ea was calm,
playful even as the most shallow stream, and on the vast basin I did not
see a dark speck to indicate the boat. My conductors were consequently
arrived.

Straying further, my eye was attracted by the sight of some heartsease
that peeped through the rocks. I caught at it as a good omen, and going
to preserve it in a letter that had not conveyed balm to my heart, a
cruel remembrance suffused my eyes; but it passed away like an April
shower. If you are deep read in Shakespeare, you will recollect that
this was the little western flower tinged by love's dart, which "maidens
call love in idleness." The gaiety of my babe was unmixed; regardless of
omens or sentiments, she found a few wild strawberries more grateful than
flowers or fancies.

The lieutenant informed me that this was a commodious bay. Of that I
could not judge, though I felt its picturesque beauty. Rocks were piled
on rocks, forming a suitable bulwark to the ocean. "Come no further,"
they emphatically said, turning their dark sides to the waves to augment
the idle roar. The view was sterile; still little patches of earth of
the most exquisite verdure, enamelled with the sweetest wild flowers,
seemed to promise the goats and a few straggling cows luxurious herbage.
How silent and peaceful was the scene! I gazed around with rapture, and
felt more of that spontaneous pleasure which gives credibility to our
expectation of happiness than I had for a long, long time before. I
forgot the horrors I had witnessed in France, which had cast a gloom over
all nature, and suffering the enthusiasm of my character--too often,
gracious God! damped by the tears of disappointed affection--to be
lighted up afresh, care took wing while simple fellow-feeling expanded my
heart.

To prolong this enjoyment, I readily assented to the proposal of our host
to pay a visit to a family, the master of which spoke English, who was
the drollest dog in the country, he added, repeating some of his stories
with a hearty laugh.

I walked on, still delighted with the rude beauties of the scene; for the
sublime often gave place imperceptibly to the beautiful, dilating the
emotions which were painfully concentrated.

When we entered this abode, the largest I had yet seen, I was introduced
to a numerous family; but the father, from whom I was led to expect so
much entertainment, was absent. The lieutenant consequently was obliged
to be the interpreter of our reciprocal comp