site of the new building." He broke the
seal without discontinuing the conversation, which turned upon riches.
"The man," he said, "who does not possess at least a million is a poor
wretch."

"O how true!" I exclaimed, in the fulness of my heart.

He seemed pleased at this, and replied with a smile, "Stop here, my
dear friend; afterwards I shall, perhaps, have time to tell you what I
think of this," pointing to the letter, which he then put into his
pocket, and turned round to the company, offering his arm to a young
lady. His example was followed by the other gentlemen, each politely
escorting a lady; and the whole party proceeded towards a little hill
thickly planted with blooming roses.

I followed without troubling any one, for none took the least further
notice of me. The party were in high spirits--lounging about and
jesting--speaking sometimes of trifling matters very seriously, and of
serious matters as triflingly--and exercising their wit in particular
to great advantage on their absent friends and their affairs. I was too
ignorant of what they were talking about to understand much of it, and
too anxious and absorbed in my own reflections to occupy myself with
the solution of such enigmas as their conversation presented.

By this time we had reached the thicket of roses. A beautiful girl, who
seemed to be the queen of the day, was obstinately bent on plucking a
rose-branch for herself, and, in the attempt, pricked her finger with a
thorn. The crimson stream, as if flowing from the dark-tinted rose,
tinged her fair hand with the purple current. This circumstance set the
whole company in commotion; and court-plaster was called for. A quiet,
elderly man, tall, and meagre-looking, who was one of the company, but
whom I had not before observed, immediately put his hand into the tight
breast-pocket of his old-fashioned coat of grey sarsnet, pulled out a
small letter-case, opened it, and, with a most respectful bow,
presented the lady with the wished-for article. She received it without
noticing the giver, or thanking him. The wound was bound up; and the
party proceeded along the hill towards the back part, from which they
enjoyed an extensive view across the green labyrinth of the park to the
wide-spreading ocean.

The view was truly a magnificent one. A slight speck was observed on
the horizon, between the dark flood and the azure sky.

"A telescope!" called out Mr. John. But before any of the servants
could