must say," said one, in a half-whisper, "that, even in that dress, he
has the look of a gentleman about him."

"Good heavens!" exclaimed another, "if his story were to be true!"

I know not what chord in my heart responded to that sudden burst
of feeling. I am fully convinced that, to anything like systematic
condolence or well-worded compassion, I should have been cold as a
stone; and yet I burst into tears as he spoke, and sobbed convulsively.

"Ah! he's a deep one," muttered the turnkey. "Take him down with you,
corporal;" and I was marched away, glad to hide my shame and my sorrow
in secret.

Various drafts had been made of those who had been my companions, until
at last not one remained of those originally sentenced at the same
assizes with myself. What this might portend I knew not. Was I destined
to end my days on board of this dark and dismal hulk?--was I never to
press earth once more with my feet? How simply that sounds; but let me
tell you, there is some strange, high instinct in the heart of man that
attaches him to the very soil of earth. That clay of which we came, and
to which we are one day to return, has a powerful hold upon our hearts.
He who toils in it loves it with a fonder love than the great lord who
owns it. Its varied aspects in sunshine and in shade, its changeful hues
of season, its fragrance and its barrenness, are the books in which
he reads; its years of fruitfulness are the joyous episodes of his
existence. The mother earth is the parent that makes all men akin, and
teaches us to love each other like brethren.

"Well, Gervois," said the turnkey to me one morning, "you are to go at
last, they say. Old Hanchett has argued your case till there is no more
to be said of it; but the Lords have decided against you, and now you
are to sail with the next batch."

The announcement gave me neither pleasure nor pain; even this evidence
of Hanchett's kindness towards me did not touch my feelings, for I had
outlived every sentiment of regard or esteem, and lay cold and apathetic
to whatever might betide me.

Possibly this indifference of mine might have piqued him, for he tried
to stimulate me to some show of interest, or even of curiosity about my
own case, by dropping hints of the points of law on which the appeal was
grounded, and the ingenuity by which counsel endeavored to rescue me.
But all his efforts failed; I was dead to the past, and careless for the
future.

"Here's another order co