you never loved him and you married him in your selfsacrifice to me


he was then said marion drawing her sister closer to her on the eve of going secretly away for a long time


he wrote to me after leaving here told me what his condition and prospects really were and offered me his hand


he told me he had seen i was not happy in the prospect of alfreds return


i believe he thought my heart had no part in that contract perhapathought i might have loved him once and did not then perhaps thought that when i tried to seem indifferent i tried to hide indifferencei cannot tell


but i wished that you should feel me wholly lost to alfredhope less to him dead


do you understand me love


her sister looked into her face attentively


she seemed in doubt


i isaw mr warden and confided in his honor charged him with my secret on the eve of his and my departure


he kept it


do you understand me dear


grace looked confusedly upon her


she scarcely seemed to hear


my love my sister said marion recal your thoughts a moment listen to me


do not look so strangely on me


there are countries dearest where those who would abjure a misplaced passion or would strive against some cherished feelings of their hearts and conquer it retire into a hopeless solitude and close the world against themselves and wordly loves and hopes for ever


when women do so they assume that name which is so dear to you and me and call each other sisters


but there may be sisters grace who in the broad world out of doors and underneath its free sky and in its crowded places and among its busy life and trying to assist and cheer it and to do some good learn the same lesson and with hearts still fresh and young and open to all happiness and means of happiness can say the battle is long past the victory long won


and such a one am i


you understand me now


still she looked fixedly upon her and made no reply


oh grace dear grace said marion clinging yet more tenderly and fondly to that breast from whchshehad been so long exiled if you were not a happy wife and mother if i had no little namesake here if alfred my kind brother were not your own fond husband from whence could i derive the ecstasy i feel tonight


i


but as i left here so i have returned


my heart has known no other love my hand has never been bestowed apart from it i am still your maiden sister unmarried unbe trothed your own old loving marion in whose affection you exist alone and have no partner grace


she understood her now


her face relaxed j sobs came to her relief and falling on her neck she wept and wept and fondled her as if she were a child again


when they were more composed they found that the doctor and his sister good aunt martha werestandingnear at hand with alfred


this is a weary day for me said good aunt martha smiling through her tears as she embraced her nieces for i love my dear companion in making you all happy and what can you give me in return for my marion


a converted brother said the doctor


thats something to be sure retorted martha in such a farce as no pray dont said the doctor penitently


well i wont replied aunt martha


but i consider myself illused


i dont know whats to become of me without my marion after we have lived together halfadozen years


you must come and live bjfee


i suppose replied the doctor


we sfiuwjuarrel now martha


or get married aunt said alfred


indeed returned the old lady i think it might be a good speculation if i were to set my cap at michael warden who i hear is come home much the better for his absence in all respects


but as i knew him when he was a boy and i was not a very young woman then perhaps he mightnt respond


so ill make up my mind to go and live with marion when she marries and until then it will not be very long i dare say to live alone


what do you say brother


v ive a great mind to say its a ridiculous world altogether and theres nothing serious in it observed thepoorold doctor you might take twenty affidavits of it if you chose anthony said his sister but nobody would believe you with such eyes as those


its a world full of hearts said the doctor hugging his younger daughter and bending across her to hug gracefor he couldnt separate the sisters and a serious world with all its follyeven with mine which was enough to have swamped the whole globe and a world on which the sun never rises but it looks upon a thousand bloodless battles that are some setoff against the miseries and wickedness of battle fields and a world we need be careful how we libel heaven forgive us for it is a world of sacred mysteries and its creator only knows what lies beneath the surface of his lightest image


you would not be the better pleased with my rude pen if it dissected and laid open to your view the transports of this family long severed and now reunited


therefore i will not follow the poor doctor through his humbled recollection of the sorrow he had had when marion was lost to him nor will i tell how serious he had found that world to be in which some love deepanchored is the portion of all human creatures nor how such a trifle as the absence of one little unit in the great absurd account had stricken him to the ground


nor how in compassion for his distress his sister had long ago revealed the truth to him by slow degrees and brought him to the knowledge of the heart of his selfbanished daughter and to that daughters side


nor how alfred heathfield had been told the truth too in the course of that then current year and marion had seen him and had promised him as her brother that on her birthday in the evening grace should know it from her lips at last


i beg your pardon doctor said mr snitchey looking into the orchard but have i liberty to come in


without waiting for permission he came straight to marion and kissed her hand quite joyfully


if mr craggs had been alive my dear miss marion said mr snitchey he would have had great interest in this occasion


it might have suggested to him mr alfred that our life is not too easy perhaps that taken altogether it will bear any little smoothing we can give it but mr cragg was a man who could endure to be convinced sir


he was always open to conviction if he were open to conviction now ithis is weakness


mrs snitchey my dear at his summons that lady appeared from behind the door you are among old friends


t mrs snitchey having delivered her congratulations took her husband aside i


one moment mr snitchey said that lady


f it is not in my nature to rake up the ashes of the departed no my dear returned her husband


mr


crnggsisr yes my dear type deceased said mr snitchey


but i ask you if you recollect pursued his wife that evening of the ball


i only ask you that


if jqu do and if your memory has not entirely failed you mr snitchey


and if you are not absolutely in your dotage i ask you to connect this time with that to remember how i begged and prayed you on my knees upon your knees my dear said mr snitchey


yes said mrs snitchey confidently and you know itto beware of that manto observe his eyeand now to tell me whether i was right and whether at that moment he knew secrets which he didnt choose to tell


mrs snitchey returned her husband in her ear madam


did you ever observe anything in my eye


no said mrs snitchey sharply


dont flatter yourself


because maam that night he continued twitching her by the sleeve it happens that we both knew secrets which we didnt choose to tell and both knew just the same professionally


and so the less you say about such things the better mrs snitchey and take this as a warning to have wiser and more charitable eyes another time


miss marion i brought a friend of yours along with me


here


mistress


poor clemency with her apron to her eyes came slowly in escorted by her husband the latter doleful with the presentiment that if she abandoned herself to grief the nutmeg grater was done for now mistress said the lawyer checking marion as she ran towards her and interposing himself between them whats the matter with you


the matter cried poor clemency


when looking up in wonder and in indignant remonstrance and in the added emotion of a great roar from mr britain and seeing that sweet face so well remembered close before her she stared sobbed laughed cried screamed embraced her held her fast released her fell on mr snitchey and embraced him much to mrs snitcheys indignation fell on the doctor and embraced him fell on mr britain and embraced him and concluded by embracing herself throwing her apron over her head and going into hysterics behind it


a stranger had come into the orchard after mr snitchey and had remained apart near the gate withoutbeingobserved by any of the group for they had little spare attention to bestow and that had been monopolised by the ecstasies of clemency


he did not appear to wish to be observed but stood alone with downcast eyes and there was an air oobjettion about him though he was a gentleman of a gallant appearance which the general happiness rendered more remarkable


none but the quick eyes of aunt martha however remarked him at all but almost as soon as she espied him she was in conversation with him


presently going to where marion stood with grace and her little namesake she whispered something in marions car at which she started and appeared surprised but soon recovering from her confusion


she timidly approached the stranger in aunt marthas company and engaged in conversation with him too


mr britain said the lawyer putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out a legal looking document while this was going on i congratulate you


you are now the whole and sole proprietor of that freehold tenement at present occupied and held by yourself as a licensed tavern or house of public entertainment and commonly called or known by the sign of the nutmeg garter


your wife lost one house through my client mr michael warden and now gains another


i shall have the pleasure of canvassing you for the county one of these fine mornings


would it make any difference in the vote if the sign was altered sir asked britain


not in the least replied the lawyer


then said mr britain handing him back the conveyance just chap in the words and thimble will you be so good and ill have the two mottoes painted up in the parlour instead of my wifes portrait


and let me said a voice behind them it was the strangers michael wardens let me claim the benefit of those inscriptions


mr heathfield and doctor jeddler i might have deeply wronged you both


that i did not is no virtue of my own i will not say that i am six years wiser than i was or better


but i have known at any rate that term of selfreproach


i can urge no reason why you should deal gently with me


i abused the hospitality of this house and learnt my own demerits with a shame i never have forgotten yet with some profit too i would fain hope from one he glanced at marion to whom i made my humble supplication for forgiveness when i knew her merit and my deep unworthiness in a few days i shall quit this place for ever i entreat your pardon


do as you would be done by


forget and forgive i timefrom whom i had the latter portion of this story and with whom i have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance of some five and thirty years durationinformed me leaning easily upon his scythe that michael warden never went away again and never sold his house but opened it afresh maintained a golden mean of hospitality and had a wife the pride and honor of that countryside whose name was marion but as i have observed that time confuses facts occasionally i hardly know what weight to give to his authority


concluded


kate on a threelegged stool


j continued from our lott


chapter


v a few diiy passed and mary was once more in london work ing cheerfully and looking forward to the happy timenot far distant she hopedwhen she should be reunited to all she loved


the first step towards making things more comfortable for her jm rcnts was the receipt of her quarters wages


the dav arrived when she held them in her hands how pleased and happy she felt in asking for an hour or two to obtain a money order and send home a portion


with a light step she walked on stopping oc casionally to look at many things she would purchase for her poor detr mothers comfort could she but afford it


she reached the post office at last and entered the money order department


an order for a pound if you please sir she meekly said and saying so put her hand in her pocket


her cheek gtew suddenly pale then flushed as the clerk asked to whom


and from j whom


her movement became more energetic


j


i she uttered at last after her vain earch ive lost my purse and all


and she hurst into tears


the clerk said a few words of con j dolence then turned to another person


twas true


she had been i robbed


oh what a curse that money must have been to the thief


she staggered like one under the influence of a fit from that office


there were pillars outside in the streetshe leaned against them and became so absorbed in her sorrow that she did not notice how painfully remarked she was by the passers by


pre sently an arm touched hers still she took no notice


mary


he continued kindly drawing her arm under his own


whats the matter


why are you so pale


comecome along with me here up this quiet street and tell me all


not knowing where she was going she suffered herself to be led long


now tell me what is the matter


he cried


ive lost all


she ejaculated in a tone of the deepest despair


all the money i took yesterday in wages and my poor mother here her tears burst out again


woods tried every argument to console her he urged her and really from his heart to allow bim to give her what shed lost but to this she would not listen


he placed her in a cabfor her distress attracted so much observation and desiring the driver io drive slowly towards her home he used all the means of restoring lier to calm that he could devise


from her trouble he learned much more than he had yet known of her parents position


with an innate delicacy few possess he forebore to mention his suit though he had seen so little of her of late he nrtght have almost been pardoned for embracing this opportunity


they parted near her own door and she entered calmer and more consoled she knew not why but twas thc electric touch of sincere interest and affection


after a few days mary gained courage to write home and tell them her misfortune


she wrote to hodge and the matron of the workhouse


she could but speak patience to both she would ask in a few days for an advance of wages and then rend some money


to her amazement next morning she received a letter from the matron acknewledging the two sovereigns she had sent and pro mising to carefully apply it as far as sh could do for her parents comfort adding i cannot think why you should desire us not to speak to you on the subject it isnt likely we should be silent and let us hear from you soon as the letter only said you were busy and got a friend to send it


mary sat for some time puzzling in her own mind what it meant


hadpneof the other servant told her mistress and had she kindly done it


no that could not be her mistress was from home for some days


as she sat thinking a sudden thought brought the warm blood to her cheek


it could only be woods he had done it


from bim she never could take it she would see and tax him with it and if he had done so faithfully pay bim baek as soon as possible


she tried to feel angry but the heart smiled on the generous action


seeking an opportunity of questioning him some days afterwards most unwillingly he admitted the fact when he did so he took her hand adding oh mary why not give me a righi to befriend them


i know your high spirit you will not be beholden to me and they suffer for when you marry hodge stone as youve told me you shall he is not well enough off sud mot strong enough to do much for their comfort


youre right in that


she answered sadly bht hodge and i are promised so longand it would be a sin to marry you and love him


apart from her own family she spoke what hodge called her lunnun talk


ill make you love me mary i know the young should mar j ry the young


when i married my poor old woman who is gone


our two age did not make mine now i woat ask you to force yourself to love melove me a if i were your father more i than husband


ill do my best to make you and them happy


but mary said no


not all the temptation of wealth for her self and a far greater onecomfort for her parentscould shake t her firm faith towards hodge she was so young and hope in the i future so strong in her heart


but there are persons unhappily strive as they will even in a good cause a hand unseen seems ever ready to draw them back


perhaps tis wisely done for j i it chastens and calms the too buoyant spirit teaching us patience and resignation under the trials of this world


the wilmots like too many others in their rank of life had i been living beyond their nieais


and a few years residence abroad


was all that remained for them


mrs wilmot poke most kindlv to mary she was reducing her establishment and should onlv keep one nurseber head one but she would try amongst her friends to place her or advertiseanything but keep her


here was another blow to her hopes


a strange placepossibly souse time even without that


her heart shrank and to crown all


the postthe messenger of joy and sorrownext day left these three letters for her


thus they ran london


dear marybusiness taking me not far from your home a wish to see those you strived so hard for induced me to go to d


your poor mother is very ill the eonfinemement does


not agree with her


your father comolains bitterly of being j there and indeed my heart bleeds for them i am sure yaurs must


mary pray for all your sakes think of what i have so often urged upon youthink of them and the home you can make them which now your high spirit will not let you accept from yours as ever john woods


the second was from her mother written for her by anet h er pauper its contents were complaintsif not too loudly expressed conveyed in every word


old age becomes selfish even she forgot all marv had done and only thought of what she might do


what was the young hearts affection to a pauper ia a workhouse


she only saw comfort liberty wealth aud a home


with all these mary must be happy


sadly she urged herspoke of mr woods kindness her ill health and the old mans wretched con dition separated from her


an illiterate pen always says more than a relined one would it cannot soften facts


mary leaned her head on the table and wept long and bitterly before she found courage to open the last letterwliich was from hodge


when she broke the clumsy seal she read my dearest maryi hope this will find you better than i befor is been very bad and be so still with my cough


i doant know how it be mary but i doant get better orer fast


i i bin to see thee feyther and mither they complains but it do seem tj i a way theyse gotten


feyther always did but thee mither j seems comfortable enutl if so be as shed think so but there be summut in her head as i cant make out


she beant the same to i as ste wur


the squires a bin here and made an ofter which i makes me roight glad


hes gotten a underkeepers place vacant i at chudleigh and hes promised it to iso mary dear now we can be married at once it aint much to begin wi but we mun i bc carefulthe work beant too hard


i think it will be soon now so do ee come whoam thee can stay at feythers


he bid me joy and for th onld folks mary we mun leave them awhile where they be


fey ther thinks the squire moightnt loike it if they corned to me as th ould man beant over well thought on in the neighbourhood


they be comfortable where they beleastways till we can look about us


now doant say no maryfor i think i never shall be better till yon be here


somehow lunnun froighteus me


write and say when thee oe comin


thee true and io vin hodge stone


the sydney morning herald


tuesday april


sworn to no master of no sect am i a voyage from sydney to south australia and back again with mems social political agricultural moral and mining


chapter viii and last


the reader is probably aware that the state cabins of coasters as the cupboards for the nocturnal confinement of passengers are called are divided into two sleeping shelves on which the occupants lie one over the other in layers like calicos in shops or bodies in a family vault


the lower shelf is almost level with the floor of the cabin the upper is about four feet above it and as one or the other must be the more commodious of the two he is in my judgment in a limited degree a benefactor to his species who enables intending voyagers to profitably elect in this particular


take my advice then and always choose the upper one


it is true that getting into a bed fixed at such a height is a somewhat violent proceeding but when you acquire the knack of poising yourself on the washhandstand be


fore hurling yourself into bed the task becomes comparatively easy


with the single excep tion then of getting in and getting out which latter operation is done by a somersetsoon acquired the upper berth is so superior to the lower one that i shall never for a moment hesi tate between the two


in the first place the boards of the upper berth upon which the bedding rests sometimes come out and fall altogetherboards bedding and bedfellow down upon the sleeper below and if such an accident is to happen at all it is much better that you should fall upon your friend than that he should fall upon you


again whenever the man in the upper berth is too timid to throw himself out at once and fishes about with his feet for a landing whilst he holds on with his hands he ten to one misses his footing altogether and whilst you are won dering where the legs are going to or what they are about to do they conclude by slipping into your berth and standing upon your face or stomach before you can roll out of the way


besides this the cockroaches walk much more upon the lower man than they do upon the upper one taking liberties with him as if he were a person of less consequence a servant a slave or a mummy belonging to the other and stowed away under his bed as of no import ance


for these and other minor reasons it was that inow that an additional complement of passengers compelled us into twos for each state cabinat once chose the upper bedding place and knowing as i did for sixteen days and nights what a nuisance i was to my neighbour i never regretted my choice


at about sunset of the day of our depar ture from the wharf at port adelaide we drew away with the stream and fell down the harbour with the tide


darkness comes upon as and the tide is out before we get to the narrow mouth of the harbour and therefore we drop our anchor and defer crossing the bar until the next morning


presently a boat containing the new passengers who have been spending every moment they could spend on shore is seen cutting through the dark and leaden coloured water to the ship


there are the phantoms owner two new passengers a stout passenger a most amiable and gentle manlike crown land commissioner of port phillip a tall one the stout ones dog and trunks and band boxes for all


we are in troduced by the captain and bow in the dark to each other or to the boatmen or to the sailors we are not certain which and tea time being ready we descend to the cabin to eat steaks drink tea and examine each other there


a couple more of sea captains have come down the harbour with us in order to have a parting yarn with our captain and as usual when two or three skippers are gathered together in one place they start a pleasant conversation for those just com mencing a voyage about that ship the thomas or john something which went to the mauritius with wheat and has never since been heard of which naturally leads to the mention of at least a dozen other vessels which at different times have been run down gone ashore or foundered in gales of wind


conversation dwells in particular upon the sophia pate which was our mates contribution to the gene ral entertainment confirmed by a professional brother who said he could remember it well which having run upon a reef of rocks and there lain for weeks until all the food was con sumed the crew were at length driven to pick out and eat the oakum from between the deck planking to keep themselves from starving until this failed when the captain said they must cast lots and that as it was fitter for boys to die than grown up men the boys must cast lots among themselves


that upon this one of the boys said he thought all ought to take their chance alike and that the lot ought not to be confined to the boys for a boys life was as much to him as any other persons life was to him and that the captain said lets have none of your dd impudence but get ready at once and how that they did get ready and that the lot fell on one and that the ships butcher was called upon to kill the boy and refused and leaped overboard and destroyed himself and that the boy then offered to kill himself and did so by cutting his own throat and was eaten by the rest of the crew who were soon after picked up off the wreck by a passing vessel which thought the people on the wreck could not be in want of food for they had provision hanging at the stern which the narrator said was only one of the legs of the poor boy


as the conversation has taken this sanguinary turnnot a strik ingly pleasant one even when you are safe on shore and much too exciting when you are at sea we withdraw at once to our dormitory and climb into bed and in a few moments not withstanding the horrible narratives we have been regaled with are fast asleep


before light the next morning the phantom was under weigh over the bar and standing down the gulf of st vincent with a fair wind


we begin to calculate as people always will calculate and look into the dark womb of the futurealways darkest at sea about the pro bable time of our arrival in sydney


lets see says one seven days going down to ade laideseven days we have been in portand say seven days back


the passage home to sydney has been done in five but say seven or to be liberal and on the safe side ten


this will make the voyage usually a six weeks one only twentyfour days in all and if we do it in seven days then only only twentyone


how shall we astonish the natives


what will they think of the phantom


cries one to which our friend the north country man who is still with us and sleeps under my bed cries eh its grand sirs and jerks him self along the poop snapping his fingers and chuckling as if sydney heads were already in sight instead of being as they are twelve hundred miles away


alas


what short sighted childish creatures we are


our captainwho bythebye is as capital a fellow as ever trod a deckhas been trying in vain to put down this growing spirit of prophecy among us from as i believe the goodnatured desire to save us from disap pointment


it is strange how contemptuous if not absurdly incredulous most of us are to his not very new doctrine that the winds are uncertain and that we must expect bad luck mixed with good


they are deaf


but when the wind chops round and before we are half way down the gulf becomes dead ahead we see plainly we are not to have it all our own way


on friday evening we left adelaide and although we have only sixty miles to do to get out of the gulf that distance is not accom plished even by sunday night


in short for seven or eight days after this the wind was as foul as if to use the irish chiefmates words they had done it from spite


from exultant anticipation of an early arrival in sydney we gradually become resigned to an ordinary pas sage and at last grow apathetic even under the apprehensions of a very long one


there is nothing for it but to eat and drink in desperation and play whist and loo and romp with the dog and set him at the goatwho sometimes butts the dog over on his back and makes him howl an almost articulate murderand fish for bar racoota with no other bait than a great staring tenpenny nail fastened upon a lump of red cedar in such a manner as to make it an insult to any fishs understanding to lay it before his gills for their acceptance


and yet these most stupid fish are thus caught by dozens coming in companies about this simple contrivance hooking and unhooking themselves and then coming back again as if enamoured of the nail and never seeming to be easy in their minds until they are hauled upon deck and are opened for sailing


this adverse wind too is not without profit in other respects


it is certain that when we do get on shore we shall relish it


no one who has ever slept or endeavoured to sleep whilst standing up on his head in a gale of wind at seano one who has ever lis tened to his neighbour knocking himself to pieces in his cabin and swearing frightfully during the operationno one can have ever shaved at sea at the risk of amputating his nose slicing off his chin or cutting his throatno christian heart that has ever been touched by the sound of that frightful tumble of some very heavy passenger down stairsno one who has heard his opposite neighbour crying out from his little hospital of a state cabin to the stewardfor gods sake to come againno one who has ever lain crushed humiliated almost spirit broken upon the top of his own hat coats telescope boots and blairs sermons all com bined into a little chaos of their own whilst the wind is howling through the rigging and the raging sea is roaring and leaping its wildest within a few inches of his ear no one can have seen done and heard all these things without acquiring an intense and passionate appreciation even to very weakness of his own particular fourposter in his own quiet and unconvulsed bedroom in the as it then appears to him at sea lovely city of sydney


thus sweet are the uses of our marine adversity


on our tenth day out at about eleven oclock in the morning we sight a vessel a great way off with royals and studdingsails set coming towards us


the practised eye of our captain at once pronounces her from her general phy siognomy to be the dorset brig from sydney bound for adelaide


she soon nears us and we set to work analysing each other with tele scopes


as the vessels pass on their different ways and the captains roar questions and answers at each other through speaking trumpets what a steady concentrated and collective stare all the people of each vessel bestow on the other


we recognize a sydney friend on board and we wonder if he has tumbled out of bed much during his passage hitherto


soon the vessels are a great distance from each other on their trackless ways and still we find our eyes ever falling upon the little dorset as doubtless the little dorsets eyes are upon us


so absorbing and peculiar is the interest which one box of human beings feels for another when encountering far away upon the desolate and mighty deep


they look so completely at the mercy of the power to which they have committed themselves an observa tion which in all probability the dorset also makes upon us


the next object of interest is cape otway which we can see at about six oclock in the morning of our twelfth or thirteenth day out


at the same time we sight two other vessels a barque and a brig both beating in the same direction as ourselves in the endeavour to double the cape


we soon get near enough to the barque to employ upon her the flag lan guage invented by captain marryatt and we ask her what she is which is not considered so rude a question at sea as it would be for one stranger to walk up to another and put the same question on shore


nevertheless the barque takes no sort of notice but scuds away as if she did not see us which is the first time i ever witnessed one vessel regularly cut an other at sea


our captain is disgusted and says the barques a beast


i charitably sug gest that perhaps she has been jolly last night and is not yet quite up and dressed and fit for conversation and this really looks something like the fact for about an hour after and long after we have hauled down our flags and retired back upon our own dignity the barque runs her ensign up and thus re cognises our existence


as however she has nothing to say we suspect she is dumb and altogether destitute of flags to express an idea she is a clipper however for we hold together for a couple of days and leave her on the second night after we have made her ac


quaintance


she was recognised as the waratah from adelaide to port phillip and has made the quickest passage of the season from london to south australia


as for the brig a melancholy little tub called the union we ran away from her altogether a few hours after we first saw her


the next afternoon we have a most pic turesque thunder storm which has been brew ing all day in a lurid leaden coloured sky and comes clattering over our heads at sundown in sublime style


away comes the glorious southwester sweeping over the deep as it bursts in the fulness of its power out of the masses of angry cloud behind us


the thunder roars as if it were rolling away into the very vaults of old ocean the lightnings blaze away and fork out their finest patterns to lend sublimity to the scene


the wind moans and howls a melancholy dirge amongst the rigging whilst the seas mounting and curling come hissing and careering after us as if they were wishing they might get the little phantom which up to everything takes to her heels at once and goes foaming over the deep under doublereefed topsails as if exulting in the excitement of running through the thick of it


this burst however soon blows itself out and in about an hour it sinks into a gentle and fair breeze with which resuming all sail we quietly glide into basss straits


in the morning all was a dead calm


doubts begin to be entertained by some whether we shall ever get to sydney with such adverse weather


we can scarcely fish with any spirit nor are we moved much even by the sight of a large shark which appears just un der the quarter of the vessel in an attitude of contemplation as if meditating upon the flavour of the crown land commissionerby far the juiciest man among uswho uncon scious that he has excited the sharks regards is hanging listlessly over the side of the vessel


but at this point when our hopes are at the lowest our bad luck ends


a catspaw comes gently crumpling the surface of the sea


it grows to a little breeze


away we go again


another large barque is in sight


she is hove to and we see her broadside on evidently waiting for us


she lowers a boat as we near her


her mate comes on board with his cap tains compliments and wishes to know how our barometer is for his is very low and he and his vessel appear to be seized with a kind of shivering fit at being among the islands of basss straits with the prospect of thick and dirty weather coming on


our friend is the euphrates from london and wishes to know whether we intend to run


our captain says certainly and invites the euphrates to run with himas he our captain is well acquainted with the part and expects to get quite free of the islands before sundown


all our captain asks in re turn is that the mate of the euphrates will when she gets to sydney report the phantom as seen in basss straits which the mate of the euphrates with the utmost good faith pro mises to do


of course we are all diverted at the mates delusion in fancying that he is to get to sydney first and in order to show that we have been only quizzing we first escort the euphrates fairly past the islands and then we take to our heels again and run out of sight of her before dark and never stop until we get to sydney


we made the heads at night


the weather was thick and rainy and great was the excite ment as aloft and below eyes were distributed about the vessel looking out for the friendly lightthat light at the first sight of which so many a sea and stormwearied heart has leaped with an almost childish joy


first the mate who is aloft sees and proclaims a light hoand to the quick and nervous question of the captain whereaway


answers on the larboard bow


presently several others see it and i work my eyes so desperately hard to see it too and that so successfully that at length i see seven or eight lights at least


this particular light however proves to be a deceiver for in a few minutes we find from the alteration of its bearing that it is plainly moving and at last some one ex claims why its the shamrockand sure enough it is the shamrock looking as she passes away in the darkness and mist like the ghost of a steamer rather than a steamer it self


soon however the real revolver casts its bright beam across our view and slowly and with the faintest breath of wind we glide to wards the harbour


such was the natural ex citement of making land at night that only two passengers went to bed and i was not one of them


we pass between the heads and astern of the sir george seymour lying with all her contents apparently fast asleep near the sow and pigs


in another half hour we drop our anchor as we bear up at the battery point and our voyage is at an end


can it be possible that night is at an end too and we have never been to bed


truly it is so as lago says pleasure and action make the hours seem short day begins to dawn and in this first fresh sober light of morn with no living thing on the move but ourselves the harbour looks like some beautiful italian picture


we have stolen in like a phantom and people will go down in the morning and find the little clipper looking as composed as if she had been lying off the battery point for a week


and now all our thoughts are of home


we have been absent from sydney a month and two days


in that time what may not have occurred


some of the dear young bright eyes we left behind us may whilst we were away have become quenched for ever


we almost run from the circular wharf through the silent and deserted streets as these fearful thoughts grow upon us


nobody is yet up in our street and i reach my own house but can make nothing of the outside of it


i cannot discover from the expression of the street door whether mutes have been lately standing there or whether funerals have been lately performed about the premises so that i am obliged at last to muster up courage and ring the bell


the imaginary character of such apprehen sions the levity of these papers will suffi ciently show


so as i have reached home at last of which fact some others are probably as glad as i am i shall at once make my bow to my excellent and goodnatured readers as i write my last words vos valete et plaudite


american notes for general circulation


by charles dickens


chapter viii


the passage home


i never had so much interest before and very likely i shall never have so much interest again in the state of the wind as on the long lookedfor morning of tuesday the seventh of june


some nautical au


thority had told me a day or two previous anything with west in it will do so when i darted out of bed at daylight and throwing up the window was saluted by a lively breeze from the northwest which had sprung up in the night it came upon me so freshly rustling with so many happy associations that i conceived upon the spot a special regard for all airs blow ing from that quarter of the compass which i shall cherish i dare say until my own wind has breathed its last frail puff and withdrawn itself for ever from the mortal calendar


the pilot had not been slow to take advantage of this favourable weather and the ship which yesterday had lain in such a crowded dock that she might have retired from trade for good and all for any chance she seemed to have of going to sea was now full sixteen miles away


a gallant sight she was when we just gaining on her in a steamboat saw her in the distance riding at anchor her tall masts pointing up in graceful lines against the sky and every rope and spar expressed in delicate and threadlike outline gallant too when we being all aboard the anchor came up to the sturdy chorus cheerily men


oh cheerily


and she followed proudly in the towing steamboats wake but bravest and most gallant of all when the towrope being cast adrift the canvass fluttered from her masts and spreading her white wings she soared away upon her free and solitary course


in the aftercabin we were only fifteen passengers in all and the greater part were from canada where some of us had known each other


the night was rough and squally so were the next two days but they flew by quickly and we were soon as cheerful and as snug a party with an honest manlyhearted cap tain at our head as ever came to the re solution of being mutually agreeable on land or water


we breakfasted at eight lunched at twelve dined at three and took our tea at halfpast seven


we had abundance of amusements and dinner was not the least among them firstly for its own sake secondly because of its extraordinary length its duration inclusive of all the long pauses between the courses being seldom less than two hours and a half which was a subject of neverfailing enter tainment


by way of beguiling the tedi ousness of these banquets a select associ ation was formed at the lower end of the table below the mast to whose distin guished president modesty forbids me to make any further allusion which being a very hilarious and jovial institution was prejudice apart in high favour with the rest of the community and particularly with a black steward who lived for three weeks in a broad grin at the marvellous humour of these incorporated worthies


then we had chess for those who played it whist cribbage books back gammon and shovelboard


in all wea then fair or foul calm or windy we were everywhere on deck walking up and down in pairs lying in the boats leaning over the side or chatting in a lazy group toge ther


we had no lack of music for one played the accordion another the violin and another who usually began at six oclock am


the key bugle the com bined effect of which instruments when they all played differed tunes in different parts of the ship at the same time and within hearing of each other as they some times did everybody being intensely satisfied with his own performance was sublimely hideous


when all these means of entertainment failed a sail would heave in sight looming perhaps the very spirit of a ship in the misty distance or passing us so close that through our glasses we could see the peo ple on her decks and easily make out her name and whither she was bound


for hours together we could watch the dolphins and porpoises as they rolled and leaped and dived around the vessel or those small creatures ever on the wing the mother careys chickens which had borne us company from new york bay and for a whole fortnight fluttered about the vessels stern


for some days we had a dead calm or very light winds during which the crew amused themselves with fishing and hooked an unlucky dolphin


who expired in all his rainbow colours on the deck an event of such importance in our barren calendar that afterwards we dated from the dolphin and made the day on which he died an era


besides all this when we were five or six days out there began to be much talk of icebergs of which wandering islands an unusual number had been seen by the ves sels that had come into new york a day or two before we left that port and of whose dangerous neighbourhood we were warned by the sudden coldness of the weather and the sinking of the mercury in the barometer


while these tokens lasted a double lookout was kept and many dismal tales were whispered after dark of ships that had struck upon the ice and gone down in the night but the wind obliged us to hold a southward course we saw none of them and the weather soon grew bright and warm again


the observation every day at noon and the subsequent working of the vessels course was as may be supposed a feature in our lives of paramount importance nor were there wanting as there never are sagacious doubters of the captains calcu lations who as soon as his back was turned would in the absence of com passes measure the chart with bits of string and ends of pockethandkerchiefs and points of snuffers and clearly prove him to be wrong by an odd thousand miles or so


it was very edifying to see these unbelievers shake their heads and frown and hear them hold forth strongly upon navigation not that they knew any thing about it but that they always mistrusted the captain in calm weather or when the wind was adverse


indeed the mercury itself is not so variable as this class of passengers whom you will see when the ship is going nobly through the water quite pale with admiration swearing that the captain beats all captains ever known and even hinting at subscriptions for a piece of plate and who next morning when the breeze has lulled and all the sails hang useless in the idle air shake their despondent heads again and say with screwedup lips they hope that captain is a sailor but they shrewdly doubt him that they do


it even became an occupation in the calm to wonder when the wind would spring up in the favourable quarter where it was clearly shown by all the rules and precedents it ought to have sprung up long ago


the first mate who whistled for it zealously was much respected for his perseverance and was regarded even by the unbelievers as a firstrate sailor


many gloomy looks would be cast upward through the cabin skylights at the flapping sails while dinner was in progress and some growing hold in ruefulness predicted that we should land about the middle of july


there are always on board ship n sanguine one and a despondent one


the latter character carried it hollow at this period of the voyage and triumphed over the sanguine one at every meal by inquiring where he supposed the great western which left new york a week after us was now and where he sup posed the cunard steampacket was now and what he thought of sailing vessels as compared with steamships now and so beset his life with pestilent attacks of that kind that he too was obliged to affect despondency for very peace and quietude


these were additions to the list of en tertaining incidents but there was still another source of interest


we carried in the steerage nearly a hundred pas sengers a little world of poverty and as we came to know individuals among them by sight from looking down upon the deck where they took the air in the daytime and cooked their food and very often ate it too we became curious to know their histories and with what ex pectations they had gone out to america and on what errands they were going home and what their circumstances were


the information we got on these heads from the carpenter who had charge of these people was often of the strangest kind


some of them had been in america but three days some but three months and some had gone out in the last voyage of that very ship in which they were now returning home


others had sold their clothes to raise the passagemoney and had hardly rags to cover them others had no food and lived upon the charity of the rest and one man it was discovered nearly at the end of the voyage not be


forefor


he kept his secret close and did not court compassionhad had no suste nance whatever but the bones and scraps of fat he took from the plates used in the aftercabin dinner when they were put out to be washed


the whole system of shipping and con veying these unfortune persons is one that stands in need of thorough revision


if any class deserve to be protected and assisted by the government it is that class who are banished from their native land in search of the bare means of sub sistence


all that could be done for these poor people by the great compassion and humanity of the captain and officers was done but they require much more


the law is bound at least upon the english side to see that too many of them are not put on board one ship and that their accommodations are decent not demora lising and profligate


it is bound too in common with humanity to declare that no man shall be taken on board without his stock of provisions being previously inspected by some proper officer and pro nounced moderately sufficient for his sup port upon the voyage


it is bound to provide or to require that there be pro vided a medical attendant whereas in these ships there are none though sick ness of adults and deaths of children on the passage are matters of the very com monest occurrence


above all it is the duty of any government be it monarchy or republic to interpose and put an end to that system by which a firm of traders in emigrants purchase of the owners the whole tweendecks of a ship and send on board as many wretched people as they can lay hold of on any terms they can get without the smallest reference to the conveniences of the steerage the number of berths the slightest separation of the sexes or anything but their own imme diate profit


nor is even this the worst of the vicious system for certain crimp ing agents of these houses who have a per centage on all the passengers they in veigle are constantly travelling about those districts where poverty and discontent are rife and tempting the credulous into more misery by holding out monstrous induce ments to emigration which never can be realised


the history of every family he had on board was pretty much the same


after hoarding up and borrowing and begging and selling everything to pay the passage they had gone out to new york expect ing to find its streets paved with gold and had found them paved with very hard and very real stones


enterprise was dull labourers were not wanted jobs of work were to be got but the payment was not


they were coming back even poorer than they went


one of them was car rying an open letter from a young english artisan who had been in new york a fort night to a friend near manchester whom he strongly urged to follow him


one of the officers brought it to me as a curiosity


this is the country jem said the writer


i like america


there is no des potism here thats the great thing


employment of all sorts is going abeg ging and wages are capital


you have only to choose a trade jem and be it


i havent made a choice of one yet but i shall soon


at present i havent quite made up my mind whether to be a car penteror a tailor


there was yet another kind of passenger and but one more who in the calm and the light winds was a constant theme of conversation and observation among us


this was an english sailor a smart th roughbuilt english manowars man from his hat to his shoes who was serving in the american navy and having got leave of absence was on his way home to see his friends


when he presented him self to take and pay for his passage it had been suggested to him that being an able seaman he might as well work it and save the money but this piece of advice he very indignantly rejected saying hed be dd but for once hed go aboard ship as a gentleman


accordingly they took his money but he no sooner came aboard than he stowed his kit in the forecastle arranged to mess with the crew and the very first time the hands were turned up went aloft like a cat before anybody


and all through the passage there he was first at the braces outermost on the yards per petually lending a hand everywhere but always with a sober dignity in his manner and a sober grin on his face which plainly said i do it as a gentleman


for my own pleasure mind you


at length and at last the promised wind came up in right good earnest and away we went before it with every stitch of canvass set slashing through the water nobly


there was a grandeur in the mo tion of the splendid ship as overshadowed by her mass of sails she rode at a furious pace upon the waves which filled one with an indescribable sense of pride and exulta tion


as she plunged into a foaming valley how i loved to see the green waves bordered deep with white come rushing on astern to buoy her upward at their pleasure and curl about her as she stooped again but always own her for their haughty mistress still


on on we flew with changing lights upon the water being now in the blessed region of fleecy skies a bright sun lighting us by day and a bright moon by night the vane pointing directly home ward alike the truthful index to the favouring wind and to our cheerful hearts until at sunrise one fair monday morning the th of june i shall not easily for get the daythere lay before us old cape clear god bless it showing in the mist of the early morning like a cloud the bright est and most welcome cloud to us that ever hid the face of heavens fallen sister home


dim speck as it was in the wide pros pect it made the sunrise a more cheerful sight and gave to it that sort of human interest which it seems to want at sea


there as elsewhere the return of day is inseparable from some sense of renewed hope and gladness but the light shining on the dreary waste of water and showing it in all its vast extent of loneliness pre sents a solemn spectacle which even night veiling it in darkness and uncertainty does not surpass


the rising of the moon is more in keeping with the solitary ocean and has an air of melancholy grandeur which in its soft and gentle influence seems to comfort while it saddens


i re collect when i was a very young child having a fancy that the reflection of the moon in water was a path to heaven trodden by the spirits of good people on their way to god and this old feeling often came over me again when i watched it on a tranquil night at sea


the wind was very light on this same monday morning but it was still in the right quarter and so by slow degrees we left cape clear behind and sailed along within sight of the coast of ireland


and how merry we all were and how loyal to the george washington and how full of mutual congratulations and how venturesome in predicting the exact hour at which we should arrive at liverpool may be easily imagined and readily un derstood


also how hearty we drunk the captains health that day at dinner and how restless we became about packing up and how two or three of the most san guine spirits rejected the idea of going to bed at all that night as something it was not worth while to do so near the shore but went nevertheless and slept soundly and how to be so near our journeys end was like a pleasant dream from which one feared to wake


the friendly breeze freshened again next day and on we went once more before it gallantly descrying now and then an english ship going homeward under shortened sail while we with every inch of canvas crowded on dashed gaily past and left her far behind


towards evening the weather turned hazy with a drizzling rain and soon became so thick that we sailed as it were in a cloud


still we swept onward like a phantom ship and many an eager eye glanced up to where the looksout on the mast kept watch for holyhead


at length his longexpected cry was heard and at the same moment there shone out from the haze and mist ahead a gleaming light which presently was gone and soon returned and soon was gone again


whenever it came back the eyes of all on board brightened and sparkled like itself and there we all stood watching this revolving light upon the rock at holyhead and praising it for its brightness and its friendly warning and lauding it in short above all other signal lights that ever were displayed until it once more glimmered faintly in the dis tance far behind us


then it was time to fire a gun for a pilot and almost before its smoke had cleared away a little boat with a light at her masthead came bearing down upon us through the darkness swiftly and presently our sails being backed she ran alongside and the hoarse pilot wrapped and muffled in peacoats and shawls to the very bridge of his weatherploughedup nose stood bodily among us on the deck and i think if that pilot had wanted to borrow fifty pounds for an indefinite period on no security we should have engaged to lend it him among us before his boat had dropped astern or which is the same thing before every scrap of news in the paper he brought with him had become the common property of all on board


we turned in pretty late that night and turned out pretty soon next morning


by six oclock we clustered on the deck pre pared to go ashore and looked upon the spires and roofs and smoke of liverpool


by eight we all sat down in one of its hotels to eat and drink together for the last time


and by nine we had shaken hands all round and broken up our social company for ever


the country by the railroad seemed as we rattled through it like a luxuriant garden


the beauty of the fields so small they looked


the hedgerows and the trees the pretty cottages the beds of flowers the old churchyards the antique houses and every wellknown object the exquisite delights of that one journey crowding in the short compass of a sum mers day the joy of many years and winding up with home and all that makes it dear no tongue can tell or pen of mine describe


barnaby rudge ciiapter xlviii


uncertain where to go next and bewildered by the crowd of people who were already astir they satdt


down in one of the recesses of the bridge to rest


they soonbecame aware that the stream of life was pouring all one way and that a vast throng of per


sons were crossing the river


from the middlesex to the surry shore in unusual haste and evident excitement


they were for themost part in knots of two or three or sometimes half a dozen they spoke little togethermany of them were quite silent and hurried on as if they had one absorbing object in view which was common to them all


they were surprised to see that nearly every man in this great concourse which still came pouring past without slackening in the least woroe in his hat a blue cockade and that the chance passengers who were not so decorated appeared timidly anxious to escape observation or attack and gave them the wall as if they would conciliate them


this however was natural enough considering their inferiority in point of numbers for the pro portion of those who wore blue cockades to those who were dressed as usual was at least forty or fifty to one


there was no quarrelling however the blue cockades went swarming on passing each other when they could and making all the speed that was possible in such a multituoe and exchanged nothing more than looks and very often not even those withsuch of the passers by as were not of their number


at first the current of people had been confined to the two pathways and but a few more eagerstragglers kept the road


but after halfan hour or so the passage was completely blocked up by the great press which being now closely wedged togetber and impeded by the carts and coaches it enco uisa tered moved but slowly and was sometimes


s stand for five or ten minutes together


after the lapse of nearly two hours the numbers began to diminish visibly and gradually dwindling away by little and littlelefit the bridge quite clear save that now and then some hot and dusty man with the cockade in his hat and his coat thrown


over his shoulder went paanting by fearful of being


too late or stopped to ask which way his frriends had taken and being directed hastened on again like i one refreshed


in this comparative solitude whichi teemed quite strange and novel after the latecrowd the widow had for the first time an opportunity of inquiringof an old man who came and sat beside them what was the meaning of that great assem


blage


why where have you come from he returned that you havent heard of lord george gordons great association


this is the day that he presents the petition against the catholics god bless him i


what have all these men to do with that she asked


what have they to do with it the old mans replied


why how you talk i dont you know his lordship has declared he wont present it it to the house at all unless it is attended to the door by forty thousand good and true men at least t


theres a crowd for you


a crowd indeed l said barnaby


do you hear that motherl and theyre mustering yonder as i am told


resumed the old man nigh upon a hundred thousand strong


ah i let lord george alone


he knows his power


therellak good many faces inside thenm three windows overi there and he pointed to where the house of comumons overlooked the river thatll turn pale when good lord george s gets up this afternoon and with reason too


ay ay let his lordship alone


let him alone he kdows


t


and so with much mumbling and chuckling and shaking of his forefinger he rose with the assistance of his stick and tottered offi


i mother i said barnaby thts abrave crowd he talks of


come i nottto join it i cried his mother


yesiryes he answered plucking at her sleeve whynot


comet you dont know she urged what mischief they may do where they may lead you what their s meaning is dear


barnaby for my sake for your saketi he cried patting her handr well it is for your sake mother


you remember what the blind man said about the gold


heres a brave crowd i comel


or wait till i come back yes yes wait here


she tsied with all the earnestness her fears engen dered to turn him from his purpose butin vaile


he wasastooping down to buckle on his shoe when


a hackney coach passed them rather quickly and a voice inside called to the driver to stop young man said a voice within


whos that cried barnaby looking up


do you wear this ornament returned tls stranger holding out a blue cockade


i n heavens name no


pray do not giveit himl exclaimedthe widow


speak for yourself woman said the imas within the coach coldly


leave theyoueg man


to his choclae


hes old enouglh to makeit atd io snap your aprod strngs


he knows without yourt telling whether he wears the sign of a loyal englishman or not


sbarnaby trembllingwith inipatience cried yesl yes yet i do as he had cried a dozeitimes


alreadj


the man threw hinm a cockade and cryhigo make haste to st georges fields ordered thei coachman to drive on fast and left them


with hands that trembled with his eagerness to


fix the bauble in hlsl hat barnaby was adjusting it as he best could and hurriedly relyling to the tear and entreaties of his mother when two gentlemen passed on the opposite side ofl the way observing them and seeing how barnaby was occupled theyi stopped whispered together for an lustant turned back and came over tothem


why are you sitting here iaid one of thems who was dreesedin a plain suit of bliek wore iong lank hcir and carried a greatcane


why a te y o


i not gone with the retll i am going sir replied barnaby fgidsihong his task and putting his hat


on with an air of pride i shliall be there direotly


ss aymy lord young man when ima ordship does you the honour of spieaking to you said the accond gentleman mildly if you dent


j tlord george gordon when you see


htne youihould


nay gashford said lord george as barnaby pulled off his hat again and anadehim a low bow its no great matter on a day like this which every englishman will remember lilh delght and pride


put on your hat friend and follow us for you lag behind and are late


its past ten now


didnt you know that the hour of assembling was ten oclock barnaby shook his bead and looked vacantly from one to the other


to be coutinued


dlct iarf


kathileen of glenard


oundeo pron rapts


concluded from last week


chaptrer iii


tga s that rose next morning had not yet sunk behind the western hills when a traveller alighted from one of the public conveyances that in those mountainous districts serve as a substi tute for railways and stage coaches and passing by thie chipel already mentiond wended hris way towards the glen


iio looked eagerly nroundhim and on gaining the summit of the hill quickened his steps as ihe turned from thaighl road dowp the lane which led to the cottage of dermid


what a sight wais therol thle cottage was in ruins the roof was gone and the blaelcened iand still smoking


rafters slowed that fire had been employed in its destruction


the wanlls wsre stillstanding but broken and deftced and some rosetrees which the hand of charlie had twined around the windows now trailed along the ground


alasl alasl exclaimed tite astonisled spectator as ihe gazed on the scene of desola lion can this be the work of accident or of design


and the inmateswhere are they


he flaw towards a halfclad boy who was crss ngover some stepping stones in the river and exelaimed tell me child when was this house burned down nnd whathas become of its owner der paid


whaat said the child unable to reply from qmozemert at the eagerness as well as the ignorance displayed by hiis questionaer


thle words were repeated with even more vcle mence and thd boy after gaining the bank peaned to have gained with it selfpossession


do you not ken he said that they are all away


who are awayl where are they all gone


why is this house deserted and in ruins


oh just dermid and nelly and iathleen


they went back in the rint and hr telzifair the aaageat came upon them for the money and its pay it they couldnt so ihe turned them out and set fire to the iouse for he said it wasnt worth thie repairing and theyre all away till americay


the torrent of ill news thus poured upon the listeners ear was more than ho could withstand


iio had braved many dangershe had encountered years of toiland alike on the battlefield or on the lingering marchat the moment of action or in the weary watchl of the nigltha had stood firm to isis postun linching in his duty but a tale such as this spolke to his heart and might well have crushed i mqro hardly one than his


he uttered not a wordnot a cry but tottering back a few paces lo leaned for a moment against a tree for support and at length sunk on the grass in a state of inseusilility


the child had passed unheeding on his way


no id was near and it was long cre lpnatnra effoirt cold bring back reviving con spioilsneps


with it came all the horrors of the scetup pod senseless save to the one absorb ipg tdea tlso soldier moved towards the ruin seated himself on a fragmont of the wall and gazed in mute agony around


hie remained or lours in the same posture and was still rivetted to the spot when after a long and watinsomo jouney charlie connellan sick at heart returned as night fell and was proceed ipg aomewprds by way of she glen


llis first impulso had been to go somemiles around and tvoid passng thecottag but then ihe thought wtiti all tltu is left of her and shall inot revisit hernow spolato home


little ws ha prepared for the scene of ruin and desiteon which that once happy home esented to his viewl the blackened walls to mouldering fragments of thatch proclaimed po iell bow soon the work of destruction had eon beganhow rapidly carried on


base tyrantl he exclaimed was it not potgh to tao possession of tile poor mans cabin but onast thou destroy also


thie owner was turnod adrift to secure to thyself his little shelter and now that little shelter is levelled to the gronmd


woo woo to our land when herrightfullords desert us and strangers are sent to boar rule in their placol such were the bitter expressions of mingled griefand indignation that burst from his lips as he hurried through the gateway crossed thie threshold and passed on to the midst of the loor where one stood the klitchen


the ro cptption of the last evening spent here with her whom he had lost fell heavily to his heart


her voice her air her manner as firm to hier risolution of going she yet betrayed her grief agtls


thlwoght of parting from himall rose thlt vivid colouring to his mind


sobs elhoaked his uttorance and tears rolled heavily down ls chit s fb


loig he was startled by a sound as of a stifled groan that seemed to issue from the rained wall beside thie kitchen hearth


hte tuged tawrds the spot


dark and gathering douds that indicated a coming storm had partially obscured the moon


sile now shone out with renewed splendour and by her light lie behleld the figure ofa man reclining against a heap ofstzoucs his pallid features wearing the appearance of something unearthly


nor was this idea less likely to strike with awe the imagination of connellan when hie recognised the features pale nod ghastly as they were of the son of dermid


horrorstruck by thelo vision yet possessed of too much moral courage to be overcome by the terror whichl it inspired ite stoodsome moments confronting the form though not daring to accost it until slowvly it advanced from its resting place and gazing at him exclaimed charlie connellan is it thus we meet again


and is it yarself mauricc or is it your ghost that speaks to mo


and ohl why is it that you have come here at this time to find your homo destroyed your mother father and zathleen gone not regarding one another now as rivals but as brothers in alfliction the two yong men grasped each a hand of the thlgr and proceeded to hear and to relate their respective tales of occurrences which were mutually interesting


miaurice eagerly enquired into the cnause of the desolation he had witnessedheard eovery par titular with breathless attention and thot briefly told his own adventures


lecovering from the fever which had nearly cost him his life in the west indies he had ob tained leave to quit iis regiment and to return homne in


attendance on a young officer who soon after hiis


arrival in england fell a victim to thoclimato which he had left


imaurice had wvatched him night and day and hie had only waited to see his remains laid in their last rest ingplace and tlhen hastened homeward en riched by a dying bequest of his late master in the oxpectation of rendering his family more comfortable than they had been for some years past


what was now his disappointment and selfrepronchl at inot having acquainted them of his arrivalin england instead of waiting to he hiimself the bearer of news which came too latel on what could hie determine in his pre sent perplexity


lieo could follow his friends to americalt might bring them back to their own country uint hlero they had no longern a lome to which they could return and the lmeans ie lhad saved would be greatly diminisled cre ieto could procure one of them


charlio tried every effort to calm the feelings and ansuago tihe grief of his friend


i itook him to hiis own hlome and bestowed on iim every consolation in his power whlilst his own heart was bursting with recollections of thel past and solicitude for thie fiture


in the time of our utmost need providence often sends unexpected relief


it was but a few days after the events recorded lhere that the village of glenard was gladdened by tile onlooked for return of its young lord


great was tihe rejoicing occasioned biy his arrival


tihe news soon spread throughlout tihe neigh bonriood and chlarlio with matrice whol still lingered there were amongst the crowd who flocked to the village on thie evening to witnesis tihe illuminations iand to learn the reasons why and wherefore hislordshlip had come to take up his abodo at the castle in a mainuner so sudden and so unforeseen


night came


charlio was not wont to re main out so late and his old blintd mother sat by the fire waiting anxiouly for iis return rlhen she was startled by a knocking at the door not loud but continluous as if some per son outside eager for adltissioa


whos thre said the old woman


may i conmetin said a gentle voice


come in and welcome but you must pull tihe latch outside for i can scarce make miy way to the door


quickly was the scmmons obeyed and iian nal listened eager to tihe sound of thle footstep is it approached to whole she sat


now tell me sllo esxclaimcd almost breathlless with sudden emotion how ihave you come liere


i hiave come


miother allollselss wanderer to ask for shelter and protection where i belio ved it would not be rcflised


it isit must bethie voice and the trcad of katllleen if she yet walks this earth


a soft hand placed within itrs was tile only answer but it was quite sufliilentt to confirul the truth of tihe conjecture which had before flashed across her mind and it was instantly followed by a long and fond embrace


but though her remaisning senses rendered more acuto by ilerloss of sight lhad suflficed toidentify to hannlahs ilntmost satisflction tie person of the worn and wearied traveller resting by hier side withl that of one whom next to hier own son sie loved with the warsmst alfection yet were both hier senses and hier reasoning powers quite inadequate to solve tle mystery of how a girl whom shie now to a positive certainty to be on the high seas could at one and tie same moment he lhere in hier cabin seated with her at her own fireside


kiathllens tale of disaster and suffering was quickly but feelingly recounted


tile ship in which the poor emigrants had ventured all their worldly possessions was not many leagues dis tant from the coast whlen it encountered a ter rile gale of wind


all night tie crew battled with the elements but were unable to mahe head against their fury and whlen morning dawned they found thlemselves driven back with so much violence against the land that thle captain declared hiis inability to masnage thie vessel from iher hiaving on board an over abundance of passengers


tlhey were at the time olf tle entrance to looghl swilly and as a last alternative he strove by putting in there to obtain slheltcr and safe anchorage


but tlhough the rago of thie tempest had in some measure abated tile ship was no longer sea worthly and already it began to fill withl water


the men worked hard at the pumps but this too was ineffectual


tihe boats were lowerced and nas many as they could hold letookl them selves to the mercy of thie waves


some lind and charitable persons on shore adventured their lives to save the few remaining passcngers and also the sailors who with the captain were the last to leave the ship but the time for aid was passedere they could reach tihe sinking vessel shie had settled down with all on board a perfect wreck


the boat in whiclh kiothleen her uncledo and aunt were plaecd had great dificulty in reach ing the slhore


at length they founl them solves on land with their lives spared but everythinig else belonging to them save tlhe clothes they waoro was totally and irrecover ably lost


tile sceneliere was dreadful


mlany lay extended along thie beach unable from fright fatigue and illness to raise themselves from tle ground


others wandered about in searchl of food and lodging old men and women nearly fainting by the way and little children crying from cold and hunger


thie emigrants met with muchl kindness from the people of the locality


they offered food to all and raiment to those who needed it


they gave them shelter in theirhouses and re stored many poor sufferers whom terror and seasickness had reduced them to the brink of the grave


a suhscription was set on foot throughout tile village and neighbourhlood to furnish them with the means of reaehing their respctrivo places of abode ortho abode of some friendsfor many like dermtid had no longer a home to which tlhey might return


but thlere were few persons of rank or wealth amongst the inhabitants but when the sum thus col lected and shared amongst numbers asnoll por tion fell to the lot of each


attempts were madeto save some portion of property from tile wreck but in vain


to impose further on the liberality of strangers would have been an un worthy return for kindness freely given and unmorited on tile part of the sufferers


to seelk for shelter in their native place became a duty incumbent on all antd on the third day after their landing dermid and hisi little party bad adieu to tle kind hlostess who had received them into her house and set forward with sad and almost despairing hearts in the direc tion of glenard


one ray of hope cheered them on their path


the clergymen of thie parishl which they were leaving


and iwho had been most active in ad ministering to the wantns of theo passengers had told dermid on hearing the name ofhis former resildence that he felt assured he would meet with aid and protection from lord glenard with whom he onas intimately ncqeaintcd and from whom be had heard lately of his return to ireland and of his intention of coming im mediately to reside on his estate that hlie might in future spend his income amongst his ten antry


animated by this intelligence they lhad journied some miles on foot when dermid found himself utterly unable to proceed fitrther thlat day and was obliged to demand shelter for the night in a cottage by the wayside


iie had loped that rest here would enable himn to continue his journey next day but whlen tie next tinay came his limbs refused their office and fatint and weary and sick at cheart lihe could not proceed


in addition to the other ihardships undergone on the passage he had been obliged to tlke it in turn with the rest to work a the pumps


it was too miuch for his aged frame and though lie had till now horne up against his many trials he isuik at length under them and was obliged to yield to the pressure of bodily disease which added to that of the mind reduced himi to a state of total exhauostion


time was inost preocions for in the event of lord glenard having or rived hie must be spoken to without delay and petitioned to restore the houtso and farm before they could he disposed of to another


it wast therefore agreed that kathlaeen should under takethle remainder of the journey alone and throwing herself under the protection of charles connellan slhould gethis asosstanco in making goodther application to the landlord i whilst nelly remain in attendance on her husband


kithleen wnas fortunnte in foiling in with some companions amongst thie onigrants wle were returning in the stame direction and slto had this day travelled on foot utpwards of twenty mileus witlhout tasting food save n morsel of broad whlich hier aunt ihad put into lier hantd on setting out


and ilre you have not tasted a morscel sinco yon came said iinnah


opoun the drawer of tile dresser child nod you will find some bread a nd there is milk itn a jtg on tite shelf


i made it ready for charlie wlten lie shoutld romne losre and surely if it was tilme last morsel he had ile would divide it with you


strengthlnoed by the food of twhlcl slo nto but sparinglv iksatlleenn resumcd her sent and it wvas now hter turn to listen wiith nmnzcement to tie wtonderful story of lher cousitts restora tion to life and of his return from abroad


with uplifted hiands and eyes while tears of joy streamed down hier ciheeks sto iheard in mutoe astonishment tle whlole recialt and could srelye credit tile assertion that he woulss be tlhre hiimself that night to sproe to hier that ile wasn still alive


she spok not in reply butt fidling on lier knees she breathed a prayer of gratitude to her ieavenly fathelr vlwho ihad thus provided hielp antd comfort for lier parentst in tihe time of their utmost need


toe pious oexprecssion of her feelings relieved iher swelling iheart and stle now talked canlmly withl ilan tnat over tile occurrences of thle past eveontfid wveek


sudldenly tley caughtt tile sound of approaching footsteps


thol door openedand csharlie and manurice entered tlte cottage


it were needless to attempt tdescribing the joy of imaurice thle delighit of charlio the mnatementt of biothl at thle sight of kathleon or thle warm allection with which shle returned their salutations


and yet wlhen the first transport ofglad snrpriso was over many con flicting thoughlts passed thlroughl the minld of thosoldier and filled hiis heart with varying emotions


memory recalled thie happy hours of childhlood when his cousin was thie cost panion of hiis sportsof boyhlodl when t eo began to regard her withl sentiments of foender nttaclmtent of mnnahood wllen those senti ments ripened isso love and shte twas to him ilkethe snbeam sheldding light across iis pathway and cleering his humble abode


thlen canme tlhe dread hiour wlhen hie tore hiimself away from lher presence nnd sacrificed hiis feelings at the shrine of religious impulso


still go wherle he would hier imtage was over before him in dangers and in dilliculties in sickness and in sorrow that imago seemed as a guardian angel to nwatchl aronnd him od despite of hlimself lioe had ever looked withl longing expectation to his return hiome to his countryto hiis friendsalnd to kathloon


now he o had returnedlhe haid met hershe stood before himi again andit was in tile hiouse of a rival


yet that rival was tihe most generous of men atld le iad acted n brothern part by him


lti lad no certainty of hisi boinsg an accepted lover it was but his own suspi ciont nud ite resolved to suppress his feeolings and enjoy tle present without brooding over the past or indulging gloomy surmises about the future


chiap


iv


sn ated between hier two admirers each grasp ing a iand of hcrs kathleen recounted her adventures by seoa and latd


imany ejaculations were uttered at her providential escapepo fromt eachnl succeeding danger and minny wishes were poured forth that thleir faithful arms had been tlhere to aid in thle rescuo of herself hlier friends andi thie otler nnalppy sufferers


she tlen learned tihe good news that lord glenard had actually returned hlomo and thlat thtre were good hopes of hler mission troving suc cossful sincee ile had already reeognisold his fosterbrothor amongst the crowd and lhad de sired tlht lie might soon see him again and receive from hint every intelligenco respecting hiis nurse


it was agreed therefore that the next day maurice should with kathleen call at tile castle tnd request ant interview with its master and whatever might be thie result of their application that maurieo should be the bearer of it to his father and mother whom le longed most ardently to reach leaving kath ler under lhmnnahs care to recruit her str ngth until thie return of all thi party to g iatrd


amo spednod it waos a late hour when kiatlen retired with hannah to her sleoping apartment for the remainder of the night whlile the twh young men stretched themselves beside the kitehen fire


the next morning was far advancee ero thie kind host or hostess would allow tite weary traveller to be awakened and when shite entered the kitchen shite there found a neat antd comfortable breakfiast prepared iy imaurice for all their party


with thantkful hearts they partook of the welcomne repast andt directly after kathleen tied on hier cloak and bonnet and with her two faithful attendants proceeded to tie village


at thie entrance to the park chartie left htis companions and walked round to meet them at another gate whilst thie cousins pursued their way with anxi ous hearts and eacor wishes as to thie success of thecir petition


lhey were not made to wait long for an interview with the young noble man and when simmoned to hiis presence they were charnmed biy hiis open manly counton ancehis kind yetdignifited appearance


you ihave not ben tardy in fulfilling your promise my good osterblrother hie said


but whom hiave wd here


not my nurse most assuredly


my lord mauricceplied my mother is too far distant from hr natilvo place to ap pear before you in personbut as hier repro sentativo slto sends hier sisters child to plead with me hier cause and to solicit a patient lhearing from your lordshlip while we state to you the ihardstips to whichi an aged couple and a young and simple girl have been ex posed in order my lord to rid your estate of tenants whoso only fiult was ttheir poverty


two years back i was enabled tv set tit according to custom a remittanco f mnoney which i was in the habit of saving for them from my daily pay as a soldier


hit c ten beitg removed to the west indies twasin imminent danger of filling a victim tole cli mate


liy parents received tidings of mydrah


they could no longer pay the rett of tltefarl


my father made an olffer of giving up a part of it to a neighbour who would wiillingly hav joined it to his own and thie remaindr y father couls himself hiave managed


iie l your honoured fathers word that as long as l lived iheo should never have his house part from him but that word vwas not suflicient fo those who came to acnet in your lordshlips name


lty parents were told that they mustleave their place and that by way of compensation their passage should be paid to amterica


it was next to transportation but they could not con tend withr power backed by seeming justice and though it biroke their ihearts they gave up their cottage in the glen


whatlt replied hiis auditor the pretty cottage near which i have so often strayed whith you and wlence providing ourselves with fishingrods we hiave gone to spend the day on the rivers margin watching the trout as they played around us and ohl what delightt there was wheon we coauld bring oneo to the ibantk the same my lord and as i was saying they left their hiome and their country to bio take themselves to exila in a foreign land


they had hlot been gone many hiours wheln their cottage was by ruthless hiands torn dowa and reduced to ashes aed as if this weroe not ctnough even the hieavens setlted to be adverse to their cause and to send forth the eleolents to fitlt ogaist them


tho tempest drove them back


the ship in which thiey had sailed wvas driven a wreck upon thie coast and a few only of tile passengers narrowly escaped a watery grave


my ftltter lies near the scene of hiis rescue dangerously ill ani kathlicon my cousin came yesterday a journey of uptwards of twenty miles on foot to pray ftr redress at your lordships iands nod to soleiit aid for my suffering parents


phlaced in any even the meanest spot on your estate my arm is now able to work for thltem anud they shall not want the means of support


wo only ask for the shelter of a hiouse and for protection from the arm of the oppressor


for some momonts lord glenard mde o reply


his face glowed with resentment of the ijurices sustained by a helpless fimnily mingled with selfreproach as he recolleeted how truly his own absece might ie deemlod the leading cause ofthose ijuries


tihen turnling to ikalth leen


and you fair supplihmt hie said have you nothing to add to this affecting appeal


no mty lord shoe replied timidly whilst her eyes beamed with cloqouence i hiave nothing to add except thait i can as an oye witness vouchl for tieto truthll of overy word which maurico has spoken


i well remember said lord glenard a little girl who would come and sit ibeside its on the grass while we followed our sport and silng us wild songs to beguile the timeno and whont we had been out late would bring us bread and howls of milk from the cottalge


the form is changed and thie features too in some degreeoo but tho name of katileon is fiuniliar to teto as well as the silver sounds of that voice


i have travelled overmanoy lndsilhave visited many notions but though long abandtoned my own conttry ihas never beenot obliteratod fromn my toind and dearor far to m are the plaintive tornes of her mountain children thnn the most voluptuous melodies of the south


beclieve me my friends the injustice of which you complain was totally onknown to tme and though i do not say no ilnnme attaches to me from its being uukltownyot ihad ibeen on the spot it sholon never iavo occurredt


let your father and mother be brought back to glcenard maurice as soon as tihe former is able to undertako the journey


taku a lodging where you think hie can be nmado comflbrtblo for theo present and we sthall see about providing him with a house


in the meantuim


let ovorythilng he done in the way of medical aid or otherwise that can haiton its recovery


ie put into the hands of katltecn a purse contining ntmple monls of rexceting his twishes nld then dinsmissed them after they had poured fotrthl us best tlhey cotld tile overllowing gra titudo of ttoir hiecrts


ithey talked of the unlooked for bounlty of their patron until tlheoy came near thoe gato whelro charles was to meet themi wloni anurico stopping shllenly nadtdrlessed his co panion in a tone of solomtno inquirykathtl leon he said before we go lithrthor nlswer mu this qlluestion


is it not true that clharlio connellan loves you


why should i dolly the trtth


she replied whilst the colour mounted to iher cheek ihe does love to


anld you love hlin ill return


manrice slto nanswered yon know woll that i was never bound to you by anty ti linut that of relationship you cannot tlhen thlink mo to lhave been slighting your nllaffection wheln kttowoing as i did tlhat wo mlighlt never be unitedthat yourself had owned it on leaving the cotntryi ullowed myself to form an attach ment for one whom i considered in every way worthy


no kathlccn i acquit you of any blame


i only wished to knowtltho whlole truth of my hie clhecked inmself then taking lher hanld come sister lie said it grows late and i hiave tr to go toniglht


at the park gate thlov met charlio and gave hiim an nccountt of thelir reception at the castle


it was the wish of miitrico tlhat they shouold nccompany hlirn us flr as the ctnpel and of kathtlleen also for sheo could thus return by tlheo glen


mnauric was silent durinlg tihe remain tlder of thle walkl anld arrived at the clhapel hiis friceds were about to bid himi goodbyo


ljet us part eo said inside tlhe gateoat your mooters grave kathlleon


tlhey advmtcced towards tlhe spot and illthleen threw iersell on her knees as she uttered a prayer for tlhato peace which was still for from her tind amtid ull tihe reasons sle ihad for gratitude to itenven


wvhen she arose maurice took hier hand and withl it one of connellns and joining them togetller eo said ihore on this sacred ground i have wished to be the first to make this union of two tlhat are already joined in heart to each other and to express ily fervent hiope that it may soon be followed by the htoly rite appoinlted by the clutrchl


bo his kothleen lie is worthly of you and what moro could i say for him


and to you clharlie i make this doy a last sacrifico of thle wishes if


not tite hopes of yearsa sacrifice whiclh


i thought i lind made long since to my religion but whiclh was never completed utntil i found that ter happiness depenlded on itand that in giving hier up to you i secure that whlich i hltad sought too long by selisht means


and now eran ll ite turned hastily away and chsrlo and ikathleen looked after him in silence till lie was lost to sight behind a neighbouring hill


thley then slowly wended tlheir way hiormnewards their own bright prospects of happiness clouded by feelings of regret that tley sihould hare un slttingly been the caunse of so mcih sorrow to the heart of tihe noblemninded soldier


the munificence of lord glenard was not an evanescent feeling that expands itself largely for a time and then dies hastily away


it was a steady principle prompting him to the redress of wrong whlerever it was fobund needfsl and to thi wisest and most judicious measures for promoting thie welfare of all on his estate


lie made a practice of visiting their dwellings and of seaing into thleir wants and tile capacity for improvement of their respective farms and lie neglected no means of becoming acquainted with the character and ihalbits of each individual amongst his tenantry


soon from personal observation as well as from thie general voice of tle people hoe became aware how utterly utqualificd thie appointed agent was for the trust committed to him


ile was dismissed and hiis place was filled by a resident gentleman whose knowledge of the peasantry and anxiety for their welfiare and prosperity could only be eqtualled by tile rectitude of his principles and tihe uprightness of hiisconduct


together with telzifair all who hiad held a placee in his counsels were superseded and orecily fell into tile obscu rity which liho merited


amongst tile daily rambles of tihe youngno bleman tie glen was not forgotten ansl io revisited the haunts of his chlildhood and called to mind its varied pleasures lie was movel to iadignatlion as well as grief at thie destruction of thie pretty cottage once thie isbitation of dermid and hlis family


ireturning home n e was struck by the appearance of the neat white walls and wellkept garden of a small cottage near the river


hleentered it and found an old blind woman sitting alone and busily engaged in knittig a stockling


the inside of the tldwelling corresplonded wvith thie exterior in neatness


fie sat down and onteringinto conversation with ilannah learned tlhaut sle wsas supported by ser on who since hie lhad been turned out of em mpyment at tihe great house could only get arle occasionally as a day nlabourer thalt


ihe e betrothed to an amiable young girl but i had b w prevented by poverty and other untoward cimstantes from makiing iher hiis wifo tlst sillsoas now stayitng with them and would be bsc hortly from the well where she was gone to fe some water


lord glenard asked ler name y ull be a stranger i reckon in those parts youll not have iheard of kathleen of the gle


yesi i ihave heo replied starting at thile name


s


stranger though i ble hiere i have learned pst of hier story but i was not ac quaintced ss thl the whole of your statement


soon afte the subject of their conversation reentered ti vttsge and laying down lier litcher adv with much grace and eurtlsiced to her beaefs be i iud u tdsiood ikathleen hio said l that you werr j with maurice in search of hiis parents bs end there is an attraction ihere whichl enel o to thie glen


vell i must see this ollaifaus son and learn tile truth from himselsl very soon clhatisn s reinstated in his worke at the castle awhobsrlshfavourito emliloymentt was to keep tile sile ics and fiawcerbeds in the front of the wie e thie nicest order


tho joyful meetitf


a son lwhom hoe be licved far from alolt


lly


res and sysmpathies went fisrther towards resin the exhaussted fame of dermid than aus t of medical skill could offect nudbefore mnly olays had passed he was able to avail adl of his patronas bounty and to tako possession of a lodging enagogd fior hhim in the village


who can paint nmothers feelings on the restoration of a lost child l


the amazoemont the transport of nelly know no bounds


iier beloved son her dearest earthlly trenasurorestored to hler as if by a mtiraclol


she coold not believe her nenscs


tot thert hie stoodas bheutifols over though he didnt look so


blytho altogolhcr s boefore he went sodgering


sire had never knowni real happiness since he left her lnt now hie was returned nnd to iheap blessings on her head


len had brought renewed health to iormnid and joy uonutteor bleoho had brought her the news that her own fosterson was worthy of his aonme and that iheo would yet hofrriend his old nurseol the marriage of charlin connellan and klathleen was solemnlzed at thie village church and nil who witncsscd the bridhl party declnred thatothey were the ihandsomncst and bestnmanrltd pair thatcould beo seen if you were to search tlh country round


lmaurico would fain ihave returned to active lifo in thie service of his qlocn ad coanotry bitt his mnothors tears pro vailed over overy other colnsideration and lie remained to accept tihe place of parkkeeper at tlh castle


and whent shortly ofter lord glenard brought a youlng andti beauntiful biride to adorn antd gladden his halolls ntd to parti cilpat ill his eacts of chalrity and bcneliietcc a bilackeyed maiden who nccompanied tlho r fromn tltowest bid fair to become tile successor of kathleon in tohe afections of the soldier


ithe lodge at the castlo gate ihanving recently become vacant lord glenard nmade anu ollr of placing dermid and nelly theoro for the re nmaindter of their days


it was thaonkfilly ac cepted and nclly having a residence so near her dear young lord was reconciled to the loss of hier former abode


ithe blessnlgs of peace and prosperity filled the cottages of the peansantry nrotnd and many a prayeor was oliered up iy gratefli hearts that long life and ihanppiness might be thie por tilon of the kind and considcerato lnndlort who hadt comno to live amnongst tihemn ntd wtho nlado their wants hiis sttdy and itheir welftre ilis con stannt are


the regular paymcnt of rent wos no longer naccolttcd a grievous cxalction for they had learnedt to believe tihtt it was far more to their own advantage not to be in arrear and allowance was ever made when ally unforo seen or insurmountable obstacle came it lito scay


ittt it is chiefly in a mrnl point of viow thait thie presence of twelltdicted anuthority wlen mingled with kindness is diesirable in a conm munity


thei good examonple of a higher power exteonds its influence stuely andl gradultly to thie minds and lhabits of the populace and al retlady religion andt


gooat order industry and frugality enharacteriso theinhabitants of glen ard


iarnabi rudge


a chapter lii


a mob is usually a creature of very mysterious existence particularly in a large city


where it comes from or whither it goes few men can tell


assembling and dispersing with equal suddenness it is as difficult to follow to its various sources as the sea itself nor does the parallel stop here for the ocean is not more fickle and uncertain more terrible when roused more unreasonable or more cruel


the people who were boisterous at westminster upon the friday morning and were eagerly bent upon the work of devastation in dukestreet and warwickstreet at night were in the mass the same


allowing for the chance accessionsof which any crowd is morally sure in a town where there must always be a large number of idle and profligate persons one and the same mob was at both places


yet they spread themselves in various directions when they dispersed in the afternoon made no appointment for reassembling had no definite purpose or design and indeed for anything they knew were scattered beyond the hope of future union


at the boot which as has been shown was in a manner the head quarters of the rioters there were not upon this friday night a dozen people


some slept in the stable and outhouses some in the com mon room some two or three in beds


he rest were in their usual homes or haunts


perhaps not a score in all lay in the adjacent fields and lanes and under haystacks or near the warmth of brick kilns who had not their accustomed place of rest beneath the open sky


as to the public ways within the town they had their ordinary nightly occupants and no others the usual amount of vice and wretch edness but no more


the experience of one evening however had taught the reckless leaders of disturbance that they had but to show themselves in the streets to be im mediately surrounded by materials which they could only have kept together when their aid was not re quired at great risk expense and trouble


once possessed of this secret they were as confident as if twenty thousand men devoted to their will had been encamped about them and assumed a confidence which could not have been surpassed though that had really leen the case


all day saturday they remained quiet