sooner to have
thought of so obvious a solution!" And then I again repaired to the
list--but here I saw distinctly that no servant was to come with the
party, although, in fact, it had been the original design to bring
one--for the words "and servant" had been first written and
then overscored. "Oh, extra baggage, to be sure," I now said to
myself--"something he wishes not to be put in the hold--something to
be kept under his own eye--ah, I have it--a painting or so--and this is
what he has been bargaining about with Nicolino, the Italian Jew." This
idea satisfied me, and I dismissed my curiosity for the nonce.

Wyatt's two sisters I knew very well, and most amiable and clever girls
they were. His wife he had newly married, and I had never yet seen her.
He had often talked about her in my presence, however, and in his usual
style of enthusiasm. He described her as of surpassing beauty, wit,
and accomplishment. I was, therefore, quite anxious to make her
acquaintance.

On the day in which I visited the ship (the fourteenth), Wyatt and party
were also to visit it--so the captain informed me--and I waited on board
an hour longer than I had designed, in hope of being presented to the
bride, but then an apology came. "Mrs. W. was a little indisposed, and
would decline coming on board until to-morrow, at the hour of sailing."

The morrow having arrived, I was going from my hotel to the wharf, when
Captain Hardy met me and said that, "owing to circumstances" (a stupid
but convenient phrase), "he rather thought the 'Independence' would not
sail for a day or two, and that when all was ready, he would send up and
let me know." This I thought strange, for there was a stiff southerly
breeze; but as "the circumstances" were not forthcoming, although I
pumped for them with much perseverance, I had nothing to do but to
return home and digest my impatience at leisure.

I did not receive the expected message from the captain for nearly a
week. It came at length, however, and I immediately went on board. The
ship was crowded with passengers, and every thing was in the bustle
attendant upon making sail. Wyatt's party arrived in about ten minutes
after myself. There were the two sisters, the bride, and the artist--the
latter in one of his customary fits of moody misanthropy. I was too well
used to these, however, to pay them any special attention. He did not
even introduce me to his wife--this courtesy devolving, per force, upon
his si