en in this prolonged
relation, I was amply rewarded by the impassioned looks, at once so
tender and so thrilling, of the beauteous listener by my side, and by
the ready tear at every passage that told of suffering; the fond
creature still creeping more closely to me at every instance of danger;
and bright the beam of triumph would flash from her eye, responsive to
every incident of my success.

When all was told, and half wondering, and faintly smiling, I finished
by the rather silly expression of--"And here I am," I was immediately
imprisoned in the arms of Josephine, as she pathetically exclaimed, "and
for ever!"

"Josephine speaks well," said Manuel, rising and placing patriarchally a
hand on the head of each of us. "My children, would it were for ever!
It appears, by the narrative, that Monsieur has done us the great honour
to relate that he is a castaway--an unowned--and, if my young friend
makes use of all the wisdom he doubtless possesses in so high a degree,
he will join us in blessing Providence, that has given the gallant young
homeless one a home; for I need not tell him that all he sees around is
his--the land and the house, and, to the hitherto unloved, a young and
tender heart that will cherish him, to the fatherless a father."

And thus the old _emigre_ concluded his speech, with a tear glistening
in his eye--and an unexceptionable bow. Had he flung himself into my
arms, the effect would have been complete. I hate to record scenes of
this sort; but, as I have imposed the task upon myself; I will go
through it; and, though the temptation is great, seeing what I was then,
the disciple as well as the offspring of romance, and what I now am,
worldly in the world's most sordid worldliness, to do my penance in
self-mockery--for the sake of the young hearts still unseared, I will
refrain.

I was exceedingly affected and agitated at this appeal, the purport of
which I could not misunderstand. My emotions, at first, prevented me
from speaking. I arose from the sofa, Josephine still hanging upon my
shoulder, and taking her father's hand, led them both to the window.
The sun was near the horizon; and mountain, sea, and green valley, and
dark forest, were steeped in a roseate glory. About three miles
distant, and beneath us, my gallant frigate sat in the bosom of the
gently rippling waters, like a sultana upon her embroidered divan, her
ensign and her pennant streaming out fair and free to the evening
bree