er his health, his temper was not
likely to improve, while, should he grow worse, she would be left in a
still more helpless condition.

Ten days more passed, and a fine brig stood into the harbour. The
master came on shore, and finding out Colonel Armytage, announced
himself as Captain Carlton, of the "Helen," bound direct for London.
Nothing could be more convenient; every arrangement was soon concluded;
the colonel and his family went on board; the generous Don Josef bade
them farewell, and with a favourable breeze, a course was shaped for the
Straits of Gibraltar.

The "Helen" remained only a couple of days at Gibraltar. Colonel
Armytage refused to go on shore, or to allow his wife or daughter to go.
They were glad, therefore, once more to be at sea. The weather
continued fine, and the wind favourable, and there was every promise of
a prosperous voyage. The wind was from the south-east, and as the
"Helen" ran along the coast of Portugal the sea was perfectly smooth,
except that a slight ripple played over its surface, on which the sun
sparkled with dazzling brilliancy. An awning was spread, under which
the ladies sat, and when the rock of Lisbon rose in view and the
pine-crowned heights of Cintra, just then especially notorious, not for
its beauty, not for its orange groves, but on account of the disgraceful
treaty which had there lately been concluded, even Colonel Armytage
condescended to come on deck, and to admire the beauty of the scene.
Through their glasses the Cork convent could be seen perched on its
lofty crags, and below them to the north the mass of odd-looking
buildings known as the palace of Mafra, containing a royal residence, a
monastery, barracks, and a church. Further north, little more could be
seen than a long line of yellow sand, with pine-covered hills.

"Now, ladies, I think you have seen enough of Portugal," said Captain
Carlton. "We'll haul off the shore, if you please; for, to tell you the
truth, it's a treacherous coast, which I'm in no way fond of. From
here, right away till we come to Vigo in Spain, there is not a single
harbour into which a ship can run for shelter; I don't say that it's a
disgrace to the people--they didn't make the coast; it was so formed for
some good reason, I doubt not, but still I always like to give it a wide
berth."

The fine weather continued till the "Helen" had passed Cape Ortegal, and
was fairly in the Bay of Biscay. The wind then increased, and