htful thing to you.

_The Wonder_.

The Boadicea, with the Indiamen, proceeded on to their destination,
Captain Carrington taking every opportunity which light winds and smooth
water afforded him, of paying his respects to the ladies on board of the
Bombay Castle, or of inviting them on board of the frigate. The fact
was, that he had fallen most desperately in love with Isabel Revel, and
paid her the most marked attention; but, although a pleasant,
light-hearted companion, and a young man of good family and prospects,
Isabel Revel had not fallen in love with him: she liked his company, but
nothing more.

In a month the squadron had arrived at the island of St. Helena, to
which Captain Carrington had been ordered to convey them: his directions
were then to cruise in a certain latitude, and ultimately to proceed on
to the East Indies, if he did not fall in with the vessels he expected.
It was, therefore, but parting to meet again; but during the short time
that they refitted and completed their water at St. Helena, Captain
Carrington proposed, and was politely refused by Isabel Revel.
Impatient as a boy who has been denied his plaything, he ordered his
stores immediately on board, and the next day quitted the island. It
may appear strange that a young lady, obviously sent out on speculation,
should have refused so advantageous an offer; for the speculation
commences with the voyage. Some ladies are selected at Madeira. Since
the Cape has been in our possession, several have been induced to stay
in that colony; and very often ships arrive with only the _refuse_ of
their cargo; for the intended market in the East. But Isabel Revel had
consented to embark on the score of filial duty, not to obtain a husband
unless she liked the gentleman who proposed; and Captain Carrington did
not happen to come up to her fanciful ideas of the person to be chosen
for life. Captain Carrington did not impart the intelligence of his ill
success to any one but Newton, who was employed to carry his farewell
message. His secret was faithfully kept by both. Isabel Revel was not
one of those young ladies who would make use of such an unworthy
advantage to heighten her consequence in the eyes of others. But there
was another reason, not exactly known to Isabel herself at the time,
which prevented her from listening to the proposals of Captain
Carrington. Had she questioned her own heart, she would have discovered
that she was preposse