ts are seated, who meet there every evening, though, in
truth, they cannot endure each other. They sit round a table covered
with black oil-cloth, with their glasses before them, discussing the
affairs of the world, telling anecdotes, and hoaxing one another, and
then the talk turns upon that unsteady adventurer, Doctor Dournay. I am
a fruitful theme for them. Tall Professor Whitehead lights a match, and
says with satisfaction, "I always knew he would desert Science," and
then the everlasting "Extraordinary" says--Enough! I was once on
another planet, and believed myself at home there.

* * * * *

I have not written for five days, and now, mother, the man who is
writing to you has been, with his nearest and dearest, in the jaws of
death.

We have lived through a storm such as our captain, a seaman of
three-and-twenty years experience, has never seen before.

I must confess, I was not among the brave. And, in the midst of the
tempest,--such is the double-action of the soul,--I could not help
often thinking of the everlasting "Extraordinary," at the long table in
the Post, speaking of my death, and lamenting his having abandoned
poetical composition: our end would have made a fine subject. The
coolest in the midst of the storm were Roland and Knopf. The latter,
however, was not with us, but on the forward deck with his betrothed.
Manna held me clasped in her arms. We wished to die together.

Oh, why should I recount our dangers? They are past. Now that we are
safe, we talk of them no more.

On the next morning, when the sky was so clear, and the sea so calm, we
celebrated a betrothal on board. It was friend Knopf who was betrothed;
he will write you a more detailed account of it all. The cask of virgin
wine, which had been given to us, was shared among the crew on that
day. The Rhine poured joy into the veins of us all.

There was singing, dancing, jubilation. All the flags were hoisted, and
at table friend Knopf made an address no less amusing than touching. I
believe he is going to send Fraeulein Milch his speech. We had music,
too; Knopf played the flute, and persuaded Manna to bring her harp on
deck. All the passengers and the sailors stood around her with
suspended breath, and, when she had ended, shouted and huzzaed.

In three days we shall each land; I do not know whether I shall write
again till then; my first step on the soil of the New World will be to
send you this le