exposure to the weather. Altogether, he was the very impersonation of a sailor; but not without the polish of society, and that gentleness of voice and manner which are so winning to woman. Sarah Herbert did not repress the sentiment of admiration he inspired her with, and openly testified to him, by her conversation and behaviour, that she thought him charming. It might have appeared strange, to one not versed in the heart's mysteries, that he did not appear elated by her kindness, but the reverse. In fact, the very openness of her unembarrassed demeanour and expressions of friendly attachment, were death to his hopes. If such were his feelings in regard to Miss Herbert, on the part of his sister, he was conscious of a change which wounded him deeply. She either was, or he fancied she was, totally indifferent, and that her behaviour towards him was marked with a coldness he could in no wise account for. When the family circle broke up for the night, Miss Clermont remained in the drawing-room to arrange the musicbooks, which had lain scattered about, and Lord Herbert had taken up a newspaper, in the perusal of which he seemed deeply interested. When Miss Clermont had finished her task, she approached Lord Herbert's chair, saying, I am aware I ought to have expressed my gratitude for your great kindness to my brother; but our debt of gratitude to yourself and Lady Herbert is too vast to be repaid by words. Long years of proof are the only means by which we can hope to render ourselves worthy of your protection and goodness. But we both estimate the value of your friendship as it deserves;" and she held out her hand to him, which he accepted and kissed. Be it remembered, Miss Clermont was not a governess, neither was she of ruder blood than her benefactor, for she was of Lady Herbert's own near kindred, therefore, she esteemed it no disrespect thus to offer her hand to her protector-but she alone knew the pleasure it gave her to feel her hand pressed and kissed by Lord Herbert. Indeed," said the latter, "you distress me by dwelling on the word gratitude;' our benefits are quite mutual; have you not been of the greatest advantage in a thousand ways to Sarah? and besides you are our relation. Pray never repeat that word to me; it grates harshly on my ear from your lips, I assure you it does." Miss Clermont lifted her eyes to his, and smiled an angelic smile; although the sentiment which gave it birth could not claim kindred with that heavenly semblance, nevertheless the smile pleased Lord Herbert. "I never knew before," he said, "how handsome you are." Miss Clermont made no reply, but, wishing him good night, courtesied and withdrew. Shortly after she reached her room, her brother knocked at her door-she bade him enter. Sister, I could not sleep, till I had learnt from yourself the cause of your strange reception of me. Anna, what have I done to offend you?" "To offend me, Frederick?" and she started. "Nothing, why do you ask me such an odd question?" "Why? why, because your reception of me is so unlike what it ever was previously." "Nay, Fred, dear, this is quite a fancy. You know you are my first object in life, and if I have appeared cold, it was merely that I was so surprised," and she kissed her brother's forehead, as she bade him dismiss such an unjust suspicion. Well, Anna, I hope it is as you say, but we sailors know pretty well by the aspect of the atmosphere, what weather to expect, and I do assure you, whether you were conscious of the fact or not, that your atmosphere was any thing but a warm one. But answer me, Anna, are theyare the Herberts, I mean-as kind to you as ever? Remember, if they are not, you shall not be subject to their control. Was it any doubt you entertained of their reception of me which made you afraid to see me arrive unexpectedly? What was it in short which influenced your behaviour? for I am certain, Anna, that something or other has occasioned you to behave towards me as you never have done till now." Miss Clermont denied that she had any feeling of coldness to her brother, and assured him that his suspicions were wholly unfounded; attributed her manner to the surprise his sudden appearance had excited; and, in short, he was obliged to accept her assurances with a semblance of conviction which nevertheless he did not feel. How often are we obliged to accept the counterfeit ore for the true in every department and on every occasion in life! CHAPTER XI. THE LAUNCH. Go, Go view the splendid domes of Greenwich. ROGERS'S FOEMS "THAT will be delightful," said Miss Herbert, when it was proposed one day by Frederick Clermont to go to Greenwich, to see a ship launched; and the other members of the family joining in the wish, it was agreed the party should take place. Frederick Clermont had a particular interest in the event, as his friend, Captain Danesford, was to be appointed to the command of the Zephyr, and he could not help entertaining a wish that his friend and his sister should become acquainted. "How pleased," he thought, "should I be if they sailed the voyage of life together!" He commended his friend warmly to Miss Clermont, and had often praised his sister to his friend, as they walked the deck together, and conversed of those far away, when absence, like death, beautifies the virtues and charms of those we love, conceals their imperfections, and shows only the bright side of their character. Frederick's description of his sister, had sunk into the fancy of the young sailor, and his heart was prepared to kindle at her view. As the party drove along the crowded road to Greenwich, which is, in fact, a suburb, the whole way, of the vast city of London, Lady Herbert observed to Lord de Montmorenci that to her fancy there was a feeling almost of awe in the hum and bustle of the myriads of souls, who, at all hours, plied their various pursuits and concerns, whether of commerce, of business, or of pleasure, along that road teeming with human life. 66 What are they here? What will they be hereafter?” she said, "it is impossible not to ask one-self the question, and equally impossible to answer it; but similar crowds always incline me to be reflective, not thoughtless, or gay,” Her companion replied, "I also share that feeling, Lady Herbert, but the saddest thought which occurs to me on finding myself one in the midst of a multitude is, that no one cares whether I am dead or alive." Ah!" replied Lady Herbert, with an expression of exultation irradiating her countenance, "that is a feeling in which I cannot for a moment share-I am a wife and a mother." "True, Lady Herbert, there are always some secret recesses of feeling, into which not even our friends can penetrate. You cannot understand me. I forgot for a moment to whom I was speaking-pardon me." The profound expression of melancholy which she saw depicted on Lord de Montmorenci's countenance, made her for a time silent. Yes," she thought, it must be so the story of his having been engaged to a young person who died, is certainly true; poor Lord de Montmorenci, how I compassionate him!" Miss Herbert and Frederick Clermont were laughing and talking loudly and rapidly with the gay bright voices of hope and youth, and they had not overheard, as they sat back in the barouche, the conversation of their companions. Frederick Clermont thought, as he was once more in joyous communion with Sarah Herbert, 66 Yes, she is the same innocent open-hearted natural creature she ever was as a child; but so beautiful, so far above me, I cannot hope-I dare not hope to obtain such a prize." Yet, all the while he said, I dare not, I cannot, he did hope; for love is sometimes bold. The crowd now increased every moment; and, at length, such a mass of carts and carriages of every description were drawn up on each side of the road, that, finding it impossible to drive on, Lord Herbert handed Miss Clermont from his cabriolet, and proposed to Lady Herbert that they should proceed on foot. Frederick Clermont assured them it would be quite easy to walk, for that they could go a back way, to the house where he had prepared places for them to see the launch. Lady Herbert liked the proposal, got out of the carriage, and leant upon her husband's arm, while Miss Clermont took the other. "Take care of Sarah, Fred," cried Lord Herbert; but she had already placed herself under Lord de Montmo renci's protection; and Mr. Clermont replied good-humouredly, he thought he could be of more use acting as pioneer: so he ran on before, and conducted them to the house which had been taken for them to see the sight. It was a beautiful bright day,—such a day as one makes a pet of in England; shining sunbeams, balmy airs, and if a cloud now and then crosses the face of the heavens, it was only to render the succeeding moment more dazzling. An immense concourse of persons were assembled, clad in every variety of colour, and the crowd waved to and fro like a field of corn whose undulations were beautifully marked out in light and shadow, forming one vast mass of living sentient beings, all assembled for one purpose, and the same interest inspiring them on the occasion. Of how great power are the united feelings of a multitude! It is fearful to think what a unanimous sentiment collected numbers may effect. If well directed, it is a power from Heaven; but if ill, it is the most tremendous instrument of Providence to chastise the sins of his creatures. In expressing this thought, Lord de Montmorenci added, "Fortunately, the multitude, after all, are generally under the control of the few-for a simultaneous movement of feeling is frequently but an impulse of short and uncertain duration; it may be excited by a good or evil motive— who can trust it?-whereas, a master mind acts upon princíple, and fortunately commands a more durable obedience." "I do not wonder that a man should give himself up to politics," said Lady Herbert, in reply; taken in its enlarged sense, it is surely the noblest career he can pursue, to be the ruler of the nation-of his own nation; to defend its rights, to sacrifice fortune, life, liberty to the cause, is not too vast a sacrifice." This approval, from Lady Herbert, of his own sentiments and favourite pursuit, imparted a satisfaction to Lord de Montmorenci, which showed itself in his countenance; but he turned the conversation, and made no direct reply. There was now a solemn silence in that immense crowd; not a sound, save driving the ship from the stocks, was to be heard, where previously the voices of thousands had been raised in ever-varying tones expressive of the interest they felt. The deck of the Zephyr was crowded with people; the sailors stood ready to break the wine upon her bows. Some persons have found fault with the custom as irreverend; but why so? Its inanimate timbers are destined to |