THE COMPACT. Beatrice proved to Agnes the very shadow of beauty; for neither at home nor abroad did she stir but the lynx-eyed nurse was at her heels. All her good humor, however proved insufficient to shield her against the depressing effects of this annoyance; and she resolved, with that decision which was such a remarkable feature in her character, at once to express her mind upon the subject. The old woman was industriously plying her needle, while the light-hearted Agnes was listlessly turning over her tablets. "Sweet nurse," said she," methinks thou hast remarkably good eyes." "Our Lady be praised!" replied the nurse, reverently, "my sight is good." "And thou canst, doubtless, see as far through a millstone as most folks, I trow," continued her charge. "Seoth can I!" said the old woman, with a knowing shake of the head, and attempting what she intended, poor soul! for a smile, but which degenerated into nothing more nor less than an awful grin! "And thou hast an eye to thy interest in the service thou hast taken of my very worthy and worshipful guardy?" "Well, well, child," said the nurse, "I believe I do know on which side my bread's buttered." "A good saying,—and I'll match it with another,-fair words butter no parsnips; and therefore, nurse, will I without phrase inform thee, that I am not only rich, but free, nay, I love liberty as much as any little bird of the air, and feel that being caged would kill me outright. Besides, I am too great a baby to be put into leading-strings; it is now some years since I bade farewell to them and the go-cart." "Tut, tut, sweet!" cried Beatrice; "what art thou driving at?" "None are so blind as those who won't see," answered Agnes, archly; "there's another of thy favorite proverbs for thee. Now, mark me,-I would that thou shouldst practice this same wilful blindness in respect to my actions." 'Dear, sweet, good lady, what dost thou mean?" "This, that when we are walking abroad, and thy wary eye should chance to see some gay young cavalier kiss his hand to me Very improper!" exclaimed the nurse. "Very," said Agnes; "and therefore shut thy virtuous eyes against the impropriety, and consequently there will be no need of reporting the naughty impertinence of these gallants to my afflicted guardy. Let me alone suffer the indignity, and, depend on 't, I'll bear it like a woman; knowing that, sooner or later, I shall meet my reward." The heiress then proceeded to inform Beatrice that she would act as she pleased in despite of all opposition; that she was fully persuaded of the sordid reasons her guardian had for keeping her secluded; and finally, that if Beatrice did not become perfectly neuter in the struggle she would torment her continually, and lead her such a dance that she should rue the day when she had undertaken the office of a spy; on the contrary, that if she would only be conveniently blind and deaf, as became a woman of her years and discretion, she would patronize her, and told her to calculate the advantages. The old woman was certainly staggered; but a little considerations offered by Agnes, made duty kick the beam. THE PAGE. Master Gerard Wynstone was the son of an opulent winemerchant; in the matter of dress, an ape; and in the quantity of brains, a veritable donkey. No saunterer in Saint Paul's attracted more notice, for he was a most egregious fop. This youth, by reason of his wealth and expectations, had been greatly favored by Master Hardinge, who regarded him as an excellent match for his ward, and he, consequently, often sat at the board of the merchant. As for the youth, not less ordinary than vain, he was perfectly smitten with the charms of the amiable Agnes. In allusion to his father's calling, she named her suitor the Knight of the Wooden Cask: complained that his port was very well for a wine-merchant; and, in fine, made a butt of him! Her wit and her raillery, however, failed in driving her awkward suitor to despair, or from her presence. The fact is, the love of Agnes retained him, and love of interest, Master Hardinge; for it was perfectly understood that the latter was to receive a handsome "commission" upon the delivery of his beautiful ward and her fortune into the hands of Wynstone. "A billet, by 'r lady!" exclaimed Wynstone. "A billet by a lady, from the hands of her page," replied Andrew, cap in hand. "There's a noble for thee," said the elated suitor. "I'll e'en place it in my doublet and read it." "Had'st thou not, fair sir, better read it first, and place it in thy doublet afterwards? There may, perchance, be some response to the missive." " Wynstone broke the seal, and read the following invitation: To-night, after the hour of vespers, strike thy guitar beneath my window." "Short-very short," said Master Gerard, turning over the laconic epistle. "A word to the wise is sufficient," said Andrew, with roguish leer, that contained more meaning than the other had wit to comprehend. "True, good Andrew," replied Wynstone. "I'll not fail I'll not fail." -say And Andrew skipped away, his hand in his pocket, playing with the noble. "Knave!" exclaimed a voice at his ear, while his arm was rudely grasped,—" Thou arrant knave! "Ah! what, Master Valentine!" cried Andrew. strange men you lovers are!" "What "Rather say what great rogues you pages are," retorted Master Valentine, a most elegant youth, and one of those same gay "young cavaliers who kissed their hands to Agnes," when she walked abroad, and who had, moreover, very reasonable hopes that his attentions were favorably received.— "Traitor! did I not see thee e'en now deliver a letter to yon dunder-headed bumpkin!—a walking popinjay!-the mark of ridicule, at whom every finger points.' "I confess I confess," replied Andrew calmly, "that I did deliver unto his most fine worship a letter indited by the hands of my fair mistress." "And addressed to him?" cried Master Valentine in jealous apprehension. "Nay, there was no address," said Andrew, "except in the delivery thereof." "Then it must have been intended for me." 'It was-I confess it was," replied Andrew. "And darest thou tell me this?" cried Master Valentine, raising his walking staff. Nay, spare my shoulders," said the page, "for I have spared thine, Sir Valentine, seeing that that very billet contained a thrashing. I do not allude to the up-strokes or the down-strokes in which the fair hand of my mistress hath writ the same; but, of a verity, no more nor less than a sound drubbing. Master Wynstone, depend on 't, will receive the contents in full, to his heart's discontent." "Thou double-tongued, double-faced rogue, explain this riddle!" exclaimed Master Valentine, somewhat appeased, and sorely puzzled. And Andrew forthwith informed him that Agnes had scarcely written her letter, when her guardian, coming suddenly in, had discovered her before she had superscribed it, and that he took the unfortunate billet, and, summoning Andrew into his presence, with mock politeness, bade him instantly deliver it to the "gallant suitor of Mistress Agnes," who, on her part strongly but vainly protested against this arbitrary proceeding. But the page on his way overhearing Hardinge inform the sturdy porter of his establishment that he suspected "there might be an intruder in the court that night," and ordering him to prepare a couple of stout oaken staves to give him a "welcome," he had taken the liberty to peep into the unfortunate epistle, and wisely concluding from its ambiguous terms that it might suit Master Wynstone as well (or better under the circumstances) as Master Valentine, he had cunningly delivered it accordingly, vowing that he really knew no other gallant suitor, or as such acknowledged at the house, than the aforesaid Master Wynstone. The lover, of course, loudly applauded, and amply rewarded the adroit and faithful Master Andrew, who gleefully putting up the well-earned nobles, declared that "really serving two masters was not only very easy, but extremely pleasant and profitable withal. The appointed hour at length arrived; and with it the delighted Master Wynstone and his music, quite perfect in a most bewitching serenade, as crammed with conceits as a wedding-cake with confectionary. The door of the courtyard stood "grinning" most invitingly open, and he stepped in. But scarcely had he struck an attitude and his guitar, and warbled forth the half of the first stanza of his amatory ditty, when his voice suddenly changed to a squall or shriek, which ran through several bars with shakes and variations altogether quite novel in the vocal art; for the incensed Hardinge, aided by his porter, fell so furiously upon the unfortunate Knight of the Wooden Cask, that his cries alarmed the watch, who rushed pell-mell into the court, with their staves and lanterns, by the light of which the astonished Master Hardinge discovered the woful features of his most dear young friend. Terribly alarined, he led the tender lover (tender, at least, from the drubbing he had received) into his mansion, and loudly summoned all his household. But, alas! it proved a night of trouble. Agnes, Beatrice, and Andrew, were all missing! A whole week elapsed before the merchant obtained any tidings of the fugitives; and then an applicant, in the person of Master Valentine, form ally waited upon the guardian in the character of his ward's husband, for an immediate arrangement of her affairs. LADY HESTER STANHOPE. "You have doubtless heard that this brilliant star was driven from The blighting truth that all fond hopes had perished in thy youth, POOR JACK.* BY CAPT. MARRYAT, AUTHOR OF PETER SIMPLE,'' JACOB FAITHFUL,' &c. " PART VIII. CHAPTER XXXII....In which there is a hop, skip, and a jump. river. In infancy a little rill, gradually increasing to the Life has often, and with great truth, been compared to a pure and limpid brook, which winds through flowery meads, grimage.' "giving a gentle kiss to every ridge it overtaketh in its pilnow rushing rapidly, now moving along in deep and tranquil Next it increases in its volume and its power, water, until it swells into a bold stream, coursing its way over the shallows, dashing through the impeding rocks, descending in rapids swift as thought, or pouring its boiling water over the cataract. pearance, and its course, until it swells into a broad expanse, And thus does it vary its velocity, its ap gradually checking its career as it approaches, and at last mingles with the Ocean of Eternity. I have been led into contents of this chapter. As in the river, after many miles of this somewbat trite metaphor, to account to the reader for the will for some time flow in a smooth and tranquil course as alcheckered and boisterous career, you will find that its waters most to render you unconscious of the never-ceasing stream; so, in the life of man, after an eventful and adventurous career, it will be found that for a time he is permitted to glide gently and quietly along, as if a respite were given to his feelings, preparatory to fresh scenes of excitement. Such was the case with me for some time. I had now been under Bramble's tuition for more than a year and a half, and was consequently between fifteen and sixteen years old. The years from 1800 to the end of 1804 were of this description in my stream of life, unmarked by any peculiar or stirring events worthy of occupying the attention of my readers. It is therefore my intention, in this chapter, to play the part of the chorus in the old plays, and sum up the events in few words so as not to break the chain of history, at the same time that I shall prepare my readers for what subsequently took place. I will first speak of myself. Up to the age of nineteen I continued my career under the care of Bramble; we seldom home so agreeable since little Bessy had been sent to school, remained long on shore, for neither Bramble nor I found and Mrs. Maddox, assisted by a little girl, had charge of the house; indeed Bramble appeared resolved to make all the money he could, that he might the sooner be able to give up his profession. Mrs. Maddox I have spoken little of, be cause I had seen but little of her: now that she was down stairs, I will not say I saw, but I certainly heard too much of her, for she never ceased talking: not that she talked loud or temper, but could not hold her tongue. If she could not find screamed out-on the contrary, she was of a mild amiable any one to talk to, she would talk to any thing; if she was making the fire, she would apostrophise the sticks for not burning properly. I watched her one morning as she was kneeling down before the grate: "Now, stick you must go in," said she; "it's no use your resisting, and, what's more, you must burn, and burn quickly too, do 'ye hear, or the kettle won't boil in time for breakfast. Be quick, you little fellow-burn away and light the others, there's a good boy." Here she knocked down the tongs."Tongs, be quiet, how dare you make that noise?" Then as she replaced them, "Stand up, sir, in your place until you are wanted. Now, poker, your turn's coming, we must have a stir directly. Bless me, smoke, what's the matter with you now? can't you go up the chimney? You can't pretend to say the wind blows you down this fine morning, so none of your vagaries. Now, fender, it's your turr-stand still till I give you a bit of a rub. There, now you're all right. Table you want your face washed-your master has spilt his grog What dreams which years had faded, but which he er had been effaced, last night-there now, yeu look as handsome as ever. Well, With intensely thrilling vividness, were all before thee placed? No woman's heart was near thee, with throbbings like thine own, J. C. old chair, how are you this morning? You're older than I am, I reckon, and yet you 're stouter on your legs. Why, candle, are you burning all this while? Why did n't you tell me?—I would have put you out long ago. Come now, don't be making a smell here-send it up the chimney." Thus would she talk to every thing. We only had two animals in the house—a cat and a canary bird: of course they were not neglected; but, somehow or another, the cat ap peared to get tired of it, for it would rise, and very gently * Continued from page 496. walk into the back kitchen; and as for the canary bird, like all other canary birds, as soon as he was talked to, he would begin to sing, and that so loud, that Mrs. Maddox was beaten out of the field. Bramble bore with her very well; but, at the same time, he did not like it: he once said to me," Well, if Bessy were at Deal, I think I would take a short spell now; but as for that good old soul, whose tongue is hung on the middle, and works at both ends, she does tire one, and that's the truth." But she really was a good-natured, kind creature, ready to oblige in every thing; and I believe that she thought that she was amusing you, when she talked on in this way. Unfortunately she had no anecdote, for she had a very bad memand therefore there was nothing to be gained from her. By way of amusing me, she used to say, "Now, Tom, sit down here, and I'll tell you all about my bad leg." And then she would commence with the first symptoms, the degrees of pain, the various plasters, bandages, and poultices, which had been applied, and what the doctor had said this day and that day. I bore this very patiently for four or five times; but at last, after several days of increasing impatience (somewhere about the fifteenth time, I believe,) I could stand it no more, so I jumped off my chair, and ran away, just as she commenced the interesting detail. ory. Mrs. Maddox," said I, "I cannot bear to hear of your sufferings; pray never mention them again." "What a kind-hearted creature you are!" said she.'Well, I won't then. It's not many who have such pity in them. Cotton, where have you got to always running away? One would think you do n't like to be knitted. Now, cotton, do n't be foolish; where have you hid yourself? You make others as bad as yourself. Scissors have got away now-there now, sit on my lap, and be quiet." terwards Tom was out of his time, and then the doctor retaine ed him as his assistant, with a salary added to his board, which enabled Tom to be independent of the shop, as far as liquorice was concerned, and to cut a very smart figure among the young men about Greenwich; for, on Tom's promotion, another boy was appointed to the carrying out of the medicine as well as the drudgery, and Tom took good care that this lad should clean his boots as well as the doctor's, and not make quite so free with the liquorice as he had done himself. I found out also that he had cut Anny Whistle. Mrs. St. Felix continued to vend her tobacco, and I never failed seeing her on my visits to Greenwich. She appeared to look just as young as she did when I first knew her, and every one said there was no apparent alteration. She was as kind and as cheerful as ever; and I may as well here remark that during this period a great intimacy had grown up between her and my sister Virginia, very much to the annoyance of my mother, who still retained her feelings of ill-will against Mrs. St. Felix-why, I do not know, except that she was so good looking a person, and such a favorite with every body. But my father, who, when he chose, would not be contradicted, insisted upon Virginia's being on good terms with Mrs. St. Felix, and used to take her there himself; and Virginia, who had never forgotten the widow's kindness to me, was extremely partial to her, and was much more in her company than my mother had any idea of, for Virginia would not vex my mother unnecessarily by telling her she had been with the widow, unless she was directly asked. It was about four months after my father and I had given our money my mother, that I returned to Greenwich. A letter from Virginia had acquainted me with the street and the number of the house which my mother had taken, and I therefore walked from the beach right to it: and I must say, that when I came to the new abode I was very much surpris However, if Mrs. Maddox got back cotton and scissors, she did not get me back, for I bolted out of the front door, and joined the men who were lolling against the gunnel of a gal-ed at its neat and even handsome appearance. The ground ley, hauled up on the shingle. During the period of which I am speaking, I continued every day to add to my knowledge of my profession, and eventually I was competent to pass my examination at the Trinity House. When I went on board a vessel with Bramble, he would often give me charge of her, never interfering with me (although he watched me carefully,) unless he con sidered that it was absolutely necessary, which I believe took place but twice. He used to tell the masters of the vessels that I was quite as good a pilot as he was, which certainly was not quite correct: however, it was of great consequence to me, as it gave me that confidence so necessary in my profession, and in due time I passed for a river pilot at the Trinity House. Some alteration occurred at the Hospital during this interval. Anderson had been promoted from boatswain of the ward to Inspecting boatswain, a place of trust, with very comfortable emoluments, his weekly allowance being increased to five shillings; and on his promotion my father was made a boatswain's mate of the Warriors' ward. This was at first satisfactory to my mother, who was pleased that my father should wear lace upon his pensioner's coat; but, as she advanced in the world, she did not like the idea of my father being in the Hospital, nor did she want him to be at her house -in fact, she could have done better without him; but as that could not be, she made the best of it. It must be acknowledged that my father's boisterous and rude manner had been softening down ever since he had been in the Hospital, and that he had become a very well-behaved, quiet, and sober person, and was very respectable in his appearance; but I shall say more about him when I talk of my mother again. Old Nanny went on much as usual, but on the whole she improved. I used to pick up for her any thing I could, and put it in a large bag which I occasionally brought to Greenwich; and this bag, with its multifarious contents, would give her more pleasure than if I had brought her any single obj et more valuable. Old Andersen used to call upon her occasionally, but he did not do her much good. She appeared to think of hardly any thing but getting money. She was always glad to see me, and I believe thought more of me than of any body else in the world, and I seldom failed to pay her a visit on the first day of my arrival." Dr. Tadpole and his apprentice Tom went on pretty well together until the hundred-weight of liquorice was expended, and then there was a fresh rising on the part of the injured and oppressed representative of the lower orders, which continued until a fresh supply from London appeased his radical feelings which had been called forth, and then the liquorice made every thing go on smoothly as before; but two years af floor was fitted up as a shop with large panes of glass and inside upon stands were arranged a variety of bonnets and caps, set off with looking-glass and silk curtains, in the arrangement of which no little taste was displayed. Behind the show goods was a curtain hanging on a brass rod, drawn so as to conceal the work people who were within. There was s private door as well as a shop door, and I hardly knew which I was to go in at: however, as the shop door required no knocking, I went into that, and found myself in the company of eight young damsels, very busy at their needles, sitting on each side of a long table covered with half-made dresses. I inquired of them whether my mother was at home, and was answered by one, who was apparently the eldest, that she was down below getting the breakfast ready. "I suppose," continued she, "you are Mr. Tom Saunders, the pilot?" "I suppose I am," replied I; "and pray who are you?" "I am Miss Amelia Gozlin, apprentice to Mrs. Saunders, milliner, at your service, sir; and in consequence of my being so very quiet and sedate, I have charge of all these young ladies you see with me.' Here the others burst into a laugh. 66 They are in very good hands, Miss Amelia," replied I, "and under your care, and with your example, I have no doubt but they will turn out very useful members of society." "Thank you, sir; but allow me to say that I cannot permit young men, especially such enchanting young men as Mr. Tom Saunders, to remain here; as, if I do, your amiable mother would give me what is genteelly termed a whigging; so if you will be pleased, sir, just to remove yourself from our presence," continued she, with a mock courtesy, "and not make your appearance here again until you are certain your mother is gone out, you will oblige us very much." I obeyed the wishes of Miss Amelia Gozlin, who certainly was a very handsome girl, with fine black eyes, apparently about fifteen years old. I walked into the passage, and found my way down into the kitchen, where my mother and Virginia were employed as they had told me above. My mother received me kindly, but said little, for she appeared to be fully occupied; and Virginia had no time to dedicate to me until the breakfast was ready, when she called the apprentices, and we all sat down together; Miss Amelia and her companions looking so demure, that, if I had not seen them before, I should have thought that they could not speak. After breakfast was over, Virginia showed me the house. The first floor was to let furnished; the second was occupied by my mother and Virginia; and the attics were appropriated to the apprentices. Every thing appeared clean, neat, and well arranged; and I could not imagine how my mother had contrived to do so much with so little money; but Virginia told me that she thought Mr. Wilson had assisted her. When I returned, which might have been in six months, I found a great improvement, and every appearance of my mo ther succeeding well in her speculations. She had now a maid-servant, and her apprentices were increased to twelve, and there was every appearance of brisk and full employment. In 1803, I found that Virginia, who was then fourteen years old, had left school. She had told my mother that, during the last half year, she had only repeated over again what she had learnt the half year before, and that she thought she could employ her time better at home and assisting her. My mother was of the same opinion, and Virginia now superintended the cutting-out department, and was very useful. She said that the increase of business had been very great, and that my mother could hardly execute the orders which she received. There were now two servants in the house, and additional work women. My mother, also, had very much altered in appearance: before, she was usually clean and neat; now she was well, if not elegantly dressed, and appeared much younger and better-looking. I must do her the justice to say, that prosperity had not spoiled but improved her: she was more kind and more cheerful every time that I went to see her; and I may add that, with the exception of a little necessary castigation to Miss Amelia and her companions, she never scolded, and was kind to her servants. The last year she had been even more successful, and was now considered the first milliner in the town. I believed that she deserved her reputation, for she had a great deal of taste in dress; and when she had gone up stairs to decorate, previous to the hour of arrival of her customers, and came down in a handsome silk dress, and an elegant morning cap, I would often look at her with surprise, and say to myself, "Who would think that this was my mother, who used to shove the broom at me in the little parlor at Fisher's Alley?" were very great. She was of a peculiar and much admire style of beauty, a description which strikes some people a first sight, and not others—those not perceiving it at fr eventually admiring it even more than the others. She wa taller than the middle height, her person finely developed, ye not so much so as to take away from its grace: her complex ion was pale and clear, her eyes and hair very dark; there was a coldness about her beauty when in repose, like statuary marble; but if the least excited or animated, the color would mantle in her cheek; her eyes would beam, till they appeared as if, like bright planets, they could almost cast a shadow and dimples, before concealed, would show themselves, when she indulged in her silvery laugh. Although her form was commanding, still she was very feminine: there was great at traction in her face, even when in repose-she was cold, but not chilling. I had seen little of her for three years, during which she had sprung up to womanhood, for she was now seventeen, and ar peared to be at least eighteen years old before. Before, when we were living together, we kissed as brother and sister: since we had again become inmates of the same house, we had been friends, but nothing more. Bessy certainly showed as great a preference to me as our relative situations would admit; but still it appeared as if the extreme intimacy of childhood had been broken off, and that it was necessary that a renewed intimacy under another aspect should take place, to restore us to our former relations. Here it was for me to make the first overtures: not for her, as maidenly reserve would not permit it. Bramble seemed to be most anxious that such should be the case-indeed, considered it as a ma ter of course: perhaps Bessy thought so too in her own bo som: and the continual raillery of Bramble did more harm than good, as it appeared to warrant her thinking that it ought to be so. Why it was not I will now explain to the reader. I have already made mention of Mr. Wilson, the lawyer whose acquaintance we procured through Sir Hercules and The reader may inquire how my father and mother got on his lady. This intimacy had very much increased; and after such an alteration in her circumstances. I can only reMiss Janet Wilson had come home from a finishing seminary ply, that they got on better than they did before; for my monear town. Between this young lady and my sister Virginis ther, who did not wish my father's company in the house, a certain degree of intimacy had been formed, and of course pointed out to him, that, with so many young people living I had seen a great deal of her at the times when I was at with her, it would be very inconvenient if he came there in Greenwich. She was a very pretty and very diminutive girl the evenings to smoke his pipe; and that it would be better if but beautifully proportioned, although so very small; indeed he could smoke and drink his beer any where else. My fa- she was considered quite a model in figure, at least my mother perceived the propriety of this, and assented with a good ther used to say so, and I never heard any one disagree with grace: my mother was very liberal to him, and he was now her. Janet had, moreover, large eyes, pencilled eye-brows, enabled, when he chose, to ask a companion or two to join and a dimpled chin. Now, as Bessy was away at the time him; so that it suited both parties. My father, therefore, when I first made her acquaintance, if all these perfections never came to the house, except after the Hospital supper, were not enough for me to fall in love with, I must have been when he remained a few minutes to see Virginia, and then difficult to please at the age of eighteen, when one is not so departed. On Sundays he spent the whole day there, and very difficult; and the consequence was, I was her most de was kindly welcomed, but he always left in the evening to voted slave. Mr. Wilson laughed at us, and seemed either to smoke his pipe elsewhere. As for me, when I did come, I think that it would end in nothing, or that, if it did end in was always kindly received, and slept in a spare bed on the something, he had no objection. Thus was I fixed; and with same floor with my mother and Virginia. Before my time Virginia for a confidant, what was to prevent the course was out, I was too well supplied by Bramble ever to want true love running smooth? Janet received all my sighs, all any thing, and afterwards I made plenty of money, and seldom my protestations, all my oaths, and all my presents-and came home without bringing a present both to my mother and many were the latter, although perhaps not equal to the forVirginia. mer three. It was, therefore, not surprising that Bessy, whe had been out of the way, had been forestalled by this dia mond edition of Nature's handy-work. Such was the state of my heart at the commencement of the year 1805. Having thus given a general outline of affairs, I shall in the next chapter enter more minutely into some particulars without which the detail of events will not be complete. CHAP. XXXIII.....In which the sine qua non of all novels is, for the first time, introduced. In the last chapter, I have said in few words, that Bessy Goodwin had been sent to school, and had since returned home. She had been home nearly a year before the period to which I brought up my history, but now she no longer was employed in any menial service, the girl who had been hired during her absence being still retained. Bessy now superintended the household, but did nothing more; and there was a greater degree of comfort and expenditure than had formerly been the case. Whether this was on Bessy's account, or from Bessy's imbibed ideas, I cannot pretend to say; but certainly there was a great change in our style of living, which Bramble appeared to sanction. Mrs. Maddox remained as a mere pensioner, sitting by the fire, and perhaps finishing a pair of stockings about every five or six weeks, talking as usual at and to every body, and with every thing. In another point, also, there was a change in Bramble's house: it was much oftener filled with company; this was, I presume, to be ascribed to Bessy's personal charms, which certainly I had mentioned, that my mother had taken a house in the principal street; but I must now add, that in the year 1804 she found it necessary to remove into one much larger, and had therefore shifted more to the upper part of the town. In stead of being in a row, this house was detached, with a small garden in front, and a good piece of ground at the back, which looked down towards the river. The situation not being so central, did no harm to my mother, as she was so well known; on the contrary, it made her even more fashionable. She now kept no shop, but a show room; and had not only accommo dation for more work-people, but very handsome apartments to let. In another point it was advantageous, which was on account of my father. At the end of the garden there was an octangular summer-house, looking upon the river: it was & good-sized room, boarded floor, and moreover it had a fireplace in it, and, when shut up, was very warm and comforta ble. My mother made this house over to my father as his own-to smoke and drink beer in; and my father preferred a place, in which he could sit alone with his friends, to a public house, especially as the garden had a gate at the end of it, by which he could admit himself whenever he pleased. Here my father, Ben the Whaler, Anderson, and others, would sit, having a commanding view of the Thames and the vessels passing and repassing-in the summer time, with all the windows open, and enjoying the fresh air and the fresh smoke from their pipes-in winter time surrounding the fire and tell2ing their yarns. It was an admirable arrangement, and Virginia and I always knew where to find him. I have said but little of my sister Virginia. may be considered partial to her-perhaps I was; but to me she was, if not the handsomest, certainly one of the most captivating perBons I ever saw: to prove that I thought so, I can only say, that, deeply as I was smitten with Miss Janet Wilson, I often thought that I wished she was a facsimile of my sister. Virginia was now seventeen years old, slender and very graceful: she reminded me more of an antelope in her figure than any thing I can compare her to; her head was so beautifully placed on her shoulders, that it was the first thing which attracted your notice when you saw her. Her eyes were of a deep hazel, fringed by long black eye-lashes, and her arching and delicate eye-brows nearly met; her nose was perfectly straight, but rather small; and her face ended in a sharp oval, which added to the brilliancy and animation of her countenance: her mouth was small and beautifully formed, and her little teeth like seed pearl. Every one declared that she was the handsomest creature that ever they had seen; and what every one says must be true. She was so; but she was not always lively-she was only so at times: she appeared to be of a serious, reflective turn of mind, and she read a great deal; but at times she was mirth personified. To my mother she was always dutiful and attentive, and was very useful to her. I could not at first imagine what made my mother so anxious to have lodgers in the house, as they must have proved a great nuisance to her, and her circunstances were above such an infliction. I was not long before I discovered the cause of this; it was no other but to make up some good match for my sister, whose beauty she considered would effect her purpose. Many were the applications for her lodgings, made by highly respectable gentlemen; but when she discovered, either that they were married, or that in other points they did not suit, she invariably refused, and for months her apartments continwed vacant; but if any body at all aristocratical, who was single, wished to inspect them, my mother was all smiles and eagerness. It may be supposed that she was not likely to meet with such people as she solicited, at such a town as Greenwich, but such was not the case: before steamboats made Greenwich so come-at-able, there were many families of distinction who resided there and in its environs-especially in the autumn of the year, when the river offered such amusement. It was just at that period that the white-bait parties became so much in vogue, and Greenwich was considered a pleasant retreat for a few months by many of the fashionable world. Although Virginia never mentioned her surmises directly, I perceived, by her occasional remarks, that she had latterly become aware of what were my mother's views; indeed, how could she do otherwise, when my mother would refuse her lodgings one day to a gentleman because he was married, and let them the next time merely because he was a single man? and that she was disgusted with my mother's conduct, I was convinced; at the same time, she certainly kept her thoughts to herself, merely telling me how very uncomfortable it was to have lodgers, and to be obliged to go into their rooms with messages from my mother. There was an Honorable Mr. -, I really forget his name-indeed I should not have mentioned him except that he was the introduction of another personage-who was several months in my mother's house, a harmless old bachelor. How old he was I cannot say, as he wore a very youthful wig and also false whiskers, but I should think about sixty. He was a great admirer of the fine arts, and a still greater admirer of his own performances in painting. He took lessons twice a day from two different masters, who came from London; and he was at it from morning to night. He came down to Greenwich, as he said, to study tints, and get up his coloring. I cannot say I thought his performances very good, but perhaps I was not a judge. My mother, who would, I believe, have sacrificed my sister to an ourang-outang, provided he was an Honorable, took every opportunity of sending Virginia in to him, that he might study the delicate tints on her cheeks; but it would not de, even if Virginia had been party to it. He looked at his palette instead of her pretty mouth; and his camel-hair pencils attracted his attention more than her pencilled eye-brows: he was wrapt up in his art, and overlooked the prettiest piece of nature in the world; and Virginia, seeing this to be the case, had no longer any objection to go into his room. But this gentleman had a nephew, a very different sort of a personage, a young heir to a marquisate, who used to pay attention to his bachelor uncle, by paying him visits, at first because he was ordered so to do, and after once or twice because he had seen Virginia, and was struck with her appearance. He was a good-looking young man, about nineteen, but not very bright-indeed I ought to say very silly, although at the same time not at all bashful. He made an acquaintance with my mother, who was delighted with his condescension, and declared that he was one of the most pleasant young men she had ever met with; and he would have been very intimate with Virginia, had she not repulsed him. As soon as the leaves dropped off the trees, the old bachelor declared that there were no more tints worth remaining for, and he took his departure. About a month afterwards, his nephew came down, accompanied by a young man who was his tutor, and hired the apartments, much to the joy of my mother, who now had hopes; and much to the annoyance of my sister, who had fears of being persecuted. And now having, in this chapter, brought up my history to the commencement of the year 1805, I shall again enter into a more detailed narrative. CHAP. XXXIV.... More cry than wool.-Bramble would dig a pit for another, and tumbles in along with him. It was in the month of March, 1805, when the easterly winds prevailed, and vessels were detained in the chops of the Channel, that I agreed with Bramble that we would return together and halve the pilotage. About eight leagues from the Lizard Point, we boarded a small ship which had hoisted the signal; the weather at that time being fine, and the wind variable. When we went on board, it was but just daylight, and the captain was not yet on deck; but the mate received us: we were surprised to find that she mounted 12 brass guns remarkably well fitted, and that every thing was apparently ready for action: rammers and sponges, shot and wadding, being all up and at hand. "A prime morning, shipmate," said Bramble ;-then casting his eye over the deck," A letter of marque, I presume." "Yes," replied the mate, we have the papers, but still she has never run without convoy since I have been in her; we lost our convoy three days back, and the captain has been rather uneasy ever since." Uneasy! why, I should think that you could beat off a good stout privateer with these guns of yours." 66 'Well, I don't know but what we might; but our cargo is valuable, and we might be overpowered." "Very true; and the captain must be anxious, Where are you from?" "What's your cargo?" Why we have raw silk and dry-salter's goods chiefly.-D'ye think we shall have a fair wind? I don't care how soon, for we've at least twenty passengers on board, and our provisions and water are running rather short. Here's the skipper." The captain, who now made his appearance, was a tall good-looking young man, about thirty, dressed rather fantas tically, as I thought; having a laced cap on his head, and a party-colored silk sashi round his waist, such as they wear in the Mediterranean. "Well, pilot, what do you think of the wind?" "Well, sir, I expect we 'll have a slant which will enable us to fetch well to windward of the Lizard, at all events; and then, when the tide turns in shore, we must stand out again." "Mr. Stubbs! turn the hands up to make sail." Ay, ay, sir!" replied the mate. The men came on deck, but the captain roared out for the idlers; these were the passengers who had agreed to work during the passage: at last they came up, a queer-looking set; and the captain sending down for his speaking-trumpet, sail was made on the ship. "Why, captain," said Bramble, “you do it in man-of-war fashion.' "Well, I've not served the king for seven years for nothing," replied he; "and I hope, sir, not heard the bullets whistling about my head like hail in a hail storm, without knowing how to take care of my ship. I like every thing man-of-war fashion, and then one's always prepared. Where's the boatswain 1 Pipe to breakfast." "You've plenty of hands on board, mate," said Bramble, |