s. I was, just at that epoch, in one of
those moody frames of mind which make a man abnormally inquisitive about
trifles: and I confess with shame that I busied myself in a variety of
ill-bred and preposterous conjectures about this matter of the
supernumerary stateroom. It was no business of mine, to be sure; but
with none the less pertinacity did I occupy myself in attempts to
resolve the enigma. At last I reached a conclusion which wrought in me
great wonder why I had not arrived at it before. "It is a servant, of
course," I said; "what a fool I am not sooner to have thought of so
obvious a solution!" And then I again repaired to the list, but here I
saw distinctly that no servant was to come with the party: although, in
fact, it had been the original design to bring one, for the words "and
servant" had been first written and then overscored. "Oh, extra baggage,
to be sure," I now said to myself; "something he wishes not to be put in
the hold, something to be kept under his own eye,--ah, I have it! a
painting or so, and this is what he has been bargaining about with
Nicolino, the Italian Jew." This idea satisfied me and I dismissed my
curiosity for the nonce.

Wyatt's two sisters I knew very well, and most amiable and clever girls
they were. His wife he had newly married, and I had never yet seen her.
He had often talked about her in my presence, however, and in his usual
style of enthusiasm. He described her as of surpassing beauty, wit, and
accomplishment. I was, therefore, quite anxious to make her
acquaintance.

On the day in which I visited the ship (the fourteenth), Wyatt and party
were also to visit it, so the Captain informed me, and I waited on board
an hour longer than I had designed in hope of being presented to the
bride; but then an apology came. "Mrs. W. was a little indisposed, and
would decline coming on board until to-morrow at the hour of sailing."

The morrow having arrived, I was going from my hotel to the wharf, when
Captain Hardy met me and said that, "owing to circumstances" (a stupid
but convenient phrase), "he rather thought the _Independence_ would not
sail for a day or two, and that when all was ready he would send up and
let me know." This I thought strange, for there was a stiff southerly
breeze; but as "the circumstances" were not forthcoming, although I
pumped for them with much perseverance, I had nothing to do but to
return home and digest my impatience at leisure.

I did not rece