their meaning; but Polly's cares at that moment gave little
time for thought, for every detail of preparation was left to her.
Raper, it is true, did his utmost to aid her; but already De Gabriac had
assumed a manner of superiority and command towards Joe which greatly
embarrassed Polly, and compelled her to use every means of keeping them
apart.

Thus were they started on the sea of life: does it need much foresight
to predict the voyage?

CHAPTER XXIII. A MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

Why do we all refer to the period of boyhood as one of happiness? It
is not that it had not its own sorrows, nor that they were really so
light,--it is simply because it was the season of hope. In after-life,
as deception after deception has checked us, when disappointment has
dulled expectancy, we become more practical, less dreamy, and, alas!
less happy. The possible and the probable of youth are not the possible
and the probable of manhood, still less those of riper age. The realms
of boyish fancy are as wide as the great ocean; and we revel in them in
all the plenitude of unrestricted power. There is not a budding effort
of intellect that we do not magnify to ourselves as the origin of future
distinction. We exalt our feats of strength and courage into deeds of
heroic daring; and we fancy that the little struggles and crosses we
meet with are like the great trials and reverses of after-life; and in
our pride of success, we deem ourselves conquerors. Oh for one day, for
even one short hour, of that time of glorious delusions! Oh that I
could once more look out upon the world as one gazes at a sunset at
sea, wondering what beauteous lands lie afar off in the distance, and
imagining the time when we should be journeying towards them, buoyant,
high-hearted, hopeful! Who has ever achieved any success that equalled
his boyish ambitions? Who has ever been as great or as good as his early
visions have pictured him?

I have already told my reader that my youth was not passed in affluence.
Our means were limited to the very merest requirements of existence; our
food and our clothing were humble as our dwelling; and I believe that
many a sore privation was needed to escape the calamity of debt. Of all
these hardships I knew nothing at the time; my experience pointed out
none who seemed to possess an existence happy as my own. I had all that
unvarying affection and devoted love could bestow. My little turret
in winter, the fields and the mounta