y for a stroll
down to the mill and around the plantation, one fair woman's hand was
placed with a confiding, friendly clasp in that of Monsieur Burns; and
then, as a graceful girl reached up to pull down her great flat straw
hat from the post, Paddy Burns kissed her on the forehead, and she
returned it too, as if she knew how to perform that ceremony even before
people. Mr. Reefer Mouse had some thoughts of getting jealous, and
calling Mr. Burns out, at ten paces, ships' pistols, and all that sort
of thing; but the round, red-faced gentleman kissed him too, declaring
the while, as he held him aloft, that he was first-rate kissing--that he
was; nearly as good as mademoiselle, which quite disarmed Tiny's wrath,
and then he hooked on to the damsel's delicate flipper, and tripped away
with her down the valley.

Harry Darcantel exchanged a nod--not of defiance--with Paddy Burns, as
much as to hint that those were not dangerous kisses--oh, not at all;
and passing his hand over his brown mustache, he followed after the
couple before him. Yes, Harry, Tiny's legs will get tired soon, and he
will be hungry, and come back to old Banou for luncheon, while you will
be putting aside the coffee bushes, and imploring mademoiselle to keep
her straw hat about her lovely face, and not to get tanned by the sun.
And when she turns her humid eyes toward you, you begin to believe the
sky is never so blue as those eyes!

Tom Stewart, Stingo, and Burns never walked; they preferred lounging
about the veranda, smoking cigars, and talking over the price of sugar
and coffee, together with minor matters connected with factors' profits
and suits at law. Jacob Blunt leaned over the bridge, thinking of the
"Martha Blunts," brig and wife--not unfrequently confounding the two
together--thinking this was to be his last voyage by land or sea, and
that young Binks, his mate, should take command, and steer that old
teak-built vessel carefully--oh, ever so keerful--or else the old hulk
might come to grief.

Piron and his wife going mournfully down the valley--she with her
mother's eyes gazing far out to sea, and he with his strong arm around
her, whispering words of consolation; both looking, night and morning,
out over the blue water, from chamber and piazza, and seeing nothing but
a breaking wave and a baby-boy drowning beneath it--nothing more!

Madame Nathalie and Cleveland went on gallantly ahead--he with his blue
pennant flying, and she with a blac