ready-made household, and a ready-made wife, without one
stiver of ready money, was the astonishment; but English sailors can do
anything.

Well, at Number 14, Rue Coquine, I accepted the purser's invitation to
dinner at four, _en famille_. It seemed quite natural.

"My dove," said he, "you'll get us a bit of fish. Mr Rattlin loves
fish."

"Certainly, my love," said Mrs Purser _pro tempore_, looking a battery
of amiabilities.

"Allow me to introduce you to my sister-in-law, Ma'amselle D'Avalonge,"
said the purser, presenting a very well dressed young lady to me, with
all the ease of a family man.

The introduction took place immediately, and the lady and I found each
other charming; indeed, we said so. After a few more compliments, and a
very pretty song, accompanied by the guitar, from mademoiselle, I took
my leave, promising to be punctual to my appointment. I was not
punctual--I never saw their dear faces again.

I left the town, and strolled up into the interior, keeping, however,
our small fleet in sight, and walking seaward. I found the environs
well cultivated, and the houses in the various plantations solidly
built, and of stone. From every habitation that I passed I had pressing
invitations to enter and refresh myself. These I declined. At length I
arrived at a beautiful wood, evidently under the care of man; for the
different trees were so arranged, as to produce a romantic effect. The
shade that the lofty mahogany-trees afforded was very grateful, for it
was now a little after noon; and in this grove I paced slowly up and
down, nursing my pride with all manner of conceits.

At length, in the distance, and much below where I stood, I heard voices
in violent altercation; among which the "'vast heavings," "blow me
tights," "a stopper over all," with other such nautical expletives, were
predominant. I broke from my cover, and found myself immediately on a
slope, before a very respectable habitation, nearly surrounded by
boiling-houses, and other out-buildings necessary to a sugar and coffee
plantation. The group before me consisted of a small, energetic, old,
and white-haired Frenchman, neatly dressed in a complete suit of nankeen
with his broad-brimmed straw hat submissively in his hand, speaking all
manner of fair and unintelligible French words to two Jacks, not of my
ship, between which two, now pulled this way, now plucked that, was a
timid and beautiful girl, of about fifteen years of age