A more delightful, sensible, and accomplished person I never encountered. She is passionately devoted to music, and is exceedingly fond of female society, in both of which, if she becomes an inmate of the Manor-House, I could wish you frequently to indulge her."

"If she becomes an inmate!" cried Brown; "to be sure she will. Where else should she go to? Am I not her uncle by her marriage? I'll order the carriage immediately, and bring her home this very day."

sympathy that drew them instinctively to each other. Both had bruised spirits which found a congenial consolation in the same subjects and pursuits; both being passionately fond of music and of literature, they sang or read together, selecting such graver strains as were adapted to their present temperament. At the end of the first month thus pleasantly occupied, the visit of the Latimers was renewed for another, and this successively for several more, until Brown, finding his own comfort as well as that of Agnes mainly dependant upon their stay, insisted upon their giving up the cottage and becoming his quent visits also to the Manor-House, both of them winning such huge favour in the sight of its master that he never suffered them to depart without exacting a promise of a speedy return.

So much was Agnes improved in appearance by the complete restoration of her health and reason-permanent inmates. Walter and his wife made freso lovely, so interesting did she look in her widow's weeds, that Brown did not at first recognise her, and when he did, he was so completely overcome with surprise and joy, that his eyes became suffused with tears. "God bless you, my dear niece!" he exclaimed, in a tremulous voice, as he repeatedly and affectionately kissed her, "how happy am I to see you so wonderfully improved! Odsbobs! you will make your old uncle as proud as a peacock. Come along! come along! they can send your rattletraps after you. I sha'n't feel comfortable till I get you back to the Manor-House."

66

As it is the just punishment of maleficence to excite a painful hatred of those whom we have injured, so is it the merited reward of good actions to awaken in us a love of those whom we have benefited. Deeply did Allan feel this gratification as he marked the cheering effect of his kindly offices and attentions upon Agnes. Each had begun by commiserating the other, and the affinity between pity and love is so That he might not lose a single day in carrying well known that we need hardly state the result. into effect the doctor's recommendation, Brown call- From motives of delicacy, however, Allan did not ed next morning upon Mrs. Latimer, who had just make any formal déclaration of his wishes until Agreturned from Gloucester, inviting her and Allan to nes had thrown aside her widow's weeds, when he come and spend a fortnight at the Manor-House, that tendered her his hand and heart, and having obtained they might assist in entertaining the poor lunatic her blushing consent, proceeded to solicit that of lady. Beg her pardon," he cried, correcting him- Brown. What, my dear boy!" was the reply: self, no more lunatic than I am. I mean my niece," and so you are tired of single-blessedness, are you? my dear Agnes. Zooks, Madam! you wouldn't know Well, Sir, you have chosen the most charming womher again at least I didn't quite an altered crea- an in all England, and I give you my consent with ture. Why, Allan, my boy! how much better you all my heart and soul. I must say, however, that I are looking too! Ay, ay, we shall be all happier, all never thought of marry- Hallo, though! don't tell healthier, all looking better now. Master of my own lies, you old fool! you did think of marrying, and a house again. Ha! ha!" There were good grounds pretty business you made of it!" for this improved appearance in Allan. His native air and the society of his family had, as he predicted, soon restored the healthy hue of his cheek; the work of fiction upon which he had been diligently employed for some months had enabled him, by its sale, to replace the sum abstracted from the joint stock of himself and his brother; time and constant occupation had mitigated the sense of his recent mistakes and disappointments; and he had received several most gratifying letters from Isola, couched in terms of the warmest friendship for her dear brother, as she still called him, and exuberant with an impassioned gratitude to Heaven for her own unalloyed felicity. Everything had succeeded to her utmost wishes. Her husband's father, not only reconciled to her marriage, but delighted with it, when he heard of the fifteen thousand ducats, had gladly given up the business, which was flourishing even beyond their expectations. Camillo had bought the little cottage which had belonged to her mother in her native island of Ischia, whither they retired with their boy whenever they could make holyday, or snatch a short respite from professional occupations. Whether at Naples or at Ischia, she seemed to be equally hap-ger, regularly read to him, and often imagined himselfpy. Her letters were the outpourings of a soul steeped in thankfulness and joy.

Mrs. Latimer, upon whose maternal eye visions of Allan's renewed adoption by Brown already began to dawn, eagerly accepted the invitation to the ManorHouse, where their society and good offices contributed so manifestly to the solace and the cheer of Agnes, that at the expiration of the fortnight they were pressed to protract the term for a month. Both had found so much pleasure in the companionship of Agnes, and in observing the daily development of accomplishments and mental stores previously unsuspected, that they gladly assented to the proposal. Between Allan and Agnes there was an especial

Walter Latimer's employer having died, and the business being given up, he and his wife were invited to come over to the Manor-House, and to consider themselves its permanent inmates and a portion of the family. On the morning of Allan's marriagefor he, too, was married at last-Brown placed in the hands of Agnes a deed of gift of five hundred a year, and at the same time deposited a similar instrument in the workbox of Ellen Latimer, gallantly observing that it was a very inadequate payment for the pleasure he anticipated from their society. These hopes were so abundantly justified, that he makes no secret of his intention to bequeath the remainder of his fortune between the twin brothers.

Unbroken was the concord-great and unalloyed the happiness of the whole party thus domesticated at the Manor-House. Adam Brown, whose inmates took especial care to keep him incessantly occupied, busied himself about his farm, toddled round his grounds and gardens, was driven to visit his neighbours, and to participate in all the amusements of the vicinity; he played billiards, whist, and cribbage; he heard the newspapers, especially the Public Le

to be enjoying the society of Allan and Walter, while they sat silently beside him on the balustraded platform of the roof, until he had smoked himself into a state of complacent and oblivious drowsiness. Such is the force of habit, that whenever he heard of any approaching nuptials, he would begin to blurt out his usual cackling triumph at his being a bachelor, on which occasions he would suddenly check himself, turn very red in the face, and mutter, as he walked away with a confused look, "Don't tell lies, Adam Brown, don't tell lies! Done a wiser thing, perhaps made a better speculation if you had married at first, instead of waiting till you were an old man and an old fool, and then getting “MARRIED AT LAST."

THE END.

THE

LOST SHIP;

'OR,

THE ATLANTIC STEAMER.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

CAVENDISH," "THE FLYING DUTCHMAN," &c.

PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-S".

1843.

DEDICATION.

TO REAR ADMIRAL SIR SALUSBURY DAVENPORT, C.B.K.C.H.

DEAR SIR SAlusbury,

was impossible. It was plain, then, that the foregoing story was but a dream.

SUCH is now, as nearly as can be remembered-if you have taken the trouble to read The fact of embarking in a steamer half the story contained in the foregoing pages-the asleep, the noise of the paddles, the confusion singular nature of a dream, enjoyed at no very of the passengers, had doubtless contributed to distant period, while napping on the deck of a form the incidents of which the vision was Dover steamer. Although we have all, no composed, while, if anything was wanting fardoubt, naps and dreams sufficient to render ther to its direction, it was at once supplied by these a matter of no great importance or curi- my eye reverting to the following paragraph, osity, still it may not have fallen to your lot to which I had doubtless been reading when I fell have experienced one of those singular tricks asleep. Supposed Loss of an Atlantic Steamer. which sleep will sometimes play us, when the-One of the splendid steam-vessels recently whole events of a life appear crowded into the built for the trade between England and Newpassage of a few minutes. But let me explain: York is now considerably over due, and great While in course of cogitation as to what should fears are entertained that she has been lost on be the plot of a new novel, I had one morning her passage home, forming a most disastrous gone on board the steamboat in question rather addition to the calamities of this kind that have drowsily inclined, from the unreasonable hour already occurred on the Atlantic." Concluding at which the packet started-not being, I must that a story which had excited my own interest confess, one of those who are always famous powerfully during its transition might not prove at early rising unless there is something to be wholly uninteresting to other dreamers, waking gained by it. As a matter of course, every per- or sleeping, I determined to put on paper the son who goes on board a packet takes the com- line of tableaux, as nearly as possible, in the mon precaution against ennui of purchasing same order as that in which they presented some favourite newspaper. This sin, if it be themselves to my mind. Connected as the any, I had that morning committed; and read-scene of this novel is with that land in whose ing the daily print with a sort of shudder at finding myself actually committed to all the horrors of five o'clock A.M. on board a Dover steamer, I relapsed gently back into that dreamy repose from which I had been so disagreeably summoned. As far as any chronicles remain of this important event, it occurred just off that spot from which, if we are to credit the late facetious James Smith, come

"Modish airs from Wapping stairs."

Nor did it last beyond that old remembrancer to you and me, Sir Salusbury, of

"Many a vanished year and age,

Of tempest's breath and battle's rage"The buoy at the Nore-" when some one suddenly trod upon my feet, exclaiming at the same time, "So, then, you are-on board here too," added the speaker. The former part of the words seemed addressed, in my dream, to Mr. St. John by our hero; while the exclamation which I heard finished on returning to sensibility was uttered in the shrill tones of my learned friend and leader, Ned Y, at that time piously returning, as | all worthy counsellors should, from the Sessions at Stafford to his family on the coast.

To mistake a pair of whiskers as red as my own for the heroic visage of Herbert St. John

historical records you occupy so distinguished
a position as the captor of the Chesapeake when,
for the second time, she fell into our posses-
sion, it will, no doubt, offer to you a greater
interest from that fact, and you will, I am sure,
agree with me in those praises I have felt it
only just to render to a brave nation of half-
brothers, towards whom, notwithstanding they
have their faults as well as ourselves, my own
feelings will always be those of high admiration
and regard. That I should have chosen one of
their countrymen to show the foibles of the
nation, as well as another to represent its vir-
tues, is a matter which I could scarcely avoid
in a supposed scene which must necessarily
have had so many American actors in it. This
I trust, therefore, will prevent any reasonable
offence from being taken; and, for any other
kind of offence, why-but no matter what.
Now that the story is at length, to a certain de--
gree, realized in black and white, if you, my
dear Sir Salusbury, will accept it as a slight
tribute of a very warm regard, you will confer
upon these trifling pages a value they would
elsewhere vainly seek in my esteem.

Believe me ever to remain,
Dear Sir Salusbury,
Your faithful friend and servant,

W. JOHNSON NEALE.

THE LOST SHIP.

CHAPTER I..

"By this account, then, Margaret may win him, For she's a woman to be sought for much.

The match is made."-SHAKSPEARE.

"AND pray, sir, may I ask where this paragon of loveliness is to be found?"

"You may ask, and welcome; the question is not of the slightest use."

66

"Why, on that point we may have a difference of opinion."

66

:

fore I see her that neither she nor any other woman is very likely to come up to my notions, which, I admit, are rather extravagant-that is, any woman now alive," added the young speaker, suppressing something like a sigh as he said this; "and, as to money, the little I want I possess three times over."

66

*

Well, Mr. Herbert, that is, of course, a matter of feeling. All I can say is, you must indeed be extravagant in your notions if 'the beauty of * as she is called, fails not only to come up to the mark, but to go a long way the other side of it too. Everybody thereabout, I can tell you, is ready to uphold her as one of the most lovely girls the sun ever shone upon."

'Oh, certainly, we may have a difference of opinion; but my reason for being so positive is this she lives with her father, who keeps her mewed up in the most extraordinary manner. They have very few servants. The father never permits the daughter out of his sight; and, for 'Well, I do not wish to say anything that fear that his vigilance should not be sufficient, may disparage their taste; but I fancy I have he does not even ramble to enjoy a walk with-seen too great a beauty in my day to form that out carrying his child and a witch of a duenna estimate of a mere little rustic." with him."

66

And pray, sir, may I ask if these are your only reasons for deeming it impossible to get acquainted with the lady?"

66

Rustic! I never beheld such features or expression elsewhere in my life; and though, to be sure, I cannot answer for the mind being equal to the face, as I did not speak to her, only Why, truly, Mr. Herbert, they appear to me seeing her from a distance, as it were, two or sufficient to stand effectually in the way of most three times; yet all the grace that education men; but, for fear you should want any more could give she appeared to me to possess. This formidable barriers, I may mention to you the was not only my own impression, but was the fact, that her father is one of those narrow-report of every one who was likely to have any minded Englishmen who seem to think the earth knowledge upon the subject." itself too small to set a limit to their pride, and ice too warm in temperature for their manner. Not one single acquaintance has he ever formed throughout the whole extent of the country. Nobody visits him, therefore nobody can give you an introduction."

"Oh, if that be all, that's nothing. I will venture to wager my favourite horse against your small yacht that I'll ride over to the lake near to which this queer fish has settled, and, within six suns of reaching his latitude, I will undertake to have eaten at his hearth, slept under his roof, and become acquainted with both himself and his daughter."

"Well, sir, the odds are not very equal-your horse against my yacht; neither am I much given to getting astride any such unsteady cattle. But as I know your undertaking to be much nearer an impossibility than you have any means of judging, I say agreed; and, if you can carry off the girl for a wife, by all accounts you will wed one of the wealthiest women in this part of the Union, though you would not think so to look at the father's house, which the crackedbrained old fellow will keep, at least on the side nearest the road, as like to an alehouse as can be."

"Remember distinctly that no part of my intention, and no part of my undertaking, relates either to carrying off or making love to the daughter. This beauty, remember, is of your making out, not mine. I know pretty well be

"You seem to have made some particular inquiries, then."

"Inquiries! that beautiful countenance, sir, cost me a whole summer of scheming and contriving how I could get an introduction. The loss of a mere summer I should not have cared about, had I not been obliged, ultimately, to give up my object in despair."

"No, that is not all; the conclusion won't come until I have the pleasure of taking a sail in your yacht."

"Or you ride your horse down to my door, and leave it there with your compliments."

"Not much fear of that, sir; but this I promise, in order to show you that you have fallen into the hands of a generous victor, as I do not set much store by the lady's charms myself; but, as it appears you really do, I shall be very happy to make love on your account, though I cannot undertake to do it on my own; and so, when I have once completed the introduction to begin with, I shall next be able to extend it to you."

"Your generosity is very remarkable, sir. However, is it to be a wager or not, Mr. Cherbury, now you know the whole difficulties ?"

"Difficulties! I have heard of none yet. I

of vaccination have come into use, and are prescribed by various practitioners. Dr. Woodroffe recommends the Insolvent Court for rapid

have too great a regard for your yacht to make the least demur to the wager. When we join the ladies at tea we will reduce it into writing; and, as I am an idle man, and no one more openly taking the complaint out of the system, while to an adventure, for one point only I stipulate -this undertaking shall be kept so far to our selves, that the worthy old father shall not be put on his guard against me."

"Oh, that of course.'

"But there is another point," said the gentleman in whose house, and at whose dinner-table this conversation had taken place, and who had hitherto remained silent: "I beg to suggest that, if this wager is really to be made, it had better be reduced into writing before we join the ladies, and no farther allusion made to it." The propriety of this suggestion being conceded on all sides, two papers were laid on the dessert-table, the master of the house drew up the wager according to the terms on which it had been settled; both the contracting parties having signed it, left the whole in his care and keeping, in case that any future reference to it should be necessary, and then, with many a laugh, first at the expense of one and then the other wagerer, the party, consisting of six gentlemen, repaired to the drawing-room.

BEFORE I proceed farther in my narrative of those singular and remarkable events, which must yet be so fresh in the minds of all connected with them, it may be as well to offer some little explanation touching the speakers, whose conversation was reported in the last chapter.

my esteemed contemporary, "D'Israeli, the younger," for whose Vivian Grey I have so great an admiration and respect, seems to think that the House of Commons is the more severe remedy of the two.

But, however, to return from these improper discussions. Herbert of Cherbury, notwithstanding the dash of vanity to which we have alluded, offered in his character many sterling points that well justified his friends in the esteem they had for him. Afloat, he was a clever, ingenious, gallant officer, always ready to meet any emergency with a resource, and every enemy with a keen blade. Generous, impetuous, sensitively alive to all the nobler impulses of our nature, equally ready to resent an insult and to forgive an injury, it followed as a matter of course that he had always been much loved by his men, as well as petted by his brother officers; and this had given to his manners an occasional boldness and resolution in carrying out the object he desired, that often approached to impudence. In person Herbert was rather tall, standing about five feet eleven; slightly, yet strongly made, and wearing on his features the bold, confident air of a man who has been too often placed in peril and too often relieved from it by his own unaided energies not to feel the most perfect reliance on himself. Yet, with all this, there was a dash of melancholy in his features which Nature, in her inevitable apportionment of our destiny, appears to have given in early life to those who, in some afterday, are to feel the pressure of heavy trials or deep sorrows, of which we may say two of the most memorable instances on record are the cases of Charles I. and Napoleon, besides a host of others that might be brought to support the observation.

There was also in Herbert's manner, when The young man who took the bet in a style not in the exclusive company of man, a peculiar so intimately bordering on the confines of im- softness and gentle bearing that bespoke the pudence and romance had served, and not with-fact of his not only having been much accusout some distinction, as a lieutenant in the tomed to the society of women, but to his taAmerican navy. He had scarcely arrived at king great delight in it, while a certain air of the age of four-and-twenty when the death of romance was traceable throughout his whole his adopted parent left him in possession of a temperament and disposition; and though it gentlemanly independence, and sufficient wit to did not prevent his manifesting on every occaprefer half pay to full. Little was known, either sion a most sincere and perfect love of truth by himself or others, as to his parentage. As and candour, yet perpetually enlisted his syman infant he had been adopted by an old gentle-pathies on the side of suffering and novelty, beman connected with the house of Pembroke of England, and was generally believed to have been a foundling. His benefactor had given him the name of Herbert, and a sufficient fortune to do it honour; and our hero, after his friend's death, meeting with the opportunity of purchasing a fine estate in Pennsylvania, gave to it the name of Cherbury, and thus rejoiced in the appellation of Mr. Herbert, of Cherbury.

It is true that there was a little vanity in this, but that is pardonable at such an age; for, after all, the emotion is a complete endemic of its kind, and few persons pass the intervening years between twenty and thirty without coming in for a touch of the complaint with as much certainty as brings smallpox and the measles. For the cure of this afflicting disease, several modes

sides involving him at every step in a series of adventures which would have happened to no other man, unless similarly constituted. Finally, as we have seen, there was some curious sort of mystery connected with Herbert's birth, of which no one-not even he himself-knew the whole truth, that completed the sort of hero-like character accorded to him.

On the day on which this story opens, Herbert had gone to dine with a friend in the city of New-York. By one of those extraordinary accidents which do occasionally occur in civilized society, the conversation had temporarily quitted the interesting topic of dollar-making and the prospect of the cotton crops, to wander to that of beautiful women. This subject was no sooner started than a pale young gentleman,