from your uncle, and
"Morrow, young sir!"'

Down they ran together, laughing; and, sure enough, the identical words
of the respective greetings were employed, which they had to enjoy with
all the discretion they could muster.

Rose went round the table to her little cousin Alec, aged seven, kissed
his reluctant cheek, and sat beside him, announcing a sea appetite
and great capabilities, while Evan silently broke bread. The Count
de Saldar, a diminutive tawny man, just a head and neck above the
tablecloth, sat sipping chocolate and fingering dry toast, which
he would now and then dip in jelly, and suck with placidity, in the
intervals of a curt exchange of French with the wife of the Hon.
Melville, a ringleted English lady, or of Portuguese with the Countess;
who likewise sipped chocolate and fingered dry toast, and was mournfully
melodious. The Hon. Melville, as became a tall islander, carved
beef, and ate of it, like a ruler of men. Beautiful to see was the
compassionate sympathy of the Countess's face when Rose offered her
plate for a portion of the world-subjugating viand, as who should say:
'Sweet child! thou knowest not yet of sorrows, thou canst ballast thy
stomach with beef!' In any other than an heiress, she would probably
have thought: 'This is indeed a disgusting little animal, and most
unfeminine conduct!'

Rose, unconscious of praise or blame, rivalled her uncle in enjoyment
of the fare, and talked of her delight in seeing England again, and
anything that belonged to her native land. Mrs. Melville perceived that
it pained the refugee Countess, and gave her the glance intelligible;
but the Countess never missed glances, or failed to interpret them. She
said:

'Let her. I love to hear the sweet child's prattle.'

'It was fortunate' (she addressed the diplomatist) 'that we touched at
Southampton and procured fresh provision!'

'Very lucky for US!' said he, glaring shrewdly between a mouthful.

The Count heard the word 'Southampton,' and wished to know how it was
comprised. A passage of Portuguese ensued, and then the Countess said:

'Silva, you know, desired to relinquish the vessel at Southampton. He
does not comprehend the word "expense," but' (she shook a dumb Alas!) 'I
must think of that for him now!'

'Oh! always avoid expense,' said the Hon. Melville, accustomed to be
paid for by his country.

'At what time shall we arrive, may I ask, do you think?' the Countess
gently inquired.

The watch