Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/282

Rh land. (N.B. The moving scene of the pocket-handkerchiefs was forgotten!)

Great indignation in the Magnolia. Our dominant lady vowed that she would draw up a declaration of indignation against the Gaston and put it in the newspapers. She proposed to the ladies on board a declaration of esteem for the captain of the Magnolia, and his gentlemanly conduct, which we applauded and signed.

Our hopes are now fixed on the steam-boat, St. Matthew, which is expected to-morrow evening, and that it may show itself to be a good apostle, and take us on board, because it is clear that the Magnolia cannot be released at present, as the moon decreases every day, and the tide is lower also, and the Magnolia sinks deeper every day from its weight, in the sand.

We in the meantime console ourselves with good humour, and a ramble every now and then on the shore, which we can do dry-shod from the vessel.

The ladies are especially good-tempered and merry. Good Mrs. W. H., who cannot live without her housewifely activity, began to wash her muslins, and recommended herself as a laundress of fine linen, to all whom it might concern, but got scolded for laziness and want of skill. Miss Dix, on the other hand, being suspected of theft, was threatened with the house of correction, and thus we laughed heartily and amused ourselves, especially Miss Mac I., in whose breast the fountain of youth seemed to well forth afresh, and who could not herself understand how she could be so lively; and in the evening we celebrated the birthday of our captain's pretty little daughter. I wove a garland of wild flowers for her; the other ladies gave her little presents, and the little girl was very happy, and sprang forward to exhibit herself to her father.

There was in company a lady, not yet forty, handsome, tight-laced, and well-dressed, with light curls, and