er new home. They had a most
magical charm for Eleanor. She studied and watched them unweariedly;
they had for her that curious interest which we give to any things that
are to be our life-companions. Here Mr. Amos could render her some
help; but with or without help, Eleanor nightly studied the southern
stars, watched and pondered them till she knew them well; and then she
watched them because she knew them, as well as because she was to know
them all the rest of her life.

By day she studied other things; and the days were not weary. The ocean
was a storehouse of pleasure for her; and Captain Fox declared his ship
had never carried such a clever passenger; "a girl who had plenty of
stuff, and knew what to do with herself." Certainly the last piece of
praise was true; for Eleanor had no weary moments. She had interests on
board, as well as outside the ship. She picked up the sailors' legends
and superstitions; ay, and many a little bit of life history came in
too, by favour of the sympathy and friendliness they saw in those fine
brown eyes. Never a voyage went better; and the sailors if not the
captain were very much of the mind that they had a good angel on board.

"Well how do you like _this?_" said Mr. Amos coming up one day. N.B. It
was the seventh day of a calm in the tropics.

"I would like a wind better," Eleanor said smiling.

"Can you possess your soul in patience?"

"Yes," she said, but gently and with a slight intonation that spoke of
several latent things.

"We are well on our way now,--if a wind would come!"

"It will come."

"I have never asked you," said Mr. Amos. "How do you expect to find
life in the islands?"

"In what respect? In general, I should say, as unlike this as possible."

"Of course. I understand there is no stagnation there. But as to
hardships--as to the people?"

"The people are part Christianized and part unchristianized; that gives
every variety of experience among them, I suppose. The unchristianized
are as bad as they can be, very nearly; the good, very good. As to
hardships, I have no expectation."

"You have not data to form one?"

"I cannot say that; but things are so different according to
circumstances; and there is so great a change going on continually in
the character of the people."

"How do you feel about leaving behind you all the arts and refinements
and delights of taste in the old world?"

"Will you look over the side of the ship, Mr. Amos?--down belo