--Tennyson.

One day there was a gale. It came up suddenly, and some ladies sitting on
a bench were swept off by a roll and sudden lurch. The deck was soon
cleared of the feminine element, with the exception of Bluebell, who
enjoyed an immunity from _malheur de mer_, and knew she would not be much
better off in her cabin, where Mrs. Oliphant had gradually ousted her
from everything but sleeping accommodation.

A huge roller had hurled itself over the steerage, and broken a man's
arm; but the part of the vessel she was on kept pretty dry. Stormy
petrels were hovering in flocks; the ship, plunging head foremost into
deep troughs, seemed as if it must break its back or be swallowed up, but
always borne on the crest of a wave only to repeat the header next
minute.

Bluebell was lying (for no other position could be preserved) on some
rigs by the wheel, and holding on by a rope to prevent sliding about. She
felt excited by the grandeur of the situation, and, in the pauses of the
wind, sang low some wild German Volkslied.

"Are you a Lorelei?" asked Mr. Dutton, who was never far off. "What do
you intend to do with the steamer?"

"I don't mean any harm to the ship, but I shan't lull the winds yet. How
delightful and magnificent it is!"

"If you really don't mean to engulf us, and won't comb your golden hair,
pray go on singing. I'll risk it."

Bluebell nodded, and gave full play to her magnificent voice in the
wildest Lieder she could remember. The man at the wheel, if he had ever
heard of a Lorelei, might have been excused for mistaking her for one. A
lady to sit and sing in such a gale was not an every-day experience. Her
bright hair was only covered by the hood of a deep-blue cloak, from which
her large eyes seemed to have caught a reflection, so dark were the
pupils dilated with enthusiasm.

"You might be a corsair's bride," said Mr. Dutton, admiringly, "you are
so indifferent to discomfort and danger. I can't fancy you shut up in a
poky school-room, taking regular walks, and teaching Dr. Watts to
tiresome children."

"I have only one pupil of a musical and romantic turn. You are altogether
wrong in thinking me indifferent to luxury; I am quite longing to be in a
comfortable house again."

"Your penance will be over in a day or two. Why do you stay out to be
drenched with spray and perished with cold?" very discontentedly.

"How can I be either with all these wraps? and, when y