little stewardess, however, told
me she was not yet up, though it wanted but twenty minutes to eight, on
which I shot through the companion into the windy splendour of the
grandest ocean morning that ever set a man fresh from his bed blinking.

The ship was heeling to it as a yacht might; her yards were braced
forward, and the snow at her forefoot soared and blew away in smoke to
the sliding irresistible thrust of her sharp metal stem.  The sea for
leagues and leagues rolled blue, foaming, brilliant; wool-like clouds,
lovely with prismatic glitterings in their skirts, as they sailed from
the sun, were speeding into the south-east.  The whole life of the
world seemed to be in that morning--in the joyous sweep of the blue
wind, in the frolicsome frothing of each long I have been a good deal
advised on this head.  My dear fellow, only consider.  Would not I make
her my wife this instant if you will only consent to marry us?"

He laughed and turned from me, and addressed Grace, and presently the
four of us were busily talking.  By this time my darling had regained
some degree of confidence; her eyes were bright, her cheeks wore a
little glow, there was nothing of embarrassment in her smile or general
air as she addressed my cousin or met his gaze.  In fact, the talk with
Mrs. Howe had done her a deal of good.  Her fears had foreboded a sort
of Hannah More like view of things in Frank's wife--an easy capacity of
recoiling and of being frosted from head to