said I. ‘Well, I am all straight this time. Time has passed so quickly, that I had completely forgotten that.’ “Well, sir, there we remained, all three of us, with our noses in the air, looking up at that letter, as if it could speak. What struck me forcibly was, that the sun, as it shone through the bull’s-eye, fell upon the glass of the clock, and lighting the spot, made the great red seal and the other small ones appear like the features of a face in the midst of fire. “ ‘ Wouldn’t one say, that its eyes were coming out of its head '2” said I, to amuse them. “ ‘ Oh! dearest,’ said the girl, shud dering, ‘ they look like spots of blood!’ “ ‘ Nonsense,’ said her husband, taking her in his arms, ‘ you deceive yourself, Laura; it looks like a. wedding invita tion. Come and rest yourself—come ! Why do you trouble yourself about that letter '5’ “ ‘ They hurried offas if a ghost were after them, and went on deck. “ I remained alone with the big letter, and I remember that, as I smoked my pipe, I kept my gaze fixed on it as if it had riveted my eyes by meeting them, like those of a snake. Its great pale face—that third seal, larger than the eyes—open, ravenous, like the jaws of a wolf—all that put me in a very bad humor. I took my coat and hung it over the clock, that I might see neither the hour nor that d——- of a letter. “I went to finish my pipe on deck, and remained there till night. We were then about on a line with the Cape de Verd islands. The Marat cut through the water, wind astern, over ten knots
with ease. The night was the most beautiful one I have ever seen near the tropic. The moon was just rising at the horizon, large as a sun; the sea
divided it in the middle, and became all white, like a sheet of snow covered over with little diamonds. I looked at it all from the bench where I sat smok ing. The officer of the watch and the sailors did not speak ;:and, like me, were looking at the shadow of the brig on the water. I was glad to hear nothing; I like silence and order. I had forbid den all noise and all fires. Neverthe less, I perceived a small red streak al most under my feet. I should immedi ately have put myself in a passion, but as it came from the cabin of my little convicts, I wished to satisfy myself
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what they were about before I got angry. I had only to lean over and I could see through the sky-light of the little cabin, and I looked down. The young girl was on her knees at her prayers. There was alittle lamp which cast its light upon her. She was in her night dress, and I saw from above her bare shoulders, her little naked feet, and her long fair hair all afloat. I thought I would retire; but, nonsense! said I to myself—an old soldier like me, what harm is there l—and so I remained. “ Her husband was seatedpn a small trunk, his head on his hands, watching her as she prayed. She raised her face as though to heaven, and I saw her large blue eyes wet like those of a Magdalen. Whilst she was praying he took the ends of her long hair and kissed them without disturbing her. When she had finished she made the sign of the cross, smiling as though she were just going to Paradise. I saw him also make the sign of the cross after her, but as if he were ashamed of it. And, indeed, for a man, such a thing is a little singular. “ She rose, kissed him, and stretched herself the first in the hammock, where he threw her in as they put to bed a child in a cradle. The heat was stifling, and she seemed to find pleasure in the rocking motion of the vessel. Her tiny white feet were crossed and raised to the level of her head, and her whole
person wrapped in her long white dress. Oh! she was a perfect little love ! “ ‘Dearest,’ said she, already half asleep, ‘ are you not sleepy? Do you know it is very late.’ “He remained still with his head in his hands, without answering. This made her a little anxious, the sweet child, and she raised her pretty head out of the hanunock, like a bird out of its nest, and looked at him with her
lips parted, not venturing to speak again. “ At last he said : ‘ Oh! dear Laura! the nearer we approach to America, I cannot help it, but so much the sadder I become. I know not why it is, but I feel as if this voyage will have been the happiest part of our life.’ “ ‘ And so it seems to me,’ said she,
‘ and I wish we might never arrive.’ “ He looked at her, pressing his hands together With an. expression of feeling you cannot imagine.
