that her crew had actually trodden upon English soil, and spoken to English people in the English tongue; and much did we envy the captain when the pilot was brought on board and sent down to the cabin.*

I was leaning over the gangway; the boat, with her crew, were lying alongside immediately beneath me. Anxious to ascertain what news there was, and what of good or evil had happened in England during the long four years of my absence, I ventured to hail a fine weather-beaten old fellow, who was very quietly chewing his quid in the stern-sheets.

"Any news?" I inquired, in an under tone, of voice, almost dreading his reply, lest the tidings should be of evil import.

66

Why, no, sir," replied the man, with one hand shoving his little tarpaulin hat from his brows, and hitching

up his trowsers with the other; "nothing very particular, sir: only pilchard fishing's uncommon slack-very!"

66

"Interesting!" thought I, as I turned away, determined not to risk any farther interrogatories.

We carried our favourable breeze to Spithead, and saluted the Admiral with seventeen guns. Next day we proceeded into the harbour, and in a fortnight more were paid off, when we prepared to depart, each for his respective home. The total dispersion of a crew that for four years had lived so harmoniously together, considerably damped the joyful feelings that would otherwise have been paramount on this occasion; and notwithstanding my anxiety to rejoin my friends, it was with a heavy heart that I took leave of my comrades, and having shaken hands with the benevolent Morley, turned my back for ever on the HAPPY HEsperus,

As the route of Strangway, Neville, and myself, lay in the same direction as far as London, we determined to proceed thither in company, and for this purpose secured our places in one of the "Portsmouth stages."

It was a fine bright and bracing October morning when we started on our journey, "rolling along the turnpike" on the top of The Regulator with all the speed at which a team of four fine bays could carry us. There were at the time of which I speak, as there are still, numerous coaches belonging to rival proprietors, plying on the road between Portsmouth and London, each of which was urged on the attention of the public by the usual expedients. In the advertisement which proclaimed the many advantages that attended travelling by the Regulator, there was placed

in the strong relief of a separate line and large letters, the announcement"One driver through." How far this proved to be really an advantage the reader will presently have an opportunity of judging.

Our Jehu, who was known on the road by the familiar appellation of Bill, was a middle-aged man, of a stout corpulent figure, and a complexion of which the weather-born bronze gradually deepening into a dark purple round the region of the nose betokened a close familiarity with gin and ale. He wore a smart bottle-green jockeycoat, with large mother-of-pearl buttons; a pair of mahogany-topped boots and shining white cord breeches adorned his nether man, and a huge broad. brimmed white hat surmounted his head. His button-hole was ornamented by the

English coachman's greatest pride-a full-blown cabbage rose and a goodly sprig of southern-wood. In driving, he prided himself on being an adept. He squared his elbows and handled his reins with an air of one who knows his business, making his long four-in-hand whip crack round the ears of his leaders with the greatest possible adroitness. As long as our route lay within the town, it required all his vigilance to steer his way through the crowded thoroughfares, and it was in vain that we attempted to draw him into conversation; but no sooner were we clear of the streets, than he showed that taciturnity was by no means his foible.

There's a team for you, gentlemen," he said, eyeing his horses, as they pranced along in gallant style, with infinite complacency. "That off-wheel horse has won two plates in his day, and taken Heaven knows how many brushes-isn't he a rare un to trot? sixteen miles an hour's clean nothing to him. Look you, now-they give me forty minutes to go this stage: see if I don't do it in the half-hour, and bring in my tits as fresh as daisies, without a turned hair. You were observing that you're just come from sea, gentlemenarrived, no doubt, with one of them ships as was paid off the other day? ay, that's your sort; a light heart, a full purse, and a bright eye for a petticoat. Well, blow me, if you sha'nt see as pretty a bar-maid at the next stage as ever handled a porter pot; and one that's up to a bit of a lark, too, I'll warrant her."

As he intimated, little more than half an hour was requisite to bring us to the stage in question, and Bill having directed the hostler not to be in a hurry with the horses as he was "summit within time," invited us to follow him into the private parlour of the little inn. Here a supply of liquor was speedily produced and as speedily consumed by far the greater proportion finding its way down the capacious throat of our worthy driver, who kept up a sort of flying flirtation with the pretty bar-maid, winking and nodding to us from time to time in order that his wit and pleasantry might not pass unobserved. At every stage on the road, and at every pot-house between stages where a glass of liquor could be procured, the same scene was

enacted, of course at our expense, and such were Bill's herculean potatory powers that the quantity of liquor which he imbibed seemed to produce no other effect on him than that of deepening the purple and brightening the carbuncles that garnished his physiognomy. Bacchus, however, is not a god to be trifled with. By degrees it became evident that the liquor he had taken was doing its work; his tongue moved more and more sluggishly, and the lies he told became more and more exaggerated and fearless. On every opportunity that offered he took care to afford us some proof of his expertness in driving, now making the wheels run close on the edge of some steep bank or ditch, now cutting in between carriages where the space seemed quite insufficient for the purpose of passing, and now wheeling round the corners and windings of the road with a sharpness and rapidity which in no small degree jeopardized the necks of his passengers. Still, as if by a sort of habitual instinctiveness, he continued to hold the reins firmly, and to keep his team tolerably well together; turning round to us after the performance of each new feat with a peculiar leer on his face which seemed to say, "What do you think of that?"

As we approached the suburbs of London, and the thoroughfares became more crowded, the opportunities of showing his dexterity increased. Coaches, carts, and carriages were successively passed with hair-breadth proximity, and what seemed to me almost miraculous without accident.

"You're a good hand at a shave, Bill," I observed to him after he had just cleared a huge wagon, by running the coach close past it without the slightest collision.

"In course," replied Bill, "and why not! Ay, ay, its easy enough to drive along a road with a couple of yards open space on each side; but show me the man that can carry his coach safe through and not a quarter of an inch to spare. Look ye now; you see that 'ere carriage with the couple of bays trundling along before us, I warrant you that fat liveried lout on the box knows no more of his business than if he were the driver of a common dray

cart. See what a range the fellow takes when he passes a wagon; and now you may be sworn he hears me coming up behind him with my spankers, and he's pulling off the road to give me room to pass. Room to pass the nigger! he may give it if he like; but I be d-d if I take it. No, no! that's not my way; I'll let you see me shave him as clean as your own beard of a Sunday morning. C'up, my beauties, c'up."

The driver of the carriage in question, hearing the stage-coach coming rapidly up behind, had drawn off the road to allow it room to pass, but Bill being in no humour to take advantage of the space thus afforded him, determined to show how near he could go without touching. Whether it was, however, that he had miscalculated his distance, or that his hand was not so steady as usual I cannot determine, but no sooner did he come up with the carriage than the wheels came in violent collision, and both vehicles were upset in different directions. Fortunately for myself I was thrown from the box into a neighbouring hedge, and having received no farther injury than a few slight scratches I hastened to render what assistance I could to my companions.

I was proceeding to lift up poor Bill, who was lying in the middle of the road, evidently very much hurt, when my attention was attracted towards the carriage which had been the innocent cause of our misfortune, by observing a white scarf or veil of which I caught a glimpse through the broken glass of the window. The hope of being useful to a female in such an emergency induced me to abandon Bill to the tender mercies of the bystanders and hasten to the prostrate carriage. Having in vain endeavoured to open the door, of which the lock had been twisted in the overset, I succeeded with some difficulty in extricating the object of my solici tude through the window; and lifting her in my arms placed her gently on the ground.

"Are you hurt, madam ?" was my first eager inquiry.

No, sir, she replied, "I am not hurt-but my father-O! my father!"

She said this in a tone of voice so extremely weak that I thought it indi

cated a degree of faintness. The thick white veil which she wore completely shaded her face, and with the intention of affording her a freer circulation of air, I imprudently laid my hand upon the fringe to lift it up. She started as if I had been about to commit a sacrilege, and gently notioning my hand away, urged me not to think of her, but to render what assistance I could to her father.

Her voice, though faint from weakness and agitation, was so exquisitely modulated that it fell upon my ear like the sweetest music, and as I took a hasty glance at her figure I thought I had never seen anything more perfectly graceful.

Some of the bystanders were now engaged in extricating the gentleman from the overturned carriage, and I hastened to assist them. The task, however, was more difficult that I anticipated. In the first shock of the collision he had imprudently thrust his head from the window, and had received a violent concussion in the fall. He now lay stunned and motionless; and it was only after we had forced the door from its hinges that we succeeded in lifting him out in a state of total insensibility, the blood streaming from a wound in his head.

By this time the crowd, attracted by the accident, had considerably increased, and among the rest there was a surgeon, who, chancing to pass at the moment, had humanely stopped to see if he could render any assistance. It was impossible for any arrival to be more opportune. He directed the unfortunate gentleman to be conveyed into a neighbouring house, and having carefully examined his bruises declared there was no cause for serious alarm, as the blow on his head was not dangerous and had merely stunned him. In this he proved to be correct; for after a small quantity of blood had been taken from his arm, the gentle man began to revive and recover his recollection. His first inquiry was after his daughter, who, during the whole time, had watched over him with the most tender assiduousness. But it was in vain that I attempted to catch a glimpse of her face. The veil which I had so imprudently attempted to lift still screened it from my view; and although this was from time to

time withdrawn, whilst she performed the different offices of attention to her father, it was carefully replaced whenever she stood in such a position as brought her within range of my eye. At length the surgeon declared that the patient was sufficiently recovered to be removed home, and politely offered the use of his own carriage for this purpose. I was sadly disappointed at this arrangement, for I had resolved to offer myself as an escort, being impressed with an irresistible desire to prosecute my acquaintance with the fair unknown. As, however, the surgeon himself was to accompany them, any offer of my services would have seemed obtrusive, and nothing therefore was left to me but to assist in handing them into the carriage. I had closed the door, and was just about to ask permission to pay my respects at the house next day. I felt, however, unaccountably embarrassed on the occasion, and before I could frame my wish in suitable words, the lady interrupted me by requesting that I would add to the favours already conferred by inquiring after the fate of their coachman, to whom, in the bustle of the moment, they had not had time to attend. I bowed my acquiescence; but before I could utter a word the carriage drove off and left me. "Such a figure! such a voice!" I said to myself as I hurried away to look after my companions, and ascertain what had become of the gentleman's coachman-"had I only seen her face!-but I shall call to-morrow!" Strangway and Neville I found had escaped with a few inconsiderable bruises, and were now both busily engaged ministering to the wants of poor Bill, who had been removed into a neighbouring change-house very severely hurt. Thither the unfortunate coachman of whom I was in search had also also been conveyed with his leg badly fractured. The poor fellow was in great pain, nor could I get him to speak a single word coherently until I had procured the attendance of a surgeon, who set the broken bones and let him blood. He then fell into a profound sleep, and awaking after a couple of hours more collected, I ascertained the name and residence of his master, to whom I determined to pay my respects on the following morning.

The coach was by this time restored to her wheels, and a driver having been provided to carry us forward, my companions and myself-having left a little money at the inn with strict injunctions that the patients should be properly attended to-proceeded on our journey. After a short drive we reached the city, and took up our quarters at the Tavistock.

In talking over the events of the day, Strangway and Neville took occasion to rally me a good deal on the rapturous manner in which I spoke of my veiled beauty. Indeed I could not help wondering at my own susceptibility in being so much smitten by a person whose face I had never seen. It was in vain that I endeavoured to excuse myself in my own eyes by attributing the interest I felt not to the lady herself but her unfortunate father; the musical tones of her voice still rung in my ear, and her graceful figure flitted in imagination before me.

"You had better not prosecute this adventure any farther," said Strangway; "ten to one the lady is old and ugly, and her father nothing more than a retired soap-boiler. At all events, should she chance to be handsome, depend upon it she is likely to turn up her nose, be it never so straight, at a poor middy who carries his whole fortune in his pocket. Come, come, Ned, help yourself to a glass of wine and think no more about it; and next time you fall in love make it a point to get a previous glimpse at the lady's physiognomy. What would you say now to her being some half-cast beauty with a face as tawny as a copper stew pan ?"

I was not, however, to be laughed out of my adventure, and though I said nothing of my purpose, determined to wait upon the lady next morning to inquire after her father's health. I accordingly dressed myself to as much advantage as my somewhat scanty wardrobe would admit, and stealing out of the hotel without saying a word to my companions, threw myself into a hackney coach and drove off direct for Square.

"Master is rather easier this morning," said a smart-looking livery servant in reply to my inquiries.

"Is your mistress within at pre

sent ?"

"Yes, sir," was the reply; "please step this way, sir."

My heart beat quick as I ascended the staircase, and was ushered into a handsome ante-room, the servant assuring me that he would presently an nounce my name to his mistress. Every thing in the apartment gave evidence of taste and refinement. In one corner stood a frame for embroidery work, in another a harp, and open, on a small rosewood work-table, lay a beautifully illustrated copy of Tasso's Aminta. The walls were hung round with exquisite engravings from some of the most famous pictures of the Roman school, and several landscapes beautifully executed in water colours, and marked with the initials C. M., drawn in a small Italian character, I was inclined to attribute to the hand of my fair unseen.

"At all events," I thought to myself, "she must be accomplished. These drawings are charmingly executed, and as an accompaniment to the harp, that voice! I trust in heaven she is handsome."

Scarcely had I concluded this sagacious reflection, when the door opened, and the object of my curiosity entered. If I was before struck with the elegance of her figure, what was the effect produced by the contemplation of her face. I thought it was the most perfect countenance I had ever beheld. The thick clusters of her raven-black hair were braided over a high, intellectual forehead of almost dazzling whiteness: her eye was dark and sparkling, its fire in some degree tempered by the shadow of her long, silken eyelashes, and the moulding of the lower features of her face were of such extreme elegance and delicacy as to remind me of those chosen by Canova as the model for his Niobe. The expression of the whole was such as to convey the idea of superior intellectual power; and there was a gentle, unobtrusive smile playing round the corners of the lips that indicated a modesty and benevolence truly feminine.

"You are very kind, Mr. Lascelles," she said, as she recognized my presence by a graceful inclination of the head, "to take the trouble of coming to inquire ofter my father's health. He is this morning much improved, and de

sired me to express his thanks to you for your attentions yesterday."

I know not whence it is, but I have sometimes met with women with whom I felt at first sight as if I had been an old acquaintance. Of these, the lady before me was one. There was an affability and kindliness in her manner that thawed at once the frost of ceremony, and she knew how to conduct conversation on indifferent topics, without the slightest appearance of reserve or stiffness. Such were her intelligence and the extent of her information, that the whole field of polite learning seemed patent to her. On the subject of the fine arts in particular, she displayed a degree of taste and discrimination seldom to be met with in a mere amateur; and when I requested her to favour me with a specimen of her performance on the harp, she complied at once, without the slightest coyness or affectation. In music, at least, her practical skill seemed equal to her theoretic knowledge; the tones she drew from the instrument were truly enchanting; and when she sung, her rich, full voice harmonized most delightfully with the vibrations of the silver strings.

"You seem fond of music, Mr. Lascelles," she said, when she had finished her song; "indeed that is one of the privileges of your name. Pray, may I ask if you are related to the Lascelles of --shire ?"

"I am the son of the Mr. Lascelles to whom you allude, madam," I replied.

"I thought so," she continued; “indeed I may almost say I knew so before I asked the question; and more, your name must be Edward. Nay, do not look so astonished at my prophetic powers; the truth is, your sister was a schoolfellow of mine, and she possessed a miniature likeness of her sailor brother, so admirably executed that I should have known you to be the original at first sight."

At this moment a servant entered and spoke something to her aside.

"I must bid you adieu for the present," she said, rising up, "as my father is in need of my attendance; but I trust we shall have the pleasure of seeing you again before you leave town" and making a graceful curtsy, she glided from the room.

I returned to my hotel in raptures.