m the overhanging palms which fringed the shore, lay a heavy
English corvette in the deep shade of the land; but the arms of the
sentry on her forecastle glinted in the moonbeams as he paced his
lonely watch, and sung out, as the bell struck twice, his accustomed
long-drawn cry of 'All's well!' Just beyond her, in saucy propinquity,
lay a slaver, bound for the coast of Africa--a beautiful, graceful
craft. Still farther out the crew of a clumsy French brig were
chanting the evening hymn to the Virgin. Ships from every civilized
country lay anchored, in picturesque groups, in all directions, and
far down, her tall white spars standing in bold and graceful relief
against the dark, gray walls of San Severino, I recognized my own
beautiful craft, sitting like a swan in the water; and still farther,
in the deep water of the roadstead, lay an American line-of-battle
ship, her lofty sides flashing brightly in the moonlight, and her
frowning batteries turned menacingly toward the old castle, telling a
plain bold tale of our country's power and glory, and making my heart
proud within me that I was an American sailor.

"'Say,' again asked Clara, in a low, hushed voice, 'saw you ever aught
so lovely in your own land?'

"To tell the truth, I had forgotten my sweet companion for a moment.
'I am sorry,' said I, taking her hand, 'very sorry, that you think the
United States so unenviable a place of residence. I hope, dear lady,
to persuade you to make it your home.'

"The small hand I clasped trembled in mine.

"'Senora,' said I, taking a long breath, and beginning a little
speech which I had composed for the occasion, while sitting at the
table pushing the candle-stick, 'Senora, I have your brother's
permission to address you. I am--a--sure, indeed, convinced, that I
love you--ahem--considerably. I have known you, to be sure, but a few
days, but, as I said before--at least--at all events--I could be quite
happy if you were my wife--you know. Senora, and if you could--a--'

"I had proceeded thus far swimmingly, except that a few of the words I
had previously selected seemed, when I came to pronounce them, as
extravagant, and so I had substituted others in their place, not so
liable to be censured for that fault; beside, a lapse of memory had
once or twice occasioned temporary delay and embarrassment; but I had
got along thus far, I say, as I presumed, exceedingly well, when, oh,
thunder! Donna Clara disengaged her hand, curtseyed