nner in which this lady endeavoured to defend the absent,
without wholly excusing her levity, struck Flora very forcibly. Mrs.
Dalton's conduct upon deck had created in her own mind no very
favourable opinion of her good qualities. Miss Leigh's remarks tended
not a little to soften her disgust and aversion towards that individual,
whose attack upon her she felt was as ill-natured, as it was unjust. She
was now inclined to let them pass for what they were worth, and to
dismiss Mrs. Dalton from her thoughts altogether. But Miss Mann was too
much excited by Miss Leigh's extenuating remarks, to let the subject
drop, and returned with fresh vigour to the charge.

"It is totally beyond my power," she cried, "to do justice to her vanity
and frivolity. No one ever before accused me of being ill-natured, or
censorious; but that woman is the vainest person I ever saw. Did you
notice, my dear Mrs. F., that she changed her dress three times
yesterday, and twice to-day? She knelt a whole hour before the
cheval-glass, arranging her hair, and trying on a variety of expensive
head-dresses, before she could fix on one for the saloon. I should be
ashamed of being the only lady among so many men. But she is past
blushing--she has a face of brass."

"And so plain too," murmured Mrs. Major F.

"You cannot deny that her features are good, ladies," again interposed
Miss Leigh; "but creoles seldom possess the fine red and white of our
British belles."

"At night," suggested Miss Mann, "her colour is remarkably good: it is
not subject to any variation like ours. The bleak sea air does not dim
the roses on her cheeks; while these young ladies look as blue and as
cold as figures carved out of stone. Of course, Miss Leigh will think me
very uncharitable in saying that Mrs. D. paints; but I know she does.
She left her dressing-case open yesterday, and her little boy was
dabbling his fingers in her French carmine and pearl white, and a fine
mess he made of his mamma's beautiful complexion. Bless me!" exclaimed
the old maid, suddenly lowering her voice to a whisper, "if there is not
her black imp sitting under the table; he will be sure to tell her all
that we have said about her! What a nuisance he is! I do not think it is
proper for him, a great boy of sixteen, to be admitted into the ladies'
cabin."

"Pshaw!" said Mrs. Major F.; "nobody cares for him--a black."

"But, my dear Mrs. F., though he is a black, the boy has eyes and ears,
like th