Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/217

Rh, was delighted at having so admirably selected his traveling companion. Elegant repasts were served, of which they partook but lightly; trials of horses in the beautiful meadows which skirted the road; coursing, for Buckingham had his greyhounds with him; and in such and other various ways did they pass away the time. The duke somewhat resembled the beautiful river Seine, which incloses France a thousand times in its loving embraces, before deciding upon joining its waters with the ocean. In quitting France, it was her recently adopted daughter he had brought to Paris, whom he chiefly regretted; his every thought was a remembrance of her, and consequently a regret. Therefore, whenever, now and then, despite his command over himself, he was lost in thought, De Wardes left him entirely to his musings. This delicacy might have touched Buckingham, and changed his feelings toward De Wardes, if the latter, while preserving silence, had shown a glance less full of malice and a smile less false. Instinctive dislikes, however, are relentless; nothing appeases them; a few ashes may sometimes apparently distinguish them; but beneath those ashes the smothered flames rage more furiously. Having exhausted all the means of amusement which the route offered, they arrived, as we have said, at Calais, toward the end of the sixth day. The duke's attendants had already, since the previous evening, been in advance, and had chartered a boat for the purpose of joining the yacht, which had been tacking about in sight, or bore broadside on, whenever it felt its white wings wearied, within two or three cannon-shots from the jetty.

The boat was destined for the transport of the duke's equipages from -the shore to the yacht. The horses had been embarked, having been hoisted from the boat upon the deck in baskets, expressly made for the purpose, and wadded in such a manner that their limbs, even in the most violent fits of terror or impatience, were always protected by the soft support which the sides afforded, and their coats were not even turned. Eight of these baskets, placed side by side, filled the ship's hold. It is well known that, in short voyages, horses refuse to eat, but remain trembling all the while, with the best of food before them, such as they would have greatly coveted on land. By degrees the duke's entire equipage was transported on board the yacht; he was then informed that everything was in readiness, and that they only waited for him, whenever he would be disposed to embark with the French gentleman. For no one