed to us : we had raised one line of ports, but it 
 was possible they might turn out to be two-deckers; ships of 
 war they were, beyond all question, and I fancied them English 
 from the squareness of their upper sails. They, too, were con- 
 sorts making signals to each other, and closing fast on opposite 
 tacks. The lugger was no longer equivocal : it was the Polisson, 
 and she was standing directly for us, though it was ticklish 
 business, since the remaining ship, a corvette, as I fancied, was 
 already in her wake, carrying sail hard, going like a witch, and 
 only about two leagues astern. 
 
 Monsieur Gallois had so much confidence in his heels, that he 
 stood on, regardless of his pursuer. I thought it best to put a 
 bold face on the matter, knowing that sufficient time might be 
 wasted to enable the sloop of war to get near enough to prevent 
 the privateer from again manning us. My principal apprehension 
 was, that he might carry us all off, in revenge for what had hap- 
 pened, and set fire to the ship. Against either of these steps, 
 however, I should offer all the resistance in my power. 
 
 It wast just ten o'clock when the Polisson ranged up abeam of 
 us the second time, and we hove -to. It was evident the French 
 recognised us, and the clamour that succeeded must have resem- 
 bled that of Babel, when the people began first to converse without 
 making themselves understood. Knowing we had no small boat, 
 Monsieur Gallois lost no time, but lowering a yawl of his own, 
 he came alongside of us in person. As I had commanded the 
 three Frenchmen to remain below, he found no one on deck but 
 Marble, Diogenes, Neb, and myself. 
 
 " Parbleu, Monsieur Vallingfort ! " exclaimed the privateersman,
 
 184 LLCY HARDUNGE. 
 
 saluting me very civilly notwithstanding appearances " c'est 
 bien extraordinaire ! Vat you do vid me men eh ! Put 'em in 
 ze zea, comme avec I' Anglais?" 
 
 I was spared the necessity of any explanation, by the sudden 
 appearance of my own three prisoners, who disregarded my orders, 
 and came rushing up to their proper commander, open-mouthed 
 and filled with zeal to relate all that had passed. The whole 
 three broke out at once, and a scene that was sufficiently ludi- 
 crous followed. It was a continued volley of words, exclamations, 
 oaths, and compliments to the American character, so blended, 
 as to render it out of the question that Monsieur Gallois could 
 understand them. The latter found himself obliged to appeal to 
 me. I gave a very frank account of the whole affair, in English; 
 a language that my captor understood much better than he spoke. 
 
 Monsieur Gallois had the rapacity of a highwayman, but it was 
 singularly blended with French politeness. He had not always 
 been a privateersman a calling that implies an undue love of gold; 
 and he was quite capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, 
 in matters in which his own pocket had no direct concern. As 
 soon as he comprehended the affair, he began to laugh, and to cry 
 " Bon!" I saw he was in a good humour, and not likely to resent 
 what had happened; and I finished my history in somewhat sarcastic 
 language, portraying Monsieur Le Gros's complaisance in quitting 
 the ship and in piloting her about the bay, a- little drily, perhaps. 
 There were sundry " sacr-r-r-es " and u bttes" uttered the while; 
 but all came out freely and without anger, as if Monsieur Gallois 
 thought a good joke the next thing to a good prize. 
 
 " Tenez, mon ami!" he cried, squeezing my hand, as he looked 
 round at the corvette, now less than a league distant. " You are 
 vat you Anglais call ' good fellow,' J'admire votre esprit! You 
 have escape admirablement, and I shall have vifs regrets nowt to 
 'ave opportunity to cultiver votre connaissance. Mais, I most laafs, 
 mille pardons, you 'ave non too moch peep's, mats c'est impos- 
 sible d'abandonner mes compatriotes. Allons, mes enfants , au ca- 
 not." 
 
 This was the signal for the French to quit us ; the three men I 
 had shipped taking their departure without ceremony. Monsieur 
 Gallois was the last in the boat, of course , and he found time to 
 squeeze my hand once more, and to renew his " vifs regrets " at 
 not having more leisure to cultivate my acquaintance. The corvette 
 was already so near, as to render it necessary for the Polisson to 
 be in motion ; another time, perhaps, we might be more fortunate. 
 
 In this manner did I part from a man who had not scrupled to 
 seize me in distress, as he would a waif ona beach. By manning me, 
 the prize-crew would have fallen into the hands of the enemy ; and, 
 making a merit of necessity, Monsieur Gallois was disposed to be 
 civil to those whom he could not rob. Odd as it may seem, I felt
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 185 
 
 the influence of this manner, to a degree that almost reconciled me 
 to the act before committed, although the last was just as profligate 
 and illegal as any that could well be committed. Of so much more 
 importance, with the majority of men, is manner than matter 5 a very 
 limited few alone knowing how to give to the last its just ascendency. 
 
 The Polisson was not long in gathering way, after her boat was 
 hoisted in. She passed, on the crest of a wave, so near, that it was 
 easy to distinguish the expressions of her people's faces, few of 
 which discovered the equanimity of that of their commander's ; and 
 to hear the incessant gabbling that was kept up on board her, day 
 and night, from " morn 'till dewy eve." M. Gallois bowed complai- 
 santly, and he smiled as amiably as if he never had put a hand in 
 another man's pocket ; but his glass was immediately turned towards 
 the corvette, which now began to give him some little uneasiness. 
 Manning us, indeed, with that fellow surging ahead at the rate he 
 was, would have been quite out of the question. 
 
 Being reduced to our old number of four, I saw no use in working' 
 ourselves to death, by filling the top-sail, with the certainty the 
 sloop-of-war would make us round-to again. The Dawn, therefore, 
 remained stationary, waiting the issue with philosophical patience. 
 
 " There is no use, Moses, in endeavouring to escape," I re- 
 marked ; "we are not strong-handed enough to get sail on the ship 
 before the fellow will be up with us." 
 
 " Ay, and there goes his bunting, and a gun," answered the 
 mate. " The white English ensign, a sign the chap is under some 
 admiral, or vice, or rear of the white, while, if I mistake not, the 
 tw T o frigates show blue flags if so, 'tis a sign they're not consorts." 
 
 The glass confirmed this, and we were left to suppose that all 
 three Englishmen did not belong to the same squadron. At this 
 moment, the state of the game was as follows : The Dawn was 
 lying-to, with her fore-course up, mainsail furled, main-top-sail 
 aback, and top-gallant yards on the caps, jib and spanker both set. 
 The Polisson was flying away on the crests of the seas, close- 
 hauled, evidently disposed to make a lee behind the two frigates to 
 windward, which we took for, and which it is probable she knew 
 to be, French. The ships to leeward were passing each other 
 within hail ; the one to the eastward tacking immediately after, and 
 coming up in her consort's wake; both vessels carrying every 
 thing thatvould draw. The ships to the southward, or the supposed 
 Frenchmen, might then have been two leagues from us, while those 
 to leeward were three. As for the corvette, her course seemed to 
 lie directly between our masts. On she came, with every thing 
 beautifully trimmed, the water spouting from her hawse-holes, as 
 she rose from a plunge, and foaming under her bows, as if made of 
 a cloud. Her distance from us was less than a mile. 
 
 It was now that the corvette made signals to the ships to wind- 
 ward. They were answered, but in a way to show the parties did
 
 186 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 not understand each other. She then tried her hand with the ves- 
 sels to leeward, and, notwithstanding the distance, she succeeded 
 better. I could see these two frigates, or rather the one that led, 
 sending questions and answers to the corvette, although my best 
 glass would hardly enable me to distinguish their ensigns. I pre- 
 sume that the corvette asked the names of the English vessels, com- 
 municated her own, and let the fact be known that the ships to 
 windward were enemies. 
 
 A few minutes later, our affairs, as they were connected with 
 the sloop-of-war, came to a crisis. This ship now came on, close 
 under our lee, losing a little of her way in passing, an expedient 
 probably thought of to give her a little more time to put her ques- 
 tions, and to receive the desired answers. I observed, also, that 
 she let go all her bow-lines, which seemed much to deaden her 
 way, of which there still remained sufficient, notwithstanding, to 
 carry her well clear of us. The folloving dialogue then passed, the 
 Englishman asking the questions, of course, that being a privilege 
 expressly appropriated to the public vessel on occasions of this 
 sort : 
 
 " What ship's that? and whither bound ?" 
 " Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford, from home to Ham- 
 burg." 
 
 " Did not the lugger board you ?" 
 " Ay ay for the second time, in three days." 
 " What is she called ? and what is her force?" 
 " Le Polisson, of Brest sixteen light guns, and about a hun- 
 dred men." 
 
 " Do you know any thing of the ships to windward ?" 
 " Nothing at all ; but I suppose them to be French." 
 " Pray, sir, why do you sup um um ook ook " 
 The distance prevented my hearing more. Away went the sloop, 
 steadying her bow-lines , the call piping belay, as each sail was 
 trimmed to the officer of the deck's fancy. In a few more minutes 
 we could not distinguish even the shrill notes of that instrument. 
 The corvette continued on in chase of the lugger, regardless of the 
 four other vessels, though the two to windward now shpwed the 
 tri-colour, and fired guns of defiance. 
 
 M. Gallois soon after tacked, evidently disposed to stand for the 
 frigates of his country ; when the sloop-of-war immediately went 
 round, also, heading up towards these very vessels, determined to 
 cut off the lugger, even if it were to be done by venturing within 
 range of the shot of her protectors. It was a bold mano3uvre, and 
 deserved success, if it were only for its spirit and daring. 
 
 I thought, however, that the frigates of the tri-colour paid very 
 little attention to the lugger. By altering their course a trifle, it 
 would have been in their power to cover her completely from the 
 attempts of the corvette ; but, instead of doing this, they rather de-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 187 
 
 viatcd a little the other way, as if desirous of approaching the two 
 ships to leeward, on the side that would prevent their being cut off 
 from the land. As neither party seemed disposed to take any notice 
 of us, we filled our top-sail, and stood out of the circle, under easy 
 canvass, believing it bad policy to have an appearance of haste. 
 Haste, however, was a thing out of our power, it requiring time 
 for four men to make sail. 
 
 About eleven, or half-past eleven, the four frigates were distant 
 from each other rather more than a league the Dawn being just 
 then half a league from the two Frenchmen, and rather more distant 
 from the English. Had an action then commenced, we might have 
 been a mile out of the line of fire. Curious to know the result, I 
 stood on a short distance farther, and backed my top-sail, to await 
 the issue. I was influenced to take this course from an expectation 
 that either party, after a conflict with an equal, would be less dis- 
 posed to molest a neutral, and that I might possibly obtain assis- 
 tance from the conqueror few cruisers being found at that day 
 without having foreigners on board, that they would be willing to 
 give to a vessel in distress. As for the account I meant to give to 
 the party to whom I intended to apply, it would depend on circum- 
 stances. If the French remained on the spot, I could relate the 
 affair with the prize-crew of the Speedy ; if the English, that of the 
 Polisson. In neither case would an untruth be told, though cer- 
 tain collateral facts might be, and probably would have been, sup- 
 pressed. 
 
 The Frenchmen began to haul down their light sails, just as we 
 hove-to. This was done in a lubberly and irregular manner, as if 
 little concert or order prevailed on board them. Marble growled out 
 his remarks, deeming the whole proceeding a bad omen for the 
 tri-colour. It is certain that the French marine, in 1803, was not 
 a service to boast of. The English used to say that they seldom 
 got a French ship without working for her; and this was probably 
 true, as the nation is warlike, and little disposed to submit without 
 an effort. Still France, at that day, could hardly be said to be 
 maritime; arid the revolutions and changes she had undergone 
 were not likely to favour the creation of a good corps of naval 
 officers. Brave men were far more plenty than skilful seamen ; 
 and then carne the gabbling propensity, one of the worst of all 
 human failings, to assist in producing a disorderly ship. 
 
 It was a pretty sight to see those four ships strip for the fight 5 
 although the French canvass did not come down exactly according 
 to rule. The English, however, were in no hurry; the two tri- 
 colour men being under their three topsails, spankers, and jibs, 
 with the top-gallant-sails clewed up, before John Bull reduced even 
 a royal. The latter, it will be remembered, were to leeward, and 
 had to close with their adversaries. In doing this they made one 
 stretch so far in our direction, in the hope of tacking in their ene-
 
 188 LLCY HARDWGE. 
 
 anies' wakes, that I saw they would probably speak us. I confess 
 this was more than I had bargained for ; but it was now too late 
 to run, which would probably have led to our seizure. I deter- 
 mined, therefore, to await the result with dignity. 
 
 Just as the English ships were coming within musket-shot of the 
 Dawn, the French, then distant about a mile and a half to the 
 eastward, and half a mile south of us , wore ship, and came round 
 with their heads to the westward or, in our direction. As this 
 was coming nearer, instead of moving from them, the Englishmen 
 began to start their tacks and sheets, in order to be ready. Their 
 six royals were all flying at the same instant, as were their flying- 
 jibs 5 at the next, the canvass was rolled up, and out of sight. Then, 
 the yards, themselves, came down, and all the light sails about the 
 ;ships vanished as a bird shuts its wings. After this the courses 
 were hauled up snug, but the sails were not handed. By this time, 
 the leading ship of these two frigates was within a cable's-length 
 of us, just luffing up sufficiently to give our weather-quarter the 
 necessary berth. 
 
 "By George, Miles," Marble said, as he stood at my side, watching 
 the movements of the stranger, " that second frigate is the Speedy ! 
 J know her by the billet, and the distance of her bridle-port from 
 her head. You never saw such a space for anchors before ! Then, 
 you may see she is a six-and-thirty, with white hammock-cloths. 
 Who ever saw that twice, at sea?" 
 
 Marble was right ! There came the Speedy, sure enough ; and 
 doubtless the eyes of Lord Harry Dermond and his officers would 
 be on us , in a very few more minutes the distance between the 
 two frigates being less than two cables'-lengths. In the mean 
 lime, I had to attend to the headmost vessel. 
 
 " Can you tell me any thing of the two ships to the southward of 
 us?" demanded the stranger, through his trumpet, without any 
 preamble. 
 
 " Nothing but what you see, sir. I suppose them to be French ; 
 and see that they are coming after you." 
 
 " After us!" exclaimed the English captain, in a voice loud 
 enough, and now near enough, to be heard without the aid of the 
 trumpet. " After us, indeed ! Beady about helms a-lee 
 main-top-sail haul, there! Hawl, of all " 
 
 These orders came out at brief intervals, and in a voice of thunder 
 producing prompt obedience. The consequence was, that this 
 ship tacked directly on our weather-beam, and so near us that one 
 might have thrown a biscuit aboard her. But she went round 
 beautifully, scarce losing her way at all -, and away she started again, 
 looking her enemies directly in the face. 
 
 " Now's our time to fill, Miles, and draw ahead. The Speedy 
 will think we've been spoken, and all's right. She must come here 
 to tack into her consort's wake, and a blind man could not avoi
 
 UICY HARDINGE* 189 
 
 reading our name she would be so close; Man the Ice-braces, and 
 right the helm, Neb." 
 
 Fill we did ; and, what is more, we put our helm up so much y as 
 to leave quite a cable's-length between us and the Speedy, when that 
 ship got far enough ahead to tack, or at the point which we had just 
 left. I believe we were recognised ! Indeed, it is not easy to 
 imagine otherwise ; as the commonest glass would enable the 
 dullest eyes to read our name, were other means of recognition 
 wanting. But a sailor knows a ship by too many signs to be easily 
 deceived. 
 
 The Speedy was in stays when we saw the proofs of our being- 
 known. Her head-yards were not swung, but there she lay, like 
 one who lingers, uncertain whether to go or to remain. An officer 
 was in her gangway, examining us with a glass $ and when the ship 
 fell off so much as to bring us out of the range of sight, he ran off 
 and re-appeared on the taffrail. This was the junior lieutenant 5 I 
 could plainly recognise him with my own glass. Others soon 
 joined him, and among them was Lord Harry Dermond, himself. 
 I fancied they even knew me, and that all their glasses were levelled 
 directly at my face. What a moment of intense uncertainty was 
 that ! The ships were not a quarter of a mile apart, though the 
 Dawn was increasing that distance fast, and by paying broad off> 
 the Speedy would have me under her broadside. Where washer 
 prize-crew? Not in the Dawn, or certainly Sennit would have com- 
 municated with his commander; and, if not in the ship, they must 
 be in the ocean ! Or, were they prisoners below, and kept pur- 
 posely out of sight ? All these thoughts must have passed through 
 the minds of the English officers. 
 
 I thought we were lost again, but Providence once more saved 
 us. All this time the leading English frigate and the two French- 
 men were fast approaching each other. In a few minutes they must 
 engage, while the Speedy was left further and further astern of her 
 consort. At this critical instant, one of the Frenchmen fired a gun 
 of defiance. That report seemed to arouse the Speedy as from a 
 trance. Her head-yards came furiously round, all the officers 
 vanished from her taiirail, and down went both fore and main-tacks, 
 and to the mast-head rose all three of her top-gallant-sails. Thus 
 additionally impelled, the lively craft dashed ahead, and was soon 
 in her allotted berth, or half a cable's-length astern of the Black 
 Prince, as I afterwards heard was the name of the commanding 
 English ship on this occasion. I may as well add here, that the 
 French Commodore's ship was named La Desiree, and her 
 consort Le Cerf. Monsieur Menneval was senior officer of the 
 French, and Sir liotham Ward of the English. I never knew the 
 name of the other French captain , or, if I did, I have forgotten U 
 
 My object had been, in bearing up, to get as far as possible from 
 the Speedy, in order thai, she might not recognise us, and especially
 
 190 LUCY HARDmGE. 
 
 that she might not read the name on our stern. I5ut this running oil 
 so much to leeward was not precisely the berth that one would wish 
 to occupy, when a sea-fight is going on directly to windward, and 
 within half gun-shot. No sooner was my Lord Harry Dermond in 
 motion again, therefore, than we hauled the Dawn up with her head 
 to the westward, with a view to get as soon as possible out of the 
 probable range of the fire. It was true, the combatants might vary 
 their manoeuvres, so as to render all parts of the periphery of a cer- 
 tain circle around them any thing but agreeable ; but the chances 
 were greatly in favour of the battle's beginning, with one party to 
 windward of the other. 
 
 Our ship behaved well on this occasion, getting out of the way 
 with sufficient rapidity. While this was in the course of execu- 
 tion, I had an opportunity to look after the corvette and the lugger. 
 The last was still leading, having managed, by means of small 
 tacks, to work up considerably to windward of the two French 
 frigates. Here she had made a last tack to the eastward, intending 
 to run for the coast. The sloop-of-war was still in her wake, and 
 was following on her heels at a rapid rate. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " You and I have 
 known, sir." 
 "At sea, I think." 
 "We have, sir." 
 " You have done well by water." 
 " And you by land." 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
 The reader will understand that I offer to his view a shifting pano- 
 rama. As soon as the Dawn had got about a mile and a half from 
 the English frigates, a distance that was a little increased by the 
 advance of the last towards their enemies, we again backed our top- 
 sails, for I had an ungovernable desire to be a spectator of what 
 was to follow. This feeling was common to all four of us, it 
 being next to impossible to get either Neb, or Diogenes, to pull a 
 rope, for gazing at the frigates. As for steering, it would have 
 been out of the question, I really believe, as no one among us could 
 keep his eyes long enough from the combatants to look after our 
 own ship. 
 
 Some persons may think it was foolish not to make the most of 
 our time in endeavouring to get as far as possible from the Speedy. 
 Perhaps it was; but, two miles distant, there was really less to 
 apprehend than might at first appear. It was not probable the 
 English would abandon the French vessels as long as they could 
 stick by them, or until they were captured ; and I was. not so com-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 191 
 
 plctely ignorant of my trade as to imagine that vessels like those of 
 La Grande Nation, which were in sight, were to be taken without 
 doing their adversaries a good deal of harm. Then, the prizes 
 themselves would require looking after, and -there were many other 
 chances of our now going scot-free, while there was really very 
 small ground of danger. But, putting aside all these considera- 
 tions, curiosity and interest were so active in us all as to render it 
 almost morally impossible we should quit the place until the battle 
 was decided. I am not absolutely certain the Dawn would have 
 moved, had we been disposed to make her. With these brief ex- 
 planations, then, we will turn our attention exclusively to the 
 frigates. 
 
 By the time we had got the Dawn just where we wished her to 
 be, the combatants were drawing quite near to each other. The 
 Speedy had carried sail so long as to be a little to windward of her 
 consort's wake, though half -a cable's-length astern of her. The 
 French were in still closer order, and they would soon be far 
 enough advanced to bring the leading ship on each side under 
 fire. I supposed the opposing vessels would pass about a cable's- 
 length apart. All four were under their topsails, jibs, and spankers, 
 with the courses in the brails. The Black Prince and the Speedy 
 had their top-gallant-sails clewed up, while La Desiree and Le Cerf 
 had theirs still sheeted home, with the yards on the caps. All four 
 vessels had sent down royal-yards. This was fighting sail, and 
 every thing indicated that Monsieur Menneval intended to make a 
 day of it. 
 
 The first gun was fired, on this occasion, from the Desiree, the 
 leading French ship. It was directed at the Black Prince, and the 
 shot probably told, as Sir Hotham Ward immediately kept away, 
 evidently with a desire to escape being raked. The French did 
 the same to keep square with their adversaries, and the four vessels 
 now ran on parallel lines, though going different ways, and a short 
 cable's-length asunder. La Desiree followed up her single gun 
 with each division as it would bear, until her whole broadside was 
 delivered. The Black Prince stood it all without answering, though 
 I could see that she was suffering considerably, more especially 
 aloft. At length Sir Hotham Ward was heard in the affair. He let 
 fly his whole broadside, almost simultaneously; and a spiteful 
 threatening roar it was. The smoke now began to hide his ship, 
 though La Desiree, by moving towards us, kept ahead of her own 
 sulphurous canopy. 
 
 The Speedy soon opened on the French Commodore; then, by 
 the roar astern, I knew Le Cerf was at work in the smoke. All 
 four ships shivered their top-sails, to pass more slowly ; and there 
 was a minute during which, as it appeared to me, all four actually 
 stopped under the fiery cloud they had raised, in order to do each 
 other all the harm they could. The Frenchmen, however, soon
 
 192 I-LCY HARDWGE. 
 
 issued from behind the* curtain, and the eessatioii in the firing an- 
 nounced that the ships had parted. I could not see much of the 
 English, at first, on account of the smoke; but their antagonists 
 came out of the fray, short as it had been, with torn sails, crippled 
 yards , and Le Cerf had her mizen-top-mast actually hanging over 
 to leeward. Just as I got a view of this calamity, I caught a glimpse 
 of the Black Prince, close-hauled, luffing up athwart the wake of 
 her enemies, and manifestly menacing to get the wind . The Speedy 
 followed with the accuracy of clockwork, having rather closed with 
 her leader, instead of falling farther behind. Presently the Black 
 Prince tacked ; but, in so doing, down came her main -top-gallant- 
 mast, bringing with it the yard and the sail, as a matter of course. 
 This was a sign that M. Menneval had not been firing a salute. 
 
 The French stood on, after this first rude essay with their ene- 
 mies, for several minutes, during which time we could see their 
 people actively, but irregularly, employed in clearing away the 
 wrecks, stoppering rigging, and otherwise repairing damages. Le 
 Cerf, in particular, was much troubled with the top-mast that was 
 dangling over her lee-quarter } and her people made desperate and 
 tolerably well directed efforts to get rid of it. This they effected; 
 and about ten minutes after the firing had ceased the French ships 
 put their helms up, and went off to the northward, dead before the 
 wind, as if inviting their enemies to come on and fight it out fairly 
 in that manner, if they felt disposed to pursue the affair any further. 
 
 It was time something of this sort was done, for the delay had 
 brought all four of the vessels so far to the westward as to leave 
 them within a mile of the Dawn ; and I saw the necessity of again 
 getting out of the way. We-filled and stood off, as fast as possible. 
 It was time something of the sort was done, in another sense, also. 
 When M. Menneval bore up, his antagonists w r ere closing fast on 
 his weather-quarter, and unless he meant to fight to leeward, it was 
 incumbent on him to get out of the way, in his turn. 
 
 Sir Hotham Ward, however, was too skilful a seaman to neglect 
 the advantage Mons. Menneval had given him. The instant the 
 French kept away, he did the same ; but, instead of falling broad oft' 
 Before the wind, he luffed again in time, not having touched a brace, 
 .and crossed the wakes of his enemies, giving a most effective 
 broadside into the cabin windows of Le Cerf. To my surprise, La 
 Desiree held on her course, until the Speedy had repeated the dose. 
 'The English then wore short round, and were seemingly on the point 
 of going over the same thing, when Mons. Menneval, finding this a 
 losing game, hauled up, firing as his guns bore, and Le Cerf did 
 the same with her head the other way, destroying every thing like 
 concert in their movements. The English closed, and, in a minute, 
 all four of the ships were enveloped in a common cloud of white 
 smoke. All we could now see were the masts, from the trucks 
 down, sometimes as low as the tops, but oftener not lower than the
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 193 
 
 top-sail-ynrds. The reports of the guns were quite rapid for a 
 quarter of an hour, after which they became much less frequent, 
 though a hundred pieces of ordnance were still at work behind that 
 cloudy screen. 
 
 Several shot flew in our direction 5 and two actually passed be- 
 tween our masts. Notwithstanding, so keen was the interest we 
 continued to feel, that the top-sail was again backed, and there we 
 lay, lookers-on, as indifferent to the risks we ran as if we had been 
 ashore. Minute passed after minute, until a considerable period 
 had been consumed ; yet neither of the combatants became fairly 
 visible to us. Occasionally a part of a hull pushed itself out of the 
 smoke, or the wind blew the latter aside -, but at no time was the 
 curtain sufficiently drawn to enable us to tell to which nation the 
 vessel thus seen belonged. The masts had disappeared, not one 
 remaining above the smoke, which had greatly enlarged its circle, 
 however. 
 
 In this manner passed an hour. It was one of the most intense- 
 ly interesting of my whole life ; and to me it seemed a day, 
 so eager was I to ascertain some result. I had been several times 
 in action, as the reader knows; but, then, the minutes flew: 
 whereas, now, this combat appeared drawn out to an interminable 
 length. I have said, an hour thus passed before we could even 
 guess at the probable result. At the end of that time the firing en- 
 tirely ceased. It had been growing slacker and slacker for the last 
 half-hour, but it now slopped altogether. The smoke, which 
 appeared to be packed on the ocean, began to rise and disperse ; 
 and, little by little, the veil rose from before that scene of strife. 
 
 The vesselfirst seen by us was our old acquaintance , the Speedy. 
 All three of her top-masts were gone-, the fore, just below tho cross- 
 trees-, and the two others near the low^r caps. Her main-yard had 
 lost one yard-arm, and her lower rigging and sides were covered 
 with wreck. She had her fore-sail, mizen, and fore-staysail, and 
 spanker set, which was nearly all the canvass she could show. 
 
 Our eyes had barely time to examine the Speedy ere the dark 
 hull of Le Cerf made its appearance. This ship had been very 
 roughly treated, nothing standing on board her, twenty feet from 
 the deck, but her fore-mast-, and the head of that was gone, nearly 
 down to the top. The sea all around her was covered with wreck ; 
 and no less than three of her boats were out, picking up men who 
 were adrift on the spars. She lay about a cable's-length from the 
 Speedy, and. appeared to be desirous of being still farther off, as she 
 had no sooner got her boats up than she dropped her fore-sail, and 
 stood dead off before it. 
 
 It was in watching the movements of Le Cerf that we first got a 
 glimpse of La Desiree. This ship rc-appeared almost in a line 
 with her consort ; and, like her, steering off before the wind. 
 Their common object seemed to be, to get within close supporting 
 
 13
 
 194 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 distance of each other, and to increase the space between them and 
 their enemies. Both these vessels had the tri-coloured flag flying at 
 the stumps of their masts. As respects the last, however, La De- 
 siree was a little better off than her consort having her fore-mast 
 and main-mast standing entire, though her mizen-mast was gone , 
 close to the deck. What was a very bad affair for her, her fore- 
 yard had been shot away in the slings, the two inner ends lying on 
 the fore-castle , while the yard-arms were loosely sustained by the 
 lifts. This ship kept off under main-sail and fore-stay-sail. 
 
 The Black Prince was last to get clear of the smoke. She had 
 every thing in its place, from her top-mast cross-trees, down. 
 The three top-gallant-masts were gone, and the wrecks were 
 already cleared ; but all the topsail yards were on the caps, and her 
 rigging, spars, and tops, were alive with men ; as, indeed, were those 
 of the Speedy. This was Ihe secret of the cessation in the action ; 
 the two English frigates having turned their hands up to secure 
 their spars, while the Frenchmen, by running off dead before the 
 wind, were in positions not to bring a broadside gun to bear 5 and 
 the cabin-chasers of a frigate were seldom of much use in that day, 
 on account of the rake of the stern. It always appeared to me, that 
 the Spaniards built the best ships in this respect, the English and 
 Americans, in particular, seeming never to calculate the chances of 
 running away. I do not say this, in reference to the Spanish ships, 
 however,, under any idea that the Spanish nation wants courage, 
 for a falser notion cannot exist, but, merely to state their superiority 
 in one point of naval architecture, at the very moment when, having 
 built a fine ship, they did not know how to make use of her. 
 
 The first ten minutes after the four combatants were clear of the 
 smoke were actively employed in repairing damages , on the part 
 of the French confusedly, and I make no doubt clamorously ; on 
 that of the English with great readiness and a perfect understanding 
 of their business. Notwithstanding this was the general character 
 of the exertions of the respective parties, there were exceptions to 
 the rule. On board Le Cerf, for instance, I observed a gang of 
 men at work clearing the ship from the wreck of the main-mast, 
 who proceeded with a degree of coolness, vigour, and method, 
 which showed what materials were thrown away in that service, for 
 want of a good system ; and chiefly, as I shall always think, because 
 the officers did not understand the immense importance of preserv- 
 ing silence on board a crowded vessel. The native taciturnity of 
 the English , increased by the social discipline of that well-ordered 
 perhaps over-ordered nation, has won them as many battles on 
 the ocean, as the native loquacity of their enemies increased pos- 
 sibly during the reign of les citoyens by political exaggeration has 
 lost. It is lucky for us, that the American character inclines to si- 
 lence and thoughtfulness, in grave emergencies : we are noisy, 
 garrulous, and sputtering, only in our politics.
 
 LUCY HAKDINGE. 195 
 
 Perceiving that the storm was likely to pass to leeward, we 
 remained stationary a little time, to watch the closing scene. I was 
 surprised at the manner in which the Black Prince held aloof after 
 the Speedy had bore up and was running down in the track of her 
 enemies, sheering first upon one quarter of LeCerf, and then on the 
 other, pouring in a close and evidently a destructive fire. At 
 length Sir Hotham Ward bore up, and went off before the wind 
 also, moving three feet to the Speedy's two, in consequence of being, 
 able to carry all three of her topsails. It would seem that Mon- 
 sieur Menncval was not satisfied with the manner in which bis con- 
 sort was treated ; for, instead of waiting to be assailed in the same 
 way, he put his helm to port, and came by the wind, delivering a 
 broadside as his ship luffed, that soon explained the reason of the 
 Black Prince's delay. That ship had been getting up preventers to 
 save her masts, and something important must have been cut by 
 this discharge from La Desiree, as her main-mast went immediately 
 after she received the fire, dragging down with it her mizen-top- 
 mast. The English ship showed stuff, however, under circum- 
 stances so critical. Everything on the foremast still drew, and 
 she continued on, heading direct for her enemy, nor did she attempt 
 to luff until within two hundred yards of her, when she came by 
 the wind slowly and heavily , a manoeuvre that was materially aided 
 by the fore-top-mast's following the spars aft, just as her helm must 
 have been pufcto port. Le Cerf, finding the battle was again to be 
 stationary, also came by the wind, and then all four of the ships 
 went at it again, as ardently as if the affair had just commenced. 
 
 It would not be easy to relate all the incidents of this second 
 combat. For two ho'urs the four ships lay within a cable's-length 
 of each other, keeping up as animated a contest as circumstances 
 would allow. I was particularly struck with the noble behaviour 
 of the Black Prince, which ship was compelled to fire through the 
 wreck of her masts 5 notwithstanding which she manifestly got the 
 best of the cannonading, as against her particular antagonist, La 
 Desiree. I cannot say that either of the four vessels failed of her 
 duty, though, I think, as a whole, Sir Hotham Ward showed the 
 most game; probably from the fact that he had the most need of it. 
 Encumbered by so much wreck, of which it was impossible to get 
 rid, while exposed to so heavy a fire, the Black Prince, however, 
 was finally dropped by her adversary, La Desiree drawing gradually 
 ahead, until neither of those two vessels could bring a gun to bear. 
 The English now turned to, to clear away wreck again, while the 
 Frenchman bent a new fore-course, and a new spanker 5 those that 
 had been standing being reduced to rags. 
 
 The Speedy and Cerf had not been idle the while. The French 
 vessel played her part manfully, nor was there much to choose be- 
 tween them, when the latter wore round, and followed her consort, 
 exchanging a fire with the Black Prince inpassing her.
 
 196 LUCY HARDING E- 
 
 Had not the real superiority of the English over thd French on the 
 ocean now come in play, this combat would have been a drawn 
 battle, though accompanied by the usual characteristics of such 
 struggles, at the close of the last and the beginning of the present 
 century 5 or the latter considering ah escape a sort of victory. But 
 both parties were reduced to the necessity of repairing damages, 
 and this was the work to prove true nautical skill. Any man 
 may load and fire a gun, but it needs a trained seaman to meet the 
 professional emergencies of warfare. A clodhopper might knock 
 a mast out of a vessel, but a sailor must replace it. From the 
 beginning of this affair, all of us in the Dawn had been struck with 
 the order, regularity, and despatch with which the Black Prince 
 and Speedy had made and shortened sail, and the quickness and 
 resource with which they had done all that seamanship required 
 in securing wounded spars and torn sails 5 while, there had been no 
 end to Marble's sneers and comments on the bungling confusion of 
 the French. This difference now became doubly apparent, when 
 there was no smoke nor any cannonading to divert the attention of 
 the respective crews. In half an hour the Black Prince was clear 
 of the wreck, and she had bent several new sails, while the diffi- 
 culties on board her antagonist appeared just then to be at their 
 height. This same difference existed between the two other ves- 
 sels, though, on the whole, Le Cerf got out of her distress sooner 
 and more skilfully than her consort. As to the Speedy, I must do 
 my old acquaintance, Lord Harry Dermond, the justice to say, that 
 he both fought his ship, and repaired his damages, in a highly sea- 
 manlike manner.' I '11 answer for it, the Honourable Lieutenant 
 Powlett had not much to do with either. He had much better been 
 in his mother's drawing-room, that day, and permitted a more fitting 
 man to fill his place. Sennit was then on his way to Barbadoes, 
 however, nor do I believe your master of a press-gang ever does 
 much before an enemy. 
 
 Fully two hours passed, during which the combatants were busy 
 in repairing damages. At the end of this time, La Desiree and Le 
 Cerf had drawn more than a mile to the eastward of the English 
 ships; the latter following them, as soon as clear of their wrecks, 
 but under diminished sail. The^Black Prince had actually got up 
 three spare top-masts, in the interval, and was now ready to set their 
 sails. The Speedy was less active, or less skilful, though she, too, 
 had not been idle. Then the English drove fast towards their ene- 
 mies. Mons. Menneval bore up in good season, this time, edging 
 away, and opening the fire of both ships on his adversaries when 
 they were about half a mile distant. The effect of this early move- 
 ment was soon apparent, it being a great mistake to reserve a 
 ship's fire, as against an enemy that approaches nearly bows on. 
 M'Donough owed his victory in Plattsburg Bay to having improved 
 so favourable a chance 5 and the French were beaten at (he Nile
 
 LUCY II \RDINGE. 197 
 
 because they did not; though Nelson pr6bably would have overcome 
 them, under any circumstances the energy imparted by one of his 
 character more than counterbalancing any little advantage in 
 tactics 
 
 On the present occasion, we could seethe fire of the French taking 
 effect on the Black Prince's spars, as soon as they opened her bat- 
 teries. As the matter was subsequently explained in the official 
 account, that ship's lower masts were badly wounded before she sent 
 up the new top-masts; and, receiving some further injuries, slick 
 began to come down after stick, until nothing was left of all -her 
 hamper but three stumps of lower masts, the highest less than 
 twenty feet above the deck. Sir Hotham Ward was now in the 
 worst plight he had been in that day, his ship being unable to 
 advance a foot, her drift excepted, until every thing was cut away. 
 To the landsman it may appear a small job to cut ropes with axes, 
 and thus liberate a vessel from the encumbrance and danger of 
 falling spars ; but the seaman knows it is often a most delicate and 
 laborious piece of duty. The ocean is never quiet ; and a vessel 
 that is not steadied by the pressure of her sails frequently rolls in a 
 way to render it no slight task even to maintain one's footing on her 
 decks ; frigates and ships of the line frequently proving more incon- 
 venient than smaller vessel, under such circumstances. 
 
 There was one fortunate occurrence to the British connected with 
 this disaster. The French had been so thoroughly bent on dis- 
 masting the Black Prince, that they paid little attention to the 
 Speedy ; that ship actually passing a short distance to windward of 
 her consort, unnoticed and unharmed. As the French were going 
 to leeward the whole time, it enabled the Speedy to get out of the 
 range of their guns before she bore up. As soon as this was effected, 
 she followed her enemies, under twiceas much canvass as they carried 
 themselves. Of course, in less than half an hour, she was enabled 
 to close with Le Cerf, coming up on one of her quarters, and open- 
 ing a heavy fire close aboard her. All this time the Black Prince 
 remained like a log upon the water, trying to get clear of her wreck, 
 the combat driving slowly away from her to leeward. Her men 
 worked like ants, and we actually heard the cheers they raised, as 
 the hull of their ship forged itself clear of the maze of masts, yards, 
 sails, and rigging, in which it had been so long enveloped. This 
 was no sooner done than she let fall a sail from her sprit-sail-yard, 
 one bent for the occasion, and a top-gallant-sail was set to a light 
 spar that had been rigged against the stump of the main-mast ; the 
 stick that rose highest from her deck. 
 
 As the battle, like a gust in the heavens, was passing to leeward, 
 Marble and I determined to fill, and follow the combatants down, 
 the course being precisely that we wished to steer. With a view, 
 however, to keep out of the range of shot , we hauled the Dawn up 
 to the eastward, first, intending to keep her away in the wake of
 
 198 LUCY IIARD1NGE. 
 
 the Black Prince. Of course we were in no hurry, it now being 
 in our power to go six feet to that ship's one. 
 
 In executing our purpose, we passed close to the wreck of the 
 English frigate's spars. There they were, rolling about on the 
 troubled water, and we actually saw the body of a man caught in 
 some of the rigging, as the sea occasionally tossed it to the surface. 
 The poor fellow had probably gone over with the mast, and been 
 drowned before assistance could be rendered. With an enemy es- 
 caping, man-of-war's men are not very particular about picking up 
 the bodies of their dead. 
 
 I did not venture to run the Dawn directly down in the English- 
 man's wake, but we kept her off and on rather, taking good care 
 not to go within a mile of her. All this time the Speedy was playing 
 upon Le Cerf s quarter. The latter ship becoming too crippled 
 to luff, while Monsieur Menneval was travelling off to leeward, 
 unmolested, having obtained an advantage in the way of speed , 
 that he was unwilling to put in any jeopardy, by coming again 
 under fire. This officer did not want for spirit, but the French 
 had got to be so accustomed to defeat , in their naval encounters 
 with the English, that, like several other nations on the land, they 
 had begun to look upon victory as hopeless. Le Cerf was very 
 nobly fought. Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which she 
 laboured, that ship held out until the Black Prince had actually 
 given her a. close broadside on her larboard quarter ; the Speedy 
 being kept the whole time on her starboard, with great skill, 
 pouring in a nearly unresisted fire. Le Cerf struck only as she 
 found that the battle was to "be two to one, and under so many 
 other disadvantages in the bargain. 
 
 This closed the affair, so far as the fighting was concerned. La 
 Desiree standing on unmolested, though, as I afterwards learned, 
 she was picked up next morning by a homeward-bound English 
 two-decker, hauling down her colours without any resistance. 
 
 The reader may feel some curiosity to know how we felt on 
 board the Dawn, during the five hours that elapsed between the 
 firing of the first and the last guns on this occasion ; what was said 
 among us, and how we proceeded as soon as the victory was de- 
 cided. The last he will learn in the regular course of the nar- 
 rative , as for the first, it is soon told. It was not easy to find four 
 men who were more impartial, as between the combatants, than 
 those in the Dawn. My early preferences had certainly been in 
 favour of England, as was very generally the case among all the 
 better-educated Americans of my period, at least as low down as 
 the war of 1812. But going bey6nd the scene of internal political 
 discussion, and substituting observation for the eulogies and so- 
 phisms of the newspapers, had wrought di\ers changes in my opi- 
 nion. England was then no more to me than any other nation 5 I 
 was not of the French school of politics, however, and kept myself
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 193 
 
 as much aloof from one of these foreign schools of political logicians 
 as from the other. I may be said to have been born a Federalist ; 
 but this change of sentiment had prevented my ever giving a 
 Federal vote since attaining my majority. 
 
 Marble had entertained a strong dislike for England ever since 
 the Revolution. But, at the same time, he had inherited the vulgar 
 contempt of his class for Frenchmen 5 and I must own that he had 
 a fierce pleasure in seeing the combatants destroy each other. Had 
 we been near enough to witness the personal suffering inflicted by 
 the terrible wounds of a naval combat, I make no doubt his feelings 
 would have been different; but, as things were, he only saw French 
 and English ships tearing each other to pieces. During the height 
 of the affair, he observed to me " Jf this Monsieur Gallois, and his 
 bloody lugger, dbuld only be brought into the scrape, Miles, my 
 mind would be contented. I should glory in seeing the corvette 
 and the Polisson scratching out each other's eyes like two fish- 
 women whose dictionaries have given out." 
 
 Neb and Diogenes regarded the whole thing very much as I sup- 
 pose the Caesars used to look upon the arena, when the gladiators 
 were the most blood-thirsty. The negroes would laugh, cry 
 "golly!" or shake their heads with delight, when half-a-dozen 
 guns went off together ; receiving the reports as a sort of evidence 
 that crashing work was going on, on board the vessels. But I over- 
 heard a dialogue between these two children of Africa, that may 
 best explain their feelings : 
 
 " Which you t'ink whip, Neb ?" Diogenes asked, with a grin 
 that showed every ivory tooth in his head. 
 
 " 1 t'ink 'em bot' get it smartly," answered my fellow. " You see 
 how a Speedy make quick work, eh ? " 
 
 " I wish 'em go a leetle nearer, Neb. Some shot nebber hit at 
 all." 
 
 " Dat always so, cook, in battle. Dere ! dat a smasher for John 
 Bull!" 
 
 " He won't want to press more men just now. Eh ! Neb ? " 
 " Now you see Johnny Crepaud catch it ! Woss ! .' Dat crack 'e 
 cabin winders ! " 
 
 " What dat to us Neb ? 'Spose he eat one anoder, dont't hurt 
 us!" 
 
 Here the two spectators broke out into a loud fit of laughter, 
 clapping their hands, and swinging their bodies about, as if the 
 whole thing were capital fun. Diogenes was so much delighted 
 when all the Black Prince's spars went, that he actually began to 
 dance; Neb regarding his antics with a sort of good-natured sym- 
 pathy. There is no question that man, at the bottom, has a good 
 deal of the wild beast in him, and that he can be brought to look 
 upon any spectacle, however fierce and sanguinary, as a source of 
 interest and entertainment. If a criminal is to be executed, we al-
 
 200 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 ways find thousands, of both sexes and all ages, assembling to wit- 
 ness a fellow-creature's agony ; and, though these curious per- 
 sonages often have sentimental qualms during the revolting spectacle 
 itself, they never turn away their eyes, until satisfied with all that 
 there is to be seen of the terrible, or the revolting. 
 
 A word must be added concerning an acquaintance Mon- 
 sieur Gallois. Just as the Black Prince's masts went, I saw him, 
 a long way to windward, stretching in towards the coast, and 
 carrying sail as hard as his lugger would bear. The corvette was 
 still close at his heels; and Marble soon after drew my atten- 
 tion towards him, to observe the smoke that was rising above 
 the sloop-of-war. The distance was so great, and the guns so 
 light, that we heard no reports ; but the smoke continued to rise 
 until both vessels went out of sight, in the south-western board. I 
 subsequently heard that the lugger escaped after afl. She was very 
 hard pressed, and would have been captured, had not the English 
 ship carried away her main-top-gallant-mast, in her eagerness to 
 get alongside. To that accident, alone, did M. Gallois owe his es- 
 cape. I trust he and M. Le Gros had a happy meeting. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 / 
 
 The sea wax'd calm, and we discovered 
 Two ships from far making amain to us, 
 Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this : 
 But on they came, Oh, let me say no more! 
 Gather the sequel by that went before. 
 
 Comedy of Error t. 
 
 It was high time for the Dawn to be doing. Of all the ships to 
 leeward, the Speedy, the vessel we had most reason to apprehend, 
 was in the best condition to do us harm. It was true that, just 
 then, we might outsail her ; but a man-of-war's crew would soon 
 restore the balance of power, if it did not make it preponderate 
 against us. I called to my mate, and we went aft to consult. 
 
 " It will not do for us to remain any longer here, Moses," I began ; 
 *' the English are masters of the day, and the Speedy's officers having 
 recognised us, beyond all doubt, she will be on our heels the mo- 
 ment she can." 
 
 "I rather think, Miles, her travelling, for some hours to come, is 
 over. There she is, however, and she has our crew on board her, 
 and it would be a good thing to get some of them, if possible. If a 
 body had a boat, now, I might go down with a flag of truce, and see 
 what tarms could be made." 
 
 I laughed at this conceit, telling Marble he would be wise to re- 
 main where he was. I would pjvc the Speedy four hours to get her-
 
 LUCY JIARD1NGE. 201 
 
 self in tolerable sailing trim again, supposing her bent on pursuit. 
 If in no immediate hurry, if might occupy her four-and-twenty 
 hours. 
 
 "I think she may be disposed to follow the other French frigate, 
 which is clearly making her way towards Brest," I added, in which 
 case we have nothing to fear. " By George! there goes a gun, and 
 here comes a shot in our direction you can see it, Moses, skipping 
 along the water, almost in a line between us and the frigate. Ay, 
 here it comes!" 
 
 All this was literally true. The Speedy lay with her 'bows 
 towards us, and she had suddenly fired the shot to which I 
 alluded, and which now came bounding from wave to wave, until 
 it struck precisely in a line with the ship, about a hundred yards 
 distant. 
 
 " Halloo!" cried Marble, who had levelled his glass towards the 
 frigates. "There's the deuce to pay down there, Miles one boat 
 pulling this-a-way, for life or death, and another a'ter it. The shot 
 was intended for the leading boat, and not for us." 
 
 This brought my glass down, too. Sure enough there was a 
 small boat pulling straight for us, and of course directly to wind- 
 ward of the frigate; the men in it exerting every nerve. There 
 were seven seamen in this boat ; six at the oars, and one steering. 
 The truth flashed on me in a moment. These were some of our 
 own people, headed by the second-mate, who had availed them- 
 selves of the circumstance of one of the Speedy's boats being in the 
 water, without a crew, to run away with it in the confusion of 
 the moment. The Black Prince had taken possession of the 
 prize, as we had previously noted, and that with a single boat, and 
 the cutter in pursuit appeared to me to be coming from the 
 Frenchman. I immediately acquainted Marble with my views of 
 the matter, and he seized on the idea eagerly, as one probable and 
 natural. 
 
 " Them 's our fellows, Miles ! " he exclaimed ; " we must fill, and 
 meet 'em half-way ! " 
 
 It was certainly in our power to lessen the distance the fugitives 
 had to run, by standing down to meet the leading boat. This could 
 not be done, however, without going within reach of the English 
 guns ; the late experiment showing unanswerably, that we lay just 
 without the drop of their shot, as it was. I never saw men in a 
 greater excitement than that which now came over us all in the 
 Dawn. Fill we did immediately ; that, at least, could do no harm ; 
 whereas it might do much good. I never supposed for a moment 
 the English were sending boats after us, since, with the wind that 
 was blowing, it would have been easy for the Dawn to leave them 
 miles behind her, in the first hour. Each instant rendered my first 
 conjecture the most likely to be true. There could be no mistaking 
 the exertions of the crews of the two boats ; the pursuers seemingly
 
 502 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 doing their best, as well as the pursued. The frigate could no 
 longer fire,' however, the boats being already in a line, and there 
 being equal danger to both from her shot. 
 
 The reader will understand that large ships seldom engage, when 
 the ocean will permit it, without dropping one or more of their boats 
 into the water; and that warm actions at sea rarely occur, without 
 most of the boats being, more or less, injured. It often happens that 
 a frigate can muster only one or two boats that will swim after a 
 combat ; and frequently only the one she had taken the precaution 
 to lower into the water, previously to engaging. It was owing to 
 some such circumstance that only one boat followed the fugitives in 
 the present instance. The race must necessarily be short; and it 
 would have been useless to send a second boat in pursuit, could 
 one be found, after the first two or three all-important minutes were 
 lost. 
 
 The Dawn showed her ensign, as a sign we saw our poor fellows 
 struggling to regain us, and then we filled our main-top-sail, squar- 
 ing away and standing down directly for the fugitives. Heavens ! 
 how that main-yard went round, though there were but three men 
 at the braces. Each of us hauled and worked like a giant. There 
 was every inducement of feeling, interest and security to do so. 
 With our present force, the ship could scarcely be said to be safe; 
 whereas, the seven additional hands, and they our own people, 
 who were straining every nerve to join us, would at once enable 
 us to carry the ship direct to Hamburg. 
 
 Our old craft behaved beautifully. Neb was at the wheel, the 
 cook on the forecastle, while Marble and I got ropes cleared away 
 to throw to the runaways, as soon as they should be near enough 
 to receive them. Down we drove towards the boat, and it was 
 time we did, for the cutter in pursuit, which pulled ten oars, and 
 was full manned, was gaining fast on the fugitives. As we after- 
 wards learned, in the eagerness of starling, our men had shipped 
 the crest of a sea, and they were now labouring under the great 
 disadvantage of carrying more than a barrel of water, which was 
 washing about in the bottom of their cutter, rendering her both 
 heavy and unsteady. 
 
 So intense was the interest we all felt in the result of this strug- 
 gle, that our feelings during the battle could not be compared to 
 it. I could see Marble move his body, as a sitter in a boat is apt to 
 do, at each jerk of the oars, under the notion it helps the party 
 along. Diogenes actually called out, and this a dozen times at 
 least, to encourage the men to pull for their lives, though they 
 were not yet within a mile of us. The constant rising and setting 
 of the boats prevented my making very minute observations with 
 the glass j but I distinguished the face of my second mate, who 
 was sitting aft, and I could see he was steering with one hand and 
 baling with the other. We now waved our hats, in hopes of being
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 203 
 
 seen, but got no answering signal, the distance being still too 
 great. 
 
 At that moment 1 cared nothing for the guns of the English ship, 
 though we were running directly for them. The boat the boat, 
 was our object ! For that we steered as unerringly as the motion 
 of the rolling water would allow. It blew a good working breeze 5 
 and, what was of the last importance to us, it blew steadily. I 
 fancied the ship did not move, notwithstanding, though the rate at 
 which we drew nearer to the boat ought to have told us better. 
 But anxiety had taken the place of reason, and we were all dis- 
 posed to see things as we felt, rather than as we truly found 
 them. 
 
 There was abundant reason for uneasiness ; the cutter astern 
 certainly going through the water four feet to the other's three. 
 Manned with her regular crew, with every thing in order, and with 
 men accustomed to pull together, the largest boat, and rowing ten 
 oars to the six of my mate's, I make no doubt that the cutter of the 
 Black Prince would have beaten materially in an ordinary race, 
 more especially in the rough water over which this contest oc- 
 curred. But, nearly a tenth full of water, the boat of the fugitives 
 had a greatly lessened chance of escape. 
 
 Of course, we then knew no more than we could see ; and we 
 were not slow to perceive how fast the pursuers were gaining on 
 the pursued. I really began to tremble for the result ; and this so 
 much the more, as the larger cutter was near enough, by this time, 
 to permit me to discover, by means of the glass, the ends of seve- 
 ral muskets, rising out of her stern-sheets. Could she get near 
 enough for her officers to use these weapons, the chance of our 
 people was gone, since it was not to be even hoped they had any 
 arms. 
 
 The end approached. The Dawn had got good way on her 
 Marble and Diogenes having dragged down the maintop-gallant 
 sheets, and hoisted the sail. The water foamed under our bows j 
 and the boat was soon so near, it became indispensable to haul our 
 wind. This we did with the ship's head to the westward, without 
 touching a brace, though we luffed sufficiently to throw the wind 
 out of all the square sails. The last was done to deaden the vessel's 
 way, in order that the fugitives might reach her. 
 
 The struggle became frightful for its intenseness! Our men 
 ^ were so near we could recognise them without the aid of a glass 5 
 with it, I could read the glowing anxiety that was in my second 
 mate's countenance. Each instant the pursuers closed , until they 
 were actually much nearer to the pursued than the latter were to 
 the Dawn. For the first time, now, I suspected the truth, by the 
 heavy movement of the flying cutter, and the water that the second 
 mate was constantly baling out of her, using his hat. Marble 
 brought up Ihe muskets left by the privateersmen, and began
 
 204 LUCY 1IARD1NGE. 
 
 to renew their primings. He wished to fire at once on the pur- 
 suing boat she being within range of a bullet; but this I knew 
 would not be legal. I promised to use them should the English 
 attempt to board the ship, but did not dare to anticipate that 
 movement. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the boats, the chasing gaining always 
 on the chased ; and now, the Black Prince and the Speedy each 
 threw a shot quite over us. We were about a mile from the three 
 frigates rather increasing than lessening that distance, however, 
 as they drifted to leeward, while we were slightly luffing, with our 
 yards a little braced up, the leaches lifting. Neb steered the ship, 
 as one would have guided a pilot boat. He had an eye for the 
 boats, as well as for the sails knew all that was wanted , and all 
 that was to be done. I never saw him touch a wheel with so de- 
 licate a hand, or one that better did its duty. The Dawrfs way was 
 so much deadened as to give the fugitives every opportunity to close, 
 while she was steadily coming up abreast of their course, in readi- 
 ness to meet them. 
 
 At this instant, the officer in the Black Prince's cutter fired into 
 that of the Speedy, and one of our men suddenly dropped his oar. 
 He was hit. I thought the poor fellow's arm was broken, for I 
 could see him lay a hand on the injured part, like a man who 
 suffered pain. He instantly changed places with the second-mate, 
 who, however, seized his oar, and began to use it with great 
 power. Three more muskets were fired, seemingly without doing 
 any harm. But the leading boat lost by this delay, while its 
 pursuers held steadily on. Our own people were within a hundred 
 and fifty yards of us the English less than twenty behind them. 
 Why the latter did not now fire, I do not actually know; but I sup- 
 pose it to be, because their muskets were all discharged, and the 
 race was now too sharp to allow their officer to reload. Possibly 
 he did not wish to take life unnecessarily, the chances fast turning 
 to his side. 
 
 I called out to Marble to stand by with a rope. The ship was 
 slowly drawing ahead, and there was no time to be lost. I then 
 shouted to my second-mate to be of good heart, and he answered 
 with a cheer. The English hurrahed, and we sent back the cry 
 from the ship. 
 
 "Stand by in the boat for the rope ! " I cried. " Heave, Moses, 
 heave!" 
 
 Marble hove from the mizzen chains, the rope was caught , and 
 a motion of my hand told Neb to keep the ship off, until every thing 
 drew. This was done : and the rattling of the clew-garnet blocks 
 announced that Diogenes was hauling down the main-tack with the 
 strength of a giant. The sail opened, and Moses and I hauled in 
 the sheet, until the ship felt the enormous additional pressure of this 
 broad breadth of canvass. At this instant there was a cheer from
 
 LUCY HARDING E. 205 
 
 the boat. Leaping upon the taffrail, I saw tho men erect, waving 
 their hats, and looking toward the pursuing cutter, then within a 
 hundred feet of them, vainly attempting to come up with a boat that 
 was now dragging nearly bows under, and feeling all the strength 
 of our tow. The officer cheered his men to renewed exertion, and 
 he began to load a musket. At this moment the tow-line slipped 
 from the thwart of the boat, and we shot away, as it seemed to me, 
 a hundred feet on the send of the very next sea. There was not time 
 for the Americans to get seated at their oars again, before the other 
 cutter grappled. All that had been gained was lost; and, after so 
 near and close a chance of recovering the most valuable portion 
 of my crew, was I again left on the ocean with the old four to 
 manage the Dawn! 
 
 The English lieutenant knew his business too well, to abandon 
 the ship while there was a chance of recovering her. The wind 
 lulled a little, and he thought the hope of success worth an effort. 
 Merely taking all the oars out of the Speedy's cutter, he dashed on 
 in our wake. At first he gained, nor was I unwilling he should, for 
 I wished to speak kirn. The main and fore-sheets were eased off, 
 and Neb was told to keep the top-sails lifting. Thus favoured, he 
 soon got within fifty yards of us, straining every nerve to get nearer. 
 The officer pointed a musket at me, and ordered me to heave-to. 
 I jumped off the taffrail, and, with my body covered to the shoulders, 
 pointed one of the French muskets at him, and warned him to 
 keep off. 
 
 " What have you done with the prize-crew put on board you from 
 the Speedy, the other day?" called out the lieutenant. 
 
 " Sent them adrift," I answered. " We've had enough of prize- 
 crews in this ship, and want no more." 
 
 " Heave-to, sir, on the pain of being treated as a pirate also." 
 
 " Ay, ay," shouted Marble, who could keep silent no longer, 
 " first catch a pirate! Fire, if you are tired of your cruise. I 
 wish them bloody Frenchmen had stopped all your grog ! " 
 
 This was neither dignified nor politic, and I ordered my mate to 
 be silent. In a good-natured tone I inquired for the names of the 
 late combatants, and the losses of the different ships, but this was 
 too cool for our pursuer's humour, and I got no answer. He did not 
 dare fire, however, finding we were armed, and, as I supposed, 
 seeing there was no prospect of his getting easily on board us, even 
 should he get alongside, he gave up the chase, returning to the 
 captured boat. We again filled and trimmed every thing, and went 
 dashing through the water at the rate of seven knots. 
 
 The frigates did not fire at us, after the guns already mentioned. 
 Why, I cannot positively say , but I thought, at the time, that they 
 had too many other things to attend to, besides seeing the little 
 chance there was of overtaking us, should they even happen to 
 cripple a spar or two. 

 
 206 LUCY 
 
 Great was the disappointment on board the Dawn, at the result of 
 the final incidents of this eventful day. Marble swore outright , for 
 no remonstrances of mine could cure him of indulging in this habit, 
 especially when a little excited. Diogenes grinned defiance, and 
 fairly shook his fists at the boat ; while Neb laughed and half- 
 cried in a breath the sure sign the fellow's feelings were keenly 
 aroused. 
 
 As for myself, I felt as much as any of the party, but preserved 
 more self-command. I saw it was now necessary to quit that 
 vicinity, and to take some definite steps for the preservation of my 
 own ship and property. There was little to apprehend, however, 
 from the frigates, unless indeed it should fall calm. In the latter 
 case, they might board us with their boats, which an hour or two's 
 work would probably enable them to use again. But I had no in- 
 tention of remaining in their neighbourhood, being desirous of 
 profiting by the present wind. 
 
 The sails were trimmed accordingly, and the ship was steered 
 north westerly, on a course that took us past the three vessels of 
 war, giving them so wide a berth as to avoid all danger from their 
 batteries. As soon as this was done, and the Dawn was travelling 
 her road at a good rate, I beckoned to Marble to come near the 
 wheel, for I had taken the helmsman's duty on myself for an hour 
 or two : in other words, I was doing that which, from my boyish 
 experience on the Hudson , I had once fancied it was not only 
 the duty, but the pleasure, of every ship-master to do, namely, 
 steering! Little did I understand, before practice taught me 
 the lesson, that of all the work on board ship, which Jack is 
 required to do, his trick at the wheel is that which he least 
 covets, unless indeed it may be the office of stowing the jib in heavy 
 weather. 
 
 "Well, Moses," I began, "this affair is over and we've the 
 Atlantic before us again, with all the ports of Europe to select from, 
 and a captain , one mate, the cook, and one man, to carry the ship 
 where we please to take her." 
 
 " Ay, ay 't has been a bad job, this last. I was as sure of them 
 lads, until the lieutenant fired his musket, as ever I was of a good 
 landfall with a fair wind. I can't describe to you, Miles, the natur* 
 of the disapp'intement I felt when I saw 'em give up. I can best 
 compare it to that which came over me when I discovered I was 
 nothing but a bloody hermit, after all my generalising about being a 
 governor and a lord high admiral of an island, all to myself, as it 
 might be." 
 
 " It can't be helped, and we must take things as we find them. 
 The question is what it is to be done with the ship? Should we 
 venture into the channel, yonder chaps will be after us with the 
 news of a Yankee, on board of whom they put a prize-crew, being 
 adrift without the men ; and there are fifty cruisers ready to pick
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 207 
 
 us up. The news will spread all over the channel in a week, and 
 our chances of getting through the Straits of Dover will be so 
 small as not to be worth naming : nay, these fellows will soon repair 
 damages, and might possibly overtake us themselves. The Speedy 
 is only half-crippled." 
 
 " I see I see. You've a trick with you, Miles, that makes a few 
 words go a great way. I see, and I agree. But an idee has come to 
 my mind that you're welcome to, and after turning it over, do what 
 you please with it. Instead of going to the eastward of Scilly, 
 what say you to passing to the westward, and shaping our course 
 for the Irish Channel ! The news will not follow us that-a-way for 
 some time ; and we may meet with some American or other bound 
 to Liverpool. Should the worst come to the worst, we can pass 
 through between Ireland and Scotland, and work our way round 
 Cape Wrath, and go into our port of destination. It is a long road, 
 I know, and a hard one in certain seasons of the year ; but it may 
 be travelled in midsummer comfortably enough." 
 
 " I like your notion well enough, Marble, and am ready to carry 
 it out, as far we are able. It must be a hard fortune indeed, that 
 will not throw us in the way of some fisherman, or coaster, who will 
 be willing to let us have a hand or two for double wages." 
 
 " Why, on that p'int, Miles, the difficulty is in the war, and the 
 hot press that must now be going. The English will be shy in vi- 
 siting the opposite coast -, and good men are hard to find, just now, 
 I'm thinking, floating about the coasts of England, unless they are 
 under a pennant." 
 
 " A hand or two, that can steer, will be an immense relief 
 to us, Moses, even though unable to go aloft. Call Neb to the 
 wheel, then, and we'll go look at the chart, so as to lay our 
 course." 
 
 All was done, accordingly. In half an hour the Dawn was 
 steering for the western coast of England, with every thing set we 
 thought it prudent to carry. Two hours after we began to move 
 away from the spot where they lay, the frigates had sunk behind 
 the curvature of the earth, and we lost sight of them altogether. 
 The weather continued good, the breeze steady and fresh, and 
 the Dawn did her duty admirably. W T e began to get accustomed 
 to our situations, and found them less arduous than had been ap- 
 prehended. The direction of the wind was so favourable, that it 
 kept hope alive ; though we trebled our distance by going round 
 the British islands, instead of passing directly up channel. Twenty- 
 four hours were necessary to carry us as far north as the Land's 
 End, however; and I determined to be then governed by circum- 
 stances. Should the wind shift, we always had the direct route 
 before us , and I had my doubts whether putting a bold face on the 
 matter, running close in with the English shore, and appearing to 
 be bound for London, were not the wisest course. There certainly
 
 508 LUCY flARDINGE. 
 
 was the danger of the Speedy's telling our story, in which case 
 there would be a sharp look out for us ; while there was the equal 
 chance that she might speak nothing for a week Eight- and-forty 
 hours a-head of her, I should not have feared much from her ac- 
 count of us. 
 
 It is unnecessary to dwell minutely on the events of the next few 
 days. The weather continued good, the wind fair, and our progress 
 was in proportion . We saw nothing until we got within two leagues 
 of Scilly Light, when we were boarded by a pilot-boat out from those 
 islands. This occurred at sun-rise, with the wind light at north- 
 east, and one sail in sight to windward, that had the appearance 
 of a brig-of-war, though she was still hull down, and not heading 
 for us. 
 
 I saw that the smallness of our crew, and the course we were 
 steering, struck these pilots, the moment they had time to ascertain 
 the first fact. It was not usual, in that day, nor do I suppose it is 
 now, for deep-laden Americans to pass so near England, coming 
 from the south-east and steering to the north-west. A remark 
 to this effect fell from the mouth of the principal pilot , as soon 
 as I told him I did not wish to go in to any of the neighbouring 
 ports. 
 
 " I am short of hands, and am desirous of obtaining three 
 or four good men," I said, " who shall be well paid for their 
 services, and sent back, without cost, to the place whence they 
 came." 
 
 " Ay, I see, you've a small crew for so stout a craft, master," 
 the pilot answered. " May I ask what has happened to bring you 
 down so low?" 
 
 " Why, you know how it is among your cruisers, in war-time 
 an English frigate carried away all hands, with the exception of 
 these you see." 
 
 Now, this was true to the ear, at least, though J sa^v, plainly 
 enough, that I was not believed. 
 
 " It's not often His Majesty's officers shave so close," the pilot 
 answered, with a sort of sneer I did not like. " They commonly 
 send in hands with a ship, when they find it necessary to take her 
 own men." 
 
 " Ay, I suppose the laws require this with English vessels ; with 
 Americans, they are less particular : at all events, you see the whole 
 of us, and I should be very glad to get a hand or two, if possible, from 
 out of your cutter." 
 
 " Where are you bound, master? Before we ship, we'd like to 
 know the port we sail for." 
 
 " Hamburg." 
 
 " Hamburg! Why, master, you're not heading for Hamburg, at 
 all, which lies up the English, not up the Irish channel. 
 
 " I am well aware of all that. But I am afraid to go into the English
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 209 
 
 channel so short-handed. Those narrow waters give a man trouble, 
 unless he has a full crew." 
 
 " The channel is a good place to find men, master. However, 
 none of us can go with you, and no words be necessary. As you've 
 no occasion for a pilot, we must be off a'ter something else." 
 
 The fellow now left me without more words, and I saw there was 
 no use in attempting to detain him. He had got a league from us, 
 and we were jogging on our course, before we discovered he was 
 making signals to the brig, which had kept dead away, and had set 
 studding-sails on both sides. As this was carrying much more sail 
 than we could venture to show, I thought our chance of escape small 
 indeed. There was the whole day before us, with a light, and 
 doubtless fast-sailing cruiser in chase of a heavily-loaded merchant- 
 man. As a stern-chase is, proverbially, a long chase, however, I 
 determined to do all we could to avoid the gentleman. Sail was 
 made, accordingly, so far as we dared, and the ship was steered a 
 little off, as her best mode of sailing in her present trim. We saw 
 the brig speak the pilot-boat, and, from that moment, were certain 
 her commander had all the conjectures of the Scilly man added to 
 his own. The effect was soon to be noted, for when the two se- 
 parated, the cutter stood in for her own rocks, while the brig 
 renewed her chase. 
 
 That was an uneasy day. The man-of-war gained, but it was 
 quite slowly. She might beat us by a knot in the hour ; and, being 
 ten miles astern, there was still the hope of its falling dark before 
 she could close. The wind, too, was unsteady, and towards noon 
 it grew so light, as to reduce both vessels to only two or three knots 
 way. Of course, this greatly lessened the difference in our rate of 
 sailing, and I had now strong hopes that night might come before 
 our pursuers could close. 
 
 Nor was I disappointed. The wind continued light until sunset, 
 when it came out a fine breeze at north-west, bringing us dead to 
 windward of the brig, which was then distant some six miles. We 
 got the proper sail on the ship as fast as we could, though the 
 cruiser was dashing ahead under every thing she could carry, long 
 before we could get through with the necessary work. When we 
 did get at it, notwithstanding, I found she had not much the ad- 
 vantage of us, and now began to entertain some hopes of shaking 
 her off in the course of the night. Marble was confident of it, and 
 his confidence, on points of seamanship, was always entitled to 
 respect. 
 
 About ten, both vessels were on the starboard -tack, standing to 
 the southward and westward, or out towards the broad Atlantic, 
 with the brig about a league under the Dawn's lee, and a little for- 
 ward of her beam. This was the most favourable position for us to 
 be in, in order to effect our purpose, sine*? the cruiser had already 
 passed her nearest point to us, on that tack. The horizon to wind- 
 
 M
 
 210 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 ward, and all along the margin of the sea at the northward, was 
 covered with clouds, which threatened, by the way, a capful of 
 wind. This dark back-ground would be likely to prevent our 
 being seen ; and the instant the night shut in the outline of the brig's 
 canvass, I ordered our helm put down. 
 
 It was lively business, tacking such a ship as the Dawn, under so 
 much canvass, and in such a breeze, with four men ! The helm 
 was lashed hard down, and at it we went like so many tigers. The 
 after-yards swung themselves, though the main-tack and sheet gave 
 us a good deal of trouble. We braced every thing aft, sharp up, 
 before we left it, having first managed to get the fore-yard square. 
 When this was done, we filled all forward, and dragged the yards 
 and bow-lines to their places, with a will that seemed irresistible. 
 
 There were no means of knowing whether the brig came round, 
 about this time, or not. Agreeably to the rule of chasing, she 
 should have tacked when directly abeam, unless she fancied she 
 could eat us out of the wind by standing on. We knew she did 
 not tack when directly abeam, but we could not see whether she 
 came round after us or not. At all events, tack or not, she must 
 still be near a league under our lee, and we drove on, towards the 
 English coast, until the day re-appeared, not a man of us all sleep- 
 ing a wink that night. How anxiously we watched the ocean 
 astern, and to leeward, as the returning light slowly raised the veil 
 of obscurity from before us ! Nothing was in sight, even when the 
 sun appeared, to bathe the entire ocean in a flood of glory. Not even 
 a white speck in-shore ; and, as for the brig, we never saw or heard 
 more of her. Doubtless she stood on, on the old course, hoping 
 gradually to close with us, or to draw so far ahead, and to wind- 
 ward, as to make certain of her prey in the morning. 
 
 According to our reckoning the ship was now heading well up 
 towards the coast of Wales, which we might expect to make in the 
 course of the next four-and-twenty hours, should the wind stand. 
 I determined, therefore, to make the best of the matter, and to go 
 directly up the Irish Channel, hoping to fall in with some boat from 
 the north shore, that might not have as apt intellects on board it as 
 those of our Scilly pilot had proved to be. We stood on, conse- 
 quently, all that day ; and another sun set without our making the 
 land. We saw several vessels at a distance, in the afternoon ; but 
 we were now in a part of the ocean where an American ship would 
 be as little likely to be disturbed as in any I know. It was the 
 regular track of vessels bound to Liverpool, and these last were as 
 little molested as the want of men would at all permit. Could 
 we get past that port, we should then be in the way of picking up 
 half a dozen Irishmen.
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 211 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Och! botheration 'Tis a beautiful coost, 
 
 AH made up of rocks and deep bays ; 
 Ye may sail up and down, a marvellous host, 
 
 And admire all its beautiful ways. 
 
 Irish Song. 
 
 Little did we, or could we, anticipate all that lay before us. The 
 wind held at northwest until the ship had got within twenty miles 
 of the Welsh coast 5 then it came out light again, at the southward. 
 We were now so near Liverpool, that I expected, every hour, to 
 make some American bound in. None was seen, notwithstanding, 
 and we stood up channel edging over towards the Irish coast at the 
 same time, determined to work our way to the northward as well as 
 we could. This sort of weather continued for two days and nights, 
 during which we managed to get up as high as Whitehaven, when 
 the wind came dead ahead, blowing a stiff breeze. I foresaw from 
 the commencement of this new wind, that it would probably drive 
 us down channel, and out into the Atlantic once more, unless we 
 could anchor. I thought I would attempt the last, somewhere 
 under the Irish coast, in the hope of getting some assistance from, 
 among the children of St. Patrick. We all knew that Irish sailors, 
 half the time, were not very well trained, but any thing that could 
 pull and haul would be invaluable to us in heavy weather. We had 
 now been more than a week, four of us in all, working the ship, and, 
 instead of being in the least fagged, we had rather got settled into 
 our places, as it might be, getting along without much trouble ; still, 
 there were moments when a little extra force would be of great mo- 
 ment to us, and I could sec by the angry look of the skies that these 
 moments were likely to increase in frequency and in the magnitude 
 of their importance to us. 
 
 The waters we were in were so narrow, that is was not long be- 
 fore we drew close in with the Irish coast. Here, to my great joy, 
 we saw a large fishing-boat well out in the offing, and under cir- 
 cumstances that rendered it easy for those in it to run close under 
 our lee. We made a signal, therefore, and soon had the strangers 
 lying-to, in the smooth water we made for them, with our own main- 
 yard aback. It is scarcely necessary to say, that we had gradually 
 diminished our own canvass, as it became necessary, until the ship 
 was under double-reefed top-sails, the fore-course, jib and spanker. 
 We had brought the top-sails down lower than was necessary, m 
 order to anticipate the time when it might be indispensable. 
 
 The first of the men who came on board us was named Terence 
 0' something. His countenance was the droll medley of fun, 
 shrewdness, and blundering, that is so often found in the Irish
 
 212 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 peasant, and which appears to be characteristic of entire races in 
 the island. 
 
 " A fine roarnin', yer honour," he began, with a self-possession 
 that nothing could disturb, though it was some time past noon, and 
 the day was any thing but such a one as a seaman likes. " A fine 
 marnin', yer honour, and as fine a ship ! Is it fish that yer honour 
 will be asking for?" 
 
 " I will take some of your fish, my friend, and pay you well for 
 them." 
 
 " Long life to yees ! " 
 
 " I was about to say, I will pay you much better if you can show 
 me any lee hereabouts, which has good holding-ground, where a ship 
 might ride out the gale that is coming." 
 
 " Shure yer honour! will I not? Shure, there's niwer the lad 
 on the coost that knows betther what it is yer honour wants, or 
 who'll supply yees with half the good will." 
 
 " Of course you know the coast; probably were born herea- 
 bouts?" 
 
 " Of coorse, is it! Whereabouts should Terence 0' something 
 be born, if it's not hereabouts ? Is it know the coost, too? Ah, 
 we're ould acquaintances." 
 
 " And where do you intend to take the ship, Terence? " 
 
 " It's houlding ground, yer honour asked for?" 
 
 " Certainly 5 a bottom on which an anchor will not drag." 
 
 "Och! is it that? Well, all the bottom in this counthry is of 
 that same natur'. None of it will drag, without pulling mighty 
 hard. I'll swear to any part of it." 
 
 "You surely would not think of anchoring a ship out here, a 
 league from the land, with nothing to break either wind or sea, and 
 a gale commencing." 
 
 " I anchor! Divil the bit did I ever anchor a ship, or a brig, or 
 even a cutther. I've not got so high up as that, yer honour : but 
 yon's ould Michael Sweeney, now ; many's the anchor he's cast out, 
 miles at a time, sayin' he's been a sayman, and knows the says 
 from top to bottom. It's Michael ye'll want, and Michael ye shall 
 have." 
 
 Michael was spoken to, and he clambered up out of the boat, as 
 well as he could-, the task not being very easy, since the fishermen 
 with difficulty kept their dull, heavy boat out of our mizen chains. 
 In the meantime, Marble and I found time to compare notes. We 
 agreed that Mr. Terence M'Scale, or 0' something, for I forget the 
 fellow's surname, would probably turn out a more useful man in 
 hauling in mackerel and John Dorys, than in helping us to take 
 care of the Dawn. Nor did Michael, at the first glance, promise 
 any thing much better. He was very old, eighty, I should think, 
 and appeared to have nullified all the brains he ever had, by the 
 constant use of whisky the scent of which ace ompanied him with
 
 LUCY HARDIINGE. 213 
 
 a sort of parasitical odour, as that of tannin attends the leather- 
 dresser. He was not drunk just then, however, but seemed cool 
 and collected. I explained my wishes to this man ; and was glad to 
 find he had a tolerable notion of nautical terms, and that he would 
 not be likely to get us into difficulty, like Terence, through any 
 ignorance on this score. 
 
 " Is it anchor ye would, yer honour?" answered Michael, when 
 I had concluded. " Sure that's aisy enough, and the saison is good 
 for that same ; for the wind is getting up like a giant. As for the 
 guineas yer honour mintions, it's of no avail atween fri'nds. I'll take 
 'em, to obleege ye, if yer horiour so wills : but the ship should be 
 anchored if there niver was a grain of goold in the wur-r-r-ld. 
 Would ye like a berth pratty well out, or would yer honour choose 
 to go in among the rocks, and lie like a babby in its cradhle?" 
 
 " I should prefer a safe roadstead, to venturing too far in, without 
 a professed pilot. By the look of the land in-shore, I should think 
 it would be easy to find a lee against this wind, provided we can 
 get good holding-ground. That is the difficulty I most apprehend." 
 
 "Trust ould Ireland for that, yer honour ; yes, put faith in us for 
 that same. Ye've only to fill your top-sail, and stand in; ould 
 Michael and ould Ireland together will take care of yees." 
 
 I confess I greatly disliked the aspect of things in-shore, with 
 such a pilot ; but the aspect of things outside was still worse. Short- 
 handed as we were, it would be impossible to keep the ship in the 
 channel, should the gale come on as heavily as it threatened 5 and a 
 single experiment satisfied me, the four men in the boat would be 
 of very little use in working her ; for I never saw persons who knew 
 any thing of the water more awkward than they turned out to be on 
 our decks. Michael knew something, it is true ; but he was too old 
 to turn his knowledge to much practical account, for when I sent him 
 to the wheel, Neb had to remain there to assist him in steering. 
 There was no choice, therefore, and I determined to stand close in, 
 when, should no suitable berth offer, it would always be in our 
 power to ware off-shore. The fishing-boat was dropped astern, 
 accordingly ; the men were all kept in the ship, and we stood in 
 nearer to the coast; the Dawn bending to the blasts, under the 
 sail we carried, in a way to render it difficult to stand erect on her 
 decks." 
 
 The coast promised well as to formation, though there was 
 much to apprehend on the subject of the bottom. Among rocks 
 an anchor is a ticklish thing to confide in, and I feared it might 
 be a difficult matter to find a proper bottom, as far out as I 
 deemed it prudent to remain. But Michael, and Terence, and 
 Pat, and Murphy, or whatever were the names of our protesting 
 confident friends, insisted that " ould Ireland" would never fail 
 us. Marble and I stood on the forecastle, watching the formation 
 of the coast, and making our comments, as the ship drove
 
 214 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 through the short seas, buried to her figure-head. At length we 
 thought a headland that was discernible a little under our lee-bow 
 looked promising, and Michael was called from the wheel and 
 questioned concerning it. The fellow affirmed he knew the place 
 well, and that the holding-ground on each side of it was excel- 
 lent, consenting at once to a proposition of mine to bring up 
 under its lee. We edged off> therefore, for this point, making 
 the necessary preparations for bringing up. 
 
 I was too busy in getting in canvass to note the progress of 
 the ship for the next twenty minutes. It took all four of us to 
 stow the jib, leaving Michael at the wheel the while. And a 
 tremendous job it was, though ( I say it in humility ) four better 
 men never lay out on a spar than those who set about the task on 
 this occasion. We got it in, however, but, I need scarcely tell 
 the seaman, it was not " stowed in the skin. " Marble insisted on 
 leading the party, and never before had I seen the old fellow 
 work as he did on that day. He had a faculty of incorporating 
 his body and limbs with the wood and ropes, standing, as it 
 might be, on air ? working and dragging with his arms and broad 
 shoulders in a way that appeared to give him just as much com- 
 mand of his entire strength as another man would possess on the 
 ground. 
 
 At length we reduced the canvass to the fore-top-mast stay-sail 
 and main-top-sail, the latter double-reefed. It was getting to be 
 time that the last should be close reefed (and we carried four reefs 
 in the Dawn), but we -hoped the cloth would hold out until we 
 wanted to roll it up altogether. The puffs, however, began to come 
 gale-fashion, and I foresaw we should get it presently in a style 
 that would require good looking to. 
 
 The ship soon drove within the extremity of the head-land, the 
 lead giving us forty fathoms of water. I had previously asked 
 Michael what water we might expect, but this he frankly owned 
 he could not tell. He was certain that ships sometimes anchored 
 there, but what water they found was more than he knew. He 
 was no conjuror, and guessing might be dangerous, so he chose 
 to say nothing about it. It was nervous work for a shipmaster to 
 carry his vessel on a coast, under such pilotage as this. I cer- 
 tainly would have wore round as it was, were it not for the fact 
 that there was a clear sea to leeward, and that it would always be as 
 easy to run out into the open water, as the wind was at that moment. 
 
 Marble and I now began to question our fisherman as to the pre- 
 cise point where he intended to fetch up. Michael was bothered, 
 and it was plain enough his knowledge was of the most general 
 character. As for the particulars of his calling, he treated them 
 with the coolest indifference. He had been much at sea in his 
 younger days, it is true ; but it was in ships of war, where the 
 ropes were put into his hands by captains of the mast, and where
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 215 
 
 his superiors did all the thinking. He could tell whether ships did 
 or did not anchor near a particular spot, but he knew no reason for 
 the one or for the other. In a word, he had just that sort of know- 
 ledge of seamanship as one gets of the world by living in a pro- 
 vince, where we all learn the leading principles of humanity, and 
 trust to magazines and works of fiction for the finesse of life. 
 
 The lead proved a better guide than Michael, and seeing some 
 breakers in-shore of us, 1 gave the order to clew up the main-top- 
 sail, and to luff to the wind, before the ship should lose her way. 
 Our Irishmen pulled and hauled well enough, as soon as they were 
 directed what to do; which enabled Marble and myself each to 
 stand by a stopper. We had previously got the two bowers a-cock- 
 bill, (the cables were bent as soon as we made the land) $ and 
 nothing remained but to let run. Neb was at the wheel, with 
 orders to spring to the cables as soon as he heard them running 
 out, and every thing was in readiness. I shouted the order to 
 " let run," and down both our anchors went, at the same instant, 
 in twenty -two fathoms' water. The ship took cable at a fearful rate ; 
 but Marble and Diogenes being at one bower, and Neb and I at the 
 other, we succeeded in snubbing her, with something like twenty 
 fathoms within the hawse-holes. There was a minute, when I 
 thought the old bark would get away from us $ and when, by des- 
 perate efforts, we did succeed in checking the mass, it seemed as 
 if she would shake the windlass out of her. No time was lost in 
 stoppering the cables, and in rolling up the main-top-sail. 
 
 Michael and his companions now came to wish us good luck, get 
 the guineas, and to take their leave. The sea was already so rough 
 that the only mode that remained of getting into their boat was by 
 dropping from the end of the spanker boom. I endeavoured to per- 
 suade two or three of these fellows to stick by the ship, but in vain. 
 They were all married, and they had a certain protection against 
 impressment in their present manner of life ; whereas, should they 
 be found at large, some man-of-war would probably pick them up ; 
 and Michael's tales of the past had not given them any great zest 
 for the sort of life he described. . 
 
 When these Irish fishermen left us, and ran in shore, we were 
 thrown again altogether on our own resources. I had explained to 
 Michael our want of hands, however, attributing it to accidents and 
 impressments, and he thought he could persuade four or five young 
 fellows to come off, as soon as the gale abated, on condition we 
 would take them to America, after discharging -at Hamburg. 
 These were to be mere peasants, it is true, for seamen were 
 scarce in that part of the world 5 but they would be better than 
 nothing. Half a dozen athletic young Irishmen would relieve us 
 seamen from a vast deal of the heavy, lugging work of the ship, and 
 leave us strength and spirits to do that which unavoidably fell to 
 our share. With the understanding that he was to receive, himself,
 
 
 
 516 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 a guinea a-head for each sound man thus brought us, we parted 
 from old Michael, who probably has never piloted a ship since, as 
 I strongly suspect he had never done before. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The power of God is everywhere, 
 
 Pervades all space and time : 
 The power of God can still the air, 
 
 And rules in every clime ; 
 Then bow the heart, and bend the knee, 
 And worship o'er both land and sea. 
 
 DUQ. 
 
 I never knew precisely the point on the coast of Ireland where 
 we anchored. It was somewhere between Strangford and Dund- 
 rum Bay 5 though the name of the head-land which gave us a sort of 
 protection I did not learn. In this part of the island the coast trends 
 north and south, generally ; though at the place where we anchored 
 its direction was nearly from north-north-east to south-south-west, 
 which, in the early part of the gale, was as close as might be the 
 course in which the wind blew. At the moment we brought up the 
 wind had hauled a little further to the northward, giving us a better 
 lee ; but, to my great regret, Michael had scarcely left us, when it 
 shifted to due north-east, making a fair rake of the channel. This 
 left us very little of a lee the point a-head of us being no great 
 matter, and we barely within it. I consulted such maps as I had, 
 and came to the conclusion that we were off the County Down, a part 
 of the kingdom that was at least civilised, and where we should be 
 apt to receive good treatment, in the event of being wrecked. Our 
 fishermen told us that they belonged to a Bally-something ; but what 
 the something was I have forgotten, if 1 ever understood them. 
 <s Told us," I say out of complaisance, but " fould" would be the 
 better word, as all they uttered savoured so much of the brogue, that 
 it was not always easy to get at their meaning. 
 
 It was past noon when the Dawn anchored 5 and the wind got 
 more to the eastward about half an hour afterwards. It was out of 
 the question to think of getting under way again, with so strong a 
 wind, and with our feeble crew. Had it been perfectly smooth wa- 
 ter, and had there been neither tide nor air, it would have taken 
 us half a day, at least, to get out two bowers. It was folly, there- 
 fore, to think of it, situated as we were. It only remained to ride 
 out the gale in the best manner we could. 
 
 Nothing occurred for several hours, except that the gale increased 
 sensibly in violence. Like an active disease, it was fast coming to 
 a crisis. Towards sunset, however, a little incident took place that 
 gave me great uneasiness of itself, though I had forebodings of evil 
 from the commencement of that tempest. Two sail appeared in
 
 LtCY HARDI1SGE. 217 
 
 sight, to windward, being quite near us, close in with the Irish 
 coast, before either was observed on board the Dawn. The lead- 
 ing vessel of the two was a man-of-war cutter, running nearly be- 
 fore it, under a close-reefed square-sail, canvass so low that itmight 
 easily be confounded with the foam of the sea, at a little distance. 
 She rounded the head-land, and was edging away from the coast, 
 apparently for sea-room, when she took a sudden sheer in our di- 
 rection. As if curious to ascertain what could have taken so large 
 a square-rigged vessel as the Dawn into her present berth, this cut- 
 ter actually ran athwart our hawse, passing inside of us, at a dis- 
 tance of some fifty yards. We were examined ; but no attempt was 
 made to speak us. I felt no uneasiness at the proximity of these 
 two cruisers, for I knew a boat could not live, our ship fairly 
 pitching her martingale into the water at her anchors. 
 
 The frigate followed the cutter, though she passed us outside, even 
 nearer than her consort. I got my first accurate notion of the 
 weight of the gale, by seeing this large ship drive past us, under a 
 reefed foresail, and a close-reefed main-top-sail, running nearly 
 dead before it. As she came down, she took a sheer, like a vessel 
 scudding in the open ocean -, and, at one moment, I feared she would 
 plunge directly into us, though she minded her helm in time to 
 clear everything. A dozen officers on board her were looking at 
 us, from her gangway, her quarter-deck guns, and rigging. All 
 were compelled to hold on with firm grasps 5 and wonder seemed 
 painted in every countenance. I could see their features for half a 
 minute only, or even a less time ; but I could discern this expres- 
 sion in each face. Some looked up at our spars, as if to ascertain 
 whether all were right ; while others looked back at the head-land 
 they had just rounded, like those who examined the roadstead. 
 Most shook their heads, as remarks passed from one to the other. 
 The captain, as I took him to be, spoke us. "What are you doing 
 here ? " came to me through a trumpet, plainly enough ; but answer- 
 ing was out of the question. Before I could even get a trumpet to 
 my mouth, the frigate had gone foaming by, and was already beyond 
 the reach of the voice. Heads appeared over her taftrail for some 
 time, and we fancied these man-of-war's men regarded us as the 
 instructed are apt to regard the ignorant, whom they fancy to be in 
 danger. Marble sneered a little at the curiosity betrayed by these 
 two crafts ; but, as for myself, it caused great uneasiness. I fancied 
 they acted like those who were acquainted with the coast , 
 manifesting surprise at seeing a stranger anchored in the berth we 
 occupied. 
 
 I slept little that night. Marble kept me company most of the 
 time, but Neb and Diogenes were as tranquil as if sleeping on good 
 Frend mattresses made of hair, not down within the walls of a 
 citadel. Little disturbed these negroes, who folloved our fortunes 
 with the imf licit reliance that habit and education had bread ii\
 
 218 LUGY HARDINGE. 
 
 them, as it might bo, in and in. In this particular, they were liter- 
 ally dyed in the wool, to use one of the shop expressions so common 
 among us. 
 
 There was a little relaxation in the force of the gale in the middle 
 of the night ; but, with the return of day, came the winds howling 
 down upon us in a way that announced a more than common storm. 
 All hands of us were now up, and paying every attention to the 
 vessel. My greatest concern had been lest some of the sails should 
 get adrift, for they had been furled by few and fatigued men. This 
 did not happen, however, our gaskets and lashings doing all of 
 their duty. We got our breakfasts, therefore, in the ordinary way, 
 and Marble and myself went and stood on the forecastle, to watch 
 the signs of the times, like faithful guardians, who were anxious to 
 get as near as possible to the danger. 
 
 It was wonderful how the ship pitched ! Frequently her Aurora 
 was completely submerged, and tons of water would come in upon 
 the forecastle, washing entirely aft at the next send, so that our only 
 means of .keeping above water was to stand on the windlass-bitts, 
 or to get upon the heart of the main-stay. Dry we were not, nor did 
 we think of attempting to be so, but such expedients were necessary 
 to enable us to remain stationary, often to enable us to breathe. I 
 no longer wondered at the manner in which the cutter and frigate 
 had examined our position. It was quite clear the fishermen knew 
 very little about finding a proper berth for a ship, and that we might 
 pretty nearly as well have brought up in the middle of St. George's 
 Channel, could our ground-tackle reach the bottom, as to have 
 brought up wfiere we were. 
 
 Just about nine o'clock, Marble and I had got near each other on 
 the fife-rail, and held a consultation on the subject of our prospects. 
 Although we both clung to the same topsail-sheet,wc were obliged to 
 halloo to make ourselves heard, the howling of the wind through the 
 rigging converting the hamper into a sort of tremendous JEolian 
 Harp, while the roar of the water kept up a species of bass accom- 
 paniment to this music of the ocean. Marble was the one who had 
 brought about this communication, and he was the first to speak. 
 
 " I say, Miles," he called out, his mouth within three feet of 
 my ear, "she jumps about like a whale with a harpoon in it! 
 I've been afraid she'd jerk the stem out of her." 
 
 " Not much fear of that, Moses my great concern is that star- 
 board bower-cable ; it has a good deal more strain on it than the 
 larboard, and you can see how the strands are stretched." 
 
 "Ay, ay 'tis generalizing its strength, as one may say. 
 S'pose we clap the helm a-port, and try the effects of a sheer?" 
 
 " I've thought of that ; as there is a strong tide going, it may 
 possibly answer " 
 
 These words were scarcely out of my mouth, when three seas 
 of enormous height came rolling down upon us, like three great
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 219 
 
 roistering companions in a crowd of sullen men, the first of which 
 raised the Dawn's bows so high in the air as to cause us both to 
 watch the result in breathless silence. The plunge into the trough 
 was in a just proportion to the toss into the air; and I felt a 
 surge, as if something gave way under the violent strain that 
 succeeded. The torrent of water that came on the forecastle pre- 
 vented any thing from being seen-, but again the bows rose, 
 again they sunk, and then the ship seemed easier. 
 
 4 'We are all adrift, Miles!" Marble shouted, leaning forward to 
 be heard. "Both bowers have snapped like thread, and here we 
 go, head-foremost, in for the land ! " 
 
 All this was true enough. The cables had parted, and the ship's 
 head was falling off fast from the gale, like the steed that has 
 slipped his bridle, before he commences his furious and headlong 
 career. I looked round for the negroes ; but Neb was already at 
 the wheel. That noble fellow, true as steel, had perceived the 
 accident as soon as any of us, and he sprang to the very part of 
 the vessel where he was most needed. He had a seaman's fa- 
 culties in perfection, though ratiocination was 1 certainly nof his 
 forte. A motion of my hand ordered him to put the helm hard 
 up, and the answering sign let me know that I was obeyed. We 
 could do no more just then, but the result was awaited in awful 
 expectation. 
 
 The Dawn's bows fell off until the ship lay broadside to the gale, 
 which made her reel until her lee lower yard-arms nearly dipped. 
 Then she overcame the cauldron of water thai, was boiling around 
 her, and began to draw heavily ahead. Three seas swept athwart 
 her decks before she minded her helm in the least, carrying with 
 them everything that was not most firmly lashed, or which had not 
 animal life to direct its movements, away to leeward. They swept 
 off the hen-coops, and ripped four or five water-casks from their 
 lashings, even, as if the latter had been pack-thread. The cam- 
 boose-house went also, at the last of these terrific seas, and nothing 
 saved the camboose itself but its great weight, added to the strength 
 of its fastenings. In a word, little was left, that could very well go, 
 but the launch, the gripes of which fortunately held on. 
 
 By the time this desolation was completed, the ship began to fall 
 off, and her movement through the water became very perceptible. 
 At first, she dashed in toward the land, running, I make no doubt, 
 quite half a mile obliquely in that direction, ere she got fairly before 
 the wind , a course which carried her nearly in a line with the coast. 
 Marble and myself now got aft without much trouble, and put the 
 helm a little to starboard, with a view to edge off to the passage as 
 far as possible. The wind blew so nearly down channel, thattherc 
 would have been no immediate danger, had we an offlng ; but the 
 ship had not driven before the gale more than three or four hours, 
 when we made land ahead ; the coast trending in this part of the
 
 220 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 island nearly north and south. Marble suggested the prudence of 
 taking time by the forelock, and of getting the main-topsail on the 
 ship, to force her off the land, the coast in the neighbourhood of 
 Dublin lying under our lee-bow. We had taken the precaution to 
 close-reef everything before it was furled, and I went aloft myself 
 to lower this sail. If I had formed a very respectful opinion of 
 the power of the gale while on deck, that opinion was materially 
 heightened when I came to feel its gusts on the main-top-sail-yard. 
 It was not an easy mater to hold on at all ; and to work, required 
 great readiness and strength. Nevertheless, I got the sail loose, 
 and then I went down and aided Marble and the cook to drag home 
 the sheets. Home, they could not be dragged by us, notwithstand- 
 ing we got up a luff; but we made the sail stand reasonably well. 
 
 The ship immediately felt the effect of even this rag of canvass. 
 She drove ahead at a prodigious rate, running, I make no question, 
 some eleven or twelve knots, under the united power collected by 
 her hamper and this one fragment of a sail. Her drift was unavoid- 
 ably great, and I thought the current sucked her in towards the land ; 
 but, on the whole, she kept at about the same distance from the 
 shore, foaming along it, much as we had seen the frigate do the day 
 before. At the rate we were going, twelve or fifteen hours would 
 carry us down to the passage between Holy Head and Ireland, when 
 we should get more sea-room, on account of the land's trending 
 again to the westward. 
 
 Long, long hours did Marble and I watch the progress of our ship 
 that day and the succeeding night, each of us taking our tricks at 
 the wheel, and doing seaman's duty, as well as that of mate and 
 master. All this time the vessel was dashing furiously out towards 
 the Atlantic, which she reached ere the morning of the succeeding 
 day. Just before the light returned we were whirled past a large 
 ship that waslying-to, under a single storm-stay-sail, and which I 
 recognised as the frigate that had taken a look at us at our anchor- 
 age. The cutter was close at hand, and the fearful manner in which 
 these two strong-handed vessels pitched and lurched gave me some 
 idea of what must be our situation should we be compelled to luff 
 to the wind. I supposed they had done so, in order to keep as long 
 as possible on their cruising ground, near the chops of the Irish 
 Channel. 
 
 A wild scene lay around us at the return of light. The Atlantic 
 resembled a chaos of waters, the portions of the rolling sheet that 
 were not white with foam looking green and angry. The clouds 
 hid the sun, and the gale seemed to be fast coming to its height. 
 At ten we drove past an American, with nothing standing but his 
 fore-mast. Like us, he was running off, though we went three feet 
 to his two. Half an hour later, we had the awful sight before our 
 eyes of witnessing the sudden disappearance of an English brig. 
 She was lying-to, directly on our course, and I was looking at her
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. $21 
 
 from the \vindlass, trying to form some opinion as to the expe- 
 diency of our luffmg-to, in order to hold our own. Of a sudden 
 this brig gave a plunge, and she went down like a porpoise diving. 
 What caused this disaster I never knew ; but in five minutes we 
 passed as near as possible over the spot, and not a trace of her was 
 to be seen. I could not discover so much as a handspike floating, 
 though I looked with intense anxiety, in the hope of picking up 
 some fellow-creature clinging to a spar. As for stopping to examine, 
 one who did not understand the language might as well hope to read 
 the German character on a milestone while flying past it in a rail- 
 road car. 
 
 At noon precisely away went our fore-topsail out of the gaskets. 
 One fastening snapped after another, until the whole sail was adrift. 
 The tugs that this large sheet of canvass gave upon the spars, as it 
 shook in the wind, threatened to jerk the fore-mast out of the ship. 
 They lasted about three minutes, when, after a report almost as 
 Joud as that of a small piece of ordnance, the sail split in ribands. 
 Ten minutes later our main-top-sail went. This sail left us as it 
 might be bodily, and I actually thought that a gun of distress was 
 fired near us by some vessel that was unseen. The bolt-rope was 
 left set ; the sheets, earings, and reef-points all holding on, the cloth 
 tearing at a single rent, around the four sides of the sail. The scene 
 that followed I scarcely know how to describe. The torn part of 
 the main-top-sail flew forward, and caught in the after-part of the 
 fore-top, where it stood spread, as one might say, held by the top, 
 cat-harpins, rigging, and other obstacles. This was the feather 
 to break the camel's back. Bolt after bolt of the fore-rigging 
 drew or broke, each parting with a loud report, and away went 
 every thing belonging to the fore-mast over the bows, from the 
 deck up. The main-top-mast was dragged down by this fearful 
 pull, and that brought the mizen-top-gallant-mast after it. The 
 pitching of so much hamper under the bows of the ship, while her 
 after-masts stood, threw the stern round, in spite of the manner in 
 which Marble steered ; and the ship broached to. In doing this, the 
 sea made a fair breach over her, sweeping the deck of even the 
 launch and camboose, and carrying all the lee-bulwarks in the waist 
 with them. Neb was in the launch at the time, hunting for some 
 article kept there 5 and the last I saw of the poor fellow, he was 
 standing erect in the bows of the boat, as the latter drove over the 
 vessel's side, on the summit of a wave, like a bubble floating in 
 a furious current. Diogenes, it seems, had that moment gone to 
 his camboose, to look after the plain dinner he was trying to boil, 
 when probably seizing the iron as the most solid object near 
 him, he was carried overboard with it, and never reappeared. 
 Marble was in a tolerably safe part of the vessel, at the wheel, 
 and he kept his feet, though the water rose above his waist, 
 as high, indeed, as his arms. As for myself, I was saved only
 
 222 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 by the main-rigging, into which I was driven, and where I lodged. 
 
 I could not but admire the coolness and conduct of Marble even at 
 that terrific moment ! In the first place, he put the helm hard down, 
 and lashed the wheel, the wisest thing that could be done by men in 
 our situation. This he did by means of that nautical instinct, which 
 enables a seaman to act, in the direst emergencies, almost without 
 reflection, or, as one closes his eyes to avoid danger to the pupils. 
 Then he gave one glance at the state of things inboard, running for- 
 ward with the end of a rope to throw to Diogenes, should the cook 
 rise near the ship. By the time he was satisfied the hope of doing 
 anything in that way was vain, I was on deck, and we two stood facing 
 each other, in the midst of the scene of desolation and ruin that was 
 around us. Marble caught my hand with a look that spoke as 
 plainly as words. It told me the joy he felt at seeing I was spared, 
 his determination to stick by me to the last ; yet, how low were his 
 hopes of ultimate preservation ! It was such a look as any man 
 would be glad to receive froni a comrade in the heat of battle; 
 nevertheless, it was not a look that promised victory. 
 
 The situation of the ship would now have been much better than it 
 had been, in many respects, were it not for the wreck. All the masts 
 forward had gone over the lee bow, and would have lain in a suffi- 
 ciently favourable situation for a strong crew to get rid of them 5 but in 
 our case we were compelled to let things take their course. It is 
 true, we could cut away, and this we begun to do pretty freely, but the 
 lower end of the fore-mast lay on the forecastle, where it was grind- 
 ing everything near it to pieces, with the heaving and setting of 
 the waves. All the bulwarks in that part of the ship threatened 
 soon to be beaten down, and I felt afraid the cat-head would be torn 
 violently out of the ship, leaving a bad leak. Leaks enough there 
 were, as it was. The launch, camboose, water-casks, and spare 
 spars, in driving overboard, having forced out timber-heads, and 
 other supports , in a way to split the plank sheer, which let in the 
 water fast, every time the lee gunwale went under. I gave up my 
 sugars and coffees from the first, bringing my hopes down as low 
 as the saving of the ship, the instant I saw the state of the upper 
 works. 
 
 Marbleand Ihad not been educated in aschool thatisapt todespair. 
 As for my mate, had he found himself on a plank in the middle of the 
 Atlantic, 1 do believe he would have set about rigging a jurymast, by 
 splitting offa piece of the hull of his craft and spreading his shirt by 
 way of sail. I never knew a more in-and-in-bred seaman, who, 
 when one resource failed, invariably set about the next best visible 
 expedient. We were at a loss, however, whether to make an effort 
 to get rid of the fore-mast or not. With the exception of the 
 damages it did on the forecastle, it was of use to us, keeping the 
 ship's bow up to the wind, and making better weather for us on 
 deck. The after-masts standing, while those forward were gone?
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 223 
 
 had the effect to press the stern of the vessel to leeward, while this 
 support in the water prevented her bows from falling off, and wo 
 rode much nearer to the wind than is usual with a ship that is 
 lying-to. It is true, the outer end of the fallen spars began to drive 
 to leeward ; and, acting as a long lever, they were gradually work- 
 ing the broken end of the foremast athwart the forecastle, ripping 
 and tearing away everything on the gunvale, and threatening the 
 foot of the mainstay. This made it desirable to be rid of the wreck, 
 while, on the other hand, there was the danger of the ship's bottom 
 beating against the end of the mast, did the latter get overboard. 
 Under all these circumstances, however, we determined to cut as 
 much of the gear as possible, and let the fallen spars work them- 
 selves clear of us, if they could. 
 
 Our job was by no means easy. It was difficult to stand, even , 
 on the deck of the Dawn, in a time like that ; and this difficulty was 
 greatly increased forward, by having so little to hold on by. But 
 work we did, and in a way that cleared most of the rigging from 
 the ship, in the course of the next half hour. We were encouraged 
 by the appearances of the weather too, the gale having broken, 
 and promising to abate. The ship grew a little easier, I thought, 
 and we moved about with more confidence of not being washed 
 away by the seas that came on board us. After a time, we took 
 some refreshments, eating the remains of a former meal, and cheered 
 our hearts a little with a glass or two of good sherry. Temper- 
 ance may be very useful, but so is a glass of good wine, when 
 properly used. Then we went at it again, working with a will 
 and with spirit. The wreck aft wanted very little to carry 
 it over the side, and going aloft with an axe, I watched my 
 opportunity, cut one or two of the shrouds and stays, just as 
 the ship lurched heavily to leeward, and got rid of the whole in 
 the sea, handsomely, without further injury to the ship. This 
 was a good deliverance, the manner in which the spars had 
 thrashed about having menaced our lives before. We now attacked 
 the wreck forward for the last time, feeling -certain we should 
 get it adrift, could we sever the connexion formed by one or 
 two of the larger ropes. The lee-shrouds, in particular, gave us 
 trouble, it being impossible toget at them, inboard, the fore-channels 
 being half the time under water, and the bulwarks in their wake 
 being all gone. It was, in fact, impossible to stand there to work 
 long enough to clear, or cut, all the lanyards. Marble was an ad- 
 venturous fellow aloft on all occasions ; and seeing good footing 
 about the top, without saying a word to me, he seized an axe, and 
 literally run out on the mast, where he began to cut the collars of the 
 rigging at the mast-head. This was soon done; but the spars were 
 no sooner clear, than, impelled by a wave that nearly drowned the 
 mate, the end of the foremast slid off the forecastle into the sea, 
 leaving the ship virtually clear of the wreck, but my mate adrift on
 
 224 LUCY HARDINGE, 
 
 the last, I say virtually clear, for the lee fore-topsail-brace still 
 remained fast to the ship, by some oversight in clearing away the 
 smaller ropes. The effect of this restraint was to cause the whole 
 body of the wreck to swing slowly round, until it rode by this 
 rope, alone. 
 
 Here was a new and a most serious state of things ! I knew 
 that my mate would do all that man could perform, situated as he 
 was , but what man could swim against such a sea, even the short 
 distance that interposed between the spars and the ship ? The point 
 of the wreck nearest the vessel was the end of the top-sail-yard, 
 to which the brace led, and this was raised from the water by the 
 strain (the other end of the brace leading aloft), fathoms at a time, 
 rendering it extremely difficult for Marble to reach the rope, by 
 means of which I could now see, notwithstanding all the difficul- 
 ties, he hoped to regain the vessel. The voice could be heard by 
 one directly to leeward, the howling of the winds and the roar of 
 the waters having materially lessened within the last few hours. 
 I shouted to Marble, therefore, my intentions 
 
 " Stand by to get the brace as I ease it off, inboard, " I cried ; 
 " then you will be safe ! " 
 
 The mate understood me, giving a gesture of assent with his 
 arm. When both were ready, I eased off the rope suddenly, and 
 Marble, partly by crawling, and partly by floating and dragging 
 himself by the hands, actually got to the yard-arm, which was im- 
 mediately raised from the water, however, by the drift made by the 
 spars, while he was achieving his object. I trembled as I saw this 
 stout seaman, the water dripping from his clothes, thus elevated in 
 the air, with the angry billows rolling beneath him, like lions leap- 
 ing upward to catch the adventurer in their grasp. Marble's hand 
 was actually extended to reach the brace, when its block gave way 
 with the strain. The eye of the strap slipping from the yard, 
 down went the spar into the water. Next the trough of the sea 
 hid every thing from my sight, and I was left in the most painful 
 doubt of the result, when I perceived the mate lashing himself to 
 the top, as the portion of the wreck that floated the most buoyantly. 
 He had managed to get in again, and coolly went to work to secure 
 himself in the best berth he could find, the instant he regained the 
 main mass of the wreck. As he rose on the crest of the sea, the 
 poor fellow made a gesture of adieu to me ; the leave-taking of the 
 mariner ! 
 
 In this manner did it please Divine Providence to separate us 
 four, who had already gone through so much in company ! With 
 what moody melancholy did I watch the wreck, as it slowly drifted 
 from the ship. I no longer thought of making further efforts to save 
 the Dawn, and I can truly say, that scarce a thought in connexion 
 with my own life crossed my mind. There I stood for quite an 
 hour, leaning against the foot of the mizen-mast, with folded arms
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 225 
 
 and riveted eyes, regardless of the pilches, and lurches, and rolling 
 of the ship, with all my faculties and thoughts fastened on the form 
 of Marble, expecting each time that the top rose to view to find it 
 empty. He was too securely lashed, however, to strike adrift, 
 though he was nearly half the time under water. It was impos- 
 sible to do any thing to save him. No boat was left 5 had there 
 been one, it could not have lived, nor could I have managed it 
 alone. Spars he bad already, but what must become of him 
 without food or water? I threw two breakers of the last into the 
 sea, and a box of bread, in a sort of idle hope they might drift 
 down near the wreck, and help to prolong the sufferer's life. They 
 were all tossed about in the cauldron of the ocean, and disappeared 
 to leeward, I knew not whither. When Marble was no longer vi- 
 sible from deck, I went into the main-top and watched the mass of 
 spars and rigging, so long as any portion of it could be seen. Then 
 I set it by compass, in order to know its bearing, and an hour before 
 the sun went down, or as soon as the diminished power of the wind 
 would permit, I showed an ensign aloft, as a signal that I bore my 
 mate in mind. 
 
 "He knows I will not desert him as long as there is hope so long 
 as I have life ! " I muttered to myself-, and this thought was a relief to 
 my mind in that bitter moment. 
 
 Bitter moment, truly ! Time has scarcely lessened the keenness 
 of the sensations I endured, as memory traces the feelings and in- 
 cidents of that day. From the hour when I sailed from home, Lu- 
 cy's image was seldoir absent from my imagination, ten minutes at 
 a time ! 1 thought of ner, sleeping and waking ; in all my troubles ; 
 the interest of the sea-fight I had seen could not prevent this re- 
 currence of my ideas to their polar star, their powerful magnet ; but 
 I do not remember to have thought of Lucy, even once after Marble 
 was thus carried away from my side. Neb, too, with his patient 
 servitude, his virtues, his faults, his dauntless courage, his unbound- 
 ed devotion to myself, had taken a strong hold on my heart, and 
 his loss had greatly troubled me, since the time it occurred. But I 
 remember to have thought much of Lucy, even after Neb was swept 
 away, though her image became temporarily lost to my mind, dur- 
 ing the first few hours I was thus separated from Marble. 
 
 By the time the sun set, the wind had so far abated, and the sea 
 had gone down so much, as to remove all further apprehensions 
 from the gale. The ship lay-to easily, and I had no occasion to 
 give myself any trouble on her account. Had there been light, I 
 should now have put the helm up, andrnn'to leeward, in the hope 
 of finding the spars, and at least of keeping near Marble ; but, fear- 
 ful of passing him in the darkness, I deferred that duty until the 
 morning. All I could do was to watch the weather, in order to make 
 this effort, before the wind should shift. 
 
 What a night I passed! A? sopn as it was davk, I sounded the 
 
 15
 
 226 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 pumps, and found six feet water in the hold. It was idle for one 
 man to attempt clearing a vessel of the Dawn's size ; and I gave myself 
 no further thought in the matter. So much injury had been done 
 to the upper works of the ship, that I had a sort of conviction she 
 must go down, unless fallen in with by some other craft. I cannot 
 say apprehension for my own fate troubled me any, or that I thought 
 of the ruin to my fortunes that was involved in the loss of the ship. 
 My mind reverted constantly to my companions , could I have re- 
 covered them, I should have been happy, for a time at least. 
 
 I slept two or three hours, towards morning, overcome with fa- 
 tigue. When I awoke, it was in consequence of receiving the sun's 
 rays in my face. Springing to my feet, I cast a confused and hurried 
 glance around me. The wind was still at north-east, but it barely 
 blew a good whole-sail breeze. The sea had gone down, to the 
 regular roll of the ocean ; and a finer day never shone upon the 
 Atlantic. I hurried eagerly on deck, and gazed on the ocean to 
 leeward, with longing eyes, to ascertain if any thing could be seen 
 of the wreck of our spars. Nothing was visible. From the main- 
 top, I could command a pretty wide horizon $ but the ocean lay a 
 bright, glittering blank, the crests of its own waves excepted. I 
 felt certain the Dawn was so weatherly, that the spars were to 
 leeward ; but the ship must have forged miles ahead, during the 
 last twelve hours ; and there was almost the equal certainty of her 
 being a long distance to the southward of the floating hamper, her 
 head having lain in that direction since the time she broached-to. 
 To get her off before the wind, then, was my first concern, after 
 which I could endeavour to force. her to the northward, running the 
 chance of falling in with the spars. Could I find my mate, we might 
 still die together, which would have been a melancholy consolation 
 just then. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Father of all ! in every age, 
 In every clime adored ; 
 
 By saint, by savage, or by sage- 
 Jehovah \ Jove ! or Lord ! 
 POPE. 
 
 Feeling the necessity of possessing all my strength, I ate a 
 breakfast before I commenced work. It was with a heavy heart, 
 and but little appetite, that I took this solitary meal ; but I felt that 
 its effects were good. When finished, I knelt on the deck, and 
 prayed to God fervently, asking his divine assistance in my extre- 
 mity. Why should an old man, whose race is nearly run, hesitate 
 to own, that in the pride of his youth and strength, he was made to 
 feel how insufficient we all are for our wants? Yes, I prayed, and
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 227 
 
 I hope in a fitting spirit, for I felt that this spiritual sustenance did 
 me even more good than the material of which I had just before 
 partaken. When I rose from my knees, it was with a sense of hope, 
 that I endeavoured to suppress a little, as both unreasonable and 
 dangerous. Perhaps the spirit of my sainted sister was permitted 
 to look down on me, in that awful strait, and to offer up its own 
 pure petitions in behalf of a brother she had so warmly loved. I 
 began to feel myself less alone, and the work advanced the better 
 from this mysterious sort of consciousness of the presence of the 
 souls of those who had felt an interest in me, while in the body. 
 
 My first measure was to lead the jib-stay, which had parted near 
 the head of its own mast, to the head of the main-mast. This I did 
 by bending on a piece of another rope. I then got up the halyards, 
 and loosened and set the jib, a job that consumed quite two hours. 
 Of course, this sail did not set very well, but it was the only mode 
 I had of getting forward canvass on the ship at all. As soon as the 
 jib was set in this imperfect manner, 1 put the helm up, and got the. 
 ship before the wind. I then hauled out the spanker, and gave it 
 sheet. By these means, aided by the action of the breeze on the hull 
 and spars, I succeeded in getting something like three knots' way 
 on the ship, keeping off a little northerly, in which direction I felt 
 sensible it was necessary to proceed in quest of the spars. I esti- 
 mated the drift of the wreck at a knot an hour, including the good 
 and moderate weather 5 and, allowing for that of the ship itself, I 
 supposed it must be, by that time, some twelve miles to leeward of 
 me. These twelve miles I managed to run by noon, when I hauled 
 up sufficiently to bring the wind abeam, heading northwardly. As 
 the ship would now steer herself, that is as small as it was necessary 
 for me to go, I collected some food, took a glass, and went up into 
 the main-top to dine, and to examine the ocean. 
 
 The anxious, anxious hours I passed in that top! Not an object 
 of any sort appeared on the surface of the wide ocean. It seemed 
 as if the birds and the fishes had abandoned me to my loneliness. 
 I watched and examined the surrounding sea, until my hands were 
 tired with holding the glass, and my eyes became weary with their 
 office. Fortunately, the breeze stood, though the sea went down 
 fast, giving me every opportunity I could desire of effecting my 
 object. The ship yawed about a good deal, it is true ; but, on the 
 whole, she made a very tolerable course. I could see by the water 
 that she had a motion of about two knots, for most of the time ; 
 though, as the day advanced, the wind began to fall, and her rate of 
 going diminished quite one half. 
 
 At length, after passing hours aloft, I went below, to look after 
 things there. On sounding the pumps, I found ten feet water in the 
 hold; though the upper works were now not at all submerged, and 
 the motion of the vessel was very easy. That the Dawn was 
 gradually sinking under me, was a fact too evident to be denied ;
 
 228 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 and all the concerns of this life began to narrow into a circle of 
 some four-and-twenty hours. That time the ship would probably 
 float, possibly a little longer, should the weather continue moder- 
 ate. The wind was decreasing still, and, thinking I might have a 
 tranquil night, I determined to pass that time in preparing for the 
 last great change. I had no will to make little to leave, indeed, 
 after my vessel was gone : for the debt due to John Wallingford 
 would go far towards absorbing all my property. When his 
 40,000 dollars were paid, under a forced sale, little, indeed, would 
 be the residue. 
 
 The state of things would have been somewhat different under a 
 fair sale, perhaps ; but a forced sale would probably sweep away 
 everything. It is true, my creditor was my heir; for, a legacy to 
 Lucy, and a few bequests to my slaves excepted, I had fairly be- 
 queathed all I owned to my cousin. As for the blacks themselves, 
 under the new policy of New York, they would soon be free ; and I 
 had no other interest in their fate than that of habit and affection. 
 
 But why speak of property, in the situation in which I was 
 placed ? Had I owned the whole of Ulster county, my wishes, or 
 any new will I might make, must die with me. The ocean would 
 soon engulf the whole. Had I no desire to make an effort to save 
 myself, or at least to prolong my existence by means of a raft?- 
 of boat, there was none in the ship. The English had the yawl, 
 and the launch had been driven away. The spare spars were 
 swept overboard, as well as all the water-casks that had been 
 lashed on deck. I might have done something with the hatches, 
 and mizen-top-mast, possibly, could I have gotten the last into the 
 water ; but the expedient was so desperate, it did not hold out any 
 hopes to be encouraged. Even the handspikes had gone in the 
 launch, and two of the buoys had been left with the anchors, on 
 the Irish coast. Under all the circumstances, it appeared to me 
 that it would be more manly and resigned to meet my fate at once, 
 than to attempt any such feeble projects to prolong existence for a 
 few hours. I came to the resolution, therefore, to go down in my 
 ship. 
 
 What was there to make life particularly dear to me? My home, 
 my much-beloved Clawbonny, must go, at all events ; and I will 
 own that a feeling of bitter distrust crossed my mind, as I thought 
 of these things, and that I began to fancy John Wallingford might 
 have urged me to borrow his money, expressly to obtain a chance 
 of seizing an estate that was so much prized by every Wallingford. 
 I suppressed this feeling, however, and in a clear voice I asked my 
 cousin's pardon, the same as if he had been within hearing. Of 
 Lucy, I had no longer any hope ; Grace was already in heaven 5 
 and"the world contained few thai cared for me. After Mr. Harclinge, 
 Lucy iU'.vavs excepted, I now loved Marble and Neb the most; and 
 these t\vo were probably both dead, or doomed like myself, Wg
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 229 
 
 must all yield up our lives once ; and, though my hour came rather 
 early, it should be met as a man meets everything, even to death 
 itself. 
 
 Some time before the sun set, I went aloft to take a last look at 
 the ocean. I do not think any desire to prolong my exigence 
 carried me up the mast, but there was a lingering wished look 
 after my mate. The ocean beamed gloriously that eventiii|^' and I 
 fancied that it was, faintly reflecting the gracious countenance of its , 
 divine Creator, in a smile of beneficient love. I felt my heart 
 soften, as I gazed around me ; and 1 fancied heavenly music was 
 singing the praises of God on the face of the great deep. Then I 
 knelt in the top, and prayed. 
 
 Rising, I looked at the ocean, as I supposed, for the last time. 
 Not a sail was anywhere to be seen. I cannot say that I felt disap- 
 pointed -, I did not expect relief from that quarter. My object was 
 to find my mate, that we might die together. Slowly I raised the 
 glass, and the horizon was swept with deliberation. Nothing ap- 
 peared. I had shut the glass, and was about to sling it, when my 
 eye caught the appearance of something floating on the surface of 
 the ocean, within a mile of the ship, well to leeward, and a-head. 
 1 had overlooked it, in consequence of ranging above it with the 
 glass, in the desire to sweep the horizon. I could not be mistaken ; 
 it was the wreck. In a moment the glass was levelled, and I assured 
 myself of the fact. The top was plainly visible, floating quite high 
 above the surface, and portions of the yards and masts were occa- 
 sionally seen, as the undulations of the ocean left them bare. I 
 saw an object lying motionless across the top rim, which I sup- 
 posed to be Marble : he was either dead or. asleep. 
 
 What a revulsion of feeling came over me at this sight ! A mi- 
 nute before, and I was completely isolated cut off from the rest of 
 my species, and resigned to a fate that seemed to command my quit- 
 ting this state of being without further communion with mankind. 
 Everything was changed : here was the companion of so many 
 former dangers the man who had taught me my profession one 
 that I can truly say I loved, quite near me, and possibly dying for 
 the want of that aid which I might render ! I was on deck in the 
 twinkling of an eye ; the sheets were eased off, and the helm put up. 
 Obedient to my wishes, the ship fell off, and I soon got a glimpse, 
 from the spot where I stood, at the wheel, of the wreck a little clear 
 of the weather cat-head. By this time the wind was so light, and 
 the ship had got to be so deep in the water, that the motion of the 
 last was very slow. Even with the helm up, it scarce equalled half 
 a knot. I began to fear I should not be able to reach my goal, 
 after all ! 
 
 There were, now, intervals of dead calm ; then the air would re- 
 turn in little puffs, urging the great mass heavily onward. I 
 whistled, I prayed, I called aloud for wind : in short, I adopted all
 
 230 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 the expedients known, from that of the most vulgar nautical su- 
 perstition, up to profound petitions to the Father of Mercies. I pre- 
 sume all this brought no change, though the passage of time did. 
 About half an hour before the sun dipped into the ocean, the ship 
 was with in a hundred yards of the wreck. This I could ascertain 
 by stolen glances, for the direction I was now compelled to steer 
 placed the forward part of the ship between me and my object; and 
 I did not dare quit the wheel to go forward, lest I should miss it 
 altogether. I had prepared a grapnel, by placing a small kedge in 
 the lee -waist, with a hawser bent j and, could I come within a few 
 feet of the floating hamper, I felt confident of being able to hook 
 into something. It appeared to me, now, as if the ship absolutely 
 refused to move. Go a-head she did, notwithstanding, though it 
 was only her own length in five or six minutes. My hasty glances 
 told me that two more of these lengths would effect my purpose. I 
 scarce breathed, lest the vessel should not be steered with sufficient 
 accuracy. It was strange to me that Marble did not hail, and, 
 fancying him asleep, I shouted with all my energy, in order to 
 arouse him. "What a joyful sound that will be in his ears!" I 
 thought to myself ; though to me, my own voice seemed unearthly 
 and alarming. No answer came. Then I fell a slight shock, as if 
 the cut- water had hit something, and a low scraping sound against 
 the copper announced that the ship had hit the wreck. Quitting 
 the wheel, I sprang into the waist, raising the kedge in my arms. 
 Then came the upper spars wheeling strongly round, under the 
 pressure of the vessel's bottom against the extremity of the lower 
 mast. I saw nothing but the great maze of hamper and wreck, and 
 could scarcely breathe in the anxiety not to miss my aim. There 
 was much reason to fear the whole mass would float off, leaving me 
 no chance of throwing the kedge, for the smaller mast no longer 
 inclined in, and I could see that the ship and wreck were slowly 
 separating. A low thump on the bottom, directly beneath me, 
 drew my head over the side, and I found the fore-yard, as it might 
 be, a cock-bill, with one end actually scraping along the ships 
 bottom. It was the only chance I had, or was likely to have, and 
 I throw the kedge athwart it. Luckily, the hawser, as it tautened, 
 brought a fluke directly under the yard, within the Flemish horse, 
 the brace-block, and all the other ropes tfiat are fitted to a lower 
 yard-arm. So slow was the motion of the ship, that my grapnel 
 held, and the entire body of the wreck began to yield to the pres- 
 sure. I now jumped to the jib-halyardfe and down-haul, getting that 
 sail reduced,- then I half-brailed the spanker : this was done lest my 
 hold on the yard should give way. 
 
 I can say, that up to this instant I had not even looked for Marble. 
 So intense had been my apprehensions of missing the wreck, that 
 I thought of nothing else could see nothing else. Satisfied, 
 however, that my fast would hold, I ran forward to look down on
 
 LUCY IIARDINGE. 231 
 
 the top, that the strain of the hawser had brought directly under 
 the very bow, over which it had fallen. It was empty ! The ob- 
 ject I had mistaken for Marble, dead or asleep, was a part of the 
 bunt of the main-top-sail, that had been hauled down over the top- 
 rim, and secured there, either to form a sort of shelter against the 
 breaking seas, or a bed. Whatever may have been the intention of 
 this nest, it no longer had an occupant. Marble had probably been 
 washed away, in one of his adventurous efforts to make himself 
 more secure or more comfortable. 
 
 The disappointment that came over me, as I ascertained this 
 fact, was scarcely less painful than the anguish I had felt when I lirst 
 saw my mate carried off into the ocean. There would have been a 
 melancholy satisfaction in finding his body, that we might have gone 
 to the bottom together, at least, and thus have slept in a common 
 grave, in the depths of that ocean over which we had sailed so 
 many thousands of leagues in company. I went and threw myself 
 on the deck, regardless of my own fate, and wept in very bit- 
 terness of heart. I had arranged a mattress on the quarter-deck, 
 and it was on that I now threw myself. Fatigue overcame me in 
 the end, and I fell into a deep sleep. As my recollection left me, 
 my last thought was, that I should go down with the ship, as I lay 
 there. So complete was the triumph of nature, that I did not even 
 dream. I do not remember ever to have enjoyed more profound 
 and refreshing slumbers slumbers that continued until re- 
 turning light awoke me. To that night's rest I am probably 
 indebted, under God, for having the means of relating these ad- 
 ventures. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to say that the night had been tranquil ; 
 otherwise, a seaman's ears would have given him the alarm. When 
 I arose, I found the ocean glittering like a mirror, with no other 
 motion than that which has so often been likened to the slumbering 
 respiration of some huge animal. The wreck was thumping 
 against the ship's bottom, announcing its presence, before I left the 
 mattress. Of wind there was literally not a breath. Once in a 
 while, the ship would seem to come up to breathe, as a heavy 
 ground-swell rolled along her sides, and the wash of the element 
 told the circumstance of such a visit ; else, all was as still as the 
 ocean in its infancy. I knelt again, and prayed to that dread Being, 
 with whom, it now appeared to me, I stood alone, in the centre of 
 the universe. 
 
 Down to the moment when I arose from my knees, the thought 
 of making an effort to save myself, or to try to prolong existence a 
 few hours, by means of the wreck, did not occur to me ; but when 
 I came to look about me, to note the tranquil condition of the ocean, 
 and to heed the chances, small as they were, that offered, the love 
 of life was renewed within me, and I seriously set about the mea- 
 sures necessary to such an end.
 
 232 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 The first step was to sound the pumps anew. The water had not 
 gained in the night as rapidly as it had gained throughout the pre- 
 ceding day $ but it had gained, there being three feet more of it than 
 when I last sounded the infallible evidence of the existence of a 
 leak that no means of mine could stop. It was, then, hopeless to 
 think of saving the ship she had settled in the water already, so 
 as to bring the lower bolts of both fore and main channels awash ; 
 and I supposed she might float for four-and-twenty hours longer, 
 unless an injury that I had discovered under the larboard cat- 
 head, and which had been 'received from the wreck, should sooner 
 get under water. It appeared to me that a butt had been started 
 there : such a leak would certainly hasten the fate of the vessel by 
 some hours, should it come fairly into the account. 
 
 Having made this calculation as to the time I had to do it in, I set 
 seriously about the job of making provisions with my raft. In one 
 or two particulars, I could not much improve the latter , for, the 
 yards lying underneath the masts, it rendered the last as buoyant 
 as was desirable in moderate weather. It struck me, however, 
 that by getting the top-gallant and royal masts, with their yards, 
 in, around the top, I might rig a staging, with the aid of the 
 hatches, that would not only keep me entirely out of water in mild 
 weather., but which would contain all one man could consume, in 
 the way of victuals and drink, for a month to come. To this object, 
 then, 1 next gave my attention. 
 
 I had no great difficulty in getting the spars I have mentioned 
 loose, and in hauling them alongside of the top. It was a job 
 that required time, rather than strength ; for my movements were 
 greatly facilitated by the presence of the top-mast rigging, which 
 remained in its place, almost as taut as when upright. The other 
 rigging I cut, and having got out the fids of the two masts, one at a 
 time, I pushed the spars through their respective caps with a foot. 
 Of course I was obliged to get into the water to work ; but I had 
 thrown aside most of my clothes for the occasion, and the weather 
 being warm, I felt greatly refreshed by my bath. In two hours' 
 time, I had my top-gallant-mast and yard well secured to the top- 
 rim and the caps, having saw r ed them in pieces for the purpose. 
 The fastenings were both spikes and lashings, the carpenter's 
 stores furnishing plenty of the former, as well as all sorts of 
 tools. 
 
 This part of the arrangement completed, I ate a hearty breakfast, 
 when I began to secure the hatches, as a sort of floor, on my pri- 
 mitive joists. This was not difficult, the hatches being long, and 
 the rings enabling me to lash them as well as to spike them. Long 
 before the sun had reached the meridian, I had a stout little plat- 
 form, that was quite eighteen inches above the water, and which 
 was surrounded by a species of low ridge-ropes, so placed as to keep 
 articles from readily tumbling off it. The next measure was to cut
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 233 
 
 all the sails from the yards, and to cut loose all the rigging and iron 
 that did not serve to keep the wreck together. The reader can 
 easily imagine how much more buoyancy I obtained by these expe- 
 dients. The fore-sail alone weighed much more than I did myself, 
 with all the stores I might have occasion to put on my platform. As 
 for the fore-top-sail, there was little of it left, the canvass having 
 mostly blown from the yard before the mast went. 
 
 My raft was completed by the time I felt the want of dinner ; and 
 a very good raft it was. The platform was about ten feet square, 
 and it now floated quite two feet clear of the water. This was not 
 much for a sea ; but, after the late violent gale, I had some reason 
 to expect a continuation of comparatively good weather. I should 
 not have been a true seaman not to have bethought me of a mast 
 and a sail. I saved the fore-royal-mast and the yard, with its 
 canvass, for such a purpose 5 determining to rig them when I had no- 
 thing else to do. I then ate my dinner, which consisted of the 
 remnants of the old cold meat and fowls I could find among the cabin 
 eatables. 
 
 This meal taken, the duty that came next was to provision my 
 raft. It took but little time or labour. The cabin stores were quite 
 accessible ; and a bag of pilot-bread, another of that peculiarly 
 American invention, called crackers, some smoked beef, a case of 
 liquors, and two breakers of water, formed my principal stock. To 
 this I added a pot of butter, with some capital smoked herrings, and 
 some anchovies. We lived well in the cabin of the Dawn, and there 
 was no difficulty in making all the provision that six or eight men 
 would have needed for a month. Perceiving that the raft, now it 
 was relieved from the weight of the sails and rigging, was not much 
 affected by the stores, I began to look about me in quest of any- 
 thing valuable I might wish to save. The preparations I had been 
 making created a sort of confidence in their success -, a confidence 
 (hope might be the better word,) that was as natural, perhaps, as it 
 was unreasonable. I examined the different objects that offered, 
 with a critical comparison of their value and future usefulness, that 
 would have been absurd, had it not afforded a melancholy proof of 
 the tenacity of our desires in matters of this nature. It is certainly 
 a sad thing to abandon a ship at sea, with all her appliances, and 
 with a knowledge of the gold that she cost. The Dawn, with her 
 cargo, must have stood me in eighty thousand dollars, or even more ; 
 and here w r as I about to quit her, out on the ocean, with an almost 
 moral certainty that not a cent of the money could be, or would be, 
 recovered from the insurers. These last only took risks against the 
 accidents of the ocean, fire included 5 and there was a legal obliga- 
 tion on the insured to see that the vessel was properly found and 
 manned. It was my own opinion that no accident would have oc- 
 curred to the ship, in the late gale, had the full crew been on board; 
 and that the ship was not sufficiently manned was, in a legal sense,
 
 234 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 my own fault. I was bound to let the English carry her into port, 
 and to await judgment, the law supposing that justice would have 
 been done in the premises. The law might have been greatly mis- 
 taken in this respect-, but potentates never acknowledge their 
 blunders. If I was wronged in the detention, the law presumed 
 suitable damages. It is true, I might be ruined by the delay, through 
 the debts left behind me ; but the law, with all its purity, cared no- 
 thing for that. Could I have shown a loss by means of a falling 
 market, I might have obtained redress, provided the court chose to 
 award it, and provided the party did not appeal ; or, if he did, that 
 the subsequent decisions supported the first; and provided, all 
 the decrees being in my favour, my Lord Harry Dermond could 
 have paid a few thousands in damages : a problem to be solved in 
 itself. 
 
 I always carried to sea with me a handsome chest, that I had 
 bought in one of my earlier voyages, and which usually contained 
 my money, clothes, and other valuables. This chest I managed 
 to get on deck by the aid of a purchase, and over the ship's side, 
 on the raft. It was much the most troublesome task I had under- 
 taken. To this I added my writing-desk, a mattress, two or three 
 counterpanes, and a few other light articles, which it struck me 
 might be of use, but which I could cast into the sea at any mo- 
 ment, should it become necessary. When all this was done, I 
 conceived that my useful preparations were closed. 
 
 It was near night, and I felt sufficiently fatigued to lie down 
 and sleep. The water had gained very slowly during the last 
 few hours, but the ship was now swimming so low, that I thought 
 it unsafe to remain in the vessel while asleep. I determined, 
 therefore, to take my leave of her, and go on the raft for that 
 purpose. It struck me, too, it might be unsafe to be too near the 
 vessel when she went down, and I had barely time to get the spars 
 a short distance from the ship before darkness would come. Still 
 I was unwilling to abandon the Dawn altogether, since the spars 
 that stood on board her w r ould always be a more available signal 
 to any passing vessel than the low sail I could set on the raft. 
 Should she float during the succeeding day, they would increase 
 the chances of a rescue, and they offered an advantage not to 
 be lightly thrown away. 
 
 To force the spars away from the ship was not an easy task 
 of itself. There is an attraction in matter, that is known to 
 bring vessels nearer together in calms, and I had this principle 
 of nature first to overcome 5 then to neutralize it, without the 
 adequate means for doing either. Still I was very strong, and 
 possessed all the resources of a seaman. The raft, too, now 
 its length was reduced, was much more manageable than it had 
 been originally ; and in rummaging about the twixt-decks, I had 
 found a set of oars belonging to the launch, which had been
 
 LUCY HARBINGE. 235 
 
 stowed in the steerage, and which of course were preserved. 
 These 1 had taken to the raft, to strengthen my staging, or 
 deck, and two of them had been reserved for the very purpose 
 to which they were now applied. 
 
 Cutting away the kedge, then, and casting off the other ropes I 
 had used with which to breast-to the raft, I began to shove off just 
 as the sun was dipping. So long as I could pull by the ship, I did 
 very well ; for I adopted the expedient of hauling astern, instead of 
 pushing broad off, under the notion that I might get a better drift, 
 if quite from under the lee of the vessel, than if lying on her broad- 
 side. I say the "lee," though there wasn't a breath of air, nor 
 scarcely any motion of the water. I had a line fast to a stern-davit, 
 and placing myself with my feet braced against the chest, I soon 
 overcame the vis inertice of the spars, and, exerting all my force 
 when it was once in motion, I succeeded in giving the raft an im- 
 petus that carried it completely past the ship. I confess I felt no 
 personal apprehension from the suction, supposing the ship to sink 
 while the raft was in absolute contact with it ; but the agitation of the 
 water might weaken its parts, or it might wash most of my stores 
 away. This last consideration induced me now to go to work with 
 the oars, and try to do all I could, by that mode of propelling my 
 dull craft. I worked ha'rd just one hour, by my watch 5 at the ex- 
 piration of that time, the nearest end of the raft, or the lower part of 
 the fore-mast, was about a hundred yards from the Dawn's taffrail. 
 This was a slow movement, and did not fail to satisfy me that, if I 
 were to be saved at all, it would be by means of some passing ves- 
 sel, and not by my own progress. 
 
 Overcome by fatigue, I now lay down and slept. I took no pre- 
 cautions against the wind's rising in the night; firstly, because I 
 thought it impossible from the tranquil aspect of the heavens and 
 the ocean ; and secondly, because I felt no doubt that the wash of the 
 water and the sound of the winds would arouse me, should it occur 
 differently. As on the previous night, I slept sweetly, and obtained 
 renewed strength for any future trials. As on the preceding mor- 
 ning, too, I was awaked by the warm rays of the rising sun falling 
 on "my face. On first awaking, I did not know exactly where I was. 
 A moment's reflection, however, sufficed to recall the past to my 
 mind, and I turned to examine my actual situation. 
 
 I looked for the ship, towards the end of the mast, or in the di- 
 rection where I had last seen her $ but she was not visible. The raft 
 had swung round in the night, I thought, and I bent my eyes slowly 
 round the entire circle of the horizon, but no ship was to be seen. 
 The Dawn had sunk in the night, and so quietly as to give no alarm ! 
 I shuddered, for I could not but imagine whatwould have been my fate, 
 had I been aroused from the sleep of the living, only to experience the 
 last agony as I passed away into the sleep of the dead. 1 cannot de- 
 scribe the sensation that came over me, as I gazed around, and found
 
 236 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 myself on the broad ocean, floating on a little deck that was only 
 ten feet square, and which was raised less than two feet,above the 
 surface of the waters. It was now that I felt the true frailty of my 
 position, and comprehended all its dangers. Before, it had been 
 shaded by the ship, as it might be, and I had found a species of pro- 
 tection in her presence , but the whole truth now stood before me. 
 Even a moderate breeze would raise a sea that could not fail to break 
 over the staging, and which must sweep everything away. The 
 spars had a specific lightness, it is true, and they would never sink ; 
 or, if they did sink, it would only be at the end of ages, when 
 saturated with water and covered with barnacles 5 but, on the 
 other hand, they possessed none of the buoyancy of a vessel, and 
 could not rise above the rolling waters sufficiently to clear their 
 breakers. 
 
 These were not comfortable reflections ; they pressed on my mind 
 even while engaged at my morning devotions. After performing, 
 in the best manner 1 could, this never-ceasing duty, I ate a little, 
 though I must admit it was with a small appetite. Then I made the 
 best stowage I could of my effects, and rigged and stepped the 
 mast, hoisting the sail as a signal to any vessel that might appear. 
 I expected wind ere long ; nor was I disappointed, a moderate 
 breeze springing up from the north-west a'bout nine o'clock. This 
 air was an immense relief to me, in more ways than one. It cooled 
 my person, which was suffering from the intense heat of a sum- 
 mer's sun beating directly on a boundless expanse of water, and it 
 varied a scene that otherwise possessed an oppressively wearisome 
 sameness. Unfortunately, this breeze met me in the bows ; for I 
 had stepped my mast in the foremast, lashed it against the bottom 
 of the top, which it will be remembered was now perpendicular, 
 and stayed it to the mast-heads and dead-eyes of the topmast rigging, 
 all of which remained as when erect, though now floating on the 
 water. I intended the fractured part of the foremast for my cut- 
 water, and, of course, had to ware ship before I could gather any 
 way. This single manoeuvre occupied a quarter of an hour, my 
 braces, tacks, and sheets not working particularly well. At the end 
 of that time, however, I got round, and laid my yard square. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 There was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture ; they looked, as 
 they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed. A notable passion of wonder 
 appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, that knew no more but seeing, could not 
 say, if the importance were joy or sorrow; but in the extremity of the one, it must 
 
 needs be. 
 
 WINTER'S TALE. 
 
 As soon as the raft got fairly before the wind, and the breeze
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 237 
 
 had freshened, I had an opportunity of ascertaining what it would 
 do. The royal was a large one, and it stood well. I had brought 
 a log-line and the slow-glass with me, as well as my quadrant, 
 slate, etc., and began to think of keeping a reckoning. I had sup- 
 posed the ship to be, when it fell calm, about two hundred miles 
 from the land, and I knew her to be in latitude 48 37". The log- 
 line told me the raft moved through the water all that forenoon at 
 the rate of about half a knot in the hour 5 and could I keep on for 
 fifteen or sixteen days, in a straight course, I might yet hope to get 
 ashore. I was not so weak, however, as to expect any such mi- 
 racle to be wrought in my favour, though, had I been in the trades, 
 the thing might have occurred. By cutting adrift the two yards, 
 or by getting them fore and aft in a line with the water, my rate of 
 sailing might be doubled ; and I began seriously to think of effect- 
 ing this great change. Cut the yards adrift I did not like to do, 
 their support in keeping me out of water being very important. 
 By hauling on the lift, I did get them in a more oblique position, 
 and in a measure thus lessened their resistance to the element. . I 
 thought that even this improvement made a difference of half a knot 
 in my motion. Nevertheless, it was tedious work to be a whole 
 hour in going less than a single mile, when two hundred remained 
 to be travelled, and the risks of the ocean were thus constantly im- 
 pending over one ! 
 
 What a day was that ! It blew pretty fresh at one time, and I 
 began to tremble for my staging, or deck, which got washed several 
 times, though the top-sail yard made for it a sort of lee, and helped 
 to protect it. Towards the decline of the day the wind went down, 
 and at sunset everything was as tranquil as it had been the previous 
 evening. I thought I might have been eight or nine miles from the 
 spot where the Dawn went down, without computing the influence 
 of the currents, which may have set me all that distance back again, 
 or so much further ahead, for anything I knew of the matter. At 
 sunset I took an anxious survey of the horizon, to see if any sail 
 were in sight ; but nothing was visible. 
 
 Another tranquil night gave me another tranquil night's rest. I 
 call the last tranquil, as it proved to be in one sense 5 though I was 
 sorely troubled with dreams. Had I been suffering for nourishment, 
 I certainly should have dreamed of food 5 but, such not being the 
 case, my thoughts took the direction of home and friends. Much 
 of the time I lay half asleep and half awake ; then my mind would 
 revert to my sister, to Lucy, to Mr. Hardinge, and to Clawbonny 
 which I fancied already in the possession of John Wallingford, who 
 was triumphing in his ownership, and the success of his arts. Then 
 I thought Lucy had purchased the place and was living there with 
 Andrew Drewett, in a handsome new house built in the modern 
 taste. By modern taste, I do not mean one of the Grecian-temple 
 school, as I do jjot fhink that even all the vagaries of a diseased
 
 238 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 imagination, that was suffering under the calamities of shipwreck, 
 could induce me to imagine Lucy Hardinge silly enough to desire to 
 live in such a structure. 
 
 Towards morning I fell into a doze, the fourth or fifth renewal of 
 my slumbers that night -, and I remember that I had that sort of 
 curious sensation which apprises us itself it was a dream. In the 
 course of the events that passed through my mind, I fancied I 
 overheard Marble and Neb conversing. Their voices were low 
 and solemn, as I thought; and the words so distinct that 1 still 
 remember every syllable. 
 
 " No, Neb," said Marble, or seemed to say, in a most sorrowful 
 tone, one I had never heard him use even in speaking of his her- 
 mitage, " there is little hope for Miles now. I felt as if the poor boy 
 was lost when I saw him swept away from me, by them infernal 
 spars striking adrift, and set him down as one gone from that 
 moment. You've lost an A. No. 1. master, Mister Neb, I can tell 
 you, and you may sarve a hundred before you fall in with his like 
 ag'in." 
 
 " I nebber sarve anoder gentleum, Misser Marble," returned the 
 black ; " dat as sartain as gospel. I born in 'e Wallingford family, 
 and I lib an' die in 'e same family, or I don't want to lib and die at 
 all. My real name be Wallingford, dough folk do call me Claw- 
 bonny. " 
 
 " Ay, and a slim family it's got to be ! " rejoined the mate. "The 
 nicest, and the handsomest, and the most virtuous young woman in 
 all York State is gone out of it first : I knew but little of her -, but, 
 how often did poor Miles tell me all about her-, and how he loved 
 her, and how she loved him, and the like of all that, as is becoming ; 
 and something in the way that Hove little Kitty my niece you know, 
 Neb, only a thousand times more -, and hearing so much of a person 
 is all the same, or even better than to know them up and down, 
 if a body wants to feel respect with all his heart. Secondly, 
 as a person would say, now there's Miles lost too, for the ship is 
 sartainly gone down, Neb 5 otherwise, she would have been 
 seen floating hereabouts, and we may log him as a man lost over- 
 board." 
 
 " P'rhaps not, Misser Marble," said the negro. " Masser Mile 
 swim like a fish, and he isn't the gentleum to give up as soon as 
 trouble come. P'rhaps he swimming about all dis time." 
 
 " Miles could do all that man could do, Neb, but he can't swirn 
 two hundred miles a Southsea man might do something like that, 
 I do suppose, but they're onaccountably web-footed. No, no, Neb ; 
 I fear we shall have to give him up. Providence swept him away 
 from us, like, and we've lost him. Ah's me! well, I loved that 
 boy better even than a Yankee loves cucumbers." 
 
 This may be thought an odd comparison to cross a drowsy ima- 
 gination, but it was one Marble often made 5 and, if eating the fruit
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 239 
 
 morning, noon, and night will vindicate its justice, the mate stood 
 exonerated from everything like exaggeration. 
 
 " Ebbry body lub Masser Mile," said the warm-hearted Neb, or I 
 thought he so said. " I nebbcr see dat we can go home to good 
 old Masser Hardinge, and tell him how we lose Masser Mile." 
 
 " It will be a hard job, Neb, but I greatly fear it must be done. 
 However, we will now turn in and try to catch a nap, for the wind 
 will be rising one of these times, and then we shall have need of 
 keeping our eyes wide open." 
 
 After this I heard no more ; but every word of that which I have 
 related sounded as plainly in my ears as if the speakers were within 
 fifty feet of me. I lay in the same state some time longer, en- 
 deavouring, as I was curious myself, of catching, or fancying, more 
 words from those I loved so well ; but no more came. Then I believe 
 I fell into a deeper sleep, for I remember no more for hours. 
 
 At dawn I awoke, the care on my mind answering for a call. 
 This time I did not wait for the sun to shine in my eyes, but, of the 
 two, I rather preceded than awaited the return of the light. On 
 standing erect I found the sea as tranquil as it had been the previous 
 night, and there was an entire calm. It was still so dusky that a 
 little examination was necessary to be certain nothing was near. 
 The horizon was scarcely clear, though, making my first look 
 towards the east, objects were plainest in that quarter of the ocean. 
 I then turned slowly round, examining the vast expanse of water as 
 I did so, until my back was towards the approaching light, and I 
 faced the west. I thought I saw a boat within ten yards of me ! 
 At first, I took it for illusion, and rubbed my eyes to make sure that 
 I was awake. There it was, however, and another look satisfied 
 me it vas my own launch, or that in which poor Neb had been 
 carried overboard. What was more, it was floating in the proper 
 manner, appeared buoyant, and had two masts Tigged. It is 
 true, that it looked dusky, as objects appear just at dawn, but it 
 was sufficiently distinct. I could not be mistaken ; it was my 
 own launch thus thrown within my reach by the mercy of Divine 
 Providence ! 
 
 This boat, then, had survived the gale, and the winds and currents 
 had brought it and the raft together. What had become of Neb? He 
 must have rigged the masts, for none were stepped, of course, when 
 the boat was in the chocks. Masts, and sails, and oars were always 
 kept in the boat, it is true, but the first could not be stepped without 
 hands. A strange, wild feeling came over me, as a man might be 
 supposed to yield to the appearance of supernatural agencies ; 
 and almost without intending it, I shouted " Boat ahoy ! " 
 
 " Yo hoy I " answered Marble ; "who hails ! " 
 
 The form of the mate appeared rising in the boat ; at the next 
 instant, Neb stood at his side. The conversation of the previous 
 night had been real, and those whom I had mourned as lost stood
 
 240 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 within thirty feet of me, hale, hearty, and unharmed. The boat and 
 raft had approached each other in the darkness, and, as I afterwards 
 learned, the launch having fanned along for several hours of the 
 night, stopped for want of wind nearly where I now saw her, and 
 where the dialogue, part of which I overheard while half asleep, had 
 taken place. Had the launch continued on its course, only ten yards 
 further, it would have t hit the fore-top-mast. That attraction of 
 which 1 have already spoken, probably kept the boat and raft near 
 each other throughout the night, and quite likely had been 
 slowly drawing them together while we slept. 
 
 It would not be easy to say which party was the most astonished at 
 this recognition. There was Marble, whom I had supposed washed 
 off the raft, safe in the launch 5 and here was I, whom the other 
 two had thought to have gone down in the ship, safe on the raft ! 
 We appeared to have changed places, without concert and without 
 expectation of ever again meeting. Though ignorant of the means 
 through which all this had been brought about, I very well know 
 what we did, as soon as each man was certain that he saw the other 
 standing before him in the flesh. We sat down, and wept like 
 three chidren. Then Neb, too impatient to wait for Marble's move- 
 ments, threw himself into the sea, and swam to the raft. When 
 he got on the staging, the honest fellow kissed my hands again and 
 again, blubbering the whole time like a girl of three or four years of 
 age. This scene was interrupted only by the expostulations and 
 proceedings of the mate. 
 
 "What's this you 're doing, you infernal nigger!" cried 
 Marble. " Desarting your station, and leaving me here, alone, to 
 manage this heavy launch, by myself. It might be the means of 
 losing all hands of us again, should a hurricane spring up suddenly, 
 and wreck us over again. " 
 
 The truth was, Marble began to be ashamed of the weakness he 
 had betrayed, and was ready to set upon anything, in order to con- 
 ceal it. Neb put an end to this sally, however, by plunging again 
 into the water, swimming back to the boat, as readily as he had 
 come to the raft. 
 
 "Ay, here you are, Neb, nigger-like, and not knowing whether 
 to stay or to go," growled the mate, busy the whole time in ship- 
 ping two oars. "You put me in mind of a great singer I once 
 heard in Liverpool 5 a chap that would keep shaking and quavering 
 at the end of a varse, in such a style that he sometimes did not 
 know whether to let go or to hold on. It is onbecoming in men to 
 forget themselves, Neb ; if we have found him we thought to be 
 lost, it is no reason for desarting our stations, or loosing our wits. 
 Miles, my dear boy," springing on the raft, and sending Neb adrift 
 again, all alone, by the backward impetus of the leap "Miles, 
 my dear boy, God be praised for this ! " squeezing both my hands 
 as in a vice, " I don't know how it is, but ever singe I 've fallen in
 
 LUCY 11ARDINGE. 241 
 
 \vith my mother and little Kitty, I 've got to be womanish. I sup- 
 pose it 's what you call domestic affection." 
 
 Here Marble gave in once more, blubbering just as hard as Neb 
 himself had done. 
 
 A few minutes later, all three'began to know what we were about. 
 The launch was hauled up alongside of the stage, and we sat on 
 the latter, relating the manner in which each of us had been saved. 
 First, then, as to Neb : I have already told the mode in which the 
 launch was swept overboard, and I inferred its loss from the vio- 
 lence of the tempest, and the height of the seas that were raging 
 around us. It is true, neither Marble nor I saw anything of the 
 launch after it sunk behind the first hill of water to leeward, for we 
 had too much to attend to on board the ship, to have leisure to look 
 about us. But it seems the black was enabled to maintain the boat 
 the right side up, and, by baling, to keep her afloat. He drove to 
 leeward, of course; and the poor fellow described in vivid terms 
 his sensations, as he saw the rate at which she was driving away 
 from the ship, and the manner in which he lost sight of her remain- 
 ing spars. As soon as the wind would permit, however, he 
 stepped the masts, and set the two luggs close-reefed/ making 
 stretches of three or four miles in length, to windward. This timely 
 decision was the probable means of saving all our lives. In the 
 course of a few hours, after he had got the boat under command, 
 he caught a" glimpse of the fore-royal-masts sticking out from the 
 cap of a sea, and watching it eagerly, he next perceived the whole 
 of the raft, as it came up on the same swell, with Marble, half- 
 drowned, lashed to the top. It was quite an hour before Neb could 
 get near enough to the raft, or spars, to make Marble conscious of 
 his presence, and some time longer ere he could get the sufferer 
 into the boat. This rescue did not occur one minute too soon, for 
 the mate admitted to me he was half drowned, and that he did not 
 think he could have held out much longer, when Neb took him into 
 the boat. 
 
 As for food and water, they fared well enough. A breaker of 
 fresh water was kept in each boat, by my standing orders 5 and it 
 seems that the cook, who was a bit of an epicure in his way, was 
 in the habit of stowing a bag of bread and certain choice pieces of 
 beef and pork in the bows of the launch, for his own special benefit. 
 All these Neb had found somewhat the worse for salt-water, it is true, 
 but still in a condition to be eaten. There was sufficient in the launch, 
 therefore, when we thus met, to sustain Marble and Neb in good heart 
 for a week. 
 
 As soon as the mate was got off the raft, he took direction of the 
 launch. Unluckily, he made a long stretch to the northward, 
 intending to tack and cross what he supposed must have been the 
 position of the ship, and come to my relief. While the launch was 
 thus working its way to windward, I fell in with, and took posses- 
 
 16
 
 242 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 sion of, the raft, as has been described. Marble's calculation was 
 a good one in the main $ but it brought him near the Dawn the 
 night she sank, and the raft and boat were both too low to be seen 
 at any distance the one from the other. It is probable we were not 
 more than ten or twelve miles asunder the. most of the day I was on 
 the raft, Marble putting up his helm to cross the supposed position 
 of the ship about three in the afternoon. This brought him down 
 upon the raft about midnight, when the conversation I have related 
 took place within a few yards of me, neither party having the least 
 notion of the proximity of the other. 
 
 I was touched by the manner in which Marble and Neb spoke 
 of my supposed fate. Neither seemed to remember that he was 
 washed away from a ship, but appeared to fancy that I was aban- 
 doned alone on the high seas in a sinking vessel. While I had been 
 regretting their misfortunes, they had both thought of me as the 
 party to be pitied ; each fancying his own fortune more happy than 
 mine. In a word, their concern for me was so great, that they 
 altogether forgot to dwell on the hardships and dangers of their 
 own particular cases. I could not express all I felt on the occa- 
 sion; but the events of that morning, and the feelings betrayed by 
 my two old shipmates, made an impression on my heart that time 
 has not, nor ever can efiace. Most men whohad been washed over- 
 board would have fancied themselves the suffering party- but during 
 the remainder of the long intercourse that succeeded, both Marble 
 and Neb always alluded to this occurrence as if I were the person 
 lost and rescued. 
 
 We were an hour or more intently occupied in these explanations 
 before either recollected the future. Then I felt it was time to have 
 some thought for our situation, which was sufficiently precarious 
 as it was \ though Marble and Neb made light of any risks that re- 
 mained to be run. I was saved, as it might be, by a miracle ; and 
 that was all that they could remember just then. But a breeze 
 sprang up from the eastward as the sun appeared, and the agitation 
 of the raft soon satisfied me that my berth would have been most 
 precarious, had I not been so providentially relieved. It is true, 
 Marble made light of the present state of things, which, compared 
 to those into which he had been so suddenly launched, without 
 food, water, or provisions of any sort, was a species of para- 
 dise. Nevertheless, no time was to be wasted ; and we had a 
 long road to travel in the boat ere we could deem ourselves in the 
 least safe. 
 
 My two associates had got the launch in as good order as cir- 
 cumstances would allow. But it wanted ballast to carry sail 
 hard, and they had felt this disadvantage ; particularly Neb, when 
 he first got Ihe boat on a wind. I could understand, by his account 
 of the difficulties and dangers he experienced, though it came out 
 incidentally, and without the smallest design to magnify his own
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 243 
 
 merits, that nothing but his undying interest in me, could have 
 prevented him from running off before the wind, in order to save 
 his own life. An opportunity now offered to remedy this evil, and 
 we went to work to transfer all the effects I had placed on the stage 
 to the launch. They made a little cargo that gave her stability at 
 once. As soon as this was done, we entered the boat, made sail, 
 and hauled close on a wind, under reefed luggs ; it beginning to blow 
 smartly in puffs. 
 
 I did not part from the raft without melancholy regrets. The 
 materials of which it was composed were all that now remained of 
 the Dawn. Then the few hours of jeopardy and loneliness I had 
 passed on it, were not to be forgotten. They still recur vividly to 
 my thoughts with deep, and I trust profitable, reflections. The 
 first hour after we cast off, we stood to the southward. The wind 
 continuing to increase in violence, and the sea to get up, until it 
 blew too fresh for the boat to make any headway, or even to hold 
 her own against it, Marble thought he might do better on the other 
 tack, having some reason to suppose there was a current setting 
 to the southward and eastward ; and we wore round. After stand- 
 ing to the northward for a sufficient length of time, we again fell 
 in with the spars ; a proof that we were doing nothing towards 
 working our way to windward. I determined at once to make fast 
 to them, and use them as a sort of floating anchor, so long as the 
 foul wind lasted. We had some difficulty in effecting this object ; 
 but we finally succeeded in getting near enough, under the lee of the 
 top, to make fast to one of its eye-boltsusing a bit of small hawser 
 that was in the boat for that purpose. The boat was then dropped 
 a sufficient distance to leeward of the spars, where it rode head to 
 sea, like a duck. This was a fortunate expedient; as it came 
 on to blow hard, and we had something very like a little gale of 
 wind. 
 
 As soon as the launch was thus moored, we found its advantage. 
 It shipped no more water, or very little, and we were not compelled 
 to be on the look-out for squalls, which occurred every ten or fifteen 
 minutes, with a violence that it would not do to trifle with. The 
 weather thickened at these moments ; and there were intervals 
 of half an hour at a time, when we could not see a hundred 
 yards from the boat, on account of the drizzling, misty rain 
 that filled the atmosphere. There we sat, conversing sometimes 
 of the past, sometimes of the future, a bubble in the midst 
 of the raging waters of the Atlantic, filled with the confidence 
 of seamen. With the stout boat we possessed, the food and water 
 we had, I do not think either now felt any great concern for his 
 fate ; it being possible, in moderate weather, to run the launch far 
 enough to reach an English port in about a week. Favoured by 
 even a tolerably fair wind, the object might be effected in even two 
 or three days.
 
 244 U'CY II ARMING K. 
 
 "I take it for granted; Miles," Marble remarked, as we pur- 
 sued our discourse, "that your insurance will completely cover 
 your whole loss ? You did not forget to include freight in the 
 risks?" 
 
 "So far from this, Moses, I believe myself to be nearly or quite 
 a ruined man. The loss of the ship is unquestionably owing to the 
 act of the Speedy, united to our own, in setting those Englishmen 
 adrift on the ocean. No insurers will meet a policy that has thus 
 been voided." 
 
 " Ah ! the blackguards! This is worse than I had thought , but 
 you can always make a harbour at Clawbonny?" 
 
 I was on the point of explaining to Marble how I stood in relation 
 to the paternal acres, when a sort of shadow was suddenly cast on 
 the boat, and I fancied the rushing of the water seemed to be in- 
 creased at the same instant. We all three sat with our faces to 
 leeward, and all turned them to windward under a common im- 
 pulse. A shout burst from Marble's throat, and a sight met my 
 eyes, that caused the blood to rush in a torrent through my heart. 
 Literally within a hundred feet of us was a large ship, ploughing 
 the ocean with a furrow that rose to her hawse-holes, and piling 
 before her in her track a mound of foam, as she came down upon 
 us, with top-mast and lower studding-sails set overshadowing 
 the sea like some huge cloud. There was scarcely time for more 
 than a glance, ere this ship was nearly upon us. As she rose on a 
 swell, her black sides came up out of the ocean, glittering and drip- 
 ping, and the line of frowning guns seemed as if just lacquered. 
 Neb was in the bow of the launch, while I was in the stern. My 
 arm was extended involuntarily, or instinctively would be the better 
 word, to avert the danger, when it seemed to me that the next 
 send of the ship would crush us beneath the bright copper of her 
 bottom. Without Neb's strength and presence of mind, we had 
 been lost beyond a hope ; for swimming up to the spars against 
 the sea that was on, would have been next to hopeless ; and even 
 if there, without food or water, our fate would have been sealed. 
 But Neb seized the hawser by which we were riding, and hauled 
 the launch ahead her length, or more, before the frigate's larboard 
 bower-anchor settled down in a way that menaced crushing us. 
 As it was, I actually laid a hand on the muzzle of the third gun, 
 while the ship went foaming by. At the next instant she was past; 
 and we were safe. Then all three of us shouted together. Until 
 that moment, none in the frigate were aware of our vicinity. But 
 the shout gave the alarm, and as the ship cleared us, her taflrail 
 was covered with officers. Among them was one grey-headed man, 
 whom I recognised by his dress for the captain. He made a ges- 
 ture, turning an arm upward, and I knew an order was given im- 
 mediately after, by the instantaneous manner in which the taffrail 
 was cleared.
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 545 
 
 " By George !" exclaimed Marble, *' 1 had a generalizing time of 
 it, for half a dozen seconds, Miles." 
 
 " There was more risk," I answered, " than time to reflect on 
 it. However, the ship is about to round-to, and we shall be picked 
 up at last. Let us thank God for this." 
 
 It was indeed a beautiful sight for a seaman, to note the manner 
 in which that old captain handled his vessel. Although we found 
 the wind and sea too much for a boat that had to turn to windward, 
 neither was of much moment to a stout frigate, that carried fifty 
 guns, and which was running off, with the wind on her quarter. 
 
 She was hardly past us, when I could see preparations making 
 to take in canvass. At the instant she overshadowed us with her 
 huge wings, this vessel had top-gallant-sails set, with two top-mast 
 and a lower studding-sail, besides carrying the lee-clew of her 
 main-sail down, and the other customary cloth spread. Up went 
 her main-sail, almost as soon as the captain made the signal with 
 his arm 5 then all three of the top-gallant-sails were flying at the same 
 moment. Presently, the yards were alive with men, aud the loose 
 canvass was. rolled up, and the gaskets passed. While this was 
 doing, down came all the studding-sails together, much as a bird 
 shuts its wings. The booms disappeared immediately after. 
 
 " Look at that, Miles !" cried the delighted Marble. " Although 
 an infernal Englishman, that chap leaves nothing to be done over 
 again. He puts everything in its place, like an old woman stowing 
 away her needles and thread. I '11 warrant you the old blade is a 
 keen one I " 
 
 " The ship is well handled, certainly, and her people work like 
 mariners who arc trying to save the lives of mariners." 
 
 While this was passing between us, the frigate was stripped to 
 her three top-sails, spanker, jib, and fore-course. Down came her 
 yards, next ; and then they were covered with blue -jackets, like 
 bees clustering around a hive. We had scarcely time to note this, 
 ere the men lay in, and the yards were up again, with the sails 
 reefed. This was no sooner done, than the frigate, which had luffed 
 the instant the steering-sails were in, was trimmed close on a wind, 
 and began to toss the water over her spritsail-yard, as she met the 
 waves like one that paid them no heed. No sooner was the old 
 seaman who directed all this assured of the strength of the wind he 
 had to meet, than down went his main-sail again, and the tack was 
 hauled aboard . 
 
 The stranger was then under the smartest canvass a frigate can 
 carry , reefs in her top-sails, with the courses set. Her sail could 
 be shortened in an instant, yet she was under a press of it; more 
 than an ordinary vessel would presume to carry, perhaps, in so 
 strong a breeze. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great jeopardy from which we had just es- 
 paped, and |,ho imminent hazard so lately run, al] three of us
 
 246 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 watched the movements of the frigate with as much satisfaction as a 
 connoisseur would examine a fine painting. Even Neb let several 
 nigger expressions of pleasure escape him. 
 
 By the time sail could be shortened and the ship hauled close on 
 a wind, the frigate was nearer half than a quarter of a mile off. We 
 had to wait, therefore, until she could beat up to the place where we 
 lay. This she soon did, making one stretch to the southward, until 
 in a line with the boat, when she tacked and came toward us, with 
 her yards braced up, but having the wind nearly abeam. As she 
 got within a cable' s-length, both courses were hauled up, and left 
 hanging in the brails. Then the noble craft came rolling by us, in 
 the trough, passing so near that we might be spoken. The old of- 
 ficer stood in the weather gang-way with a trumpet, and he hailed 
 when near enough to be heard. Instead of asking questions, to 
 satisfy his own curiosity, he merely communicated his own in- 
 tentions. 
 
 "I '11 heave-to, when past you," he cried out, waring ship to do 
 so. " You can then drop down under my stern, as close as pos- 
 sible, and we'll throw you a rope." 
 
 I understood the plan, which was considerate, having a regard to 
 the feebleness of our boat's crew, and the weight of the boat itself. 
 Accordingly, when she had room enough, the frigate wore, hauling 
 up close on the other tack, and laying her main-yard square. As 
 soon as the ship was stationary, Neb cast off the hawser, and Marble 
 and he manned two oars. We got the boat round without much 
 risk, and, in less time than it takes to write it, were sending down 
 towards the ship at a furious rate. I steered, and passed so near 
 the frigate's rudder, that I thought, for an instant, I had gone too 
 close. A rope was hove as we cleared the lee-quarter of the frigate, 
 and the people on board hauled us^alongside. We caught the man- 
 ropes, and were soon on the quarter-deck. A respectable-looking 
 elderly man, of a square, compact frame, and a fine ruddy English 
 face, in a post-captain's undress, received me, with an extended 
 hand, and a frank, generous, hearty manner. 
 
 " You are welcome on board the Briton," he said warmly ; " and 
 I thank God that he has put it in our power to relieve you. Your 
 ship must have been lost quite recently, as you do not seem to have 
 suffered. When you feel equal to it, I should like to hear the name 
 of your vessel, and the particulars of her disaster. I suppose it was 
 in the late blow, which was a whacker, and did lots of mischief 
 along the coast. I see you are Americans, and that your boat is New 
 York built 5 but all men in distress are countrymen." 
 
 This was a hearty reception, and one I had every reason to extol. 
 So long as I stayed with Captain Rowley, as this officer was named, 
 I had no reason to complain of any change in his deportment. Had 
 I been his son, he could not have treated me more kindly, taking 
 me into his own cabin, and giving me a seat at his own table. I
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 247 
 
 gave him an outline of what had happened to us, not deeming it ne- 
 cessary to relate the affair with the Speedy, however ; simply men- 
 tioning the manner in which we had escaped from a French pri- 
 vateer, and leaving him to infer, should he see fit, that the rest of 
 our crew had been carried away on that occasion. My reserve on 
 the subject of the other capture, the reader will at once see, was 
 merely a necessary piece of prudent caution. 
 
 Captain Rowley had no sooner heard my story, which I made as 
 short as possible, knowing that Marble and Neb had been cautioned 
 on the subject, than he again took my hand, and welcomed me to 
 his ship. The mate was sent into the gun-room, and recommended 
 to the hospitality of the lieutenants $ while Neb was placed in the 
 care of the cabin servants. A short consultation was then held about 
 the boat, which it was decided must be 'sent adrift, after its effects 
 were passed out of it ; the Briton having no use for such a launch, 
 nor any place to stow it. I stood at the gang-way, and looked with 
 a melancholy eye at this last remnant of the Dawn that I ever beheld ; 
 a large eighty thousand dollars of my property vanishing from the 
 earth, in the loss of that ship and her cargo. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Some shout at victory's loud acclaim, 
 
 Some fall that victory to assure, 
 But time divulges that in name, 
 
 Alone, our triumphs are secure. 
 Duo. 
 
 The Briton had come out of the Cove of Cork only a few days be- 
 fore, and was bound on service, with'orders to run off to the west- 
 ward a few hundred miles, and to cruise three months in a latitude 
 that might cover the homeward-bound running ships from the Ame- 
 rican provinces, of which there were many in that early period of 
 the war. This was not agreeable news to us, who had hoped to be 
 landed somewhere immediately, land who had thought, at first, on 
 seeing the ship carrying a press of sail to the westward, that she 
 might be going to Halifax. There was no remedy, however, and 
 we were fain to make the best of circumstances. Captain Rowley 
 promised to put us on board the first vessel that offered, and that 
 was as much as we had a right to ask of him. 
 
 More than two months passed without the Briton's speaking, OP 
 even seeing a single sail ! To these vicissitudes is the seaman 
 subject : at one time he is in the midst of craft, at another the ocean 
 seems deserted to himself alone. Captain Rowley ascribed this want 
 of success to the fact that the war was inducing the running ships to 
 collect in convoys, and that his orders carried him too far north to
 
 248 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 permit his falling in with the Americans, bound to and from Liver- 
 pool. Whatever may have been the reason, however, the result 
 was the same to us. After the gale of the equinox, the Briton stood 
 to the southward, as far as Madeira, such a change of ground being 
 included in her instructions ; and thence, after cruising three weeks 
 in the neighbourhood of that island, she shaped her course for Ply- 
 mouth. In the whole, the frigate had, at that time, brought-to and 
 boarded some thirty sail, all of whom were neutrals, and not one of 
 whom was bound to a port that would do us any good. The ship's 
 water getting low, we were now compelled to go in 5 and, as has 
 been said, we made sail to the northward. The afternoon of the 
 very day the Briton left her second cruising ground, a strange ship 
 was seen directly on our course, which was pronounced to be a fri- 
 gate before the sun set. 
 
 The Briton manoeuvred all night to close with the stranger and 
 with success, as he was only a league distant, and a very little to 
 windward of her, when I went on deck early the next morning. I 
 found the ship clear for action, and a degree of animation pervading 
 the vessel that I had never before witnessed. The people were piped 
 to breakfast just as I approached the captaip, to salute him with a 
 " good morning." 
 
 "Good morning to you, Wallingford," cried the old man, in a 
 cheerful way, " you are just in time to take a look at yonder French- 
 man in his glory. Two hours hence I hope he'll not appear quite 
 as much of a beau as he is at this moment. She's a noble craft, is 
 she not, and quite of our own force." 
 
 " As for the last, sir," I answered, " there does not seem much 
 to choose , she is what you call a thirty-eight, and mounts fifty 
 guns, I dare say. Is she certainly French ?" 
 
 " As certainly as this ship is English; she can do nothing with 
 our signals, and her rig is a character for her. Whoever saw an 
 Englishman with such royal-masts and yards ? So, Master Walling- 
 ford, you must consent to take your breakfast an hour earlier than 
 common, or go without it altogether. Ah! here is the steward 
 to say it waits for us." 
 
 I followed Captain Rowley to the cabin, where I found he had 
 sent for Marble, to share our meal. The kind-hearted old gentle- 
 man seemed desirous of adding this act of civility to the hundred 
 others that he had already shown us. I had received much gene- 
 rous and liberal treatment from Captain Rowley, but never before 
 had he seemed so much disposed to act towards me as a father would 
 act to a son as on that morning. 
 
 " I hope you have done justice to Davis's cookery, gentlemen," 
 he said, after the assault on the eatables began to abate a little in 
 ardour, " for this may be the last opportunity that will offer to en- 
 joy it. I am an Englishman, and have what I hope is a humble 
 ponfidence in the superiority of an English over a French ship j
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 2*9 
 
 but I very well know we never get even a French ship without 
 working for it; and yonder gentleman may not leave us any crock- 
 ery for to-morrow. He evidently means to fight us, and I think 
 will do himself credit." 
 
 " I believe you English always go into action against the French 
 with a confidence of victory," I remarked. 
 
 " Why, we have brought our lads up to that feeling, certainly, 
 though I would not have you fancy I am quite of that way of think- 
 ing. I am too old, and have seen too much scrvice,Wallingford, not 
 to know that every battle is liable to accidents and vicissitudes. 
 There is some difference in service,! must suppose, though not half 
 as much in men as is vulgarly imagined. The result is in the 
 hands of God, and I do think we are fighting his battles in this 
 fearful war : therefore,- 1 trust he will take care of us." 
 
 I was surprised to find Captain Rowley, who was usually cheerful 
 and gay, talking in this manner; but it did not become me to pursue 
 the subject. In a minute or two, we rose from table, and I heard 
 the order given to the steward to report to the first-lieutenant as 
 soon as the table was cleared away, that the cabin bulk-heads might 
 be removed. Marble and I then passed below, into a canvass 
 berth, that had been made for him, where we could '"consult to- 
 gether without danger of interruption. Just as we reached the place, 
 the drum beat to quarters. This carried nearly every one else on 
 deck, and left us virtually alone. 
 
 " Well, Miles," commenced Marble, " this v'y'ge will beat any 
 other of our v'y'ges, and give it fifty. We have been twice captured, 
 once wrecked, have seen a fight, and are about to feel another. 
 What do you think patriotism, and republican vartoo,. require us to 
 do in such a crisis?" 
 
 This was the first time 1 had ever heard my mate mention repu- 
 blicanism, his habits being certainly as much opposed to liberty as 
 those of Napoleon himself. Although the reader probably will not 
 understand the drift of his question, it was not lost on me. I an- 
 swered, therefore, like one who fully comprehended him. 
 
 " I am afraid, Moses," said I, " there is very little republicanism 
 in France just now, nor do I know that resemblance in governments 
 makes nations friends. Unless the resemblance be complete, I 
 rather think they are more disposed to quarrel about the differ- 
 ences, than to allow the merits of the points of affinity. As between 
 England and France, however, since we are at peace with both, we 
 Americans have nothing to do with their quarrels." 
 
 " I thought that would be your idee, Miles, and yet, it would be 
 awkward to be in the midst of a fight, and take no part in it I 'd 
 giveahundred dollars to be on board that Frenchman, this minute." 
 
 " Are you so much in love with defeat, as to wish to be flogged? " 
 
 " I don't know how it is, but it goes ag'in the grain to take sides 
 with 3 JolmDuIl,"
 
 250 LUCY HARDTNGE. 
 
 " There is no necessity for taking sides with either, though we 
 can remember how these people have saved our lives, how kind 
 they have been to us, and that we have literally lived three months 
 on jtheir bounty. Neb, I'm glad to see, makes fair weather of it, 
 on the berth-deck." 
 
 " Ay, there 's more in that than you dream of, perhaps. Mr. 
 Clements, the first-lieutenant of this ship, is a sly one; and he 
 thinks more of a good seaman than some priests do of piety. If 
 I'm not greatly misled, he intends that Neb sha'n't quit this ship till 
 the peace." 
 
 " How! They surely cannot pretend that the black is an Eng- 
 lishman ? " 
 
 " There are all kinds of Englishmen, black and white, when 
 seamen grow scarce. Hows'ever, there is'no use in looking out for 
 the worst, we shall know all about it, when the ship gets in. How 
 are we to behave, Miles, in this here battle ? It goes ag'in my 
 feelin's to help an Englishman; and yet, an old salt do'n't like to keep 
 under hatches while powder is burning on deck." 
 
 " It would be wrong for either of us to take any part in the action, 
 since we have nothing to do with the quarrel. Still, we may 
 appear on deck, unless ordered below ; and I dare say, opportunities 
 will offer to be of use, especially in assisting the hurt. I shall go on 
 the quarter-deck, but I would advise you not to go higher than the 
 gun-deck. As for Neb, I shall formally offer his services in helping 
 to carry the wounded down." 
 
 " I understand you ; we shall all three sarve in the humane gang ; 
 well, when a man has no business with any other, that may be 
 better than none. Your standing idle in a fight must be trying 
 work!" 
 
 Marble and I conversed a little longer on this subject, when a gun 
 fired from the upper deck gave us notice that the game was about 
 to begin. Each hastened to his intended post without more words. 
 When I reached the quarter-deck, everything denoted the eve of a 
 combat. The ship was under short canvass, the men were at 
 quarters, the guns were cast loose, and were levelled; the tompions 
 were all out, shot was distributed about the deck ; and here and 
 there some old salt of a captain might be seen squinting along his 
 gun, as if impatient to begin. A silence like that of a deserted 
 church reigned throughout the ship. Had one been on board her 
 intended adversary at that same instant, he would have been deafened 
 by the clamour, and confused with the hurried and disorderly 
 manner in which preparations that were long before completed on 
 board the British, were still in progress on board the Frenchman. 
 Four years earlier, the same want of preparation had given Nelson 
 his great victory at the" Nile. The French, in order to clear their 
 outer batteries, had lumbered those in-shore ; and when half their 
 enemies unexpectedly passed inside, they found their ships were
 
 LUCY HARB1NGE. 251 
 
 not prepared to fire ; ships that were virtually beaten before they had 
 discharged an effective shot. 
 
 " Wallingford," said my old friend the captain, as soon as I ap- 
 proached him, "you have nothing to do here. It would not be 
 proper for you to take a part in this action, and it would be folly to 
 expose yourself without an object." 
 
 " I am quite aware of all this, Captain Rowley, but I have thought 
 your kindness to me was so great as to permit me to be a looker-on. 
 I may be of some service to the wounded, if to nothing else ; and I 
 hope you think me too much of an officer to get in the way." 
 
 " I am not certain, sir, I ought to permit anything of the sort," 
 returned the old man gravely. " This fighting is serious business; 
 and no one should meddle with it whose duty does not command it 
 of him. See here, sir;" pointing at the French frigate, which was 
 about two cables'-lenglhs distant, with her top-gallant-sails clewed 
 up and the courses in the brails ; " in ten minutes we shall be hard 
 at it, and I leave it to yourself to say whether prudence does not re- 
 quire that you should go below." 
 
 I had expected this 5 and, instead of contesting the matter, I 
 bowed, and walked off the quarter-deck, as if about to comply. 
 " Out of sight, out of mind," I thought ; it would be time enough to 
 go below when I had seen the beginning of the affair! In the waist 
 I passed the marines, drawn up in military array, with their officer 
 as attentive to dressing them in line as if the victory depended on its 
 accuracy. On the forecastle I found Neb, with his hands in his 
 pockets, watching the manoeuvres of the French as the cat watches 
 those of the mouse. The fellow's eye was alive with interest; and 
 I saw it was useless to think of sending him below. As for the offi- 
 cers, they had taken their cue from the captain, and only smiled 
 good-naturedly as I passed them. The first-lieutenant, however, 
 was an exception. He never had appeared well-disposed towards 
 us, and, I make no doubt, had I not been so hospitably taken into 
 the cabin, we should all have got an earlier taste of his humour. 
 
 "There is too much good stuff in that fellow," he drily remarked 
 in passing, pointing towards Neb at the same time, " for him to be 
 doing nothing at a moment like this." 
 
 "We are neutrals as respects France, Mr. Clements," I answered, 
 "and it would not be right for us to take part in your quarrels.' I 
 will not hesitate to say, however, that I have received so much kind- 
 ness on board the Briton, that I should feel miserable in not being 
 permitted to share your danger. Something may turn up that will 
 enable me to be of assistance ay, and Neb too." 
 
 The man gave me a keen look, muttered something between his 
 teeth, and walked aft, whither he was proceeding when we met. 
 I looked in the direction in which he went, and could see he was 
 speaking in a surly way to Captain Rowley. The old gentleman 
 cast a look forward, shook a finger at me, then smiled in his bene-
 
 252 LUCY IIARDINGE. 
 
 volent way, and turned, as I thought, to look for one of the mid- 
 shipmen who acted as his aids. At that moment the Frenchman 
 went in stays, delivering his whole broadside, from aft forward, 
 as the guns bore. The shot told on the British spars smartly, though 
 only two hulled her. As a matter of course, this turned the 
 thoughts of Captain Rowley to the main business in hand, and I 
 was forgotten. As for Neb, he immediately made himself useful. 
 A shot cut the main-spring-stay, just above his head ; and before 
 I had time to speak, the fellow seized a stopper, and caught one 
 of the ends of the stay, applied the stopper, and was hard at work 
 in bringing the rope into its proper place, and in preparing it again 
 to bear a strain. The boatswain applauded his activity, sending 
 two or three forecastle-men to help him. From that moment Neb 
 was as busy as a bee aloft, now appearing, through openings in the 
 smoke, on this yard-arm, now on that; his face on a broad grin, 
 whenever business of more importance than common was to be 
 done. The Briton might have had older and more experienced 
 seamen at work in her rigging that day, but not one that was more 
 active, more ready when told what to do, or more athletic. The 
 gaiete de c&ur with which this black exerted himself in the midst 
 of that scene of strife, clamour and bloodshed, has always presented 
 itself to my mind as truly wonderful. 
 
 Captain Rowley did not alter his course, or fire a gun, in answer 
 to the salute he received, though the two ships were scarcely a 
 cable's-length asunder when the Frenchman began. The Briton 
 stood steadily on, and the two ships passed each other within pistol- 
 shot a minute or two later, when we let fly all our larboard guns. 
 This was the beginning of the real war, and warm enough it was 
 for half an hour or more, our ship coming round as soon as she 
 had fired, when the two frigates closed broadside and broadside, 
 both running off nearly dead before the wind. I do not know how 
 it happened, but, when the head-yards were swung, I found myself 
 pulling at the fore-brace like a dray-horse. The master's mate, 
 who commanded these braces, thanked me for my assistance, in a 
 cheerful voice, saying, " We '11 thrash 'em in an hour, Captain Wal- 
 lingford." This was the first consciousness I had that my hands 
 had entered into the affair at all ! 
 
 I had now an -opportunity of ascertaining what a very different 
 thing it is to be a spectator in such a scene, from being an actor. 
 Ashamed of the forgetfulness that had sent me to the brace, I walked 
 on the quarter-deck, where blood was already flowing freely. 
 Everybody but myself was at work for life or 'death. In 1803, that 
 mongrel gun, the carronade, had come into general use $ and those 
 on the quarter-deck of the Briton were beginning to fly round and 
 look their owners in the face, when they vomited their contents, 
 as they grew warm with the explosion. Captain Rowley, dements, 
 and the master, were all here; the first and last attending to the
 
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 253 
 
 trimming of the sails, while the fipst-lieutenant looked a little after 
 the battery, and a little at evcrything.elsc. Scarce a minute passed 
 that shot did not strike somewhere, though it was principally aloft 5 
 and the wails of the hurt, the revolting part of every serious com- 
 bat, began to mingle in the roar of the contest. The English, I 
 observed, fought sullenly, though they fought with all their hearts. 
 Occasionally, a cheer would arise in some part of the ship ; but 
 these, and the cries of the hurt, were almost all the sounds that 
 were heard, except those of the conflict, with an occasional call or 
 a word of encouragement from some officer. 
 
 "Warm work, Wallingford! " Captain Rowley said, as I came 
 close upon him in the smoke. " You have no business here, but 
 I like to see the face of a friend noth\vithstanding. You have been 
 looking about you 5 how do you think it is going?" 
 
 "This ship will must beat, Captain Rowley. Her order and 
 regularity are most beautiful." 
 
 "Ay I 'm glad to hear you say as much, Wallingford, for I 
 know you are a seaman. Just go down on the gun-deck and cast 
 an eye round you ; then come up, and tell me how things look 
 there." 
 
 Here I was, fairly enlisted as an aid. Down I went, however, 
 and such a scene I never had witnessed before, certainly. Although 
 the season had well advanced into the autumn, the weather was so 
 warm that half the men had stripped for the toil and toil it is to 
 work heavy guns for hours at a time, under the excitement of 
 battle 5 a toil that may not be felt at the time, perhaps, but which 
 leaves a weariness like that of disease behind it. Many of the 
 seamen fought in their trousers alone , their long hard cues lying 
 on their naked backs, which resembled those of so many athleta3 
 prepared for the arena. The gun-deck was full of smoke, the 
 priming burned in-board producing that effect , though the powder 
 which exploded in the guns was sent, with its flames and sul- 
 phurous wreaths, in long lines from the ports towards the enemy. 
 The place appeared a sort of pandemonium to me. I could perceive 
 men moving about in the smoke, rammers and sponges whirling in 
 their hands, guns reeling inward, ay, even leaping from the deck, 
 under the violence of the recoils ; officers signing with their swords 
 to add emphasis to their orders, boys running to and fro on their 
 way to and from the magazines, shot tossed from hand to hand, and, 
 to give its fiercest character to all, the dead and dying weltering in 
 their blood amid-ships. 
 
 Of the manoeuvres of this combat, I know scarcely anything. My 
 attention was drawn in-board ; for, having nothing to do, I could 
 not but watch the effect of the enemy's lire on the Briton, as well as 
 the manner in which the English repaid all they received. While 
 standing near the mainmast, in the battery that was not engaged, 
 Marble made me out in the smoke, and came up to speak to me.
 
 2f 4 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 "Them Frenchmen are playing their parts like men," he said. 
 "There's a shot just gone through the cook's coppers, and another 
 tl irough the boats. By the Lord Harry, if the boys on this deck do 
 rot bestir themselves, we shall get licked! I wouldn't be licked 
 liy a Frenchman on any account, Miles. Even little Kitty would 
 jioint her finger at me." 
 
 " We are only passengers, you know, Moses; and can have little 
 concern with victory, or defeat, so long as the striped and starred 
 bunting has nothing to do with the credit of the thing." 
 
 tc I am not so sure of that, Miles. I do not like being flogged, 
 even as a passenger. There ! just look at that, now ! Two or three 
 more such raps, and half our guns will be silenced." 
 
 Two shot had come in together, as Marble thus interrupted 
 himself ; one of them knocking away the side of a port, while the 
 other [laid four men of its gun on the deck. This gun was on the 
 point of being discharged as the injury was inflicted 5 but the loss 
 of its captain prevented it from being fired. The lieutenant of the 
 division caught the match from the fallen seaman, gave it a puff 
 with his breath, and applied it to the priming. As the gun came 
 leaping in, the lieutenant turned his head to see where he could 
 best find men to supply the place of those who had been killed, or 
 wounded. His eyes fell on us. He asked no questions ; but merely 
 looked in our direction. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," said Marble, stripping off his jacket, and taking 
 the tobacco from his mouth. "In one moment. Just hold on till 
 I'm ready." 
 
 I scarce knew whether to remonstrate, or not : but hard at it he 
 went; and, delighted by his zeal, the officer clapped him on the 
 back, leaving him to act as captain of the gun. Afraid the contagion 
 might extend to myself, I turned, ascended the ladder, and was 
 immediately on the qnarter-deck again. Here I found old Captain 
 Rowley, with his hat off, cheering his men, the Frenchman's 
 main top-mast having just gone over his side. It was not a time 
 to make my report, nor was any needed just then ; so I walked aft 
 as far as the taffrail, in order to get out of the way, and to make my 
 observations as much removed from the smoke as possible. This 
 was the only opportunity I enjoyed of noting the relative positions^ 
 as well as conditions , of the two vessels. 
 
 The Briton had suffered heavily aloft; but all her principal spars 
 still stood. On the other hand, her antagonist had lost both main 
 and mizen top-masts, and her fire had materially slackened within 
 the last fifteen minutes. She was falling more under a quarter- 
 raking fire, too, from her people's losing command of their ship'; 
 the two frigates having, some time before, come by the wind the 
 Englishman a little on the Frenchman's weather-quarter. As is 
 usual in a heavy cannonade and a moderate breeze, the wind had 
 died away, or become neutralized by the concussions of the guns,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 555 
 
 and neither combatant moved much from the position he occupied. 
 Still, the Briton had her yards knowingly braced, while those of 
 her enemy were pretty much at sixes and sevens. Under such cir- 
 cumstances, it was not difficult to predict the result of the engage- 
 ment ; more especially as the spirits of the Britons seemed to be rising 
 with the duration of the combat. 
 
 I was still making my observations, when I heard the crack of a 
 shot, and the ripping of plank, on the forward part of the quarter- 
 deck. A litlle group collected around a falling man, and I thought 
 I caught a glimpse of Captain Rowley's uniform and epaulettes in 
 the sufferer. In an instant I was on the spot. Sure enough, there 
 was my old friend grievously wounded. Clements was also there. 
 Catching my eye, he observed 
 
 "As you are doing nothing, sir, will you assist in carrying Cap- 
 tain Rowley below? '" 
 
 I did not like the manner in which this was said, nor the expres- 
 sion of the first-lieutenant's eyes while saying it. They seemed to 
 me to add, " I shall now command this ship, and we shall see if 
 new lords don't produce new laws." I complied, however, of 
 course ; and, aided by two of his own servants, I got the poor old 
 man into the gun-room. The instant the surgeon cast his eyes on 
 the injuries, I saw by his countenance there was no hope. His 
 words soon confirmed the bad news. 
 
 " The captain cannot live half an hour," this gentleman said to 
 me aside, " and all we can do will be to give him what he asks for. 
 At present he is stupified by the shock of the blow, but, in a few 
 minutes, he will probably ask for water, or wine and water; I wish, 
 sir, youwould indulge him in his wishes, for you can have no duty 
 to call you on deck. This will be a lucky hit for Clements, who 
 will run off with more than half the credit of the battle, though I 
 fancy the Frenchman has as much as he wants already." 
 
 And so it turned out literally in the end. About twenty minutes 
 after I went below, during which time the Briton did most of the 
 fighting, we heard the cheer of victory on deck. These sounds ap- 
 peared to cause the wounded man to revive. 
 
 "What means that, Wallingford?" he asked, in a stronger voice 
 than I could have thought it possible for him to use. "What do 
 these cheers mean, my young friend?" 
 
 "They mean, Captain Rowley, that you have conquered that 
 you are master of the French frigate." 
 
 " Master! Am I master of my own life? Of what use is victory 
 to me now? I shall die die soon, Wallingford, and there will be an 
 end of it all! My poor wife will call this a melancholy victory.'- 
 
 Alas ! what could I say ? These words were only too true as re- 
 spected his wife also. Die he did, and in my presence, and that 
 calmly, with all his senses about him $ but I could see he had his 
 doubts whether a little lustre like that which attended his end, was
 
 25G LUCY IIARBLXGE. 
 
 fulfilling all the objects of his being. The near view of death places 
 a man on a moral eminence, whence he commands prospects be- 
 fore and behind, on each side and on every side, enabling him to 
 overlook the whole scene of life from its commencement to its close, 
 and to form an opinion of his own place in a drama that is about to 
 close. Like many of those who exhibit themselves for our amuse- 
 ment, and to purchase our applause, he is only too apt to quit the 
 stage less satisfied with his own performances than the thoughtless 
 multitude, who, regarding merely the surfaces of things, are too 
 often loudest in their approbation when there is the least to praise. 
 
 1 shall pass over the next ten days with a very brief allusion to 
 their events. The first proof I had of Mr. Clements being command- 
 ing officer, was my being transferred from the cabin to the gun- 
 room. It is true, there was no want of space in my new apartment, 
 for officering and manning the prize had left several state-rooms 
 vacant in the Briton's gun-room, which fell to the shares of the 
 French prisoners and myself. Poor Captain Rowley was preserved 
 in spirits ; and then things went on pretty much as before, with the 
 exception that our crippled condition, and reduced crew, rendered 
 us no longer anxious to fall in with Frenchmen. I may say in this 
 place also, that, now the excitement which had carried him away 
 was gone, Marble was profoundly ashamed of the part he had taken 
 in the late affair. He had fought under English colours, once more 5 
 and, though I seldom dared to allude to the thing, it is my opinion 
 he heartily regretted his conduct to his dying day. As for Neb, all 
 seemed right enough in his eyes 5 for, though he well understood 
 the distinctions between flags and countries, he always imagined it 
 a duty to stick by the craft in which he happened to be. 
 
 Ten days after I had been living under the regime of " new lords 
 and new laws," we fell in with a frigate, in the chops of the Channel, 
 and exchanged signals with her. The reader will judge of Marble's 
 and my dissatisfaction, when we heard it announced that the ship, 
 which was then fast approaching us, was the Speedy. There was 
 no help for it, however; she was already within gun-shot, and soon 
 rounded-to, within hail of the Briton, which ship had hove-to, to 
 wait for her. In a few minutes, Lord Harry Dermond, in person, 
 was alongside of us in a boat, to show his orders to Captain Rowley, 
 and report himself as the junior captain. I could not quit the 
 quarter-deck, from a desire to ascertain, if possible, what had 
 become of Sennit and his companions, though prudence dictated 
 concealment. 
 
 Clements met the young nobleman at the gangway, and, apolo- 
 gizing for not going on board the Speedy, on account of the state 
 of his boats, reported the late action and its results. Lord 
 Harry then found himself the senior, instead of the junior com- 
 mander, and he immediately began to ask questions. He was 
 in the midst of these interrogatories, when his eye suddenly
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 257 
 
 fell on me. He and Clements were walking the quarter-deck to- 
 gether, and I had gone into the gangway to escape his notice, 
 when this unexpected recognition took place. It occurred as the 
 two were turning in their walk, and were so near me that I 
 could hear what was said between them. 
 
 "Who have you there, leaning against the cutter, Mr. Cle- 
 ments?" demanded the captain of the Speedy. "It's a face I 
 know some old shipmate of mine, I fancy." 
 
 " I rather think not, my lord 5 it's a Yankee we picked up at 
 sea in a boat, a Captain Wallingford, of the American ship Dawn. 
 His vessel foundered in a gale, and all hands were lost but this 
 gentleman, his mate, and a negro. We have had them on board, 
 now, more than three months." 
 
 A long, low whistle escaped from Lord Harry Dermond, who 
 immediately walked up to me, raised his hat, and commenced a 
 very disagreeable sort of dialogue, by saying, 
 
 " Your servant, Mr. Wallingford ! We meet under very unusual 
 circumstances, and somewhat often. The last time was at a 
 rather interesting moment to me, and one in which I was so 
 much engaged, that I had not leisure properly to pay my respects 
 to you. Mr. Clements, I have a little business to transact with 
 this gentleman, and must ask the favour of your company and 
 his, for a few minutes, in your cabin." 
 
 No objection could be raised to this request; and I followed 
 the two officers into the Briton's cabin. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 O I hae scarce to lay me on, 
 
 If kingly fields were ance my ain ; 
 
 Wi' the moor-cock on the mountain-bree, 
 
 But harship ne'er can daunton me." 
 
 SCOTTISH SONG. 
 
 There was an air of cool deliberation about Lord Harry Dermond 
 which satisfied me that I should have to pass through a trying 
 ordeal ; and I prepared myself for the occasion. Nothing was said 
 until all three of us were in the after-cabin, when Clements and 
 his visitor took seats on the sofa, and a motion was made to me to 
 occupy a chair. Then Lord Harry Dermond commenced the dis- 
 course, in a manner more serious than I could have wished. 
 
 " Mr. Wallingford," he said, "there is little need of preliminaries 
 between you and me. I recollected your ship, when the Black 
 Prince and Speedy were in the act of closing with the Frenchmen, 
 three months since ; and I need scarcely say that the manner in 
 
 17
 
 258 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 which she got back to the place where I then saw her, requires an 
 explanation at your hands." 
 
 u It shall be given to you, my lord. Believing you had no right 
 to send in the Dawn, and knowing that a detention of any length 
 would prove my ruin, 1 regained possession of my own by the best 
 means offered." 
 
 " This is at least frank, sir. You mean to be understood that 
 you rose on my people in the night, murdered them, and that you 
 subsequently lost your vessel from a want of force to take care 
 of her." 
 
 " This is partly true, and partly a mistake. I certainly should not 
 have lost my ship had I been as strong-handed in the gale in which 
 she was destroyed, as she was the day she left home : and she 
 would have been as strong-handed in that gale, had we never fallen 
 in with the Speedy." 
 
 "Which is an indirect manner of saying that the wreck was 
 owing to us? " 
 
 " I shall very directly say that I think it was, though by indi- 
 rect means." 
 
 " Well, sir, on that point it is not probable we shall ever agree. 
 You cannot suppose that the servants of the king of Great Britain 
 will submit to your American mode of construing public law ; but 
 will easily understand that we leave such matters to our own Admi- 
 ralty judges. It is a matter of more moment to me, just now, to 
 ascertain what has become of the officers and men that were put in 
 charge of your ship. I saw the vessel, some time after I put Mr. 
 Sennit and his party on board you, in your possession ; (that we 
 ascertained by means of our glasses ; and you now admit that you 
 retook your vessel from these men. What has become of the 
 prize-crew ? " 
 
 I briefly related the manner in which we had regained the pos- 
 session of the Dawn. The two English officers listened attentively, 
 and I could discern a smile of incredulity on the countenance of Cle- 
 ments ; while the captain of the Speedy seemed far from satisfied 
 though he was not so much disposed to let his real opinion be 
 known. 
 
 " This is a very well concocted and well-told tale, my lord," said 
 the first, with a sneer; " but I doubt whether it find many believers 
 in the British service." 
 
 " The British service, sir," I coldly retorted, " is, like all others, 
 liable to reverses and accidents." 
 
 " Not exactly of this nature, Mr. Wallingford, you will yourself 
 admit, on reflection. But I beg pardon, my lord : this is your affair 
 not mine ; and I have been indiscreet in speaking." 
 
 Lord Harry Dermond looked as if he concurred in this sentiment. 
 He had the pride of official rank, and that of private rank, to the 
 usual degree ; and did not exactly like the notion that one so much
 
 LUCY IIARDINGE. 259 
 
 his inferior in both should take an affair so peculiarly his own out 
 of his hands. He made a cold acknowledging bow, therefore, in 
 reply, and paused a moment, like a man who reflected, ere he con- 
 tinued the discourse. 
 
 " You must be aware, Mr. Wallingford, it is my duty to inquire 
 closely into this matter," he at length resumed. " I am just out of 
 port, where my ship has been lying to refit several weeks, and it is 
 not probable that either of my officers would be in England without 
 reporting himself, had he reached home." 
 
 4 ' It is quite probable, my lord, that neither has reached home. I 
 saw them picked up, with my own eyes, and by what appeared to 
 me to be an outward-bound West Indiaman. In that case, they 
 have, most probably, all been carried to one of the West India Is- 
 lands." 
 
 Here Clements handed Lord Harry Dermond a paper with some- 
 thing written on it in pencil, which the latter read. After running 
 his eyes over it, the captain nodded his head, and the lieutenant 
 quitted the cabin. While he was absent, my companion, in a po- 
 lite manner, gave me the particulars of the combat I had witnessed, 
 going so far as to direct my attention to a paper he had brought on 
 board, to show to Captain Rowley, and which contained Ihe Eng- 
 lish official account of the whole affair. On glancing at it, I saw 
 that the presence of the Dawn, on that occasion, was mentioned in 
 the report; the name of the ship being given, with an allusion that 
 was not very clear to the general reader, but which was plain enough 
 tome. It was not long, however, before Clements returned, and,with- 
 out much ceremony, he informed me that the gun-room mess waited 
 my appearance to sit down to dinner. On this hint I rose and took 
 my leave, though I had time to see Marble enter the cabin, and Neb 
 standing by the scuttle-butt, under the charge of the sentinel, ere I 
 dipped my head under hatches. 
 
 The dinner lasted near an hour, and Lord Harry Dermond civilly 
 waited all that time before he again summoned me to the cabin. I 
 was surprised to find Marble in the outer cabin, Neb near the door, in 
 waiting, and the two officers with pen, ink, and paper before them, 
 where they had been left by me. 
 
 " Mr. Wallingford," Lord Harry commenced, " I hold it to be no 
 more than fair to let you know that your mate's account of the man- 
 ner in which the Speedy's people got out of the Dawn, and your own, 
 do not agree in a single particular. Here is his statement, taken 
 down by myself from his own words ; if you are disposed to hear it, 
 I will read you what he says." 
 
 " I do not well see how Mr. Marble can contradict me and 
 tell the truth, my lord 5 but it were better I should hear his 
 statement." 
 
 " ' I was first-mate of the Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford 
 master and owner. Captured and ordered in by Speedy, as known.
 
 ?;?0 LUCY HARTHNGE. 
 
 Threo days after parting company with the frigate, with Mr. Sennit 
 as prize-master, Captain Wai ling ford and I commenced reasoning 
 with that gentleman on the impropriety of sending in a neutral and 
 breaking up a promising voyage, which so overcame the said Lieu- 
 tenant Sennit in his mind, that he consented to take the ship's yawl, 
 with a suitable stock of provisions and water, and give us up the 
 ship. Accordingly, the boat was lowered, properly stowed, the 
 most tender anxiety manifested for the party that was to go in her, 
 when the English took their leave with tears in their eyes, and 
 hearty good wishes for our safe arrival at Hamburg.' " 
 
 " Am I to understand you seriously, Lord Harry Dermond, that 
 my mate has actually given you this account of the affair for fact? " 
 
 " Most seriously, sir; I believe he even offered to swear to it, 
 though I dispensed with that ceremony. Here is the statement of 
 the black'; perhaps you would wish to hear that also ?" 
 
 " Anything, my lord, it is your pleasure to communicate." 
 
 " Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny says, ' he belonged to the Dawn 
 was left in her when captured by Speedy, and was in her when 
 wrecked. Captain Wallingford ordered Mr. Sennit to quit his ship, 
 or he would make him ; and Mr. Sennit obeyed Master Miles, of 
 course.' But I will read no more of this, as a slave's statement can 
 hardly be relied on. Perhaps we ought not to have received it, Mr. 
 Clements?" 
 
 " Your pardon, my lord; it is our duty to protect his Majesty's 
 subjects, in the best mode we can." 
 
 " That may be true, sir ; but certain great principles ought never 
 to be overlooked, even when doing our duty. You perceive, 
 Mr. Wallingford, that your companions contradict your own account 
 of this affair; and the most unpleasant suspicions are awakened. I 
 should never justify myself to my superiors, were I to neglect 
 putting you under arrest, and carrying you all in for trial." 
 
 " If my companions have been so ill-judging as to make the 
 statements you say, I can only regret it. I have told you the truth, 
 and I can add no more. As for the future, I do not suppose any 
 representation of mine will induce you to change your decision." 
 
 " You carry it off well, sir; and I hope you will maintain the same 
 appearance of innocence to the end. The lives of the king's 
 subjects are not to be taken with impunity, nevertheless." 
 
 "Nor is the property of an American citizen I trust, my lord. 
 Had I used force to regain my ship, and had I thrown the prize- 
 crew into the sea, I conceive I would have been doing no more than 
 was my duty." 
 
 " This is well, sir; and I hope, for your sake, that an English 
 jury will view the affair in the same light. At present, prepare to 
 go on board the Speedy for you must not be separated from the 
 important testimony we can find in that ship. As for the citizens 
 you mention, they are bound to submit to the decision of the
 
 LUCY H. \RDIfCGE. 261 
 
 Admiralty courts, and not to take the law into their own hands." 
 
 " We shall see, my lord. When this case reaches my own 
 country, we shall probably hear more of it." 
 
 I uttered this in a sufficiently magnificent manner; and, to own 
 the truth, I felt a little magnificently at the time. I was then young, 
 not three-and-twenty , and I thought of my country, her inde- 
 pendence, her justice, her disposition to do right, her determination 
 to submit to no wrongs, and her disregard of the expedient when 
 principles were concerned much as young people think of the 
 immaculate qualities of their own parents. According to the deci- 
 sions of judges of this latter class, there would not be a liar, a 
 -swindler, a cheat, or a mercenary scoundrel living ; but the earth 
 would be filled with so many suffering saints that are persecuted 
 for their virtues. According to the notions of most American 
 citizens of my age, the very name they bore ought to be a protection 
 to them in any part of the world, under the penalty of incurring the 
 republic's just indignation. How far my anticipations were realised, 
 will be seen in the sequel 5 and I beg the American reader, in parti- 
 cular, to restrain his natural impatience, until he can learn the facts 
 in the regular order of the narrative. I can safely promise him, that 
 should he receive them in the proper spirit, with a desire to ascertain 
 truth only, and not to uphold bloated and untenable theories, he 
 will be a wiser, and probably a more modest man, for the instruc- 
 tion that is to be thus gleaned from the incidents it will be my 
 painful office to record. As for Lord Harry Dermont, the threatened 
 indignation of the great American nation gave him very little con- 
 cern ; he probably cared a vast deal more for one frown from the 
 admiral who commanded at Plymouth, than for the virtuous 
 resentment of the President and Congress of the United States of 
 America. I am writing of the close of the year 1803, it will be 
 remembered; a remote period in the history of the great republic ; 
 though I will not take it on myself to say things have materially 
 altered, except it be in the newspapers, in this particular interest. 
 The order to prepare to quit the Briton was repeated, and 1 was 
 dismissed to the outer cabin, where was Marble, while Mr. Clements 
 attempted to shut the door that separated us, though, from some 
 cause or other, he did not exactly effect his object. In consequence 
 of this neglect, I overheard the following dialogue : 
 
 " I hope, my lord," said Clements, " you will not think of taking 
 away the mate and the black. They are both first-rate men, and 
 both well affected to his Majesty's service. The negro was ol'great 
 use aloft during the late action, while the mate fought at a gun like 
 a tiger, for the belter part of an hour. 'We are somewhat short of 
 hands, and 1 have counted on inducing both these men to enter. 
 There is the prize-money for the Frenchman under our lee, you 
 know, my lord! and I have little doubt of succeeding." 
 
 "1 'm sorry duly compels me lo lake all three, Clements, bui
 
 262 fLUCYvHARDlNGE. 
 
 I '11 bear \vhat you say in mind 5 perhaps we can get them to enter 
 on board the Speedy. You know it " 
 
 Here Mr. Clements discovered that the door was not shut, and he 
 closed it tight, preventing my hearing any more. I now turned to 
 Marble, whose countenance betrayed the self-reproach he endured, 
 at ascertaining the injury he had done by his ill-judged artifice. 
 I made no reproaches, however, but squeezed his hand in token of 
 my forgiveness. The poor fellow, I plainly saw, had great difficulty 
 in forgiving himself 5 though he said nothing at the moment. 
 
 The conference between Lord Harry Dermond and Mr. Clements, 
 lasted half an hour. At the end of that time both appeared in the 
 forward cabin, and I saw by the countenance of the last that he had 
 failed in his object. As for us, we were transferred, with the few 
 articles we possessed, to the Speedy, on board which ship our 
 arrival made as much of a sensation as the discipline of a man-of- 
 war would permit. I was put in irons the moment we reached the 
 quarter-deck, and placed under the charge of a sentinel near the 
 cabin -door. Some little attention was paid to my comfort, it is 
 true, and a canvass screen was fitted for me, behind which I ate and 
 slept, with some sort of retirement. My irons were of so large a 
 sort that I found means to take them off and to put them on at plea- 
 sure. I was disposed to think that the officers were aware of the 
 fact, and that the things were used as much for the sake of appear- 
 ance as for anything else. Apart from the confinement, and the 
 injury done my affairs, I had no especial causes of complaint, 
 though this imprisonment lasted until the month of April 1804, or 
 quite five months. During this time, the Speedy arrived as far 
 south as the line 5 then she hovered about the Canaries and the 
 Azores on her way homeward, looking in vain for another French- 
 man. I was permitted to take exercise twice a-day, once in the 
 gangway, and once on the gun-deck, and my table was actually 
 supplied from the cabin. On no head had I any other cause to 
 complain, than the fact that my ship had been wrongfully seized in 
 the first place, and that I was now suffering imprisonment for a 
 crime if crime indeed it would have been that I certainly had not 
 been obliged to commit. 
 
 During the five months I thus remained a prisoner on the gun- 
 deck of the Speedy, I never exchanged a syllable with either Marble 
 or l\ 7 eb. I saw them both occasionally employed on duty, like the 
 crew, and we often exchanged significant looks, but never any 
 words. Occasionally I had a visit from an officer ; these gentle- 
 men sitting down and conversing with me on general topics, evi- 
 dently to relieve the tedium of my confinement, without making any 
 allusion to its cause. I cannot say that my health suffered, a cir- 
 cumstance that was probably owing to the cleanliness of the ship,, 
 and the admirable manner in which she was ventilated. 
 At length we went into port, carrying with us a French ship, from
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 263 
 
 one of the islands to the eastward of the Cape, as a prize. The 
 Speedy captured this vessel, afler a smart chase to the northward 
 of the Azores, and Marble and Neb having volunteered to do so, 
 were sent on board her as two of the prize-crew. That day I got 
 a visit from the purser, who was the most attentive of all my ac- 
 quaintances. And 1 took the liberty of asking him if it were pos- 
 sible my two shipmates had entered into the British service. 
 
 "Why not exactly that," he said, "though they seem to likens, 
 and we think both will ship rather than lose the prize-money they 
 might get for their services in the Briton. Your old mate is a 
 prime fellow, the master tells me 5 but my lord, fancying we might 
 meet some French cruiser in the chops of the Channel, thought it 
 better to send these two chaps in the prize, lest they should take 
 the studs and refuse to fight at the pinch. They have done duty, 
 they say, to keep themselves in good health 5 and we humour them, 
 to be frank with you, under the notion they may get to like us so 
 well, as not to wish to quit us." 
 
 This gave me an insight into the true state of the case, and I felt 
 much easier on the subject. That Marble ever intended to serve 
 under the British flag, I had not supposed for a moment ; but I 
 was not sure that regret for the blunder he had already made might 
 not lead him into some new mistake of equally serious import, 
 under the impression that he was correcting the evil. As for Neb, 
 I knew he would never desert me 5 and 1 had not from the first, felt 
 any other concern on his account than an apprehension his igno- 
 rance might be imposed on. 
 
 The day we anchored in Plymouth Sound was thick and driz- 
 zling, with a fresh breeze at south-west. The ship came-to just 
 at sunset, her prize bringing up a short distance in-shore of her, as 
 I could see from the port, that formed a sort of window to my little 
 canvass state-room. Just as the ship was secured, Lord Harry 
 Dermond passed into his cabin, accompanied by his first-lieutenant, 
 and I overheard him say to the latter 
 
 " By the way, Mr. Powlett, this prisoner must be removed to 
 some other place in the morning. Now we are so near the land, it 
 is not quite safe to trust him at a port." 
 
 I was still musing on the purport of this remark, when I heard the 
 noise of a boat coming alongside. Putting my head out of the port, 
 I could just see that the prize-master of the French ship had come on 
 board, and thatMarble and Neb were two of the four men who pulled 
 the oars. Marble saw me, and gave a sign of recognition, though 
 it was so dark as to render it difficult to distinguish objects at a 
 trifling distance. This sign I returned in a significant manner. It 
 was this answering signal from me that induced my mate not to quit 
 the boat, and to keep Neb with him. The other two men were so 
 accustomed to do duty with the Americans, that they did not scruple 
 to run up the frigate's side after their officer, eager to get a gossip
 
 264 LUCY HARBINGE. 
 
 with their old messmates on the berth-deck. Almost at the same 
 instant the officer of the deck called out 
 
 " Drop la Minerve's boat astern, out of the way of the capitain's 
 gig, which will be hauling up in a minute." 
 
 This was on the larboard side, it is true ; but a smart sea slapping 
 against the starboard, Lord Harry was willing to dispense with ce- 
 remony, in order to escape a wet jacket. I cannot tell the process 
 of reasoning that induced me to take the step I did ; it was, however, 
 principally owing to the remark I had so lately heard, and which 
 brought all the danger of my position vividly to my mind. Whatever 
 may have been the moving cause, I acted as follows : 
 
 My irons were slipped, and I squeezed myself between the gun 
 and the side of the port, where 1 hung by my hands against the 
 ship's side. I might be seen, or I might not, caring little for the 
 result. I was not seen by any but Marble and Neb, the former of 
 whom caught me by the legs as he passed beneath, and whispering 
 to me to lie down in the bottom of the boat, he assisted me into the 
 cutter. We actually rubbed against the captain's gig as it was hauling 
 up lo the gangway, but no one suspected what had just taken place. 
 This gig was the only one of the Speedy's boats that was in the 
 water at that hour, it having just been lowered to carry the captain 
 ashore. In another minute we had dropped astern, Neb holding on 
 by a boat-hook to one of the rudder-chains Here we lay until the 
 gig pulled round close to us, taking the direction toward the usual 
 landing, with the captain of the Speedy in her. 
 
 In two minutes the gig was out of sight, and Marble whispered to 
 Neb to let go his hold. This was promptly done, when the boat of 
 the prize began to drift from the ship, swept by a powerful tide, 
 and impelled by a stiff breeze. No one paid any heed to us, every- 
 body's thoughts being occupied with the shore and the arrival at 
 such a moment. The time was fortunate in another particular : 
 Lord Harry Dermond was a vigilant and good officer ; but his first- 
 lieutenant was what is called on board ship " a poor devil," a 
 phrase that is sufficiently significant; and the moment a vigilant 
 captain's back is turned, there is a certain ease and neglect in a 
 vessel that has an indifferent first-lieutenant. Every one feels at 
 liberty to do more as he pleases than has been his wont ; and where 
 there is a divided responsibility of this nature, few perform more 
 duty than they can help. When " the cat is away, the mice come 
 odt to play." 
 
 At all events, our boat continued to drop astern unobserved, 
 until the ship itself became very faintly visible to us. I arose as 
 soon as we were fifty feet from the rudder, and I assumed the di- 
 rection of affairs as soon 'as on my feet. There were a mast and a 
 lugg-sail in the boat, and we stepped the former and set the last, as 
 soon as far enough from the Speedy to be certain we could not be 
 geeu. Puttiug the helm up, sufficiently to bring the wind, on I!IQ
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 265 
 
 quarter, I then stood directly out to sea. All this was accomplished 
 in less than five minutes, by means of what the French call a sudden 
 inspiration! 
 
 To be sure, our situation was sufficiently awkward, now we had 
 obtained something that had the semblance of freedom. Neither 
 of us had a single shilling of money, or an article of clothing but 
 those we wore. There was not a mouthful of food of any sort in 
 the boat, nor adrop of water. The night was lowering, and intense- 
 ly dark ; and the wind was blowing fresher than was at all desi- 
 rable for a boat. Still we determined to persevere, and we ran 
 boldly off the land, trusting our common fate to Providence. I 
 hoped we might fall in with some American, bound in or out : 
 should that fail us, France might be reached, if we had good luck, 
 in the course of less than eight-and-forty hours. 
 
 Our situation afforded nothing to occupy the mind, but anxiety. 
 We could not see a hundred yards, possessed no compass, or any 
 other guide on our way than the direction of the wind, and were 
 totally without the means of refreshment or shelter. Still we man- 
 aged to sleep, by turns, each having entire confidence in the skill 
 of both the others. In this manner we got through the night, feel- 
 ing no apprehensions of being pursued, the darkness affording an 
 effectual cover. 
 
 When the light returned, we discovered nothing in pursuit, 
 though the weather was too thick to admit of our seeing any great 
 distance around the boat. All the morning we continued running 
 to the northward and eastward, under our single lugg reefed, only 
 keeping clear of the seas that chased us, by dint of good manage- 
 ment. As for eating or drinking, the first was out of the question ; 
 though we began to -make some little provision to slake our thirst 
 by exposing our handkerchiefs to the drizzle, in order to wring 
 them when they should become saturated with water- The cool- 
 ness of the weather, however, and the mist, contributed to prevent 
 our suffering much, and I do not know that I felt any great desire 
 for either food or water, until towards the middle of the day. 
 Then we began to converse together, on the subject of dinner, in a 
 jocular way, however, rather than with any very great longings on 
 the subject. While thus employed, Neb suddenly exclaimed, 
 "Dereasail!" 
 
 Sure enough a ship was meeting us, heading up on the larboard 
 tack about west-north-west, as she stretched in towards the English 
 coast. I can see that vessel in my mind's eye, even at this distant 
 day. She had two reefs in her topsails, with spanker, jib, and 
 both courses set, like a craft that carried convenient, rather than 
 urgent canvass. Her line of sailing would take her about two 
 hundred yards to leeward of us, and my first impulse was to luff. 
 A second glance showed us she was an English frigate, and we 
 doused our lugg a.s sopn as possible. Our hearts were in our
 
 266 LUCY HAKDINGE 
 
 mouths for the next five minutes. My eye never turned from that 
 frigate, as she hove by us, now rising on the summit of a sea, now 
 falling gracefully into the trough, concealing everything but her 
 spars from sight. Glad enough were we, when she had got so far 
 ahead as to bring us well on her weather-quarter, though we did 
 not dare set our sail again, until her dark, glistening hull, with its 
 line of frowning ports, was shut up in the cloud of mist, leaving 
 the spot on the ocean where she had last been seen, as if she were 
 not. That was one of those hair-breadth escapes that often occur 
 to men engaged in hazardous undertakings, without any direct 
 agency of their own. 
 
 Our next adventure was of a more pleasing character. A good- 
 sized ship was made astern, coming up channel before the wind, and 
 carrying top-mast studding-sails. She was an American! On 
 this point we were all agreed, and placing ourselves in her track, 
 we ran off on her course, knowing that she must be going quite 
 two feet to our one. In twenty minutes she passed close to us, her 
 officers and crew manifesting the greatest curiosity to learn who 
 and what we were. So dexterously did Marble manage the boat, 
 that we got a rope, and hauled alongside without lessening the 
 ship's way, though she nearly towed us under water in the attempt. 
 The moment we could, we leaped on deck, abandoning the boat 
 to its fate. 
 
 We had not mistaken the character of the vessel. It was a ship 
 from James' river, loaded with tobacco, and bound to Amsterdam. 
 Her master heard our story, believed it, and felt for us. We only 
 remained with him a week, however,, quitting his vessel off the 
 coast of Holland, to go to Hamburg, where I fancied my letters 
 would have been sent, and whence I knew it. would be equally in 
 our power to reach home. At Hamburg, I was fated to meet with 
 disappointment. There was not a line for me, and we found our- 
 selves without money in a strange place. I did not deem it prudent 
 to tell our story, but we agreed to ship together in some American, 
 and work our way home in the best manner we could. After 
 looking about us alittle, necessity compelled us to enter in the first 
 vessel that offered. This was a Philadelphia ship, called the Schuyl- 
 kill, on board which I shipped as second mate, while Marble and 
 Neb took the berths of foremast- Jacks. No one questioned us as 
 to the past, and we had decided amongst ourselves to do our duty, 
 and keep mum. We used our own names, and that was the extent 
 of our communication on the subject of our true characters. 
 
 I found it a little hard to descend so much on the ladder of life, 
 but an early and capital training enabled me to act Dicky over 
 again, with some credit ; and, before the ship went to sea, our 
 chief mate was discharged for drunkenness, and I got a lift. 
 Marble was put in my place, and from that time, for the next five 
 mouths, things went on smoothly enough 5 1 say five months, for,
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 267 
 
 instead of sailing for home direct, the ship went to Spain, within 
 the Straits, for a cargo of barilla, which she took up to London, 
 where she got a freight for Philadelphia. We were all a little 
 uneasy, at finding that our story, with sundry perversions and 
 exaggerations, were in the English papers } but, by the time we 
 reached England, it was forgotten ; having been crowded out by 
 the occurrence of new events of interest, at a moment when every 
 week was teeming with incidents that passed into history. 
 
 Nevertheless, I was glad when we left England, and I once more 
 found myself on the high seas, homeward bound. My wages had 
 enabled me, as well as Marble and Neb, to get new outfits, suited 
 to our present stations, and we sailed for Philadelphia with as good 
 a stock of necessaries as usually fall to the lot of men in our respec- 
 tive positions. These were all that remained to me of a ship 
 and cargo that were worth between eighty and ninety thousand 
 dollars I 
 
 The passage proved to be very long, but we reached the capes of the 
 Delaware at last. On the 7th September, 1804, or when I wanteda few 
 weeks of being three-and-twenty , I landed on the wharfs of what was 
 then the largest town in America, a ruined and disappointed man. 
 Still I kept up my spirits, leaving my companions in ignorance of the 
 extent of my misfortunes. We remained a few days to discharge the 
 cargo, when we vere all three paid off. Neb, who had passed on 
 board the Schuykill for a free black, brought me his wages, and 
 when we had thrown our joint stock into a common bag, it 
 was found to amount to the sum of one hundred and thirty-two 
 dollars. With this money, then, we prepared to turn our faces 
 north, Marble, anxious to meet his mother and little Kitty, Neb 
 desirous of again seeing Chloe, and I to meet my principal cre- 
 ditor John Wallingford, aud to gain some tidings of Mr. Hardinge 
 and Lucy. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 
 
 " You think, I'll weep. 
 No, I'll not weep : 
 I have full cause of weeping ; but this heart 
 Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, 
 Or ere I'll weep." 
 
 LEAR. 
 . 
 
 I pass over the manner and time of our being on the road between 
 Philadalphia and New York, as things belonging to a former age, 
 and to be forgotten. I will merely say that we travelled the South 
 Amboy road, and went through a part of the world called Feather- 
 bed Lane, that causes my bones to ache even now in recollection. 
 At South Amboy we got on board a sloop, or packet, and entered 
 the bay of New York by the passage of the Kills, landing near White-
 
 268 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 hall. We were superintending the placing of our chests on a cart, 
 when some one caught my hand, and exclaimed 
 
 " God bless me ! Captain Wallingford come to life, as I live ! " 
 
 It was old Jared Jones, the man who had been miller at Clawbonny 
 from my infancy to the day I left home. I had supposed him to 
 be at work there still ; but the look he gave me the tears that I 
 could see were forcing themselves from his. eyes his whole 
 manner, indeed, gave me at once to understand that all was not 
 right. My countenance, rather than my tongue, demanded an 
 explanation. Jared understood me, and we walked together 
 towards the Battery; leaving Marble and Neb to proceed with the 
 luggage to the modest lodgings in which we had proposed to 
 hide ourselves until I had time to look about me a house 
 frequented by Moses for many years. 
 
 "You perceive I do not return home, Jared, in precisely the 
 condition in which I went abroad. My ship and cargo are both 
 lost, and I come among you now a poor man, I fear." 
 
 "We were afraid that something of the sort must have hap- 
 pened, or such bad news would never have reached Clawbonny, 
 sir. Some of your men 'got back months ago-, and they brought 
 the tidings that the Dawn was captured by the English. From 
 that hour, I think Mr. Hardinge gave the matter up. The worst 
 news, however, for us that of your death excepted was that 
 of the mortgage on Clawbonny." 
 
 " The mortgage on Clawbonny ! Has anything been done in 
 connexion with that?" 
 
 " Lord bless you, my dear Mr. Miles, it has been foreclosed, 
 under the statue I believe they call it : and it was advertised to 
 be sold three months. Then, when it was sold, how much do 
 you think the place, mill and all, actually brought ? Just give a 
 guess, sir?" 
 
 "Brought! Clawbonny is then sold, and I am no longer the 
 owner of my father's house ! " 
 
 "Sold, sir; and we have been sent adrift niggers and all. 
 They said the freedom-laws would soon let all the older blacks 
 be their own masters; and, as to the young 'uns, why, your 
 creditors might sell their times. But Mr. Hardinge put the poor 
 critturs into houses near the rectory, and they work about among 
 the neighbours until things are settled. It's to their credit, Mr. 
 Miles, that not one of 'em all thinks of runnin' away. With the 
 feelin' that's up in the country consarnin' blacks, and no master 
 to look arter them, every one of 'em might be off without risk." 
 
 " And Chloe, my sister's own girl, what has become of Chloe, 
 Jared?" 
 
 " Why, I believe Miss Lucy has tuck her. Miss Lucy is dread- 
 ful rich, as all allow; and she has put it in her father's power to 
 take care of all the moveables. Every huflf [hoof] of living thing
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 569 
 
 that was on the place has been put on the Wright farm, in readi- 
 ness for their owner, should he ever come to claim them." 
 
 " Has Miss Hardinge had the consideration to hire that farm with 
 such an object?" 
 
 " They say she has bought it out of the savings of her 
 income. It seems she is mistress of her income, though un- 
 der age. And this is the use she has made of some of her 
 money." 
 
 " I had supposed she would have been married by this time. 
 Mr. Drewett was thought to be engaged to her when I sailed." 
 
 " Yes : there is much talk about that, through the country 5 but 
 they say Miss Lucy will never marry, until she has been of age a 
 fews weeks, in order that she may do what she pleases with her 
 money, afore a husband can lay his hand on it. Mr. Rupert is 
 married, I s'pose you heard, sir and living away like a nabob 
 with his bride, in one of the best houses in town. Some people say, 
 that he has a right in a part of old Mrs. Bradford's estate, which he 
 will get as soon as Miss Lucy comes of age." 
 
 I did not like to pursue this part of the discourse any further, 
 though it was balm to my wounds to hear these tidings of Lucy. 
 The subject was too sacred, however, to be discussed with such a 
 commentator, and I turned the discourse to Clawbonny, and the 
 reports that might have circulated there concerning myself. Jared 
 told me all he knew, which was briefly as follows : 
 
 It seems that the second-mate of the Dawn, and such of her 
 crew as had been put in the Speedy, and who had not been im- 
 pressed either in the frigate itself, or in England after they were 
 turned ashore, had found their way home, bringing with them an 
 account of the capture of the ship, her extraordinary appearance 
 near the four combatants, and their own attempt to escape. This 
 last affair, in particular, had made some noise in the journals a 
 warm discussion having taken place on the subject of the right of 
 Americans to run away with an English man-of-war's boat, under 
 the circumstances in which these poor fellows found themselves 
 placed. In that day, parties in America took as lively an interest 
 in the wars of Europe, as if the country were a belligerant ; and po- 
 liticians, or quasi statesmen, were little more than retailers of the 
 most ultra English and ultra French opinions. It was sufficient for 
 the Federalists to justify any act, if England did it; while the De- 
 mocrats had almost as strong a disposition to defend all the enor- 
 mities which the policy of Napoleon led him to commit. I say 
 almost for, to deal honestly with posterity, I do not think the 
 French-American party was quite as French as the English-Ame- 
 rican party was English. These last had returned to their pro- 
 vincial dependence of thought ; and, well-read in the English version 
 of all political and moral truths, and little read in those of any other 
 state of society, they believed, as he who worships at a distance from
 
 ?70 LHCY HARDINGE. 
 
 the shrine, is known implicitly to yield his faith. The English party 
 had actually a foundation in deeply-rooted opinion, and colonial ad- 
 miration for the ancient seat of power ; whereas the French owed 
 its existence principally to opposition. The alliance of 1778 had 
 some little influence among men old enough to have heen active in 
 the events of the revolution, it is true ; but they existed as ex- 
 ceptions even in their own party. It was the English feeling that 
 was natural, hearty, dependent, and deep: the other having been, 
 as has just been stated, rooted as much in opposition, as in any 
 other soil. 
 
 The public discussions of the fate of the Dawn, as a matter of 
 course, had drawn much speculation, among my acquaintances, to 
 my own. As month passed after month, and no letters reached 
 America, the opinion became very general that the vessel was 
 lost. At length, a ship from Jamaica brought in a blind story of 
 the manner in which I had re-taken my vessel from Sennit ; and, 
 it now being known that we were only four left in the vessel, 
 the conjecture was hazarded that we had been wrecked for want 
 of force to take care of the ship ; and I was set down as a drowned 
 man. 
 
 Shortly after this opinion of my fate became general among my 
 acquaintances, John Wallingford had appeared atClawbonny. He 
 made no change, however, spoke kindly to every one, told the 
 slaves nothing should be altered, and gave them every reason 
 to suppose that they would continue under a true Wallingford 
 regime. It was generally understood he was to be my heir, 
 and no one saw any occasion for the acts of violence that suc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 But, two months after John Wallingford's visit, Mr. Hardinge, 
 and all connected with Clawbonny, had been astounded by the in- 
 telligence of the existence of the mortgage. A foreclosure under 
 the statute, or " statue," as Jared had called it, was commenced, 
 and a few months later the place was publicly sold at Kingston, 
 none bidding more than five thousand dollars for it, less than a 
 sixth of its worth. This sacrifice of real estate, however, under 
 forced sales, was, and is, common enough in America especially ; 
 it being generally understood that the creditor is prepared to rise in 
 his bids, as necessity presents. In my case there was no one to 
 protect my rights ; Mr. Hardinge having attended the sale prepared 
 to reason with my cousin on the propriety and generosity of his 
 course, rather than prepared with good current coin to extinguish 
 the claim. John Wallingford did not appear, however, and the sale 
 took place without further competition, than one bid of Mr. Har- 
 dinge's , a bid that he was not properly prepared to make, but which 
 he hazarded on his knowledge of Lucy's means and disposition. A 
 man of the name of Daggett, a relative of John Wallingford's, by his 
 mother's side, was the ostensible purchaser, and now professed to
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 271 
 
 be the owner of my paternal acres. It was he who had taken pos- 
 session under the purchase, had dismissed the negroes, and sent off 
 the personal property ; and he it was who had placed new servants 
 on the farm and in the mill. To the surprise of everybody, John 
 Wallingford had not appeared in the transaction, though it was un- 
 derstood he had a legal right to all my remaining effects, in the 
 event of my real death. No will was proved or produced, however, 
 nor was anything heard of, or concerning, my cousin ! Mr. Daggett 
 was a close and reserved man, and nothing could be learned on the 
 subject from him. His right to Clawbonny could not be disputed, 
 and after consulting counsel in the premises, Mr. Hardinge him- 
 self had been compelled, reluctantly, to admit it. Such was the 
 substance of what I gleaned from the miller, in a random 
 sort of conversation that lasted an hour. Of course, much 
 remained to be explained, but I had learned enough to know 
 that I was virtually a beggar as to means, whatever I might be in 
 feeling. 
 
 When I parted from Jared I gave him my address, and we were to 
 meet again next day. The old man felt an interest in me that was 
 soothing to my feelings, and I wished to glean all I could from him, 
 more especially concerning Lucy and Mr. Hardinge. I now fol- 
 lowed Marble and Neb to the boarding-house one frequented by 
 masters and mates of ships, the masters being of the humble class, 
 to condescend thus to mingle with their subordinates. We con- 
 sumed the rest of the morning in establishing ourselves in our 
 rooms, and in putting on our best round-abouts; for I was not the 
 owner of a coat that had skirts to it, unless, indeed, there might be 
 a few old garments of that sort among the effects that had been re- 
 moved from Clawbonny to the Wright farm. Notwithstanding this 
 defect in my wardrobe, I would not have the reader suppose I made 
 a mean or a disagreeable appearance ; on the contrary, standing 
 as I did, six feet one in my shoes, attired in a neat blue round-about 
 of mate's cloth, with a pair of quarter-deck trowsers, a clean white 
 shirt, a black silk handkerchief, and a vest of a pretty but modest 
 pattern, 1 was not at all ashamed to be seen. I had come from 
 England, a country in which clothes are both good and cheap ; and a 
 trimmer-looking tar than I then was, seldom showed himself in the 
 lower part of the town. 
 
 Marble and I had dined, and were preparing to sally forth on a walk 
 up Broadway, when t saw a meagre, care-worn, bilious-looking 
 soFt of person enter the house, and proceed towards the bar, evi- 
 dently with an inquiry concerning some of the inmates. The bar- 
 tender pointed at once to me, when the stranger approached, and, 
 with a species of confidence that seemed to proclaim that he fancied 
 news to be the great end of life, and that all who were engaged in 
 its dissemination were privileged beings, he announced himself as 
 Colonel Warbler, the editor of the New York Republican Freeman.
 
 272 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 I asked the gentleman into the common sitting-room, when the fol- 
 lowing dialogue took place between us : 
 
 "We have just heard of your arrival, Captain Wallingford," 
 commenced the Colonel, all New York editors of a certain calibre 
 seeming to be, ex officio, of that blood-and-thunder rank, " and 
 are impatient to place you, as it might be, rectus in curid, before 
 the nation. Your case excited a good deal of feeling some months 
 since, and the public mind may be said to be prepared to learn the 
 whole story or, in a happy condition to indulge in further excite- 
 ment. If you will have the goodness to furnish me with the out- 
 lines, sir" coolly producing pen, ink, and paper without further 
 ceremony, and preparing to write" I promise you that the whole 
 narrative shall appear in the Freeman of to-morrow, related in a 
 manner of which you shall have no reason to complain. The cap- 
 tion is already written ; and, if you please, I will read it to you, be- 
 fore we go any further." Then, without waiting to ascertain whe- 
 ther I did or did not please to hear him, the Colonel incontinently 
 commenced reading what he called his caption. 
 
 " 'In the Schuylkill, arrived lately at Philadelphia, came pas- 
 senger our esteemed fellow-citizen Captain Miles Wallingford,' " 
 in 1804, everybody had not got to be " esquires," even the editors 
 not yet assuming that title of gentility ex officio. " ' This gentle- 
 man's wrongs have already been laid before our readers. From 
 his own mouth we learn the following outline of the vile and illegal 
 manner in which he has been treated by an English man-of-war, 
 called the Speedy, commanded by a sprig of nobility y'clepped 
 Lord' I have left a blank for the name ' an account which will 
 awaken in the bosom of every true-hearted American sentiments of 
 horror, and feelings of indignation, at this new instance of British 
 faith and British insolence on the high-seas. It will be seen by 
 this account, that not satisfied with impressing all his crew, and in 
 otherwise maltreating them, this scion of aristocracy has violated 
 every article of the treaty between the two countries, as respects 
 Captain Wallingford himself, and otherwise trodden on every prin- 
 ciple of honour ; in a word, set at naught all the commandments of 
 God. We trust there will be found no man, or set of men in the 
 country, to defend such outrageous conduct, and that even the mi- 
 nions of England, _ employed around the Federal presses of our 
 country, will be ready to join with us on this occasion, in denouncing 
 British aggression and British usurpation.' There, sir, I trust that 
 is quite to your liking." 
 
 " It is a little ex parte, Colonel, as I have quite as much complaint 
 to make of French as of English aggression, having been twice cap- 
 tured, once by an English frigate, and again by a French privateer. 
 I prefer to tell the whole story, if I am to tell any of it." 
 
 "Certainly, sir-, we wish to relate all the enormities of which 
 these arrogant English were guilty."
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 273 
 
 " I believe that, in capturing my ship, the English commander 
 did me an act of great injustice, and was the cause of my ruin" 
 
 " Stop, sir, if you please," interrupted Colonel Warbler, writing 
 with rapidity and zeal, " 'and thus caused the ruin of an indus- 
 trious and honest man ; ' ay, that ends a period beautifully well, 
 sir, proceed." 
 
 " But I have no personal ill-treatment to complain of; and the 
 act of the French was of precisely the same character, perhaps 
 worse, as I got rid of the English prize-crew, when the Frenchman 
 captured us in his turn, and prevented our obtaining shelter and a 
 new crew in France." Colonel Warbler listened with cold indif- 
 ference. Not a line would he write against the French, belonging 
 to a very extensive school of disseminators of news who fancy it is 
 part of their high vocation to tell as much, or just as little, of any 
 transaction, as may happen to suit their own purposes. I pressed 
 the injuries I had received from the French, on my visitor, so much 
 the more warmly, on account of the reluctance he manifested to 
 publish it ; but all to no purpose. Next morning the Republican 
 Freeman contained just such an account of the affair as comported 
 with the consistency of that independent and manly journal ; not a 
 word being said about the French privateer, while the account of 
 the proceedings of the English frigate was embellished with sundry 
 facts and epithets that must have been obtained from Colonel War- 
 bler's general stock in trade, as it was certainly not derived 
 from me. 
 
 As soom as I got rid of this gentleman, which was not long after 
 he discovered my desire to press the delinquency of the French on 
 his notice, Marble and I left the house, on the original design of 
 strolling up Broadway, and of looking at the changes produced by 
 time. We had actually got a square, when I felt some one touch my 
 elbow ; turning, I found it was an utter stranger, with a very eager, 
 wonder-mongering sort of a countenance, and who was a good deal 
 out of breath with running. 
 
 " Your pardon, sir ; the bar-tender of the house where you lodge, 
 tells me you are Captain Wallingford." I bowed an assent, foresee- 
 ing another application for facts. 
 
 "Well, sir, I hope you '11 excuse the liberty I am taking, on 
 account of its object. I represent the public, which is ever anxious 
 to obtain the earliest information on all matters of general concerrj- 
 ment, and I feel emboldened by duty to introduce myself Colonel 
 Positive, of the Federal Truth Teller, a journal that your honoured 
 father once did us the favour to take we have this moment heard 
 of the atrocities committed on you, Captain Wallingford, by * a 
 brigand of a French piratical, picarooning, plundering vagabond,' " 
 reading from what, I dare say, was another caption, prepared for 
 the other side of the question ; " ' a fresh instance of Gallic aggres- 
 sion, and republican Jacobinical insolence; atrocities that are of a 
 
 18
 
 274 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 character to awaken the indignation of every right-thinking Ameri- 
 can, and \vhich can only find abettors among that portion of the 
 community which, possessing nothing, is never slow to sympathize 
 in the success of this robber, though it be at the expense of Ameri- 
 can rights, and American prosperity.' " 
 
 As soon as Col. Positive had read this much, he stopped to take 
 breath, looking at me, as if expecting some exclamations of admi- 
 ration and delight. 
 
 "I have suffered by means of what I conceive to be a perfectly 
 unauthorized act of a French privateer, Col. Positive," I replied; 
 " but this wrong would not have been done me, had I not suffered 
 previously by what I conceive to be an equally unjustifiable act of 
 the English frigate, the Speedy, commanded by Captain Lord Harry 
 Dermond, a son of the Irish Marquis of Thole." 
 
 " Bless me, sir, this is very extraordinary ! An English frigate, 
 did you say? It is very unusual for the vessels of that just nation 
 ever to be guilty of an aggression, particularly as our common lan- 
 guage, common descent, Saxon ancestors, and Saxon English, and 
 all that sort of thing, you know, operate against it ; whereas, sorry 
 I am to say, each new arrival brings us some fresh instance of the 
 atrocities of the myrmidons of this upstart Emperor of the French ; a 
 man, sir, whose deeds, sir, have never been paralleled since the day 
 of Nero, Caligula, and all the other tyrants of antiquity. If you will 
 favour me, Captain Wallingford, with a few of the particulars of this 
 last atrocity of Bonaparte, I promise you it shall be circulated far and 
 near, and that in a way to defy the malignant and corrupt perversions 
 of any man , or set of men . " 
 
 I had the cruelty to refuse compliance. It made no difference, 
 however , for, next day, the Federal Truth Teller had an account 
 of the matter, that was probably about as accurate as if I had related 
 all the events myself, and which was also about as true as most of the 
 jeremiads of the journals that are intended for brilliant .effect. It 
 was read with avidity by all the federalists of America; while its 
 counter-part in the Republican Freeman, passed, pan passu, 
 through all the democratic papers, and was devoured with a similar 
 appetite by the whole of that side of the question. This distinction, 
 I afterwards ascertained, was made by nearly the whole country. If 
 a federalist was my auditor, he would listen all day to that part of 
 my story which related to the capture by the French privateer ; 
 while it was vice versd with the democrats. Most of the merchants 
 being federalists, and the English having so much more connexion 
 with my narrative than the French, I soon found I was making myself 
 exceedingly unpopular by speaking on the subject at all; nor was it 
 Ion" before a story got in circulation that I was nothing but a run- 
 away English deserter myself I, the fifth Miles of my name, at 
 Clawbonny ! As for Marble, men were ready to swear he had robbed 
 his captain, and got off from an English two-decker only four years
 
 LUCY HARD1NGE. 275 
 
 before. It is unnecessary to tell people of the world the manner in 
 which stories to the prejudice of an unpopular man are fabricated, 
 and with what industry they are circulated ; so I shall leave the 
 reader to imagine what would have been our fate, had we not pos- 
 sessed the prudence to cease dwelling on our wrongs. Instead of 
 thinking of appealing to the authorities of my country for redress, I 
 felt myself fortunate in having the whole affair forgotten as soon as 
 possible, leaving me some small portion of character. 
 
 I confess, while returning home, I had sometimes fancied I might 
 be protected by the country of which I was a native, for which I had 
 fought, and to which I paid taxes , but I was only three-and-twenty, 
 and did not then understand the workings of laws, particularly in a 
 state of society that submits to have its most important interests 
 under foreign control. Had I received a wrong from only a French- 
 man, or an Englishman, I should have fared a little better, in ap- 
 pearance, at least, though my money was irretrievably gone ; for 
 one political party or the other, as the case might have been, would 
 have held me up to ex parle sympathy, so long as it suited its pur- 
 poses, or until the novelty of some new case offered an inducement 
 to supplant me. But I had been wronged by both belligerants ; and 
 it was soon agreed, by mutual consent, to drop the whole subject. 
 As for redress or compensation, I was never fool enough to seek it. 
 On the contrary, finding how unpopular it made a man among the 
 merchants to prove anything against Great Britain, just at that mo- 
 ment, I was wisely silent, thus succeeding in saving my character, 
 which would otherwise have followed my property, as the shortest 
 method of making a troublesome declaimer hold his tongue. 
 
 Most young persons will doubtless hesitate to believe that such a 
 state of things could ever have existed in a nation calling itself in- 
 dependent; but, in the first place, it must be remembered, that the 
 passions of factions never leave their followers independent of their 
 artifices and designs ; and, in the next place, all who knew the state 
 of this country in 1804, must admit it was not independent in mind, 
 of either England or France. Facts precede thought in everything 
 among us; and public opinion was as much in arrears of the circum- 
 stances of the country then, as as to what shall I liken it ? why, 
 as it is to-day. I know no better or truer parallel. I make no doubt 
 that the same things would be acted over again, were similar wrongs 
 to be committed by the same powerful belligerants. 
 
 Marble was ludicrously enraged at these little instances of the 
 want of true nationality in his countrymen. He was not a man to 
 be bullied into holding his tongue ; and, for years afterwards, he 
 expressed his opinions on the subject of an American's losing his 
 ship and cargo, as I had lost mine, without even a hope of redress, 
 with a freedom that did more credit to his sense of right, than to 
 his prudence. As for myself, as has just been said, I never even 
 attempted to procure justice. I knew its utter hopelessness; and
 
 27C LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 tho Dawn and her cargo went with the hundreds of other ships and 
 cargoes, that were sunk in the political void created by the declara- 
 tion of war in 1812. 
 
 This is an unpleasant subject to me. I could gladly have passed 
 it over, for it proves that the political association of this country 
 failed in one of the greatest ends of all such associations 5 but 
 nothing is ever gained by suppressing truth on such a matter. Let 
 those who read, reflect on the past : it may possibly have a tendency 
 to render the future more secure, giving to the American citizen in 
 reality, some of those rights which it so much accords with our 
 habits to boast of his possessing. If concealment did any good, I 
 would gladly be silent; but diseases in the body politic require a 
 bold and manly treatment, even more than those in the physical 
 system. I remember the tone of the presses of the trading towns of 
 this country on the subject of the late French treaty, one of the 
 most flagitious instances of contempt, added to wrong, of which 
 history supplies an instance, and will own I do not feel much 
 encouraged to hope for any great improvement. 
 
 After we got rid of Colonel No. 2, Marble and I continued our 
 walk. We passed several persons of my acquaintance, but not one 
 of them recognised me in my present attire. I was not sorry to see 
 this, as I was wearied of my story, and could gladly remain in a 
 species of incognito, for a few days. But New York was compara- 
 tively a small town in 1804, and everybody knew almost every body's 
 face who was anybody. There was little real hope, therefore, of 
 my escaping recognition for any great length of time. 
 
 We strolled up above St. Paul's, then a high quarter of the town, 
 and where a few houses had been erected in what was then a new 
 and enlarged style. On the stoop of one of these patrician residences 
 to use a word that has since come much into use I saw a 
 fashionably dressed man, standing, picking his teeth, with the air 
 of its master. I had nearly passed this person, when an exclama- 
 tion from him, and his calling my mate by name, caused me to stop. 
 It was Rupert ! 
 
 " Marble, my dear fellow, why, how fare you?" said our old 
 shipmate, descending the steps, with an indolent, half-cordial, 
 half-condescending manner ; extending his hand at the same time, 
 which Moses received and shook heartily. "The sight of you 
 reminds me of old times, and salt water!" 
 
 " Mr. Hardinge," answered my mate, who knew nothing of 
 Rupert's defects, beyond his want of aptitude for the sea, " I'm 
 heartily glad to fall in with you. Do your father and handsome 
 sister live here?" 
 
 " Not they, old Moses," answered Rupert, still without casting 
 his eyes on me. " This is my own house, in which I shall be very 
 happy to see you, and to make you acquainted with my wife, 
 \vho js also an old acquaintance of yours Miss Emily Merton
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 277 
 
 that was the daughter of General Merton, of the British army/' 
 
 " Blast the British army! and blast the British navy, too! " cried 
 Marble, with more feeling than manners. "But for the last, our 
 old friend Miles, here, would now be a rich man." 
 
 "Miles! " Bupert repeated, with an astonishment that had more 
 nature in it than had been usual with him of late years. "This is 
 true, then ; and you have not been lost at sea, Wallingford?" 
 
 "I am living, as you may see, Mr. Hardinge, and glad of this 
 opportunity to inquire after your father and sister?" 
 
 "Both are well, I thank you : the old gentleman, in particular, 
 will be delighted to see you. He has felt your misfortunes keenly, 
 and did all he could to avert the sad affair about Clawbonny. You 
 know he could as well raise a million, as raise five or ten thousand 
 dollars ; and poor Lucy is still a minor, and can only touch her in- 
 come, the savings of which were insufficient, just then. We did 
 all we could, I can assure you, Wallingford ; but I was about com- 
 mencing house-keeping, and was in want of cash at the moment ; 
 andyouknowhow it isundersuch circumstances. PoorClawbonriy ! 
 1 was exceedingly sorry when I heard of it; though they say this 
 Mr. Daggett, your successor, is going to do wonders with it a ca- 
 pitalist, they tell me, and able to carry out all his plans." 
 
 " I am glad Clawbonny has fallen into good hands, since it has 
 passed out of mine. Good evening, Mr. Hardinge ; I shall take an 
 early opportunity to find your father, and to learn the particulars." 
 
 "Yes 5 he'll be exceedingly glad to see you, Wallingford 5 and 
 I'm sure it will always afford me pleasure to aid you, in any way I 
 can. I fear it must be very low water with you?" 
 
 " If having nothing to meet a balance of some twenty or thirty 
 thousand dollars of unpaid debt is what you call low water, the tide 
 is out of my pocket, certainly. But, I shall not despair 5 I am 
 young, and have a noble, manly, profession." 
 
 "Yes, I dare say you '11 do remarkably well, Wallingford," Rupert 
 answered, in a patronising manner. " You were always an enter- 
 prising fellow; and one need have po great concern for you. It 
 would hardly be delicate to ask you to see Mrs. Hardinge, just as 
 you are not but what you appear uncommonly well in your round- 
 about, but I know precisely how -it is with young men when there 
 are ladies in the case ; and Emily is a little over-refined, perhaps." 
 
 "Yet, Mrs. Hardinge has seen me often in a round-about, and 
 passed hours in my company, when 1 have been dressed just as I 
 am at this moment." 
 
 "Ay, at sea; one gets used to everything at sea. Good even- 
 ing; I'll bear you in mind, Wallingford, and may do something for 
 you. I am intimate with the heads of all the principal mercantile 
 houses, and shall bear you in mind, certainly. Good evening, 
 Wallingford. A word with you, Marble, before we part." 
 
 I smiled bitterly, and walked proudly from before Rupert's door.
 
 LUCY HARD1ISGE. 
 
 Little did I then know that Lucy was seated within thirty feet of me, 
 istenmg to Andrew Drewett's conversation and humour. Of the 
 mood in which she was listening, I shall have occasion to speak 
 presently. As for Marble, when he overtook me, I was informed 
 that Rupert had stopped him, in order to ascertain our address; 
 a piece of condescension for which I had not the grace to be 
 thankful. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 " The weary sun bath made a golden set, 
 And, by the bright track of his fiery car, 
 Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow." 
 
 SHAKSPEARE. 
 
 1 was quite as much surprised at my own manner towards 
 Rupert, as he could be himself. No doubt he ascribed it to my 
 fallen fortune, for, at the commencement of the interview, he was 
 a good deal confused, and his confidence rose in proportion as he 
 fancied mine was lessened. The moderation I manifested, how- 
 ever, was altogether owing to Lucy, whose influence on my feelings 
 never ceased. As for Marble, he thought all was right, and was 
 very decided in his approval of Rupert's behaviour and appearance. 
 " 'T is n't every man that can make a seaman, Miles," he said, 
 " for it 's a gift that comes nat'rally, like singing, or rope-dancing. 
 I dare say Rupert will do very well ashore, in the gentleman line, 
 though he's no great catch afloat, as all will admit who ever sailed 
 with him. The lad don't want for stuff; but it's shore stuff, a'ter 
 all ; and that will never pass muster in blue water. I dare say, now, 
 this Imperor-Gineral Bonaparte, would make an infernal poor ship- 
 master, if a body was to try him." 
 
 I made no answer, and we strolled on until dark. Then we 
 returned to our lodgings, and turned-in. Next morning we break- 
 fasted with the rest, and I was about to set out in search of a 
 lawyer, to take his opinion on the subject of my insurance, though 
 I had little or no hope of recovering anything, when I was told two 
 gentlemen wished to see me. At first sight, I fancied that more 
 editors were in quest of news; but we were no sooner alone together, 
 than one of these persons let me into the secret of his errand, in a 
 way that was well enough as respects the suaviter in modo, while 
 it could not be said to be in the least deficient in the fortiter in re. 
 "I am sorry to say, Captain Wallingford," this person com- 
 menced, " that I have a writ to arrest you, for a sum that will 
 require very respectable bail no less than sixty thousand 
 dollars." 
 
 " Well done, my upright cousin," I muttered ; " this is losing no 
 time, certainly. 1 owe half that money, I admit, sir, if my farm
 
 LUCY HARDINGE, 279 
 
 only sold for five thousand dollars, as I hear , and I suppose I am 
 arrested for the penalty of my bond. But, at whose suit am I thus 
 pursued?" 
 
 Here the second person announced himself as the attorney of the 
 plaintiff, excusing his presence on the pretence that he hoped to 
 be of service in amicably arranging the affair. 
 
 " My client is Mr. Thomas Daggett, of Clawbonny, Ulster county, 
 who holds your bonds as the administrator of the estate of the late 
 John Wallingford, deceased, a gentleman to whom I believe you 
 were related." 
 
 " The late John Wallingford ! Is my cousin then dead ? " 
 
 "He departed this life eight months since, dying quite unexpect- 
 edly. Letters of administratidn have been granted to Mr. Daggett, 
 who is a son of his mother's sister, and a principal heir, the party 
 dying intestate. It is a great pity that the law excludes you from 
 the succession, being as you are of the name." 
 
 " My kinsman gave me reason to think I was to be his heir, as 
 it was understood he was to be mine. My will in his favour was 
 left in his hands/' 
 
 " We are aware of that, sir, and your death being supposed, for 
 a considerable period, it was thought your personals would descend 
 to us, in part, by devise, which might have prevented the necessity 
 of taking the unpleasant step to which we are now driven. The 
 question was, Which died first, you, or you cousin? and that fact, 
 you will easily understand, we had no means of establishing. As 
 it is, the duty of the administrator compels him to proceed with as 
 little delay as possible." 
 
 " I have no alternative, then, but to go to gaol. I know not the 
 person on earth I can or could ask to become my bail for a sum as 
 large as even that I justly owe, to say nothing of the penalty of the 
 bond." 
 
 " I am very sorry to hear this, Captain Wallingford," Mr. Meekly, 
 the attorney, very civilly replied. " We will walk together, leaving 
 the officer to follow. Perhaps the matter may be arranged ami- 
 cably." 
 
 " With all my heart, sir ; but, before .quitting this house, I will 
 discharge my bill, and communicate my position to a couple of 
 friends, who are waiting in the passage." 
 
 Neb was one of these friends ; for I felt I was fast getting into a 
 condition which rendered the friendship of even my slaves of im- 
 portance to me. That worthy fellow and Marble joined us on a 
 signal from me, when I simply let them into the secret of my affairs. 
 
 "Arrested!" said Moses, eyeing the sheriffs officer with sover- 
 eign contempt ; though he was a sturdy fellow, and one who had 
 every disposition to do his duty. "Arrested! Why, Miles, you 
 can handle both these chaps yourself 5 and, with Neb's and my as- 
 sistance, could work 'em up into spun-yarn without a winch! "
 
 280 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 "That may be true, Moses ; but I cannot handle the law, even 
 with your powerful aid 5 nor should I wish to, if 1 could. I am 
 bound to gaol, my friends, having no bail, so " 
 
 "Bail .' Why / '11 be your bail ; and, if you want two, there 's 
 Neb." 
 
 " I fance the gentleman don't much understand being taken on a 
 writ," the attorney simpered. 
 
 " I not understand it ! That's an infernal poor guess of your'n, 
 my friend. When we had the scrape with the Hamburghers, in 
 Philadelphy, it 's now coming thirty years," 
 
 ' Never mind all that just now, Moses. I wish you to pay my 
 bill here : give Neb the small bag of my clothes to bring up to the 
 gaol, and keep my other effects under your own care. Of course 
 you will come to see me by-and-by 5 but I now order you not to 
 follow us." 
 
 I then left the house, with a rapidity that gave the officer some 
 uneasiness, I believe. Once in the street, however, my pace be- 
 came more moderate ; and dropping alongside of the attorney, we 
 fell into discourse on the subject of the arrangement. 
 
 " To be frank with you, Captain Wallingford," said Meekly, 
 "my client never expects to recover the full amount of his demand ; 
 it being understood your personals are now limited to certain 
 jewelry, the stock of your late farm, a few negroes, a sloop, some 
 furniture, etc. No, sir, we do not expect to obtain the whole of 
 our demand. Certain securities in our hands will extinguish much 
 of it, though a large balance will remain." 
 
 "As Mr. Dagget has already got real estate richly worth five- 
 aHd-thirty thousand dollars, and which brings a clear two thousand 
 a-year, to say nothing of its advantages as a residence, besides 
 bonds and mortgages for twenty odd thousand' more, I am fully 
 sensible of his moderation. The forty thousand dollars I owed my 
 cousin will be amply repaid to his heirs, though I pass my life in 
 gaol." 
 
 " You misapprehend the affair entirely. Mr. Dagget does not 
 hold Clawbonny as administrator at all, but as a purchaser under a 
 mortgage sale. He did not buy it himself, of course , but has re- 
 ceived a deed from a nephew of his, who was a bond fide bidder. 
 The amount bid five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars is 
 duly endorsed on your bond, and you have credit for it. If no one 
 bid higher, the property had to go." 
 
 "Yes, sir ; I very well understand how property goes, in the ab- 
 sence of the debtor, at forced sales. But what is the nature of the 
 proposition you intend to make?" 
 
 " Mr. Daggett understands you possess some very valuable pearls, 
 that are supposed to be worth one thousand dollars, with a good 
 deal of plate, etc., etc. Now he proposes that you assign to the 
 estate he represents all your personals at an appraisal, when he will
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 281 
 
 credit you with the amount, and suspend proceedings for the ba- 
 lance. In a word give you time." 
 
 "And what idea has Mr. Daggett of the sum I should thus re- 
 ceive ? " 
 
 *' He is disposed to be liberal, and thinks you might get credit 
 for about four thousand dollars." 
 
 "My personal property, including the pearls of which you speak, 
 quite a thousand dollars' worth of plate, even at the price of old 
 silver, the sloop, the stock, horses, carriages, farming utensils, and 
 without counting the slaves, all of whom I intend to set free, if the 
 law will allow it, must nearly or quite double that sum, sir. Unless 
 Mr. Daggett is disposed to raise his views of the value of my effects, 
 I should prefer to remain in custody, and see what I can do by pri- 
 vate sale. As he will receive every cent of the securities received 
 from my sister's estate, quite 22,000 dollars, and now possesses 
 more than 5,000 dollars from Clawbonny, the balance I shall really 
 owe cannot exceed 13,000 dollars." 
 
 "Were you to confess judgment, sir, and leave the property un- 
 der execution " 
 
 "I'll do nothing of the sort, Mr. Meekly; on that subject my 
 mind is made up. One forced sale is quite enough for a no- 
 vice." 
 
 " We shall soon reach the gaol, sir, perhaps its sight may " 
 
 "It will not, sir. Whenever Mr. Daggett shall be disposed to 
 receive rny property at a just valuation, I may be ready to arrange 
 the mutter with him, for I have no disposition to deny the debt, or 
 to avoid its payment; but, as he has adopted his own mode of pro- 
 ceeding, I am ready to abide by it. Good morning, Mr. Meekly ; I 
 see no use in your accompanying me any further." 
 
 I was thus decided, because I saw I had to deal with an extor- 
 tioner. A rogue himself, Mr. Daggett was afraid I might get rid of 
 my personal property before he could issue an execution by the re- 
 gular mode ; and he anticipated frightening or constraining me into 
 an arrangement. It would be my business to disappoint him ; and 
 I assumed an air of confidence that soon shook off my companion . 
 A few minutes later, the key of the 'old stone debtor's gaol was 
 turned upon me. I had a little money, and reluctant to be shut up 
 with the company I found in the building, I succeeded in procuring 
 a small, ill-furnished room, to myself. 
 
 These preliminaries were hardiy settled, when Neb was admitted 
 with the bag. The poor fellow had been in tears ; for he not only 
 felt for me, but he felt for the disgrace and misfortune which had 
 alighted on the whole Clawbonny stock. He had yet to learn that 
 the place itself was gone, and 1 shrank from telling him the fact ; 
 for, to his simple mind, it would be like forcing body and soul 
 asunder. All the negroes considered themselves as a part of Claw- 
 bonny, and a separation must have appeared in their eyes like some
 
 282 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 natural convulsion. Neb brought me a letter. It was sealed with 
 wax, and bore the impression of the Hardingc arms. There was 
 also an envelope, and the address had been written by Rupert. In 
 short, everything about this letter denoted ease, fashion, fastidious- 
 ness, and the observance of forms. I lost no time in reading the 
 contents, which I copy, verbatim. 
 
 " Broadway, Wednesday morning. 
 " DEAR WALLINGFORD, 
 
 " It has just occurred to me that the enclosed may be of service to 
 you 5 and I reproach myself for not having bethought me of your 
 probable necessities when I saw you. I regret it is not in my power 
 to ask you to dine with me, en famille, to-day 5 but Mrs. Hardinge 
 has company, and we are engaged out every other day this week. 
 I shall fall in with you again, some day, however, when I hope to be 
 less engaged. Lucy has just heard of your safety and arrival, and 
 has gone to write a note to my father, who will be glad to learn you 
 are still in the land of the living. The General, who lives with us, 
 desires to be mentioned, and hopes when he returns to England, it 
 may be as your passenger. Adieu, dear Wallingford , I shall never 
 forget our boyish pranks, which, I dare say, sometimes cause you 
 to smile. 
 
 " Your's, etc. 
 
 " RUPEET HARDINGE." 
 
 This letter contained a bank-note for twenty dollars ! Yes, the 
 man to whom I had given twenty thousand dollars, sent me, in my 
 distress, this generous donation, to relieve my wants. I need 
 hardly say, I sent the bank-note back to him, by the hands of Neb, 
 on the instant, with a cold note of acknowledgment. I had no 
 occasion for his charity, at least. 
 
 I passed a most uncomfortable hour alone, after Neb was gone. 
 Then a turnkey came to inform me that a gentleman and lady a 
 clergyman, he believed, were in the private parlour, and wished to 
 see me. It was doubtless Mr. Hardinge could his companion be 
 Lucy? I was too anxious, too eager, to lose anytime, and rushing 
 towards the room, was at once admitted. There they were Lucy 
 and her father. Neb had seen Chloe, in calling at Rupert's door ; 
 had heard much and told much. Mr. Hardinge was on the point 
 of going in quest of me; but, learning where 1 was, he had barely 
 given his daughter time to put on a hat and shawl, and conducting 
 her across the Park, brought her himself to visit me in prison. I 
 saw, at a glance, that Lucy was dreadfully agitated ; that she was 
 pale, though still handsomer than ever 5 and that she was Lucy her- 
 self, in character, as in person. 
 
 " Miles, my dear, dear boy! " cried the good old divine, folding 
 me in his arms, " for this mercy, may God alone receive the praise !
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 23 
 
 Everybody gave you up, but Lucy and myself-, and we could not, 
 would not believe you, too, were lost to us for ever ! " 
 
 As my former guardian still clasped me to his bosom, as if I still 
 remained a child, I could perceive that dear Lucy was weeping as 
 if ready to break her heart ; then she looked up, and tried to 
 smile, though I could see the effort was made solely on my account. 
 I caught her extended hand, and kissed it over and over again. 
 The dear, dear girl^trembled in every fibre of her body. 
 
 " All my misfortunes are forgotten," I cried, " in finding you 
 you thus, in finding you unchanged, in finding you still Lucy Har- 
 dinge!" 
 
 I scarce knew what I was uttering, though I saw Lucy's face was 
 covered with blushes, and that a smile, which I found of inexpli- 
 cable signification, now rose readily enough to her beautiful mouth. 
 On the whole, I think there must have been some eight or ten mi- 
 nutes, during which neither of the three knew particularly well 
 what was said or done. Lucy was both smiles and tears; though 
 keen anxiety to know what had occurred, and how I came to be in 
 gaol, was strongly expressed in her countenance, as well as in some 
 of her words. As for myself, I was beside myself, and acted like 
 a fool. 
 
 After a time, we were all seated, when I narrated the manner in 
 which I had lost my ship, and the reason why Clawbonny had been 
 sold, and why I supposed I was thus arrested. 
 
 " I am glad my cousin, John Wallingford, had no concern with 
 these transactions ; though I deeply regret the reason why my bond 
 has passed into other hands. It would have rendered my misfor- 
 tunes still harder to be borne, could I suppose that a kinsman had 
 laid so deep a plot to ruin me, under the semblance of kindness. 
 His death, however, sets that point at rest." 
 
 " I do not like his talking of making you his heir, and neglecting 
 to do it," rejoined Mr. Hardinge. "Men should never promise, 
 and forget to redeem their words : it has a suspicious look." 
 
 Lucy had not spoken the whole time I was relating my story : 
 her serene eye beamed on me in a way to betray the interest she 
 felt-, but not a syllable escaped her, until her father had made the 
 observation just given. 
 
 " It is of no moment now," she then said, " what may have been 
 the motive of Mr. John Wallingford. With Miles, I thought him a 
 rough, but an honest man; but honest men may be pardoned for 
 not foreseeing their own sudden deaths. The question now, my 
 dear father, is, how Miles can be got out of this wretched place, in 
 the shortest possible time." 
 
 " Ay, Miles, my dear boy ; Heaven forbid you should sleep in 
 such a spot. How shall we go to work ? " 
 
 u J am afraid, sir, I shall sleep many nights here. The debt I 
 really owe is about thirteen thousand dollars; and the writ, 1 believe,
 
 &4 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 is issued for the entire penalty of the bond. As the motive for ar- 
 resting me is probably to drive me into a compromise, by con- 
 fessing judgment, and giving up my personal property to be sacri- 
 ficed, as Clawbonny has been, it is not probable that bail for a less 
 amount than the law allows the plaintiff to claim, will be received. 
 I do not know the man who will become surety for me in that 
 amount." 
 
 "Well, I know two Rupert and myself." 
 
 The idea of receiving such a favour from Rupert was particularly 
 unpleasant to me , and I saw by the expression of Lucy's face that 
 she entered in my feelings. 
 
 "I am afraid, sir," I said, after thanking Mr. Hardinge by a 
 warm pressure of the hand, that you are not rich enough. The 
 deputy-sheriff has told me he has instructions to be rigid about the 
 bail -, and I apprehend neither you, nor Rupert, can swear he is 
 worth fifty thousand dollars." 
 
 *' Bless me ! bless me! Is that really necessary, Miles ? " 
 
 " If required, I believe the law insists on security to the amount 
 of the judgment claimed. Rupert lives largely, I sec, and yet I 
 doubt if he would be willing to swear to that." 
 
 Mr. Hardinge's face became very sorrowful 5 and he paused a 
 moment before answering. 
 
 "I am not in Rupert's secrets, neither is Lucy," he then said. 
 " I hope all is right : though the thought that he might possibly 
 play, has sometimes crossed my anxious mind. He is married to 
 Miss Merton ; has purchased and furnished a Rroadway house, and 
 is living at a large rate. When I spoke to him on the subject, he 
 asked me, if 1 thought 'English ladies of condition gave empty 
 hands in marriage ? ' I don't know how it is, my dear Miles, but I 
 always fancied that the Mertons had nothing but the Colonel's salary 
 to live on." 
 
 " Major Merton," I answered, laying an emphasis on the brevet 
 rank the worthy individual actually possessed, " Major Merton has 
 told me as much as this himself." 
 
 Mr. Hardinge actually groaned, and I saw that Lucy turned pale 
 as death. The former had no knowledge of the true character of 
 his son ; but he had all the apprehensions that a father would na- 
 turally feel under such circumstances. I saw the necessity, nay, 
 the humanity of relieving both. 
 
 "You know me too well, my dear guardian excellent Lucy to 
 think that I would deliberately deceive either of you. What I now 
 tell you, is to prevent Rupert from being too harshly judged. I 
 know whence Rupert derived a large sum of money, previously to 
 my sailing. It was legally obtained, and is, or was, rightfully his. 
 I do not say it was large enough long to maintain him in the style 
 in which he lives-, but it can so maintain him a few years. You need 
 fear neither cards, nor positive dishonesty. Rupert has nodisposi-
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 2?5 
 
 tion for either : he dislikes the first, and is loo prudent, for tholast." 
 
 " God be thanked for this! " the divine exclaimed devoutly. " I 
 had really frightened myself with my own folly. So, so, Master 
 Rupert, you have been making money, and holding your peace ! 
 Well, I like his modesty ; Rupert is clever, Miles, and I trust wilt 
 one day take an honourable station at the bar. His marriage has 
 been a little too early, for one of his means, perhaps 5 but I feel 
 encouraged now that 1 find he can make money honourably, and 
 legally, and justly." 
 
 I had said nothing of the honourable, or the just : but what weak- 
 ness will not parental affection encourage? As for Lucy, her coun- 
 tenance told me she suspected the truth. Never before had I seen 
 on those usually placid, and always lovely features, an expression 
 of so much humiliation. For a single instant, it almost amounted 
 to anguish. Recovering her self-possession, however, she was the, 
 first to turn the discourse to its proper channel. 
 
 " All this time we are forgetting Miles," she said. " It would 
 seem, father, that he thinks neither you nor Rupert rich enough to 
 be his bail ; can / be of any use, in this way ?" 
 
 Lucy spoke firmly, and in the manner of one who was beginning 
 to be accustomed to consider herself of some account in the way of 
 money : but a bright flush suffused her face, as she thus seemed to 
 make herself of more moment than was her wont to pass out of 
 her sex, as it might be. 
 
 " A thousand thanks, dearest Lucy, for the offer," I said, eagerly, 
 " but could you become my bail, I certainly would not permit it, 
 It is enough that you come to visit me here, without further con- 
 necting your name with my debts. A minor, however, cannot 
 become security. Mr. Daggett will keep me here for a few weeks ; 
 when he finds I am employing agents to sell my effects, I fancy ho 
 is sufficiently a rogue himself, to apprehend the money will get 
 beyond the reach of his execution, and he will offer to compromise. 
 Once at large, I can always go to sea ; if not as master, at least, 
 as a mate." 
 
 "Had we been as prudas yourself, Miles, Clawbonny would 
 have been less dear to us." 
 
 "It is not pride, but propriety, Lucy, to prevent you from doing 
 a thing for which there is no necessity,' and which might subject 
 you to impertinent observations. No, I '11 set about disposing of 
 my personal property at once ; that will soon bring Mr. Daggett to 
 some sense of decency." 
 
 "If a minor cannot be received as bail, there is no more to be 
 said," Lucy answered ; "else would I prove to you, Miles, that I 
 can be as obstinate as you are yourself. At all events, I can be a 
 purchaser of jewels, if wanting a few months of my majority; fortu- 
 nately, I have nearly a year's income on hand. You see, Miles," > 
 Lucy again blushed brightly, though she smiled " what an accoun-
 
 286 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 tant I am getting to be ; but I can commence at once, by purchasing 
 your pearls. They are already in my possession for safe keeping, 
 and many is the covetous glance they have received from me. 
 Those precious pearls ! I think you valued them at three thousand 
 dollars, Miles," Lucy continued, " and my father will at once pay 
 you that sum on my behalf. Then send for the lawyer of your 
 persecutor, for I can call him nothing else, and offer to pay that 
 much on his demand, provided he will accept my father as bail. If 
 he be the sort of being you fancy him, and so his acts, I think, 
 prove him to be, he will be glad to accept the offer." 
 
 I was delighted at the readiness of resources this proved in Lucy, 
 nor was the project in the least unlikely to succeed. Could I get 
 four or five thousand dollars together, I had no doubt Daggett would 
 accept Mr. Hardinge for bail, as it was only as surety for my ap- 
 pearance in court, that was then required, and no one could 
 really think I would abscond and leave my old guardian in the 
 lurch. Still, I could not think of thus robbing Lucy. Left to her 
 own sense of propriety, I well knew she would never dream of in- 
 vesting so large a sum as the pearls were really worth in ornaments 
 for her person ; and the pearls were worth but little more than half 
 the sum she had named. 
 
 " This will not do," I answered, expressing my gratitude with 
 my eyes, " and no more need be said about it. I cannot rob you, 
 dearest Lucy, because you are so ready to submit to be robbed. 
 Leave me here a few days, and Mr. Meekly will come to volunteer 
 a plan of setting me free." 
 
 "I have it!" exclaimed Mr. Hardinge, jumping up and seizing- 
 his hat. " Lucy, I '11 be back in fifteen minutes 5 then we '11 bear 
 Miles off in triumph to your own house. Yes, yes, the scheme 
 cannot fail with a lawyer of any respectability." 
 
 "May I know what it is, dear papa!" Lucy asked, glancing 
 expressively towards me. 
 
 "Why, it 's just this. 1 '11 go and find the bishop, who '11 do 
 anything to oblige me, and he and I '11 go in company to this 
 Mr. Meekly's office, and pledge our words as divines, that Miles 
 shall appear in court, as the under-sheriff told me would be re- 
 quired, when all will be settled to our heart's content. On my 
 way to the bishop's, I '11 just step in at Richard Harrison's office, 
 and take his opinion in the matter." 
 
 "Well, sir, the notion of seeing Richard Harrison is a good one. 
 He may suggest something in the way of practice that will be useful 
 to us. If you could step across the way and get him to pay me a 
 short visit, I should be infinitely obliged to you. I was about to 
 take his advice on the subject of my insurance when arrested, and 
 I wish that point disposed of." 
 
 . Mr. Hardinge listened attentively, and then he left the room, 
 telling Lucy he would be back in a few minutes. It might have
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 587 
 
 been an awkward situation for most young ladies, thus to be left 
 alone with a prisoner in gaol ; but Lucy was so much accustomed 
 to the intimacy that bound us together, I do not think its peculia- 
 rities struck her at the moment. When her father went out of the 
 room, she was in deep thought, nor did she appear to rouse herself 
 from it until he had been gone some little time. Lucy was seated, 
 but I had risen to sec Mr. Hardinge to the door of the room, and 
 was walking slowly back and forth. The dear girl arose, came to 
 me, took one of my hands in both her own, and looked anxiously 
 into my face for some little time ere she spoke. 
 
 " Miles," she said, " I will say no more of the pearls, no more 
 of my own money, and will prevent all allusion to Rupert's appear- 
 ing in your behalf, if you will accept the bail I can provide for you. 
 I know a gentleman who will accept my word as his surety, who 
 is rich enough to be received, and who is under a deep obligation 
 to you, for I have often heard him say as much. You may not 
 know how ready he will be to oblige you, but 1 do 5 and I now ask 
 you to give me your word you will not refuse his assistance, even 
 though he should be an utter stranger to you?" 
 
 " How is it possible, Lucy, that you can have any knowledge of 
 such a person ? " 
 
 "Oh! you cannot imagine what a woman of business I am 
 becoming ! You would not refuse me for your bail were I a man, 
 and of age, Miles ! " 
 
 " Certainly not : feeling as I do towards you, Lucy, I would 
 sooner receive such a favour from you, than from any human being. 
 But you are not a man, thank God, nor of age." 
 
 " Then promise me the small favour of accepting this service 
 from the person I shall send to you. It would break all our hearts 
 to think you were remaining here in gaol, while we are living in 
 luxury. I will not relinquish your hand, till you give me a pro- 
 mise." 
 
 " That look is sufficient, Lucy, I promise all you can ask." 
 
 So intense had the feelings of the dear girl become, that she burst 
 into tears the moment her mind was relieved,. and covered her face 
 with both hands. It was but a passing burst of feeling, and a 
 radiant smile soon chased every trace of sorrow from her sweet, 
 sweet countenance. 
 
 " Now, Miles, I am certafn we shall soon have you out of this horrid 
 place," she cried 5 " and before the execution they tell us of can 
 issue, as they call it, we shall have time to make some proper ar- 
 rangement for you. I shall be of age by that time; and I can at 
 least become your creditor, instead of that odious Mr. Daggett, 
 You would not hesitate to owe me money, Miles, in preference 
 to him?" 
 
 "Dearest Lucy, there is nothing I would not be willing to owe
 
 288 LUCY IIARDINGE. 
 
 lo you, and that in preference to any other living creature, not even 
 excepting your revered and beloved father." 
 
 Lucy looked deeply gratified ; and I saw another of those inexpli- 
 cable smiles lurk around her lovely mouth, which almost tempted 
 me to demand an explanation of its meaning. Ere there was time 
 for this, however, her countenance became very, very sad, and 
 she turned her tearful eyes toward me. 
 
 "Miles, I fear I understood your allusion, when you spoke of 
 Rupert's money," she said. " I feared poor, sainted Grace would 
 do this; and I knew you would strip yourself of every dollar to comply 
 with her wishes. I wonder the idea never occurred to me before; 
 but it is so hard to think ill of a brother ! I ask no questions, for I 
 see you are determined not to answer them perhaps have given a 
 pledge to your sister to that effect : but we cannot live under this 
 disgrace; and the day I am twenty-one, this grievous, grievous 
 wrong must be repaired. I know that Grace's fortune had accumu- 
 lated to more than twenty thousand dollars; and that is a sum 
 sufficient to pay all you owe, and to leave you enough to begin the 
 world anew." 
 
 " Even were what you fancy true, do you think I would consent 
 to rob you, to pay Rupert's debts?" 
 
 " Talk not of robbery. I could not exist under the degradation 
 of thinking any of us had your money, while debt and imprisonment 
 thus bung over you. There is but one thing that can possibly 
 prevent my paying you back Grace's fortune, the day I am of age, as 
 you will see, Miles." 
 
 Again that inexplicable smile passed over Lucy's face, and I was 
 resolved to ask its meaning, when the approaching footstep of 
 Mr. Hardinge prevented it. 
 
 " Mr. Harrison is not in," cried the divine, as he entered the 
 room ; " but I left a note for him, telling him that his old acquain- 
 tance, Captain Wallingford, had pressing need of his services. He 
 has gone to Greenwich, to his country place, but will be back in the 
 course of the day, and I have desired he will come to Wall Street, 
 the instant he can. I would not blazon your misfortunes, Miles ; 
 but the moment he arrives, you shall hear from him. He is an old 
 school-fellow of mine, and will be prompt to oblige me. Now, 
 Miss Lucy, I am about to release you from prison. I saw a certain 
 Mr. Drewett walking in the direction of Wall Street, and had the 
 charity to tell him you would be at home in ten minutes." 
 
 Lucy arose with an alacrity I could hardly forgive. The colour 
 deepened on her face, and I thought she even hurried her father 
 away, in a manner that was scarcely sufficiently reserved. Ere 
 they left the room, however, the dear girl took an opportunity to 
 say, in a low voice, " Remember, Miles, I hold you strictly to your 
 promise ; in one hour you shall be free."
 
 LUCY HARDINGK. 289 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER XX VIII. 
 
 " She half enclosed me in her arms, 
 She pressed me with a meek embrace ; 
 And bending back her head, looked up 
 And gazed upon my face." 
 
 COLERIDGE. 
 
 I saw no one for the next two hours. A window of the parlour, 
 where I was permitted to remain, overlooked the soi-disani park, or 
 rather JJ/anAataw-disant, and it was not long before 1 caught a 
 glimpse of my mate and Neb, lying off and on, or blockading the 
 gaol, lest I should be secretly carried to parts unknown, or some 
 other great evil should approach me from without. What these 
 two honest and affectionate fellows meant by thus maintaining their 
 post, I did not know, it is true; but such was my conjecture. At 
 length Neb disappeared, and was absent an hour. When he re- 
 turned, he had a coil of rope over his shoulder, when the two took 
 a station at a safe distance from my prison, and began to measure 
 off fathoms, to cut, knot, and splice. I was amused with their di- 
 ligence, which made no abatement until it was interrupted by myself. 
 Of the manner in which that was effected, I shall have occasion to 
 speak presently. 
 
 About two hours after I was left by Lucy and her father, a keeper 
 came to announce another visitor. I was expecting my own at- 
 torney, or Mr. Harrison ; but the reader will judge of my surprise 
 when Andrew Drewett entered the room. He was accompanied by 
 the gaoler, who held a letter in his hand, and who astounded me by 
 saying 
 
 "Captain Wallingford, I have instructions here to open the door 
 for you bail has been entered." 
 The gaoler disappeared. 
 " And this I owe to you, Mr. Drewett ! " 
 
 "I wish I could say as much, with all my heart, my dear sir," 
 Andrew replied, taking my hand, and giving it a warm, cordial 
 shake ; "but it would not be strictly true. After saving my life, I 
 should not have suffered you to lie in gaol for want of so small a 
 favour as giving bail for your appearance in court, certainly ; but 
 would, and will, gladly be your special bail, at the proper time. 
 Let the credit fall, however, only where it is due. Miss Hardinge 
 asked me to obtain your release, and her wishes are second only to 
 my own gratitude." 
 
 This was said in a frank, manly manner ; and I wondered I had 
 never viewed Andrew Drewett in a light so favourable before. He 
 had improved in person, bore himself like a gentleman, I now 
 thought, and was every way a pleasing, well-mannered, well* 
 
 19
 
 290 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 dressed, and intelligent-looking young man. I could do all justice 
 to him but pardon him Lucy's preference. 
 
 " Lucy can never forget our childish intimacy," I said, a little 
 confused. " She left me, declaring an intention to do something 
 of the sort ; though I confess I was not exactly prepared for this. 
 You are a man to be envied, Mr. Drewett, if any man on earth is!" 
 
 Andrew looked embarrassed. He glanced at me, coloured, 
 turned his look out at the window, then, by a vast effort, seemed 
 to regain his self-command. 
 
 "1 believe I understand you, Wallingford," he said. "You 
 mean in being engaged to Lucy Hardinge ? " 
 
 "I can mean nothing else all I hear all I have seen this last 
 act, in particular, tells me as much." 
 
 "All have then told you wrong. I am not so fortunate as to pos- 
 sess the affections of Miss Hardinge , and no man will gain her hand 
 who does not first obtain her heart ay, and her whole heart, 
 loo." 
 
 I was astounded! What! Lucy not engaged to Drewett; not 
 loving him, by his own admission; not likely to love him! I be- 
 lieve Andrew had no difficulty in comprehending my feelings in 
 part, for he seemed disposed to continue the subject ; and, what 
 was infinitely to his credit, to continue it in a way that should leave 
 no unpleasant uncertainty hanging about the real position of the 
 dear girl. 
 
 " It is only quite lately," he said, " that I have seen the great in- 
 justice that I and my family have unconsciously committed towards 
 Miss Hardinge. As you are an old, a very old friend of hers, I 
 will be explicit with you, and endeavour, in some small degree, to 
 excuse myself; though I feel that it can never be done fully. You 
 tell me that you have heard I was engaged to Miss Hardinge ? " 
 
 " Unquestionably, I think it was the opinion of her own father; 
 though he must have believed the promise conditional, as Lucy 
 never would marry without his approbation." 
 
 " Mr. Hardinge has then been strangely misled. It is true, Mr. 
 Wallingford, that I have long admired Miss Hardinge, and that I 
 offered myself years ago. I was refused from the first. But Lucy 
 had the frankness to own that she was free to dispose of her hand ; 
 and I persevered contrary to her advice, her wishes, and I may 
 say, her entreaties. I think she esteems me; and I know she has 
 a strong regard for my mother, who is almost as fond of her as I 
 am myself. This esteem and regard I hoped might ripen into love, 
 and my presumption has brought its own punishment. It is now 
 about six months I remember it was shortly after we heard of 
 your probable loss that I had a final conversation with her on the 
 subject, when I became convinced my prospects were hopeless. 
 Since that time, I have endeavoured to conquer my passion ; for 
 love unrequited, I suppose you know, will not last for ever; and I
 
 LUCY HARDIMGE. 291 
 
 have so far succeeded, as to tell you all this without feeling the 
 pain it would once have cost me. Still, I retain the deepest re- 
 spect for Miss Hardinge, and a single encouraging look would even 
 now recall me. I am of opinion, however, she intends never to 
 marry. But let us quit this place, which has no longer any claim 
 on you." 
 
 I was in a state scarcely to know what I did. It was compara- 
 tively little to me to learn I was free myself, after so unexpectedly 
 learning that Lucy was also free. Lucy, whom I bad for years 
 supposed to be irrevocably engaged ; and whom I had continued to 
 love even against hope. Andrew Drewett, I fancied, had never 
 loved as I did, or he would not have made the speech he did ; or, 
 his love for Lucy had not been a part of his existence from boyhood, 
 as mine had certainly been. While all these thoughts were passing 
 through my mind, I gave a few directions, took Drewett's arm, and 
 hurried out of the gaol. 
 
 I confess that I respired more freely when I found myself in the 
 open air. My companion took my direction, and I led him to the 
 spot where Marble and Neb were still at work on their rope. Great 
 was their surprise on seeing me at large ; and I thought the mate 
 looked a little disappointed, though he comprehended the matter at 
 once, as soon as he saw Drewett. 
 
 " If you had only waited till night, Miles," Marble said, shaking 
 his head as one menaces, " Neb and I would have shown that infer- 
 nal gaol a seaman's fashion of quitting it. I 'm almost sorry the 
 occasion is lost, for it would have done their stomachs good to wake 
 up at two bells, and find their cage empty. I 've half a mind to ask 
 you to go back, boy ! " 
 
 " But I 've no mind to comply with the request; so do me the 
 favour to have my bag carried back to our lodgings, where I intend 
 to swing my hammock again to-night. Mr. Drewett, I must hasten 
 to thank her to whom I owe my freedom ; will you accompany 
 me?" 
 
 Andrew excused himself ; and receiving my thanks, once more 
 we parted with a hearty shake of the hands. I then hastened 
 towards Wall Street, and knocked at Lucy's door; (there were 
 knockers to good houses in New York, in 1804, a vile nuisance 
 having been since well gotten rid of,) and I knocked at Lucy's 
 door, scarce conscious of the manner in which I had got there. It 
 was near the dinner-hour, and the footman was demurring about 
 admitting a sailor-man, who hardly knew what he said, when a 
 little scream from Chloe, who happened to see me, soon disposed 
 of my claim for an entrance. 
 
 " Masser Mile! Masser Mile! I so grad dat feller, Neb, say 
 you come home. Oh! Masser Mile, now, I know dat de rascal at 
 Clawbonny get druv' off!" 
 
 This speech, confident as it was, a little cooled my ardour by
 
 20? LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 reminding mo I was a beggar, in the figurative meaning of the word. 
 Chloe led the way, however, and I was soon in the drawing-room, 
 and in the presence of the youthful mistress of the house. How 
 gloriously beautiful did Lucy then appear ! She had dressed for 
 dinner, as usual, but it was in the simplest and neatest manner. 
 Her face was radiant with the pleasure of seeing me where I was, 
 and excitement had deepened the colour on her cheeks, which were 
 never pale, except with emotions. As for her eyes, I can only 
 describe them by the homely phrase, that " they danced for joy." 
 
 " Now, Miles," she said, holding out both hands to meet me, 
 " this is redeeming your pledge, and behaving as you should. 
 Andrew Drewett was delighted with an opportunity of doing some- 
 thing for the man who saved his life, and my only fear was of your 
 obstinacy." 
 
 " After all I have heard from Andrew Drewett, beloved Lucy, you 
 never need fear anything from my obstinacy hereafter. He not only 
 has released my body from prison, but he has released my spirits 
 from the weight of a mountain, by honestly confessing you do not 
 love him." 
 
 The play of roseate light on an autumnal sky at evening, is not 
 more beautiful than the changing tints that passed over Lucy's beau- 
 tiful face. She did not speak at first ; but so intent, so inquiring 
 was her look, while at the same time it was so timid and modest, 
 that I scarce needed the question that she finally succeeded in 
 asking. 
 
 " What is it you wish to say, Miles?" at length came from her in 
 faltering tone?- 
 
 " To ask to be permitted to keep these hands for ever. Not 
 one, Lucy ; one will not satisfy a love like mine, a love that 
 has got to be interwoven with my being, from having formed 
 a part of my very existence from boyhood 5 yes, I ask for 
 both. " 
 
 " You have them both, dear, dear Miles, and can ke,ep them 
 as long as you please." 
 
 Even while this was in the course of utterance, the hands were 
 snatched from me to be applied to their owner's face, and the dear 
 girl burst into a flood of tears. I folded her in my arms, seated 
 myself at her side on a sofa, and am not ashamed to say that we 
 wept together. I shall not reveal all that passed during the next 
 quarter of an hour, nor am 1 quite certain that I could, were I to make 
 the attempt-, but I well recollect my arm was around Lucy's slender 
 waist at the end of that brief period. What was said was not 
 very coherent, nor do I know that anybody would care to hear or 
 read it. 
 
 " Why have you so long delayed to tell me this, Miles! " Lucy 
 at length inquired, a little reproachfully. " You who have had 
 so many opportunities, and might have known how it would have
 
 LUCY HARDliNGE. 293 
 
 been received I How much misery and suffering it would have saved 
 us both!" 
 
 " For that which it has caused yow, dearest, I shall never 
 forgive myself; but as for that / have endured, it is only too well 
 merited. But I thought you loved Drewelt; everybody said you 
 were to marry him ; even your own father believed and told me as 
 much." 
 
 " Poor, dear papa! He little knew my heart. One thing, how- 
 ever, he did that would have prevented my ever marrying any one, 
 Miles, so long as you lived." 
 
 " Heaven for ever bless him for that, as well as for all his other 
 good deeds ! What was it, Lucy ? " 
 
 ' When we heard of the supposed loss of your ship, he believed 
 it, but I did not. Why I did not believe what all around me 
 thought was true, is more than I can explain, unless Providence 
 humanely sustained me by hope. But when my father thought you 
 dead, in conversing of all your good qualities, Miles, and he loved 
 you almost as well as his daughter " 
 
 " God bless him, dear old gentleman! but what did he tell YOU, 
 Lucy?" 
 
 " You will never learn if you thus interrupt me, Miles," Lucy 
 answered, smiling saucily in my face, though she permitted me 
 still to hold both her hands, as if I had taken possession of them 
 literally with an intent to keep them, blushing at the same time as 
 much with happiness, I thought, as with the innate modesty of her 
 nature. " Have a little patience, and I will tell you. When my 
 father thought you dead, he told me the manner in which you had 
 confessed to him the preference you felt for me ; and do you, can you 
 think, after I was thus put in possession of such a secret, I could listen 
 to Andrew Drewett, or to any one else?" 
 
 I shall not reveal what followed this speech ; but I may say that, 
 in the course of the next ten minutes, Lucy mildly reproached me 
 again for having so long delayed my declaration. 
 
 " I knew you so well, Miles," she continued, smiling as for 
 blushing, that she did nearly the whole of the remainder of the day 
 "I know you so well, Miles, that I am afraid I should have 
 made the declaration myself, had you not found your tongue. 
 Silly fellow ! how could you suppose I would ever love any but 
 you ! see here !" 
 
 She drew the locket I had given her from her dress, and placed 
 it in my hands, still warm from lying near her heart! I had no 
 choice but to kiss Lucy again, or to kiss this locket : and I did 
 both, by way of leaving no further gj-ounds for self- reproach. 
 I say, kiss her again, for, to own the truth, I had already done 
 so many times in that interview. 
 
 At length, Chloe put her head in at the door, having taken 
 the precaution first to give a gentle tap, to inquire if dinner
 
 294 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 should be served. Lucy dined at four, and it was now drawing 
 toward five. 
 
 **" Has my father come in?" demanded the young mistress of 
 her attendant. 
 
 ' Not yet, Miss Lucy ; but he nebber t'ink much of dinner, 
 Miss Lucy, ma'am ; and masser Mile been so long a sailor, dat 
 1 t'ink he must be hungry. I hear dat he hab berry hard time, 
 dis v'y'ge, Miss Lucy too hard for old masser and missus son ! " 
 
 "Ay, y u nav e seen Neb,, if the truth were told, Miss Chloe," 
 I cried 5 "and he has been charming your ear with Othello-tales 
 of his risks and hardships to make you love him." 
 
 I cannot say that Chloe actually blushed ; or, if she did, the 
 spectators were none the wiser for the weakness. But, dark as 
 was the skin of this honest-hearted girl, she had most affec- 
 tionate feelings, and even her features could betray the emotions 
 she entertained. 
 
 "De feller !" she exclaimed " What Miss Lucy please order? 
 Shall 'e cook dish up ? " 
 
 "We will have dinner," Lucy answered, with a smile, Chloe's 
 eyes dancing with a sort of wild delight. "Tell John to serve 
 it; Mr. Hardinge will be home soon, in all probability; we shall 
 be only us three at table." 
 
 The mentioning of the table caused me to cast an eye at my dress ; 
 and the sight of my mate's attire neat, and in truth becoming as 
 it was, to one who had no reason to be ashamed of his figure- 
 caused me to recollect my poverty, and to feel one twinge at the 
 distance that Ihe world might fancy its own opinions placed between 
 us. As for birth, my own family was too respectable, and my 
 education had been too good, to leave me now any very keen regrets 
 on such a subject, in a state of society like ours ; but there was 
 truly a wide chasm between the heiress of Mrs. Bradfort and a 
 penniless mate of a ship. Lucy understood me; and, slipping her 
 arm through mine, she walked into the library, saying archly, as 
 she drew me gently along 
 
 " It is a very easy thing, Miles, to get skirts made to your round- 
 about." 
 
 "No doubt, Lucy; but, with whose money? I have been in 
 such a tumult of happiness, as to have forgotten that I am a beggar 
 that I am not a suitable match for you ! Had I only Clawbonny, I 
 should feel less humiliated ; with Clawbonny, I could feel myself 
 entitled to some portion of the world's consideration." 
 
 We were in the library by this time. Lucy looked at me a mo- 
 ment intently; and I could see she was pained at my allusion. 
 Taking a little key from a cabinet where she kept it, she opened a 
 small drawer, and showed me the identical gold pieces that had 
 once been in my possession, and which I had returned to her, after 
 my first voyage to sea. I perceived that the pearls she had obtained
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 205 
 
 under Grace's bequest, as well as those which were my own pro- 
 perty, if I could be said to own anything, were kept in the same 
 place. Holding the gold in the palm of a little hand, that was as 
 soft as velvet and as white as ivory, she said 
 
 " You once took all I had, Miles, and this without pretending to 
 more than a brother's love ; why should you hesitate to do it again, 
 now you say you wish to become my husband ?" 
 
 " Precious creature ! I believe you will cure me of even my silly 
 pride." Then taking up the pearls, I threw them on her neck, where 
 they hung in a long chain, rivalling the skin with which they came 
 in contact. "There ! I have said these pearls should be an offer- 
 ing to my wife, and I now make it though 1 scarce know how they 
 are to be kept from the grasp of Daggett." 
 
 Lucy kissed the pearls I knew she did not do it on account of any 
 love for them and tears came into her eyes. I believe she had 
 long waited to receive this gift, in the precise character in which it 
 was now received. 
 
 " Thank you, dear Miles," she said -, "you see how freely I ac- 
 cept your gifts ; and why should you hesitate to receive mine? As 
 for this Mr. Dagget, it will be easy enough to get rid of his claim. I 
 shall be of age before he can bring his cause to trial, as I learn 5 
 then nothing will be easier than for Miles Wallingford to pay all his 
 debts, for by that time all that is now mine will be yours. No, no 
 this Mr. Daggett shall not easily rob me of this precious gift." 
 
 " Rupert," I said, by way of getting her answer. 
 
 "Rupert will not influence my conduct, any further than I shall 
 insist on returning every dollar he has received from you, in the 
 name of our sainted Grace. But I hear my father's voice, and speak- 
 ing to some other person. I had hoped we should dine alone !" 
 
 The door of the library opened, and Mr. Hardinge entered, fol- 
 loved by a grave-looking, elderly man, of respectable mien, and a 
 manner that denoted one accustomed to deal with matters of weight. 
 I knew this person at once to be Richard Harrison, then one of the 
 most distinguished lawyers of America, and the gentleman to whom 
 I had been carried by John Walliugford, when the latter pressed me 
 to make my will. Mr. Harrison shook me cordially by the hand, 
 after saluting Lucy, whom he knew intimately. I saw at once that 
 something unusual was working in his mind. This highly respec- 
 table advocate was a man of method and of great coolness of manner 
 in the management of affairs, and he proceeded to business at once, 
 using very little circumlocution. 
 
 " I have been surprised to hear that my worthy client and friend, 
 Mr. John Wallingford, is dead," he observed. " I do not know how 
 his decease should have escaped my notice in the papers, unless it 
 were owing to a pretty severe illness I suffered myself about the 
 time it occurred. My good friend, Mr. Hardinge, told it to me, for 
 the first time, only half an hour since."
 
 296 LUCY HARDWGE. * 
 
 " It is true, sir," I answered. " I understand my kinsman died 
 eight months since." 
 
 " And he held your bond for forty thousand dollars at the time 
 he died?" 
 
 " 'I regret to say he did; a bond secured by a mortgage on my 
 paternal place, Clawbonny, which has since been sold, by virtue of 
 the power contained in the clauses, under the statute, and sold for a 
 song-, less than a fourth of its value." 
 
 " And you have been arrested, at the suit of the administrator, 
 for the balance due on the bond?" 
 
 " I have, sir; and am liberated on general bail, only within an 
 hour or two." 
 
 " Well, sir, all these proceedings can be, and must be set aside. 
 I have already given instructions to prepare an application to the 
 chancellor for an injunction, and, unless your kinsman's adminis- 
 trator is a great dunce, you will be in peaceable possession of Claw- 
 bonny again, in less than a month if a moderately sensible man, 
 in less than twenty-four hours." 
 
 " You would not raise hopes that are idle, Mr. Harrison ; yet I do 
 not understand how all this well can be ! " 
 
 " Your kinsman, Mr. John Wallingford, who was a much esteemed 
 client of mine, made a will, which will 1 drew myself, and which will 
 being left in my possession for that purpose, I now put in your hands 
 as his sole executor. By that will, you will perceive that he espe- 
 cially forgives you the debt of forty thousand dollars, and releases 
 the claim underthe mortgage. But this is notall. After giving some 
 small legacies to a few of his female relatives, he has left you the re- 
 siduary legatee, and I know enough of his affairs to be certain thatyou 
 will receive an addition to your estate of more than two hundred 
 thousand dollars. John Wallingford was a character but he was a mo- 
 ney-making character; had he lived twenty years longer, he would 
 have been one of the richest men in the state. He had laid an excel- 
 lent foundation, but he died too soon to rear the golden structure." 
 
 What a change of circumstances was here! I was not only vir- 
 tually released from debt, but had Clawbonny restored to me, and 
 was master of all I had ever owned, my earnings and the money 
 invested in the Dawn exceptcd. This last was irretrievably gone, 
 it was true, but, in its place I had the ample legacy of John Walling- 
 ford as a compensation. This legacy consisted of a large sum in 
 the three per cents., which then sold at about sixty, but were sub- 
 sequently paid off at par, of good bank and insurance stocks, bonds 
 and mortgages, and a valuable and productive real property in the 
 western part of the State, with several buildings in town. In a 
 word, I was even richer than Lucy, and no longer need consider 
 myself as one living on her generosity. It is not difficult to believe 
 I was made supremely happy by this news, and I looked to Lucy 
 for sympathy. As for the dear girl herself, I do believu she felt
 
 LUCY HARDWGE. 297 
 
 anything but pleasure, at this new accession of riches $ for she had 
 a deep satisfaction in thinking that it was in her power to prove to 
 me how completely I possessed her confidence, by placing all she 
 had in my hands. Nevertheless, she loved Clawbonny as well as I 
 did myself, and my restoration to the throne of my fathers was a 
 subject of mutual delight. 
 
 Air. Harrison went on to say that he had ascertained Daggett was 
 in town, to conduct the expected arrangement with me, on the sub- 
 ject of my personals, and that he had already sent a messenger to 
 his attorney, to let the existence of the will be known. He had, 
 consequently, strong hopes of arranging matters, in the course 
 of the next twenty-four hours. We were still at table, in effect, 
 when the messenger came to let us know an interview > was ap- 
 pointed at the office of this eminent counsel, and we all adjourned 
 to that place, Lucy excepted, as soon as the cloth was removed ; 
 for, in that day, cloths were always removed. At the office we 
 found Mr. Daggett, whom I now saw for the first time, and his legal 
 adviser, already waiting for us. One glance sufficed to let us into 
 the secret of the consternation both were in, for the lawyer had 
 committed himself in the course of the proceedings he had had an 
 agency in conducting, almost as much as his client. 
 
 " This is strange news to us, Mr. Harrison," the attorney com- 
 menced; "though your character and reputation, I will confess, 
 make it look serious. Is there no mistake in the matter, sir?" 
 
 "None whatever, Mr. Meekly. If you will have the goodness to 
 read this will, sir, you will perceive that the facts have been truly 
 laid before your client 5 and, as to the authenticity of the document, 
 I can only say, it was not only drawn up by myself, under precise 
 instructions from Mr. Wallingford which instructions I still pos- 
 sess, in his own handwriting- but the will was copied by my client, 
 as well as signed and sealed in my presence, as one of the witnesses. 
 So far as relates to the personals, this will would be valid, though 
 not signed by the testator, supposing no other will to exist. But, 
 1 flatter myself, you will find everything correct as to forms." 
 
 Mr. Meekly read the will aloud, from beginning to end, and, in 
 returning it to me, he cast a very give-it-up sort of look at Daggetl. 
 The latter inquired, with some anxiety^- 
 
 " Is there any schedule of the property accompanying the will?" 
 
 "There is, sir," returned Mr. Harrison ; "and directions on it 
 where to find the certificates of stock, and all the other evidences 
 of debts such as bonds and mortgages. Of the last, several are 
 in my own possession. I presume the bond of this Mr. Walling- 
 ford was kept by the testator himself, as a s6*rt of family thing." 
 
 " Well, sir, you will find that none of the stock has been 
 touched , and I confess this bond, with a few notes given in Ge- 
 nessee, is all that 1 have been able to find. We have been surprised 
 at discovering the assets to be so small."
 
 298 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 " So much the better for you, Mr. Daggett. Knowing what I do, 
 I shall only give up the assets I hold to the executor and heir. 
 Your letters of administration will be set aside, as a matter of course, 
 even should you presume to oppose us which I should hardly 
 think advisable." 
 
 "We shall not attempt it, Mr. Harrison," Meekly said, hastily; 
 " and we expect equal liberality from your client." 
 
 So much for having a first-rate lawyer and a man of character on 
 my side. Daggett gave the whole thing up, on the spot re-con- 
 veying to me Clawbonny before he quitted, though the sale would 
 unquestionably be set aside, and subsequently was set aside, by 
 means of an amicable suit. A great deal remained to be done, 
 however; and I was obliged to tear myself away from Lucy, in 
 order to do it. Probate of the will was to be made in the distant 
 county of Genessee and distant it was from New York, in 1804! 
 The journey that could be made to-day in about thirty hours, took 
 me ten days : and I spent near a month in going through the neces- 
 sary forms, and in otherwise settling my affairs at the West, as that 
 part of the State was then called. The time, however, was not 
 wasted below. Mr. Hardinge took charge of everything at Claw- 
 bonny, and Lucy's welcome letters three of which reached me 
 weekly informed me that everything was re-established in the 
 house, on the farm, and at the mill. The Wallingford was set running 
 again, and all the oxen, cows, horses, hogs, etc., etc., were living 
 in their old haunts. The negroes were reinstated, and Clawbonny 
 was itself again ! The only changes made were for the better ; the 
 occasion having been improved, to paint and new-vamp the house, 
 which Mr. Daggett's parsimony had prevented him from defacing by 
 modern alterations. In a word, " Masser Mile" was alone wanting 
 to make all at the farm happy. Chloe had communicated her en- 
 gagement to " Miss Lucy," and it was understood Neb and his master 
 were to be married about the same time. As for Moses, he had 
 gone up to Willow Cove, on a leave of absence. A letter received 
 from him, which now lies before me, will give a better account of 
 his proceedings and feelings than I can write myself, It was in the 
 
 following words, viz. : 
 
 
 
 Willow Cove, Sept. isth, 1804. 
 " CAPTAIN WALLINGFORD : 
 
 " Dear Sir, and my dear Miles Here I have been, moored head 
 and starn, these ten days, as comfortable as heart could wish, in the 
 bosom of my family. The old woman was right down glad to see 
 me, and she cried like an alligator when she heard my story. As 
 for Kitty, she cried, and she laughed in the bargain ; but that young 
 Bright, whom you may remember we fell in with in our cruise after 
 old Van Tassel, has fairly hauled alongside of my niece, and she 
 does little but laugh from morning to night. It's infernally hard to
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 299 
 
 lose a niece in this way, just as a man finds her: but mother says I 
 shall gain a nephew by the trade. 
 
 " Now for old Van Tassel. The Lord will never suffer rogues to 
 prosper in the long run. Mother found the old rascal's receipt, 
 given to my father for the money years and years ago, and, sending 
 for a Hudson lawyer, they made the miserly cheat off with his hat- 
 ches, and hoist out cargo enough to square the yards. So mother 
 considers the thing as settled at last ; but I shall always regard the 
 acount as open until I have threshed the gentleman to my heart's 
 content. The old woman got the cash in hard dollars, not under- 
 standing paper, and I wasn't in the house ten minutes before the 
 good old soul roused a slocking out of a drawer, and began to count 
 out the pieces to pay me off. So you see, Miles, I 've stepped into 
 my estate again, as well as yourself. As for your offer to pay me 
 wages for the whole of last v'y'ge" this word Marble could only 
 spell as he pronounced it "it's generous, and that's a good deal 
 in these infernally dishonest times, but I '11 not touch a copper. 
 When a ship 's lost, the wages are lost with her, and that 's law and 
 reason. It would be hard on a marchant to have to pay wages 
 for work done on board a craft that 's at the bottom of the ocean 5 
 so no more on that p'int, which we '11 consider settled. 
 
 " I am delighted to learn you are to be married as soon as you 
 get back to Clawbonny. Was I in your place, and saw such a nice 
 young woman beckoning me into port, I 'd not be long in the offing. 
 Thank you heartily for the invitation to be one of the bride's- 
 maids, which is an office, my dear Miles, I covet and shall glory in. 
 I wish you to drop me a line as to the rigging proper for the occa- 
 sion, for I would wish to be dressed as much like the rest of the 
 bride's-maids as possible, uniformity being always desirable in such 
 matters. A wedding is a wedding, and should be dealt with as a 
 wedding , so, waiting for further orders, I remain your friend and 
 old shipmate to command, 
 
 " MOSES VAN DUSEN MARBLE." 
 
 I do not affirm that the spelling of this letter was quite as accu- 
 rate as that given in this copy, but the epistle was legible, and 
 evidently gave Marble a great deal of trouble. As for the letters of 
 dear Lucy, I forbear to copy any. They were, like herself, how- 
 ever, ingenuous, truthful, affectionate and feminine. Among other 
 things, she informed me that our union was to take place in St. Mi- 
 chael's ; that I was to meet her at the rectory, and that we might 
 proceed to Clawbonny from the church-door. She had invited 
 Rupert and Emily to be present, but the health of the last would 
 prevent their accepting the invitation. Major, or General, Merton, 
 as he was universally called in New York, had the gout, and could 
 not be there ; and I was asked if it would not be advisable, under 
 all the circumstances, to have the affair as private as possible. My
 
 300 LUCY HARD1NGE. 
 
 answer conveyed a cheerful compliance, and a week after that was 
 despatched, I left the Genessee country, having successfully com- 
 pleted all my business. No one opposed me, and so far from being 
 regarded as an intruder, the world thought me the proper heir of 
 my cousin. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 " I calmed her fears, and she was calm, 
 And told her love with virgin pride ; 
 And so I won my Genevieve, 
 My bright and beauteous bride. 
 
 COLERIDGE. 
 
 By arrangement, I stopped at the Willow Cove, to pick up Mar- 
 ble. I found the honest fellow happy as the day was long, but 
 telling fearfully long and wonderful yarns of his adventures to the 
 whole country round. My old mate was substantially a man of 
 truth, but he did love to astonish "know-nothings." He appears 
 to have succeeded surprisingly well, for the Dutchmen of that 
 neighbourhood still recount anecdotes of the achievements and suf- 
 ferings of Captain Marvel, as they usually call him, though they 
 have long ceased to think the country belongs to the United Pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 Moses was glad to see me , and after passing a night in the cot- 
 tage of his mother, we proceeded towards Cla\vbonny, in a con- 
 veyance that had been sent to Willow Cove to meet me. It was a 
 carriage of my own, one of my own negroes acting as driver. I 
 knew the old team, and will acknowledge that tears forced them- 
 selves to my eyes as I thus saw myself, as it might be, reinstated 
 in my own. The same feeling came powerfully over me as we 
 drove to the summit of an elevation in the road that commanded a 
 view of the vale and buildings of Clawbonny. What a moment 
 was that in my existence ! I cannot say that I was born to wealth, 
 even as wealth was counted among us sixty years since, but I was 
 born to a competency. Until I lost my ship, I had never known 
 the humiliating sensations of poverty ; and the feeling that passed 
 over my heart, when I first heard that Clawbonny was sold, has 
 left an impression that will last for life. I looked at the houses as 
 I passed them in the streets, and remembered that I was houseless. 
 I did not pass a shop in which clothes were exposed without re- 
 membering that, were my debts paid, I should literally be without 
 a coat to my back. Now, I had my own once more ; and there 
 stood the home of my ancestors for generations, looking comfor- 
 table and respectable, in the midst of a most inviting scene of rural 
 quiet and loveliness. The very fields seemed to welcome me be- 
 neath its roof! There is no use in attempting to conceal what hap- 
 pened, and I will honestly relate it.
 
 T 
 
 * LUCY HARDINGE. 301 
 
 The road made a considerable circuit to descend the bill, while 
 a foot-path led down the declivity, by a shorter cut, which was 
 always taken by pedestrians. Making an incoherent excuse to 
 Moses, and telling him to wait for me at the foot of the hill, I 
 sprang out of the carriage, leaped a fence, and, I may add, leaped 
 out of sight, in order to conceal my emotion. I was no sooner lost 
 to view, than, seating myself on a fragment of rock, I wept like a 
 child. How long I sat there is more than I can say, but the man- 
 ner in which I was recalled from this paroxysm of feeling will not 
 soon be forgotten. A little hand was laid on my forehead, and a 
 soft voice uttered the word " Miles ! " so near me, that at the next 
 instant, I held Lucy in my arms. The dear girl had walked to 
 the hill, as she afterwards admitted, in the expectation of seeing 
 me pass on to Clawbonny ; and, comprehending my feelings and 
 my 'behaviour, could not deny herself the exquisite gratification 
 of sharing in my emotions. 
 
 " It is a blessed restoration to your rights, dear Miles," Lucy at 
 length said, smiling through her tears. " Your letters have told 
 me that you are rich ; but I would rather you had Clawbonny, and 
 not a cent besides, than, without this place, you had the riches of 
 the wealthiest man in the country. Yours it should have been, 'at 
 all events, could my means have compassed it." 
 
 " And this, Lucy, without my becoming your husband, do you 
 mean?" 
 
 Lucy blushed brightly, though I cannot say the sincere, inge- 
 nuous girl ever looked embarrassed in avowing her preference for 
 me. After a moment's pause, she smiled, and answered my 
 question. 
 
 " I have not doubted of the result, since my father gave me an 
 account of your feelings towards me," she said " and that, you will 
 remember, was before Mr. Daggelt had his sale. Women have more 
 confidence in the affections than men, I fear; at least, with us they 
 are more engrossing concerns than with you ; for we live for them 
 altogether, whereas you have the world constantly to occupy your 
 thoughts. I have never supposed that Miles Wallingford would 
 become the husband of any but Lucy Hardinge, except on one oc- 
 casion, and then only for a very short period ; and ever since I 
 have thought on such subjects at all, I have known that Lucy 
 Hardinge would never could never be the wife of any one but 
 Miles Wallingford." 
 
 "And that one exception, dearest, that ' very short period?' 
 Having confessed so much, I am eager to know all." 
 
 Lucy became thoughtful, and she moved the grass at her feet with 
 the end of her parasol, ere she replied, 
 
 " The one exception was Emily Morton; and the short period 
 terminated when I saw you together in your own house. When I 
 first saw Emily Morton, I thought her more worthy of your love
 
 T 
 
 302 LUCY HARDINGE. ft*! 
 
 than I could possibly be ; and I fancied it impossible that you could 
 have lived so long in a ship together, without discovering each 
 other's merits. But, when I was placed with you both under the 
 same roof, I soon ascertained that, while your imagination had been 
 a little led aside, your heart was always true tome." 
 
 " Is this possible, Lucy ! Are women really so much more dis- 
 criminating, so much more accurate in their opinions, than us 
 men ? While I was ready to hang myself for jealousy of Andrew 
 Drewett, did you really know that my heart was entirely yours ?" 
 
 " I was not without misgivings, Miles, and sometimes those that 
 were keenly painful; but, on the whole, I will not say 1 felt my 
 power, but that I felt we were dear to each other." 
 
 "Did you never suppose, as your excellent father has done, that 
 we were too much like brother and sister, to become lovers too 
 much accustomed to be dear to each other as children, to submit to 
 passion ? For that which I feel for you, Lucy, I do not pretend to 
 dignify with the name of esteem, and respect, and affection, 
 it is a passion that will form the misery or happiness of my 
 life." 
 
 Lucy smiled archly, and again the end of her parasol played 
 with the grass that grew around the rock on which we were 
 seated. 
 
 " How could I think this for you," she said, " when I had con- 
 trary experience of my own constantly present, Miles? I saw that 
 you thought there was some difference of condition between us 
 silly fellow! and I felt persuaded you had only your own diffidence 
 to overcome, to tell your own. story." 
 
 " And knowing and seeing all this, cruel Lucy, why did you 
 suffer years of cruel, cruel doubt to hang over me? " 
 
 " Was it a woman's part to speak, Miles? I endeavoured to act 
 naturally, believe I did act naturally, and I left the rest to God. 
 Blessed be his mercy, I am rewarded ! " 
 
 I folded Lucy to my heart, and passing a moment of sweet sym- 
 pathy in the embrace, we both began to talk of other things, as if 
 mutually conscious that our feelings were too high-wrought for the 
 place in which we were. I inquired as to the condition of things 
 at Clawbonny, and was gratified with the report. Everybody ex- 
 pected me. I had no tenantry to come forth to meet me, nor 
 were American tenants much addicted to such practices, even when 
 they were to be found; though the miserable sophistry on the sub- 
 ject of landlord and tenant, one of the most useful and human- 
 izing relations of civilized life, did not then exist among us, that 
 I am sorry to find is now getting into vogue. In that day it was 
 not thought " liberty" to violate the fair covenants of a lease; and 
 attempts to cheat a landed proprietor out of his right were called 
 cheating, as they ought to be and they were called nothing else. 
 
 In that day, a lease in perpetuity was thought a more advan-
 
 I 
 
 * LUCY HARDINGE. 303 
 
 tageous bargain for the tenant, than a lease for a year, or a term of 
 years; and men did not begin to reason as if one indulgence gave 
 birth to a right to demand more. In that day, paying rent in 
 chickens, and wood, and work, was not fancied to be a remnant 
 of feudality, but it was regarded as a favour conferred on him who 
 had the privilege ; and even now, nine countrymen in ten endeavour 
 to pay their debts in everything they can, before they resort to the 
 purse. In that day, the audacious sophism of calling land a mono- 
 poly, in a country that probably possesses more than a hundred 
 acres for every living soul within its limits, was not broached : and, 
 in that day, knots of men did not set themselves up as special re- 
 presentatives of the whole community, and interpret the laws in 
 their own favour, as if they were the first principles of the entire 
 republic. But my pen is running away with me, and I must return 
 to Lucy. A crisis is at hand 5 and we are about to see the laws 
 triumphant, or acts of aggression that will far outdo all that has 
 hitherto rested on the American name, as connected with a want of 
 faith in pecuniary transactions. 
 
 Should I ever continue these adventures, occasions may offer to 
 draw certain pictures of the signs of the times ; signs that have an 
 ominous aspect as regards real liberty, by substituting the most 
 fearful of all tyrannies, the spurious, in its place. God alone knows 
 for what we are reserved ; but one thing is certain there must be 
 a serious movement backward, or the nation is lost. 
 
 I had no tenantry to come out and meet me ; but there were the 
 blacks. It is true, the law was on the point of liberating these 
 slaves, leaving a few of the younger to serve for a term of years, 
 that should requite their owners for the care of their infancies and 
 their educations ; but this law could not effect an immediate change 
 in the condition of the Clawbonnys. The old ones did not wish 
 to quit me, and never did ; while it took years to loosen the tie which 
 bound the younger portion of them to me and mine. At this hour, 
 near twenty of them are living round me, in cottages of mine ; and 
 the service of my kitchen is entirely conducted by them. Lucy 
 prepared me for a reception by these children of Africa, even the 
 outcasts having united with the rest to do honour to their young 
 master. Honour is not the word 5 there was too much heart in 
 the affair for so cold a term ; the negro, whatever may be his faults, 
 almost always possessing an affectionate heart. 
 
 At length I remembered Marble, and, taking leave of Lucy, who 
 would not let me-accompany her home, I threw myself down the 
 path, and found my mate cogitating in the carriage, at the foot of 
 the hill. 
 
 " Well, Miles, you seem to value this land of yours, as a seaman 
 does his ship," cried Moses, before I had time to apologize for 
 having kept him so long waiting. " Howsomever, I can enter into 
 the feelin', and a blessed one it is, to get a respondentia bond olf
 
 304 LUCY 
 
 of the land that belonged to a feller's prandfalher. Next thing to 
 being an infernal hermit, I hold, is to belong to nobody in a crowded 
 world ; and I would not part with one kiss from little Kitty, or one 
 wrinkle of my mother's, for all the desert islands in the ocean. 
 Come, sit down now, my lad ; why, you look as red as a rosebud, 
 and as if you had been running up and down hill the whole time 
 you 've been absent." 
 
 " It is sharp work to come down such a hill as this on a trot. 
 Well, here I am at your side ; what would you wish to know? " 
 
 " Why, lad, I 've been thinkin', since you were away, of the 
 duties of a bride's-maid," to his dying day, Moses always insisted 
 he had acted in this capacity at my wedding ; " for the time draws 
 near, and I would n't wish to discredit you, on such a festivity. In 
 the first place, how am I to be dressed? I 've got the posy you 
 mentioned in your letter, stowed away safe in my trunk. Kitty 
 made it for me last week, and a good-looking posy it was, the last 
 time I saw it." 
 
 " Did you think of the breeches ? " 
 
 " Ay, ay, I have them, too, and what is more I 've had them bent. 
 Somehow or other, Miles, running under bare poles does not seem 
 to agree with my build. If there's time, I should like to have a 
 couple of bonnets fitted to the articles." 
 
 " Those would be gaiters, Moses, and I nevear heard of a bride's- 
 maid in breeches and gaiters. No, you '11 be obliged to come out 
 like everybody else. 
 
 " Well, I care less for the dress than I do for the behaviour. 
 Shall I be obliged to kiss Miss Lucy ? " 
 
 " No, not exactly Miss Lucy, but Mrs. Bride; I believe it would 
 not be a lawful marriage without that." 
 
 " Heaven forbid that I should lay a straw in the way of your hap- 
 piness, my dear boy ; but you '11 make a signal for the proper time 
 to clear ship, then you know I always carry a quid." 
 
 1 promised not to desert him in his need, and Moses became 
 materially easier in his mind. I do not wish the reader to suppose 
 my mate fancied he was to act in the character of a woman at my 
 nuptials, but simply that he was to act in the character of a bride's- 
 maid. The difficulties which beset him will be best explained by 
 his last remark on this occasion, and with which I shall close this 
 discourse. "Had I been brought up in a decent family," he said, 
 " instead of having been set afloat on a tombstone, matrimony 
 wouldn't have been such unknown seas to me; but you know how it 
 is, Miles, with a fellow that has no relations : he may laugh, and sing, 
 and make as much noise as he pleases, and try to make others think 
 he's in good company the whole time; but, after all, he 's nothing 
 but a sort of infernal hermit, that 's travelling through life, all the 
 same as if he was left with a few pigs on a desert island. Make- 
 believe is much made use of in this world, but it won't hold out to
 
 * LUCY HARDINGE. 305 
 
 the last. Now, of all mortal beings that I ever met with, you 've 
 fallen in with her that has least of it. There 's some make-believe 
 about you, Miles, as when you looked so infernally unconcerned all 
 the time you were ready to die of love, as I now 1'arn, for the young 
 woman you 're about to marry , and mother has a litle of it, dear 
 old soul, when she says she 's perfectly satisfied with the son the 
 Lord has given her, for I'm not so blasted virtuous but I might be 
 better; and little Kitty has lots of it when she pretends she would 
 as soon have one kiss from me as two from young Bright ; but as for 
 Lucy Hardinge, I will say that I never saw any more make-believe 
 about her than was becoming in a young woman." 
 
 This speech proved that Moses was a man of observation. Others 
 might have drawn seemingly nicer shades of character; but this 
 sincerity of feeling, truth of conduct, and singleness of purpose, 
 formed the distinguishing traits of Lucy's virtues. I was excessively 
 gratified at finding that Marble rightly appreciated one who was so 
 very, very dear to me, and took care to let him know as much as 
 soon as he had made his speech. 
 
 We were met by the negroes at the distance of half a mile from 
 the house. Neb acted as master of the ceremonies, or commodore 
 would be the better word, for he actually carried a bit of swallow- 
 tail bunting that was borrowed from the sloop, and there was just as 
 much of ocean in the symbols used as comported with the honours 
 manifested to a seaman. Old Cupid carried the Wallingford's 
 ensign, and a sort of harlequinade had been made out of marlin- 
 spikes, serving mallets, sail-maker's palms, and fids. The whole 
 was crowned with a plug of tobacco, though I never used the weed, 
 except in segars. Neb had seen processions in town, as well as in 
 foreign countries, and he took care that the present should do 
 himself no discredit. It is true that he spoke to me of it afterwards 
 as a "nigger procession," and affected to hold it cheap; but I 
 could see that the fellow was as much pleased with the conceits he 
 had got up for the occasion, as he was mortified at the failure of the 
 whole thing. The failure happened in this wise : no sooner did I 
 approach near enough to the elder blacks to have my features fairly 
 recognised, than the women began to blubber, and the men to toss 
 their arms and shout "Masser Mile," " Masser Mile;" thereby 
 throwing everything into confusion, at once placing feeling upper- 
 most, at the expense of "law and order." 
 
 To descend from the stilts that seemed indispensable to do credit 
 to Neb's imagination, the manner in which I was received by these 
 simple-minded beings was infinitely touching. All the old ones 
 shook hands with me, while the younger of both sexes kept more 
 aloof, until I went to each in succession, and went through tho 
 ceremony of my own accord. As for the boys, they rolled over on 
 .the grass; while the little girls kept making curtsies, and repeating 
 u Welcome home to Clawbonny, Masser Mile." My heart was full, 
 
 20
 
 . 
 
 30G LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 and I question if any European landlord ever got so warm a reception 
 from his tenantry as I received from my slaves. 
 
 And welcome I was, indeed, to Clawbonny, and most welcome 
 was Clawbonny to me! In 1804, New York had still some New 
 York feeling left in the State. Strangers had not completely 
 overrun her, as has since happened ; and New York names were 
 honoured ; New York feelings had some place among us ; life, 
 homes, firesides, and the graves of our fathers, not yet being 
 treated as so many incidents in some new speculation. Men then 
 loved the paternal roof; and gardens, lawns, orchards, and church- 
 yards, were regarded as something other than levels for railroads 
 and canals, streets for villages, or puLlic promenades to be called 
 batteries, or parks, as might happen to suit aldermanic ambition or 
 editorial privilege. 
 
 Mr. Hardinge met me at the gate of the little lawn, took me in his 
 arms, and blessed me aloud. We entered the house in silence, 
 when the good old man immediately set about showing me, by 
 ocular proof, that everything was restored as effectually as I was 
 restored myself. Venus accompanied us, relating how dirty she 
 had found this room, how much injured that, and otherwise abusing 
 the Daggetts to my heart's content. Their reign had been short, 
 however ; and a Wallingford was once more master of the five struc- 
 tures of Clawbonny. I meditated a sixth even that day, religiously 
 preserving every stonfc that had been already laid, however, in my 
 mind's intention. 
 
 The next day was that named by Lucy as the one in which she 
 would unite herself to me for ever. No secret was made of the 
 affair ; but notice had been duly given that all at Clawbonny might 
 be present. I left home at ten in the morning, in a very handsome 
 carriage that had been built for the occasion, accompanied by Moses 
 attired as a bride's-maid. It is true, his dumpy, square-built frame, 
 rather caricatured the shorts and silk stockings; and, as we sat side 
 by side in this guise, I saw his eye roaming from his own limbs to 
 mine. The peculiarity of Moses's toilette was that which all may 
 observe in men of his stamp, who come out in full dress. The 
 clothes a good deal more than fit them. Everything is as tight as 
 the skin ; and the wearer is ordinarly about as awkward in his 
 movements and sensations, as if he had gone into society, inpuris 
 naturalibus. That Moses felt the embarrassment of this novel attire, 
 was sufficiently apparent by his jlooks and movements, to say no- 
 thing of his speech. 
 
 " Miles, I do suppose," he remarked, as we trotted along, " that 
 them that have n't had the advantage of being brought up at home 
 never get a fair growth. Now, here 's these legs of mine ; there 's 
 plenty of them, but they ought to have been put in a stretcher when 
 I was a youngster, instead of being left to run about a hospital.- 
 Well, I'll sail under bare poles this once to oblige you, bride-
 
 ' LUCY HARDINGE. 307 
 
 maid fashion ; but this is the first and last time I do such a 
 thing. Don't forget to make the signal when I'm to kiss Miss 
 Lucy." 
 
 My thoughts were not exactly in the vein to enjoy the embar- 
 rassment of Moses, and I silenced him by promising all he asked. 
 We were not elegant enough to meet at the church, but I proceeded 
 at once to the little rectory, where I found the good divine and my 
 lovely bride had just completed their arrangements. And lovely, 
 indeed, was Lucy, in her simple but beautiful bridal attire ! She 
 was unattended, had none of those gay appliances about her that 
 her condition might have rendered proper, and which her fortune 
 would so easily have commanded. Yet it was impossible to be in 
 her presence without feeling the influence of her virgin mien and 
 simple elegance. Her dress was a spotless but exquisitely fine 
 India muslin, well made and accurately fitting; and her dark glossy 
 hair was embellished only by one comb ornamented with pearls, 
 and wearing the usual veil. As for her feet and hands, they were 
 more like those of a fairy than of one human ; while her counte- 
 nance was filled with all the heart-felt tenderness of her honest na- 
 ture. Around her ivory throat, and over her polished shoulders, 
 hung my own necklace of pearls, strung as they had been on 
 board the Crisis, giving her bust an air of affluent decoration, 
 while it told a long story of distant adventure and of well-requited 
 affection. 
 
 We had no bride's-maids (Marble excepted), no groom's-men, 
 no other attendants than those of our respective households. No 
 person had been asked to be present, for we felt that our best friends 
 were with us, when we had these dependants around us. At one 
 time I had thought of paying Drewett the compliment of desiring 
 him to be a groom's-man -, but Lucy set the project at rest, by 
 quaintly asking me how I should like to have been his attendant with 
 the same bride. As for Rupert, I never inquired how he satisfied 
 the scruples of his father, though the old gentleman made many 
 apologies to me for his absence. I was heartily rejoiced, indeed, 
 he did not appear , and I think Lucy was so also. 
 
 The moment I appeared in the little drawing-room of the rectory, 
 which Lucy's money and taste had converted into a very pretty but 
 simple room, my "bright and beauteous bride " arose, and ex- 
 tended to me her long-loved hand. The act itself, natural and 
 usual as it was, was performed in a way to denote the frankness 
 and tenderness of her character. Her colour went and came a little, 
 but she said nothing. Without resuming her seat, she quietly 
 placed an arm in mine, and turned to her father, as much as to say 
 we were ready. Mr. Hardinge led the way to the church, which 
 was but a step from the rectory, and, in a minute or two, all stood 
 ranged before the altar with the divine in the chancel. The cere- 
 mony commenced immediately, and in less than five minutes I
 
 i m 
 
 308 LUCY HARDINGE. < 
 
 folded Lucy in my arms, as my wife. We had gone into the vestry- 
 room for this part of the affair, and there it was that we received 
 the congratulations of those humble, dark-coloured beings, who 
 then formed so material a portion of nearly every American family 
 of any means. 
 
 " I wish you great joy and ebbery sort of happiness, Masser 
 Mile," said old Venus, kissing my hand, though I insisted it 
 should be my face, as had often been her practice twenty years 
 before. " Ah ! dis was a blessed day to old masser and missus, 
 could dey saw it, but. And I won't speak of anoder blessed 
 saint dat be in heaven. And you too, my dear young missus ; 
 now, we all so grad it be yow, for we did t'ink, a one time, 
 dat would nebber come to pass." 
 
 Lucy laid her own little white velvet-like hand, with the wed- 
 ding ring on its fourth finger, into the middle of Venus's hard 
 and horny palm, in the sweetest manner possible, reminding all 
 around her that she was an old friend, and that she knew all 
 the good qualities of every one who pressed forward to greet 
 her, and to wish her happiness. 
 
 As soon as this part of the ceremony was over, we repaired to 
 the rectory, where Lucy changed her wedding robe for what I 
 fancied was one of the prettiest demi-toilette dresses 1 ever saw. 
 I know I am now speaking like an old fellow, whose thoughts 
 revert to the happier scenes of youth with a species of dotage, 
 but it is not often a man has an opportunity of pourtraying such 
 a bride and wife as Lucy Hardinge. On this occasion she 
 removed the comb and veil, as not harmonizing with the dress 
 in which she re-appeared, but the necklace was worn through- 
 out the whole of that blessed day. As soon as my bride was 
 ready, Mr. Hardinge, Lucy, Moses, and myself, entered the car- 
 riage, and drove over to Clawbonny. Thither all Lucy's ward- 
 robe had been sent, an hour before, under Chloe's superintend- 
 ence, who had barely returned to the church in time to witness 
 the ceremony. 
 
 One of the most precious moments of my life was that in 
 which I folded Lucy in my arms and welcomed her to the old 
 place as its mistress. 
 
 " We came very near losing it, love," I whispered 5 " but it 
 is now ours, unitedly, and we will be in no hurry to turn our 
 backs on it." 
 
 This was in a tete-a-tete, in the family room, whither I had led 
 Lucy, feeling that this little ceremony was due to my wife. Every- 
 thing around us recalled former scenes, and tears were in the eyes 
 of my bride as she gently extricated herself from my arms. 
 
 "Let us sit down a moment, Miles, and consult on family affairs 
 now we are here," she said, smiling. "It may be early to begin, 
 but such old acquaintances have no need of lime to discover each
 
 . LUCY HARDINGE. 309 
 
 other's wishes and good and bad qualities. I agree with you, heart 
 and mind, in saying we will never turn our backs on Clawbonny 
 dear, dear Clawbonny, where we were children together, Miles ; 
 where we knew so well, and loved so well, our departed Grace, 
 and, I hope and trust, it will ever be our principal residence. The 
 country-house I inherit from Mrs. Bradfort is better suited to mo- 
 dern tastes and habits, perhaps, but it can never be one half so dear 
 to either of us. I would not speak to you on this subject before, 
 Miles, because I wished first to give you a husband's just control 
 over me and mine, in giving you my hand -, but, now, I may and. 
 will suggest what has been passing in my mind on this subject. 
 Riversedge," so was Mrs. Bradfort's country-house called, "is a 
 good residence, and is sufficiently well furnished for any respectable 
 family. Rupert and Emily must live somewhere, and I feel certain 
 it cannot long be in Broadway. Now, I have thought I would re- 
 serve Riversedge for their future use. They can take it immediately, 
 as a summer residence ; for I prize one hour passed here more than 
 than twenty-four hours passed there." 
 
 "What, rebel! Even should I choose to dwell in your West- 
 Chester house ? " 
 
 "You will be here, Miles 5 and it is on your account that Claw- 
 bonny is so dear to me. The place is yours, I am yours, and 
 all your possessions should go together." 
 
 ' ' Thank you, dearest. But will Rupert be able to keep up a town 
 and country house?" 
 
 " The first not long, for a certainty , how long, you know better 
 than I. When I have been your wife half-a-dozen years, perhaps 
 you will think me worthy ot knowing the secret of the money he 
 actually has." 
 
 This was said pleasantly, but it was not said without anxiety. 
 I reflected on the conditions of my secrecy. Grace wished to keep 
 the facts from Lucy, lest the noble-hearted sister should awaken a 
 feeling in the brother that might prevent her bequest from being- 
 carried into effect. Then, she did not think Lucy would ever be- 
 come my wife, and circumstances were changed, while there was 
 no longer a reason for concealing the truth from the present appli- 
 cant, at least. 1 communicated all that had passed on the subject 
 to my deeply-interested listener. Lucy received the facts with 
 sorrow, though they were no more than she had expected to 
 learn. 
 
 " I should be covered with shame, were I to hear this from 
 any other than you, Miles," she answered, after a thoughtful pause; 
 " but I know your nature too well, not to feel certain that the sa- 
 crifice scarce cost you a thought, and that you regretted Rupert's 
 self-forgetfulness more than the loss of the money. I confess, this 
 revelation has changed all my plans for the future, so far as they 
 were connected with mv brother."
 
 ^ 
 
 \ ' 
 
 310 LUCY HARDINGE. . 
 
 " In what manner, dearest? Let nothing that has happened to 
 me influence your decisions." 
 
 "In so much as it affects my views of Rupert's character, it 
 must, Miles. I had intended to divide Mrs. Bradfort's fortune equal- 
 ly with my brother. Had I married any man but you, I should have 
 made this a condition of our union j but you I know so well , and 
 so well know I could trust, that I have found a deep satisfaction in 
 placing myself, as it might be, in your power. I know that all my 
 personal property is already yours, without reserve ; and that I can 
 make no disposition of the real, even after I come of age, without 
 your consent : but I had that faith in you, as to believe you would 
 let me do as I pleased." 
 
 4 ''Have it still, love. I have neither need, nor wish, to inter- 
 fere." 
 
 " No, Miles : it would be madness to give property to one of 
 such a character. If you approve, I will make Rupert and Emily 
 a moderate quarterly allowance, with which, having the use of my 
 country-place, they may live respectably. Further than that, I 
 should consider it wrong.to go." 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to say how much I approved of this de- 
 cision, or the applause I lavished on the warm-hearted donor. The 
 sum was fixed at two thousand dollars a-year, before we left the 
 room ; and the result was communicated to Rupert by Lucy herself, 
 in a letter written the very next day. 
 
 Our wedding-dinner was a modest, but a supremely happy meal ; 
 and in the evening the blacks had a ball in a large laundry, that 
 stood a little apart, and which was well enough suited to such a 
 scene. Our quiet and simple festivities endured for several days ; 
 the "uner" of Neb and Chloe taking place very soon after our 
 own marriage, and coming in good time to furnish an excuse for 
 dancing the week fairly out. 
 
 Marble got into trowsers the day after the ceremony, and then 
 he entered into the frolic with all his heart. On the whole, he 
 was relieved from being a bride's-maid, a sufficiently pleasant 
 thing; but having got. along so well with Lucy, he volunteered to 
 act in the same capacity to Chloe. The offer was refused, how- 
 ever, in the following classical language : 
 
 " No, Misser Marble } colour is colour," returned Chloe. ' ' You's 
 white, and we's black. Mattcrmony is a berry solemn occerpashun ; 
 and there mustn't be no improper jokes at my uner with Neb Claw- 
 bonny."
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 311 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 " This disease is beyond my practice; yet I have known those which have walked ia 
 their sleep, who have died holily in their beds." 
 
 MACBETH. 
 
 The honeymoon was passed at Clawbonny, and many, many 
 other honeymoons that have since succeeded it. I never saw a 
 man more delighted than Mr. Hardinge was, at finding me actually 
 his son-in-law. ' I really believe he loved me more than he did Ru- 
 pert, though he lived and died in ignorance of his own son's true 
 character. It would have been cruel to undeceive him ; and nothing 
 particular ever occurred to bring about an eclair cissement. Ru- 
 pert's want of principle was a negative rather than an active quality, 
 and was only rendered of account by his vanity and selfishness. 
 Self-indulgence was all he aimed at, and he was much too self-in- 
 dulgent and shrewd to become an active rogue. He would have 
 spent Lucy's and my joint fortunes, had they been put at his con- 
 trol 5 but, as they never were, he was fain to limit his expenditures 
 to such sums as we saw fit to give him, with certain extra allowances 
 extorted by his debts. Our intercourse was very much restricted 
 to visits of ceremony, at least on my part ; though Lucy saw him 
 oftener, and no allusion was ever made to the past. I called him 
 " Mr. Hardinge," and he called me " Mr. Wallingford." "Rupert" 
 and " Miles " were done with for ever between us. I may as well 
 dispose of the history of this person and his wife at once ; for I 
 confess it gives me pain to speak of them, even at this distance of 
 time. 
 
 Rupert lived but four years after my marriage to his sister. As 
 soon as he found it necessary to give up the Broadway house, he 
 accepted the use of Riversedge, and his sister's 2000 dollars a-year, 
 with gratitude, and managed to get along on that sum, apparently, 
 down to the hour of his death. It is true that I paid his debts, 
 without Lucy's knowledge, twice in that short period ; and I really 
 think he was sensible of his errors, to a certain extent, before his 
 eyes were closed. He left one child, a daughter, who survived him 
 only a few months. Major Morton's complaints had carried him off 
 previously to this. Between this old officer and myself there had 
 ever existed a species of cordiality ; and I do believe he sometimes 
 remembered his various obligations to me and Marble, in a proper 
 temper. Like most officials of free governments, he left little or 
 nothing behind him ; so that Mrs. Hardinge was totally dependent 
 on her late husband's friends for a support during her widowhood. 
 Emily was one of those semi-worldly characters that are not abso- 
 lutely wanting in good qualities, while there is always more or less
 
 312 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 of a certain disagreeable sort of calculation in all they do. Rupert's 
 personal advantages, and agreeable manners, had first attracted 
 her ; and, believing him to be Mrs. Bradfort's heir, she had gladly 
 married him. I think she lived a disappointed woman, after her 
 father's death ; and I was not sorry when she let us know that she 
 was about to " change her condition," as it is termed in widow's 
 parlance, by marrying an elderly man who possessed the means of 
 giving her all that money can bestow. With this second, or, ac- 
 cording to Venus's nomenclature, step-husband, she went to Eu- 
 rope, and there remained, dying only three years ago, an amply 
 endowed widow. We kept up a civil sort of intercourse with her to 
 the last, actually passing a few weeks with her, some fifteen years 
 since, in a house, half-barn, half-castle, that she called a palace, on 
 one of the unrivalled lakes of Italy. As la Signora Montiera (Mon- 
 tier), she was sufficiently respected, finishing her career as a dowager 
 of good reputation, and who loved the " pomps and vanities of this 
 wicked world." I endeavoured, in this last meeting, to bring to 
 her mind divers incidents of her early life, but with a singular want 
 of success. They had actually passed, so far as her memory was 
 concerned, into the great gulf of time, keeping company with her 
 sins, and appeared to be entirely forgotten. Nevertheless, la Si- 
 gnora was disposed to treat me and view me with consideration, as 
 soon as she found me living in credit, with money, horses, and 
 carriages at command, and to forget that I had been only a ship- 
 master. She listened smilingly, and with patience, to what, I dare 
 say, were my prolix narratives ; though her own recollections were 
 so singularly impaired. She did remember something about the 
 wheel-barrow and the canal in Hyde Park ; but, as for the voyage 
 across the Pacific, most of the incidents had passed out of her mind. 
 To do her honour, Lucy wore the pearls on an occasion in which she 
 gave a little festa to her neighbours 5 and I ascertained she did re- 
 member them. She even hinted to one of her guests, in my hear- 
 ing, that they had been intended for her origin airy 5 but "we cannot 
 command the impulses of the heart, you know, cara mia" she 
 added, with a very self-complacent sort of a sigh. 
 
 What of all this ? The ci-devant Emily was no more than a sum- 
 mary of the feelings, interests, and passions of millions ; living and 
 dying in a narrow circle erected by her own vanities, and embel- 
 lished by her own contracted notions of what is the end and aim of 
 human existence, and within a sphere that she fancied respectable 
 and refined. 
 
 As for the race of the Clawbonnys, all the elderly members of 
 this extensive family lived and died in my service ; or, it might be 
 better to say, I lived in theirs. Venus saw several repetitions of her 
 own charms in the offspring of Neb and Chloe ; though she pertina- 
 ciously insisted to the last, that Cupid, as a step-husband, had no 
 legitimate connexion with any of the glistening, thick-lipped,
 
 S LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 chubby set. But, even closer family ties than those which bound 
 my slaves to me, are broken by the pressure of human institutions. 
 The conscript fathers of New York had long before determined that 
 domestic slavery should not continue within their borders ; and, one 
 by one, these younger dependants dropped off, to seek their for- 
 tunes in town, or in other portions of the State ; until few were left 
 besides Neb, his consort, and their immediate descendants. Some 
 of these last still cling to me ; the parents having instilled into the 
 children, in virtue of their example and daily discourse, feelings that 
 set at nought the innovations of a changeable state of society. With 
 them,Clawbonny is still Claubonny; and land mine remain a race 
 apart, in their perception of things. I gave Neb and Chloe their 
 freedom-papers the day the faithful couple were married, and at once 
 relieved their posterity from the servitude of eight-and-twenty, and 
 five-and-twenty years, according to sex, that might otherwise have 
 hung overall their elder children, until the law, by a general sweep, 
 manumitted everybody. These papers Neb put in the bottom of his 
 tobacco-box, not wishing to do any discredit to a gift from me ; and 
 there I accidentally saw them, in rags, seventeen years later, not 
 having been opened or seen by a soul, as I firmly believe, in all 
 that time. It is true, the subsequent legislation of the State ren- 
 dered all this of no moment 5 but the procedure showed the cha- 
 racter and disposition of the man, demonstrating his resolution to 
 stick by me to the last. He has had no intention to free me, what- 
 ever may have been my plans for himself and his race. 
 
 I never had more than one conversation with either Neb or his 
 wife on the subject of wages, and then I discovered how tender a 
 thing it was, with the fellow, to place him on a level with the other 
 hired people of my farm and household. 
 
 " I won'er what I done, Masser Mile, dat you want to pay me 
 wages, like a hired man I" said Neb, half disposed to resent, and 
 half disposed to grieve at the proposal. "I was born in de family, 
 and it seem to me dat quite enough -, but, if dat isn't enough, I went 
 to sea wid you, Masser Mile, de fuss day you go, and I go ebbery 
 time since." 
 
 These words, uttered a little reproachfully, disposed of the matter. 
 From that hour to this the subject of wages has never been broached 
 between us. When Neb wants clothes, he goes and gets them, 
 and they are charged to "Masser Mile;" when he wants money, 
 he comes and gets it, never manifesting the least shame or reluc- 
 tance, but asking for all he has need of, like a man. Chloe does 
 the same with Lucy, whom she regards, in addition to her having 
 the honour to be my wife, as a sort of substitute for " Miss Grace." 
 With this honest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Wallingford, of Claw- 
 bonny, and Riversedge, and Union Place, are still nothing but 
 "Masser Mile" and "Miss Lucy;" and I once saw an English 
 traveller take out her note-book, and write something very funny,
 
 314 LUCY HARDINGE. *? 
 
 I dare say, when she heard Chloe thus address the mother ol 
 three fine children, who were hanging around her knee, and 
 calling her by that, the most endearing of all appellations. Chloe 
 was indifferent to the note of the traveller, however; still call- 
 ing her mistress " Miss Lucy," though the last is now a grand- 
 mother. 
 
 As for the children of the house of Nebuchadnezzar, truth com- 
 pels me to say, that they have been largely influenced by the spirit 
 of the age, and that they look on the relation that existed for more 
 than a century between the Wallingfords and the Clawbonnys, with 
 eyes somewhat different from those of their parents. They have 
 begun to migrate ; and I am not sorry to see them go. Not- 
 withstanding, the tie will not be wholly broken, so long as any of 
 the older stock remain ; tradition leaving many of its traces among 
 them. Not one has ever left my rule without my consent; and I 
 have procured places for them all, as ambition, or curiosity, has 
 carried them into the world. 
 
 As for this new spirit of the age that is doing so much among us, 
 I am not twaddler enough to complain of all change, for I know 
 that many of these changes have had the most beneficial effects. I 
 am far from thinking that domestic slavery, as it once existed at 
 Clawbonny, is a picture of domestic slavery as it existed through- 
 out the land ; but I do believe that the institution, as it was for- 
 merly known in New York, was quite as much to the disadvantage 
 of the white man as to that of the black. There was always some- 
 thing of the patriarchal character in one of our households previously 
 to the change in the laws 5 and the relation of master and slave in 
 old permanent families, in which plenty was no stranger, had ever 
 more or less of that which was respectable and endearing. It is 
 not so much in relation to the abolition spirit (if it would only 
 confine its exertions to communities over which it may happen to 
 possess some right of control) that 1 feel alarmed, as in reference 
 to a certain spirit, which appears to think there always must be 
 more and more change, and that in connexion with any specific 
 interest, whatever may have been its advancement under previous 
 regimes; nothing in social life being fully developed, according to 
 the creed of these movement philosophers. Now, in my view of 
 the matter, the two most dangerous of all parties in a state, are 
 that which sets up conservatism as its standard, and that which sets 
 up progress ; the one is for preserving things of which it would be 
 better to be rid, while the other crushes all that is necessary and 
 useful in its headlong course. I now speak of these opposing prin- 
 ciples as they are marshalled in parties, opposition giving pertina- 
 city and violence to each. No sane man -can doubt that in the 
 progress of events much is produced that ought to be retained, and 
 much generated that it would be wiser to reject. He alone is the 
 safe and wise legislator, who knows how and when to make the
 
 ^ LUCY HARDINGE. 315 
 
 proper distinctions. As for conservatism, Lafayette once characte- 
 rized it excellently well, in one of his happiest hits in the tribune. 
 " Gentlemen talk of the just medium (juste milieu) " he said, " as 
 if it embraced a clear political creed. We all know what the just 
 medium is, as relates to any particular question ; it is simply the 
 truth as it is connected with that question. But when gentlemen 
 say that they belong to the juste milieu as a party ', and that they 
 intend to steer a middle course in all the public events of the day, 
 they remind me of a case like this : A man of exaggerated notions 
 lays down the proposition that four and four make ten 5 another, 
 of more discretion and better arithmetic, combats this idea, by 
 maintaining that four and four make only eight ; whereupon, your 
 gentleman of the juste milieu finds himself obliged to say, "Mes- 
 sieurs, you are equally in the wrong : the truth never lies in ex- 
 tremes, and four and four make nine.'" 
 
 What is true of conservatism, as a principle, is still more true as 
 to the movement ; for it often happens in morals, as well as in phy- 
 sics, that the remedy is worse than the disease. The great evil of 
 Europe, in connexion with interests of this nature, arises from 
 facts that have little or no influence here. There, radical changes 
 have been made, the very base of the social edifice having been al- 
 tered, while much of the ancient architecture remains in the super- 
 structure. Where this is the case, some errors may be pardoned 
 in the artisans who are for reducing the whole to the simplicity of 
 a single order. But, among ourselves, the man who can see no end 
 to anything earthly, ever maintaining that the best always lies 
 beyond, if he live long enough to succeed, may live long enough to 
 discover that truth is always on an eminence, and that the down- 
 ward course is only too easy to those who rush in so headlong a 
 manner at its goal as to suffer the impetus of the ascent to carry 
 them past the apex. A social fact cannot be carried out to demon- 
 stration like a problem in Euclid, the ramifications being so infinite 
 as to reduce the results to something very like a conclusion from a 
 multitude of interests. 
 
 It is next incumbent to speak of Marble. He passed an entire 
 month at Clawbonny, during which time he and Neb rigged the 
 Grace and Lucy seven different ways, coming back to that in which 
 they found her, as the only rig in which she would sail ; no bad il- 
 lustration, by the way, of what is too often the winding-up of ex- 
 periments in overdone political movements. Moses tried shoot- 
 ing, which he had heard belonged to a country life ; and he had a 
 sort of design to set up as a fourth or fifth class country gentleman 5 
 but his legs were too short to clamber over high rail-fences with 
 any comfort, and he gave up the amusement in despair. In the 
 course of a trial of ten days he brought in three robins, a small 
 squirrel, and a crow 5 maintaining that he had also wounded a pi- 
 geon, and frightened a whole flock of quails. I have often bagged
 
 316 LUCY HARDINGE. * 
 
 ten brace of woodcocks of a morning in the shooting-grounds of 
 Clawbonny, and as many quails in their season. 
 
 Six weeks after our marriage, Lucy and I paid Willow Cove a vi- 
 sit, where we passed a very pleasant week. To my surprise, I re- 
 ceived a visit from Squire Van Tasse), who seemed to bear no ma- 
 lice. Marble made peace with him as soon as he paid back the 
 amount of his father's bond, principal and interest ; though he al- 
 ways spoke of him contemptuously to me in private. I must con- 
 fess I was astonished at the seemingly forgiving temper of the old 
 usurer ; but I was then too young to understand that there are two 
 principles that govern men's conduct as regards their associations, 
 the one proceeding from humility and Christian forgiveness, and 
 the other from an indifference to what is right. I am afraid the 
 last produces more of what is called a forgiving temper than the 
 first-, men being often called vindictive, when they are merely 
 honest. 
 
 Marble lost his mother about a twelvemonth after we returned 
 from our unfortunate voyage in the Dawn. A month or two earlier 
 he lost his niece little Kitty by a marriage with the son of " neigh- 
 bour Bright." After this he passed much of his time at Claw- 
 bonny, making occasional visits to us, in Chamber-street, in the 
 winter. I say, in Chamber-street, as trade soon drove us out of 
 Lucy's town residence in Wall-street. The lot on which the last 
 once stood is still her property, and is a small fortune of itself. I 
 purchased and built in Chamber-street, in 1805, making an excel- 
 lent investment. In 1825 we went into Bleecker-street, a mile 
 higher up town, in order to keep in the beau quartier; and I took 
 advantage of the scarcity of money and low prices of 1 839, to take 
 up new ground in Union Place, very nearly a league from the point 
 where Lucy commenced as a housekeeper in the good and growing 
 town of Manhattan. 
 
 After Marble found himself an orphan again, he complained that 
 he was little better off than an "infernal hermit" at Willow Cove, 
 and began to talk about seeing the world. All of a sudden he made 
 his appearance at Clawbonny, bag and baggage., and announced 
 an intention to look for a mate's berth-in some East Indiaman. I 
 heard his story, kept him a day or two with me, while I superin- 
 tended the masons who were building my addition to the house, 
 which was then nearly completed, and then we proceeded to town 
 in company. 1 took Moses to the ship-yards, and carried him on 
 board a vessel that was just receiving her spars (she was coppered 
 and copper-fastened, A. No. 1, of live-oak frame, and southern 
 pine-decks, etc.), asking him how he liked her. He hoped she 
 had a good name. " Why, she is called the Smudge," I answered ; 
 " I hope you fancy it." Moses jerked a finger over his shoulder, 
 as much as to say he understood me, and inquired where I intended 
 to send the craft, "To Canton, with you for master." I saw that
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 317 
 
 my old mate was touched with this proof of confidence, and that his 
 self-esteem had so much risen with the discovery of his origin, 
 that he made no objection to the trust. I did not intend to go re- 
 gularly into commerce, but I kept the Smudge running many years, 
 always under Marble, and made a vast deal of money by her. Once 
 she went to Europe, Lucy and I going in her as passengers. This 
 was after the death of my dear old guardian, who made such an end 
 as became his virtuous and Christian life. We, that is, Lucy and 
 I, remained abroad several years, returning home in the Smudge 
 on the last voyage she ever made as belonging to me. Neb had 
 often been out in the ship, just to vary the scene ; and he came to 
 Havre in her, as a matter of course, when " Masser Mile," " Miss 
 Lucy," and their two "young Massers " and two " young Missuses," 
 were ready to come home. I was a good deal shocked at meeting 
 my old friend Moses on this occasion, for he was breaking up fast, 
 being now hard upon seventy , a time of life when most seamen 
 are unfit for their calling. Moses, however, had held on, with a 
 determination to convey us all back to Clawbonny. Three days 
 after we had sailed, the man of stone had to give up, and take to 
 his berth. I saw that his days were numbered, and felt it to be a 
 duty to let him know his real situation. It was an unpleasant 
 office, but became less so by the resigned and manly manner in 
 which the invalid heard me. It was only when I ceased speaking 
 that he made an attempt to reply. 
 
 "I have known that the v'y'ge of life was pretty near up, Miles," 
 he then answered, " for many a day. When the timbers complain 
 and the new tree-nails hit only decayed wood, it is time to think 
 of breaking up the hull for the craft's copper and old iron. I 've 
 pretty much worn out the Smudge, and the Smudge has pretty much 
 worn out me. I shall never see Ameriky, and I now give up 
 charge of the craft to you. She is your own, and nobody can lake 
 better care of her. I own I should like to be cased in something 
 that once belonged to her. There 's the bulkhead that was taken 
 down to alter the state-rooms for your family, it would make as 
 comfortable a coffin as a body could want." 
 
 I promised the old man all should be done as he desired. After 
 a short pause, it struck me the present might be a favourable mo- 
 ment to say a word on the subject of the future. Marble was never 
 a vicious man, nor could he be called a particularly wicked man, as 
 the world goes. He was thoroughly honest, after making a few 
 allowances for the peculiar opinions of seamen, and his sins were 
 principally those of omission. But, of religious instruction he had 
 literally known none in early life. That which he had picked up in 
 his subsequent career was not of the most orthodox character. I 
 had often thought Marble was well disposed on such subjects, but 
 opportunity was always wanting to improve this hopeful disposi- 
 tion. Accordingly, I now spoke plainly to him, and could see his
 
 318 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 still keen eyes turned wistfully towards me, more than once, as ho 
 listened with an absorbed attention. 
 
 " Ay, ay, Miles," he answered, when I was through, " this may 
 all be true enough, but it 's rather late in the day for me to go to 
 school. I've heard most of it before, in one shape or another, but 
 it always came so much in scraps and fragments that, before I could 
 bend one idee on to another, so as to make any useful gear of the 
 whole, some of the pieces have slipped through my fingers. Hows'- 
 ever, I 've been hard at work at the good book, the whole of this 
 v'y'ge, and you know it's been a long one 5 and I must say that I 've 
 picked up a good deal that seems to me to be of the right quality. 
 Now I always thought it was one of the foolishest things a man could 
 do to forgive one's enemies, my rule having been to return broad- 
 side for broadside, as you must pretty well know 5 but, I now see 
 that it is more like a kind natur' to pardon, than to revenge." 
 
 " My dear Moses, this is a very hopeful frame of mind 5 carry out 
 this feeling in all things, leaning on the Saviour alone for your 
 support, and your dying hour may well be the happiest of your 
 life." 
 
 " There 's that infernal Smudge, notwithstanding , I hardly think 
 it will be expected of me to look upon him as anything but a 'long- 
 shore pirate, and a fellow to disposed of in the shortest way pos- 
 sible. As for old Van Tassel, he is gone to square the yards in a 
 part of the univarse where all his tricks will be known , and I hold 
 it to be onreasonable to carry spite ag'in a man beyond the grave. 
 I rather think I have altogether forgiven him 5 though to speak 
 the truth, he desarved a rope's-ending." 
 
 I understood Marble much better than he understood himself. 
 He felt the sublime beauty of the Christian morality, but, at the same 
 time, he felt there were certain notions so rooted in his own heart, 
 that it exceeded his power to extract them. As for Smudge, his 
 mind had its misgivings concerning the propriety of his own act, 
 and with the quickness of his nature, sought to protect itself against 
 its own suggestions, by making an exception of that wretch, as 
 against the general mandates of God. Van Tassel he probably 
 could, in a manner, pardon, the mischief having been in a measure 
 repaired ; though it was a forgiveness that was strangely tinctured 
 with his own deep contempt for the meanness of the transgressor. 
 
 Our conversation lasted a long time. At length Lucy joined in 
 it, when I thought it wisest to leave the old tar in the hands of one 
 so well fitted by nature and education to be the instrument under 
 the providence of God, of bringing him to a more healthful view of 
 his condition. I had the ship to take care of, and this was a good 
 excuse for not interfering much with what passed between the dying 
 man and her who might almost be termed his ministering angel. 
 I overheard many of their conferences, and was present at some of 
 their prayers, as were my sons and daughters ; being thus enabled
 
 <r 
 
 > 
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 to understand the progress that was made, and the character of the 
 whole procedure. 
 
 It was an admirable sight, truly, to see that still lovely woman 
 using all the persuasion of her gentle rhetoric, all the eloquence of 
 her warm feelings and just mind, devoting herself for days and days 
 to the labour of leading such a spirit as that of Marble's to entertain 
 just and humble views of his own relation to the Creator and His 
 Son, the Saviour of men. I will not say that complete success 
 crowned the pious efforts of the single-hearted woman it was my 
 blessed fortune to call my wife : this, perhaps, was not to be ex- 
 pected. It required a power exceeding hers to guide the human 
 heart at seventy, after a seaman's life, to a full repentance of its 
 sins 5 but, by the grace of God, so much seemed to be accomplished, 
 as to give us all reason to hope that the seed had taken root, and that 
 the plant might grow under the guidance of that Spirit in whose like- 
 ness the most lowly of the race has been created. 
 
 The passage was long, but very tranquil, and there was ample 
 time for all that has been related. The ship was still to the east- 
 ward of the Grand Banks, when Marble ceased to converse much ; 
 though it is evident his thoughts were intently musing. He fell 
 away fast, and I began to look forward to his final departure, as an 
 event that might occur at any hour. He did not seem to suffer, 
 but his hold of life gradually gave way, and the spirit was about 
 to take its departure, purely on account of the decayed condition 
 of the earthly tenement in which it had so long dwelt, as the stork 
 finally deserts the tottering chimney. 
 
 About a week after this .change, my son Miles came to me on 
 deck, and informed me his dear mother desired to see me in the 
 cabin. On going below, I was met by Lucy, with a face that de- 
 noted how solemn she felt was the character of the intelligence she 
 had to communicate. 
 
 "The moment is at hand, dear Miles," she said. "Our old 
 friend is about to be called away." 
 
 I felt a pang at this speech, though I had long expected the result. 
 Many of the earlier and more adventurous years of my life passed 
 rapidly in review before me, and I found the image of the dying 
 man blended with nearly all. Whatever may have been his pecu- 
 liarities, to me he had always been true. From the hour when I 
 first shipped, as a run-away boy, on board the John, down to that 
 hour, Moses Marble had proved himself a firm and disinterested 
 friend to Miles Wallingford. 
 
 "Is he conscious?" I asked anxiously. "When I last saw 
 him, I thought his mind wandered a little." 
 
 "Perhaps it did; but he is now more collected, if not entirely 
 so. There is reason to think he has at length felt some of the influ- 
 ence of the Redeemer's sacrifice. For the last week, the proofs of 
 this have been increasing."
 
 320 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 No more passed between Lucy and me on the subject, at that 
 time -, but I entered the cabin in which the cot of Marble had been 
 slung. It was a spacious, airy room, for a ship ; one that had been 
 expressly fitted by my orders, for the convenience of Lucy and her 
 two daughters, but which those dear, self-denying creatures had 
 early and cheerfully given up to the possession of their old friend. 
 
 As yet, I have not particularly spoken of these'two girls, the eldest 
 of whom was named Grace, and the youngest Lucy. At that time 
 the first was just fifteen, while her sister was two years younger. 
 By a singular coincidence Grace resembled the women of my family 
 most; while the latter, the dear, ingenuous, frank, pretty little 
 thing, had so much likeness to her mother, when at the same time 
 of life, that I often caught her in my arms, and kissed her, as she ut- 
 tered some honest sentiment, or laughed joyously and melodiously, 
 as had been the practice of her who bore her, twenty years before. 
 On those occasions, Lucy would smile, and sometimes a slight blush 
 would suffuse her face ; [for I could see she well understood the 
 impulse which would so suddenly carry me off to the days of my 
 boyhood and boyish affection. 
 
 On the present solemn occasion both the girls were in the cabin, 
 struggling to be calm, and doing all that lay in their power to solace 
 the dying man. Grace, the oldest, was the most active and efficient, 
 of course, her tender years inducing diffidence in her sister : still, 
 that little image of her mother, could not be kept entirely in the 
 background, when the heart and the desire to be useful were 
 urging her to come out of herself, in order to share in her sister's 
 duties. 
 
 I found Marble quite sensible, and the anxious manner in which 
 he slowly examined all the interested faces that were now gathered 
 about his bed, proved how accurately he noted the present and the 
 absent. Twice did he go over us all, ere he spoke in the husky tones 
 that usually precede death. 
 
 " Call Neb," he said 5 " I took leave of my mates, and of all the 
 rest of the men, yesterday ; but I consider Neb as one of the family, 
 Miles, and left him for the last." 
 
 This I knew to be true, though I purposely absented myself from 
 a scene that I well understood would have to be repeated in my 
 case. Neb was summoned accordingly, not a syllable being uttered 
 among us, until the black stood just without the circle of my own 
 wife and children. Moses watched the arrangement jealously, and 
 it seems he was dissatisfied at seeing his old shipmate keeping so 
 much aloof at that solemn and absorbing moment. 
 
 " You are but a nigger, I know, Neb," the old seaman got out, 
 " but your heart would do honour to a king. It's next, to Miles's, 
 and that's as much as can be said of any man's. Come nearer, 
 boy ; none here will grudge you the liberty."
 
 <r 
 
 LUCY HAUDINGE. 321 
 
 Little Lucy drew back in an instant, and fairly pulled Neb into the 
 place she herself had just before occupied. 
 
 " Bless you for that, young 'un," said Marble. " I didn't know 
 your mother when she was of your age, but I can see that one cat- 
 block is not more like another than you are like what she was at 
 your age , keep that likeness up, my dear, and then your father will 
 be as happy and fortinate in his darter as he has been in his wife. 
 Well, nobody desarves his luck better than Miles Providential 
 luck, I mean, my dear Madam Wallingford," interpreting a sorrowful 
 expression of Lucy's eyes aright; "for, thanks to your teaching, I 
 now understand there is a Divine Director of all our fortins, whether 
 ashore or afloat, black or white." 
 
 " There is not a sparrow falls, Captain Marble," said the gentle 
 earnest voice of my wife, " that He does not note it." 
 
 " Yes, so I understand it now, though once I thought little of 
 such things. Thus, when we were wracked in the Dawn, Neb, it 
 was by God's will, and with a design, like, to bring us three all on 
 to our present fortin, and present frame of mind ; should I ever use 
 the word luck ag'in, which I may be likely enough to do from habit, 
 you are all to understand I mean what I call Providential luck. 
 Yes, Madam Wallingford r I comprehend it parfectly, and shall never 
 forget your kindness, which has been to me the best turn of Pro- 
 vidential luck that has ever happened. I 've sent for you, Neb, to 
 have a parting word, and to give you the advice of an old man 
 before I quit this world altogether." 
 
 Neb began to twist his fingers, and I could see tears glistening in 
 his eyes; for his attachment to Marble was of very. long standing 
 and of proof. When men have gone through together, as much as 
 we three had experienced in company, indeed, the most trifling 
 griefs of every day life get to appear so insignificant, that our con- 
 nexion seems to.be one of a nature altogether stronger than the 
 commoner ties. 
 
 "Yes, sah, Cap'in Marble, sah ; what please to bo your wish, 
 sah?" asked the negro, struggling to subdue his grief. 
 
 " To say a few words of advice, Neb, to take leave of my friends, 
 and then to be struck off the shipping articles of life. Old age and 
 hard sarvice, Neb, has made me veer cable to the better end. The 
 stopper is working loose, and a few more surges will leave the hulk 
 adrift. The case is different with you, who are in your prime, 
 and a prime chap be you, on a yard, or at the wheel. My parting 
 advice to you, Neb, is, to hold out as you 've begun. I don't say 
 you're without failin's (what nigger is?) but you 're a good fellow, 
 and assartain to be found in your place as the pumps. In the first 
 place, you 're a married man ; and though your wife is only a 
 negress, she's your wife, and you must stick to her through thick 
 and thin. Take your master as an example, and obsarve how he 
 love and cherishes your mistress," [here Lucy pressed, gcnllv,
 
 S?2 LUCY HARDINGK. 
 
 closer to my side;] "and then, as to your children, bring 'em up 
 accordin' to the advice of Madam Walhngford. You can never sail 
 under better instructions than hern, as I know, by experience. Be 
 particular to make that Hector of yours knock of from swearing : 
 he 's begun, and what 's begun in sin is pretty sartain to have an 
 indin'. Talk to him first, and if that won't do, rope's-end it out 
 of him. There 's great vartue in ratlin stuff, among boys. As for 
 yourself, Neb, hold on as you have begun, and the Lord will have 
 marcy on you, before the v'y'ge is up." 
 
 Here Marble ceased from exhaustion : though he made a sign to 
 Neb not to move, as he had more to say. After resting a little, he 
 felt under his pillow, whence he produced a very old tobacco-box, 
 fumbled about until he had opened it, took a small bite, and shut 
 the box again. All this was done very slowly, and with the uncer- 
 tain, feeble movements of a dying man. When the lid was replaced, 
 Marble held the box towards Neb, and resumed his address. 
 
 ** Use that for my sake, Neb," he said. "It is full of excellent 
 tobacco, and the box has the scent of thirty years in it that being 
 the time it has sailed in my company. That box has been in nine 
 fights, seven wracks, and has seen more boat-sarvice than most 
 London watermen, or any Whitehaller of 'em all. Among other 
 explites, it has been round the world four times, besides having 
 run the Straits of Magellan in the dark, as might be 5 as your mas- 
 ter and you know as well as I do. Take that box, therefore, lad, 
 and be 'particular, always, to put none but the best of pig-tail in 
 it for it's used to that only. And now, Neb, a word about a little 
 duty you're to do for me, when you get in. Ask your master. 
 first,'for leave, and then go up to Willow Cove, and carry rny bles- 
 sin' to Kitty and her children. It's easy done, if a man sets about 
 it in the right spirit. All you have to do is to go up to the Cove, and 
 say that I prayed to God to bless 'em all, before I died. Do you 
 think you can remember that?" 
 
 *I try, Cap'in Marble, sah yes, sah, I try all I can, dough 
 I'm no scholar." 
 
 " Perhaps you had better confide this office to me," said the mu- 
 sical voice of my wife. 
 
 Marble was pleased, and he seemed every way disposed to 
 accept the offer. 
 
 " I didn't like to trouble you so much," he answered, "though 
 1 feel grateful for the offer. Well, then, Neb, you may leave the 
 blessin' unsaid, as your mistress is so kind hold on a bit : you 
 can give it to Chloe and her little family ; all but Hector , I mean 
 but not to him, unless he knocks off swearing ! As soon as he 
 does that, why let him have his share. Now, Neb, give me your 
 hand. Good bye, boy : you've been true to me, and God bless you 
 for it. You are but a nigger, I know; but there's One in whose 
 eves your soul is as precious as that of many a prince and priest/"
 
 <r 
 
 LUCY IIARD1NCE. 323 
 
 Neb shook hands with his old commander, broke out of the cir- 
 cle, rushed into the steerage, and blubbered like a baby. In the 
 meantime Marble paused to recover his own self-possession, which 
 had been a little disturbed by the feeling manifested by the black. 
 As soon as he felt himself a little composed, he hunted about his cot 
 until he found two small paper boxes, each of which contained a 
 very pretty ring, that it seemed he had purchased for this express 
 purpose when last in port. These rings he gave to my daughters, 
 who received the presents sobbing, though with strong natural ex- 
 hibitions of the friendly sentiments they entertained for him. 
 
 " Your father and 1 have gone through many hardships and 
 trials together," he said, "and I love you all even more than I 
 love my own relations. I hope this is not wrong, Madam Walling- 
 ford, for it's out of my power to help it. I 've already given my 
 keep-sakes to the boys, and to your parents, and I hope all of 
 you will someiimes remember the poor old sea-dog that God, in his 
 wisdom, threw like a waif in your way, that he might be benefited 
 by your society. There's your polar slar, young 'uns," pointing 
 to my wife. " Keep God in mind always, and give to this righte- 
 ous woman the second place in your hearts ; not that I say a 
 word, or think anything ag'in your father, who's a glorious fellow 
 in his way, but, a'ter all, young women should copy a'ter their 
 mothers, when they've such a mother as yourn, the best of fathers 
 fallin' far astarn, in gentleness and other vartues." 
 
 The girls wept freely, and Marble, after waiting a few minutes, 
 took-a solemn leave of all my children, desiring everybody but Lucy 
 and myself to quit the cabin. An hour passed in discourse with us 
 two, during which Moses frequently exhorted me to give ear to the 
 pious counsels of my wife, for he manifested much anxiety for the 
 future welfare of my soul. 
 
 " I've generalized a great deal over that affair of Smudge the 
 whole of this v'y'ge," he continued, "and I've had sore misgivings 
 consarning the explite. Madam Wallingford, however, has eased 
 my mind on that score, by showing me how to lay the burthen of 
 this, with all the rest of the load of my sins, on the love of Christ. 
 I am resigned to go, Miles, for it is time, and I'm getting to be use- 
 less. It's wicked to wish to run a ship after her frame has worked 
 loose, and nothing now fastens me to life but you. I own it's 
 hard to part, and my mind has had some weakness on the matter. 
 However, Miles, my dear boy, for boy you are still in my eyes, 
 there is comfort in looking ahead. Go by your wife's rules, and 
 when the v'y'ge is up, we shall all find ourselves in the same 
 haven." 
 
 " It gives me much happiness, Moses, to find you in this frame of 
 mind," I answered. "Since you must quit us, you will not leave 
 one behind of the name of Wallingford, that will not rejoice at this 
 prospect for the future. As for your sins, God has both the power.
 
 3?4 LtCYHARDINGE. 
 
 and the will to lighten you of their weight, when he finds you dis- 
 posed to penitence, and to make use of the mediation of his blessed 
 Son. If there is anything you desire to have done hereafter, this 
 is a very proper time to let me know it." 
 
 " I've made a will, Miles, and you '11 find it in my desk. There 
 are some trifles given to you and yourn, but you want not gold, and 
 the rest all goes to Kitty and her children. 'There is a p'int, how- 
 ever, on which my mind is very ondetarmined, and I will now lay 
 it before you. Don't you think it more becoming for a seaman to 
 be buried in blue water, than to be tuck'd up in a church-yard ? 
 I do not like tomb-stones, having had too much of them in 'arly 
 youth, and feel as if I wantsea-rom. What is your opinion, 
 Miles ?" 
 
 "Decide for yourself. Your wishes will be our law." 
 
 " Then roll me up in my cot; and launch me overboard in the old 
 way. I have sometimes thought it might be well to lie at my mo- 
 ther's side ; but she'll excuse an old tar for preferring blue water to 
 one of your country church-yards." 
 
 After this, I had several interviews with the old man, though he 
 said nothing more on the sujecl of his interment, that of his pro- 
 perty, or that of his departure. Lucy read the Bible to him two or 
 three times every day, and she prayed with him often. On one 
 occasion, I heard a low, sweet voice, near his cot, and taking a look, 
 ascertained it was my little pet, my daughter Lucy, then only thir- 
 teen, reading a second time a chapter that her mother had gone 
 through, only an hour before, with some of her own remarks. 
 The comments were wanting now, but the voice had the same gentle 
 earnestness, the same sweet modulations, and the same impressive 
 distinctness as that of the mother?" 
 
 Marble lived until we had passed within the Gulf Stream, dying 
 easily and without a groan, with all my family, Neb, and the first- 
 mate, assembled near his cot. The only thing that marked his end 
 was a look of singular significance that he cast on my wife, not a 
 minute before he breathed his last. There he lay, the mere vestige 
 of the robust hardy seaman I had once known, a child in physical 
 powers, and about to make the last great change. Material as were 
 the alterations in the man, from what he had been when in his 
 pride, I thought the spiritual or intellectual part of his being was 
 less to be recognised than the bodily. Certainly, that look was full 
 of resignation and hope ; and we had reason to believe that this 
 rude but honest creature was spared long enough to complete the 
 primary object of his existence. 
 
 In obedience to his own earnest request, though sorely against 
 the feelings of my wife and daughters, I buried the body of my old 
 friend in the ocean, six days before we made the land. 
 
 And now it remains only to speak of Lucy. I have deferred 
 this agreeable duty to the last, passing over long years that were
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 3?5 
 
 pregnant with many changes, in order to conclude with this delight- 
 ful theme. 
 
 The first few years of my married life were years of bliss to me. 
 I lived under a constant sense of happiness : a happiness that man 
 can derive only from a union with a woman of whom his reason and 
 principles as much approve, as his tastes and passion cherish. I 
 do not mean to be understood that the years which have succeeded 
 were a whit less happy ; for, in a certain sense, they have been 
 more so, and have gone on increasing in happiness down to the 
 present hour ; but because time and use finally so far accustomed 
 me to this intimate connexion with purity, virtue, female disinter- 
 estedness and feminine delicacy, that I should have missed them as 
 things incorporated with my very existence, had I been suddenly 
 deprived of my wife, quite as much as in the first years of my 
 married life I enjoyed them as things hitherto unknown to me. 
 
 As I ride over the fields of Clawbonny, even at this day, I recall 
 with tranquil delight, and, I trust, with humble gratitude, the man- 
 ner in which those blessed early years of our marriage passed. 
 That was the period when every thought of mine was truly shared 
 by Lucy. She accompanied me in my daily rides or drives, and 
 listened to every suggestion that fell from my lips with kind inter- 
 est and the most indulgent attention, rendering me back thought for 
 thought, feeling for feeling, laugh for laugh, and, occasionally, 
 tear for tear. Not an emotion could become aroused in my breast 
 that it did not meet with its reflection in hers, or a sense of ludi- 
 crous be awakened, that her keen but chastened humour did not 
 increase its effect by sympathy. Those were the years in which 
 were planned and executed the largest improvements for the build- 
 ings, pleasure-grounds, and fields of Clawbonny. We built exten- 
 sively, not only out-houses and stables, better suited to our present 
 means, and more enlarged mode of living, than those which existed 
 in my father's time, but, as has been stated before, we added to the 
 dwelling, preserving its pleasing confusion and irregularity of ar- 
 chitecture. After passing the first summer which succeeded our 
 marriage in this manner, I told Lucy it was time to stop building 
 and improving my own place, in order that some attention might 
 be bestowed on that she had inherited from Mrs. Bradfort, and 
 which was also old family property. 
 
 " Do not think of it, Miles," she said. "Keep Riversedge in 
 good order, and no more. Rupert," who was then living, and in 
 possession, "will see that nothing goes to waste; but Clawbonny, 
 dear Clawbonny, is the true home of a Wallingford ; and I am now 
 a Wallingford, you will remember Should this precious boy of 
 ours live to become a man, and marry, the old West-Chester 
 property can be used by him until we are ready to give him up pos- 
 session here." 
 
 This plan has not been literally carried out-, for Miles, my eldest
 
 326 LUCY HARDINGE. 
 
 son, lives with us at Clavvbonny in the summer; and his noisy 
 boys are at this moment playing a game of ball in a Held that has 
 been expressly devoted to their amusements. 
 
 The period which succeeded the first half-dozen years of my 
 union with Lucy, was not less happy than the first had been ; though 
 it assumed a new character. Our children then came into the ac- 
 count, not as mere playthings, and little beings to be most tenderly 
 loved and cared for, but as creatures that possess the image of God 
 in their souls, and whose future characters, in a measure, depended 
 on our instruction. The manner in which Lucy governed her 
 children, and led them by gentle means to virtue and truth, has al- 
 ways been a subject of the deepest admiration and gratitude with 
 me. Her rule has been truly one of love. I do not know that I 
 ever heard her voice raised in anger to any human being, much less 
 to her own offspring but whenever reproof has come, it has come 
 in the language of interest and affection, more or less qualified by 
 severity, as circumstances may have required. The result has been 
 all that our fondest hopes could have led us to anticipate. 
 
 When we travelled, it was with all our young people ; and a new 
 era of happiness, heightened by the strongest domestic affection, 
 opened on us. All who have seen the world have experienced the 
 manner in which our intellectual existences, as it might be, expand ; 
 but no one who has not experienced it, can tell the deep, heart-felt 
 satisfaction there is in receiving this enlargement of the moral 
 creature in close association with those we love most on earth. 
 The manner in which Lucy enjoyed all she saw and learned on our 
 first visit to the other hemisphere 5 her youngest child all four of 
 our children were born within the first eight years of our marriage 
 her youngest child was then long past its infancy, and she had 
 leisure to enjoy herself in increasing the happiness of her offspring. 
 She had improved her mind by reading ; and her historical lore, in 
 particular, was always ready to be produced for the common ad- 
 vantage. There was no ostentation in this 5 but everything was 
 produced just as if each had a right to its use. Then it was I felt 
 the immense importance of having a companion, in an intellectual 
 sense, in a wife. Lucy had always been intelligent-, but I never 
 fully understood her superiority in this respect, until we travelled 
 together amid the teeming recollections and scenes of the old 
 world. That America is the greatest country of ancient or modern 
 times I shall not deny. Everybody says it ; and what everybody 
 says must be true. Nevertheless, I will venture to hint, that, ccetc- 
 ris paribus, and where there is the disposition to think at all, the 
 intellectual existence of every American who goes to Europe is 
 more than doubled in its intensity. This is the country of action, 
 not of thought or speculation. Men follow out their facts to results, 
 instead of reasoning them out. Then the multiplicity of objects 
 and events that exist in the old countries to quicken the powers ol
 
 LUCY HARDINGE. 327 
 
 the mind, has no parallel here. It is owing to this want of the pre- 
 sent and the past, which causes the American, the moment he be- 
 comes speculative, to run into the future. That future promises 
 much, and, in a degree, may justify the weakness. Let us take 
 heed, however, that it do not lead to disappointment. 
 
 After all, I have found Lucy the most dear to me, and the most 
 valuable companion, since we have both passed the age of fifty. Air 
 is not more transparent than her pure mind, and I ever turn to it 
 for counsel, sympathy, and support, with a confidence and reliance 
 that experience could alone justify. As we draw nearer to the 
 close of life, I find my wife gradually loosening the lies of this world 
 her love for her husband and children excepted and fastening 
 her looks on a future world. In thus accomplishing, with a 
 truth and nature that are unerringly accurate, the great end of 
 her being, nothing repulsive, nothing that is in the least tinctured 
 with bigotry, and nothing that is even alienated from the af- 
 fections, or her duties in life, is mingled with her devotion. 
 My family, like its female head, has ever been deeply impressed 
 by religion ; but it is religion in its most pleasing aspect religion 
 that has no taint of puritanism, and in which sin and innocent 
 gaiety are never confounded. It is the most cheerful family of 
 my aquaintance; and this, I must implicitly believe, solely 
 because, in addition to the bounties it enjoys, under the blessing 
 of God, it draws the just distinction between those things that 
 the word of God has prohibited, and those which come from the 
 excited and exaggerated feelings of a class of theologians, who, 
 constantly preaching the doctrine of faith, have regulated their 
 moral discipline solely, as if, in their hearts, they placed all their 
 reliance on the efficacy of a school of good works that has had its 
 existence in their own diseased imaginations. 1 feel the deepest 
 gratitude to Lucy, for having instilled the most profound sense of 
 their duties into our children, while they remain totally free from 
 cant, and from those exaggerations and professions which so 
 many mistake for piety of purer emanation. 
 
 Some of my readers may feel a curiosity to know how time 
 has treated us elderly people, for elderly we have certainly 
 become. As for myself, I enjoy a greien old age, and I believe, 
 look at least ten years younger than I am. This I attribute to 
 temperance and exercise. Lucy was positively an attractive 
 woman until turned of fifty, retaining even a good deal of her bloom 
 down to that period of life. I think her handsome still ; and old 
 Neb, when in a flattering humour, is apt to speak of either of my 
 daughters as his " handsome young missus," and of my wife 
 as his " handsome ole missus." 
 
 And why should not Lucy Hardinge continue to retain many 
 vestiges of those charms which rendered her so lovely in youth ? 
 Ingenuous, pure of mind, sincere, truthful, placid, and just, tho
 
 328 , LUCY HARDLNGE. -' 
 
 soul could scarcely fail to communicate some of its blesseo 
 properties to that countenance which even now so sensitively 
 reflects its best impulses. I repeat, Lucy is still handsome, and 
 in my eyes even her charming daughters are less fair. That she 
 has so long been, and is still my wife, forms not only the 
 delight but the pride of my life. It is a blessing for which 
 i am not ashamed to say, I daily render thanks to God o, 
 my knees. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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