k of the waves like a dolphin. I should have
enjoyed it but for my father's ghastly face of utter misery. The
day was dull, the sky and sea lead-colored, the brown coast by
degrees lost its distinctness, and became covered with a dark haze
that seemed to blend everything into a still, stony, threatening
iron-gray mass. The wind rose, the sea became inky black and
swelled into heavy ridges, which made our little vessel dip deep
and spring high, as she toiled forward; and then down came the
rain--such tremendous rain! Cloaks, shawls, and umbrellas were
speedily produced; but we were two miles from shore, between the
rising sea and the falling clouds, sick, wet, squeezed. Oh the
delights of that party of pleasure! My father looked cadaverous,
Dall was portentously silent, I shut my eyes and tried to sleep,
being in that state when to see, or hear, or speak, or be spoken
to, is equally fatal. At length we reached the foot of the
breakwater, and I sprang out of the boat, too happy to touch the
stable rock. The rain literally fell in sheets from the sky, and
the wind blew half a hurricane; but I was on firm ground, and
taking off my bonnet, which only served the purpose of a
water-spout down my back, I ran, while Mr. M----, holding my arm,
strode along the mighty water-based road, while the angry sea,
turning up black caldrons full of boiling foam, dashed them upon
the barrier man has raised against its fury in magnificent, solemn
wrath. This breakwater is a noble work; the daring of the
conception, its vast size and strength, and the utility of its
purpose, are alike admirable. We do these things and die; we ride
upon the air and water, we guide the lightning and we bridle the
sea, we borrow the swiftness of the wind and the fine subtlety of
the fire; we lord it in this universe of ours for a day, and then
our bodies are devoured by these material slaves we have
controlled, and helplessly mingle their dust with the elements that
have obeyed our will, who reabsorb the garment of our soul when
that has fled--whither?

The rain continuing to fall in torrents, and my father being
wretchedly unwell, we gave up our purpose of visiting Mount
Edgecombe, and returned to Plymouth. The sea was horribly rough,
even inside the breakwater; but I shut my eyes tha