From that moment the figure, hitherto remembered in the clear
outlines of affection, begun to grow, loom, expand, in the mists of
awe. It ceased to be familiar, having put on greatness. Men began
to tell how, on that last fatal expedition, the Major had turned
single-handed and held a whole squadron of Dragoons at bay.

In his garden, by the brink of the fish-pond, Mr. Basket reared a
stone with the following inscription:

ATTEND
O PASSER BY!
ON THIS
SPOT AS NEARLY AS CAN BE ASCERTAINED
SOLOMON HYMEN, ESQUIRE
SEVEN TIMES MAYOR OF TROY
IN CORNWALL
RELINQUISHED HIS HONOURS
FOR HIS COUNTRY'S NEED
AND RESOLUTELY SACRIFICED
EASE, FRIENDSHIP, FAME
TO EMBARK HIS SOLE MANHOOD
IN HER DEFENCE
AMID THE SURROUNDING MEMORIALS
OF GREECE AND ROME
CHALLENGING
THE SEVEREST VIRTUES OF ANTIQUITY
WITH A BRITON'S RESOLUTION

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RETURN.

There lies before me a copy of _The Plymouth and Dock Telegraph_,
dated Saturday, July 2nd, 1814, much tattered and broken along the
creases into which my great-grandmother (the same that left us the
Major's Cameo) folded it these many years ago, to be laid away for a
memorial.

The advertisements need not detain us long. Two husbands will not be
responsible for their wives' debts, and one of them alleges that his
lady "has behaved herself improperly during my absence at sea."
A solicitor will lend 1000 pounds on good security. A medical man,
yielding to the persuasions of numerous friends, will remain another
fortnight in the town; and may be consulted as usual at Mr. Kitt's,
Grocer, King Street, Dock, every Tuesday and Saturday from ten to
six. M. La Barre (whom I guess to have been a Royalist refugee) will
reopen instruction for young ladies and gentlemen in the French
language on the 12th inst. The tolls and profits of the Saltash and
the Ashburton turnpikes will be bidden for by public auction.
The schooner _Brothers_ and the fast-sailing cutter _Gambier_ are for
sale, together with the model of a frigate, "about six feet two
inc