About noon
As for my own thoughts , they may be given in a few words -- they were upon the vanity of human wishes . Whatever I had done with the one object I had in view -- whatever might have been my success had I lived -- whether I might have been wedded to Minnie some future day , or what may have resulted , good , bad , or indifferent , as to future , all was to be , in a few hours , cut short by the will of Heaven . In the next world there was neither marriage nor giving in marriage -- in the next world , name , titles , wealth , everything worldly was as nought -- and all I had to do was to die like a man , and do my duty to the last , trusting to a merciful God to forgive me my sins and offences ; and with this philosophy I stood prepared for the event . About noon it again cleared up to leeward , but the Dryad was no longer to be seen : this was reported to me . As it was nearly three hours since we last had a sight of her , I knew her fate too well -- she had plenty of time to go on shore , and to be broken up by the heavy seas . I did however point my glass in the direction , and coolly observed , `` she has rounded the tail of the bank , I presume , and has bore up . It was the best thing she could do . ''