e his choice--an East Indiaman due to
sail in about a fortnight's time. The name of the ship is the _Belle
Fortune_, and of the captain, Cyrus Holding. In spite of the name
the ship is English, and is a barque of about 600 tons register.
Her cargo consists of sugar and coffee, and her crew numbers some
eighteen hands. To-morrow I am going down with Mr. Eversleigh to
inspect her, but I am prepared beforehand to find her to my liking.
The only pity is that she does not start earlier.

"July 6th.--Weak as I am, even yesterday's short excursion exhausted
me, so that I felt unable to write a word last night. I have been
over the _Belle Fortune_, and am more than pleased, especially with
her captain, whose honest face took my fancy at once. I have a most
comfortable cabin next to his set apart for me, at little cost, since
it had been fitted up for a lady on the outward voyage: so that I
shall still have a little money in pocket on my return, as my living,
both here and at Bombay, has cost me nothing, and the doctor's bills
have not exhausted my store. I wrote to Margery to-day, making as
light of my illness as I could, and saying nothing of the business on
Malabar Hill. That will best be told her when she has me home again,
and can hold my hand feeling that I am secure.

"July 8th.--I have been down again to-day to see the _Belle Fortune_.
I forgot to say that she belongs to Messrs. Vincent and Hext, of
Bristol, and is bound for that port. The only other passengers are a
Dr. Concanen and his wife, who are acquaintances of Mr. Eversleigh.
Dr. Concanen is a physician with a good practice in Colombo, or was--
as his wife's delicate health has forced him to throw up his
employment here and return to England. Mr. Eversleigh introduced me
to them this morning on the _Belle Fortune_. The husband is almost
as tall as my host, and looks a man of great strength: Mrs. Concanen
is frail and worn, but very lovely. To-day she seemed so ill that I
offered to give up my cabin, which is really much more comfortable
than theirs. But she would not hear of it, insisting that I was by
far the greater invalid, and that a sailing vessel would quickly set
her right again--especially a vessel bound for England. Altogether
they promise to be most pleasant companions. I forgot to say that
Mrs. Concanen is taking a native maid home to act as her nurse.

"July 11th.--We start in a week's time. I had a long talk with
Captain Holding to-