CHAPTER XI.
"When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat; Yet fool'd with hope, men favour the deceit; Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day."
DRYDEN.
Although Admiral Bluewater devoted the minimum of time to sleep, he wasnot what the French term _matinal_. There is a period in the morning, onboard of a ship of war,--that of washing decks,--which can best becompared to the discomfort of the American purification, yelep'd "ahouse-cleaning." This occurs daily, about the rising of the sun; and noofficer, whose rank raises him above mingling with the duty, everthinks, except on extraordinary occasions that may require his presencefor other purposes, of intruding on its sacred mysteries. It is a rabidhour in a ship, and the wisest course, for all idlers, and allwatch-officers, who are not on duty, is to keep themselves underhatches, if their convenience will possibly allow it. He who wears aflag, however, is usually reposing in his cot, at this critical moment;or, if risen at all, he is going through similar daily ablutions of hisown person.
Admiral Bluewater was in the act of opening his eyes, when the splash ofthe first bucket of water was heard on the deck of the Caesar, and he layin the species of enjoyment which is so peculiar to naval men, afterthey have risen to the station of commander; a sort of semi-trance, inwhich the mind summons all the ancient images, connected with squalls;reefing top-sails in the rain; standing on the quarter of a yard,shouting "haul out to leeward;" peering over the weather hammock-clothsto eye the weather, with the sleet pricking the face like needles;--and,washing decks! These dreamy images of the past, however, are summonedmerely to increase the sense of present enjoyment. They are so manywell-contrived foils, to give greater brilliancy to the diamonds of acomfortable cot, and the entire consciousness of being no longer exposedto an untimely summons on deck.
Our rear-admiral, nevertheless, was not a vulgar dreamer, on suchoccasions. He thought little of personal comforts at any time, unlessindeed when personal discomforts obtruded themselves on his attention;he knew little, or nothing, of the table, whereas his friend was aknowing cook, and in his days of probation had been a distinguishedcaterer; but he was addicted to a sort of dreaming of his own, even whenthe sun stood in the zenith, and he was walking the poop, in the midstof a circle of his officers. Still, he could not refrain from glancingback at the past, that morning, as plash after plash was heard,and recalling the time when _magna pars quorum_ FUIT. At thisdelectable instant, the ruddy face of a "young gentleman" appeared inhis state-room door, and, first ascertaining that the eyes of hissuperior were actually open, the youngster said--
"A note from Sir Gervaise, Admiral Bluewater."
"Very well, sir,"--taking the note.--"How's the wind, Lord Geoffrey?"
"An Irishman's hurricane, sir; right up and down. Our first says, sir,he never knew finer channel weather."
"Our first is a great astrologer. Is the fleet riding flood yet?"
"No, sir; it's slack-water; or, rather, the ebb is just beginning tomake."
"Go on deck, my lord, and see if the Dover has hove in any upon herlarboard bower, so as to bring her more on our quarter."
"Ay-ay-sir," and this cadet of one of the most illustrious houses ofEngland, skipped up the ladder to ascertain this fact.
In the mean while, Bluewater stretched out an arm, drew a curtain frombefore his little window, fumbled for some time among his clothes beforehe got his spectacles, and then opened the note. This early epistle wascouched in the following words--
"DEAR BLUE:--
"I write this in a bed big enough to ware a ninety in. I've been athwart ships half the night, without knowing it. Galleygo has just been in to report 'our fleet' all well, and the ships riding flood. It seems there is a good look-out from the top of the house, where part of the roads are visible. Magrath, and the rest of them, have been at poor Sir Wycherly all night. I learn, but he remains down by the head, yet. I am afraid the good old man will never be in trim again. I shall remain here, until something is decided; and as we cannot expect our orders until next day after to-morrow, at the soonest, one might as well be here, as on board. Come ashore and breakfast with us; when we can consult about the propriety of remaining, or of abandoning the wreck. Adieu,
"OAKES. "REAR-ADMIRAL BLUEWATER.
"P.S.--There was a little occurrence last night, connected with Sir Thomas Wycherly's will, that makes me particularly anxious to see you, as early as possible, this morning.
"O."
Sir Gervaise, like a woman, had written his mind in his postscript. Thescene of the previous night had forcibly presented itself to hisrecollection on awakening, and calling for his writing-desk, he had sentoff this note, at the dawn of day, with the wish of having as manyimportant witnesses as he could well obtain, at the interview heintended to demand, at the earliest practicable hour.
"What the deuce can Oakes have to do with Sir Wycherly Wychecombe'swill?" thought the rear-admiral. "By the way, that puts me in mind of myown; and of my own recent determination. What are my poor L30,000 to aman with the fortune of Lord Bluewater. Having neither a wife nor child,brother nor sister of my own, I'll do what I please with my money. Oakes_won't_ have it; besides, he's got enough of his own, and to spare. Anestate of L7000 a year, besides heaps of prize-money funded. I dare say,he has a good L12,000 a year, and nothing but a nephew to inherit itall. I'm determined to do as I please with my money. I made everyshilling of it, and I'll give it to whom I please."
The whole time, Admiral Bluewater lay with his eyes shut, and with atongue as motionless as if it couldn't stir. With all his _laissezaller_ manner, however, he had the promptitude of a sailor, when hismind was made up to do a thing, though he always performed it in his ownpeculiar mode. To rise, dress, and prepare to quit his state-room,occupied him but a short time; and he was seated before his ownwriting-desk, in the after-cabin, within twenty minutes after thethoughts just recorded, had passed through his mind. His first act wasto take a folded paper from a private drawer, and glance his eyecarelessly over it. This was the will in favour of Lord Bluewater: Itwas expressed in very concise terms, filling only the first side of apage. This will he copied, _verbatim et literatim_, leaving blanks forthe name of the legatee, and appointing Sir Gervaise Oakes his executor,as in the will already executed. When finished in this manner, he setabout filling up the blanks. For a passing instant, he felt tempted toinsert the name of the Pretender; but, smiling at his own folly, hewrote that of "Mildred Dutton, daughter of Francis Dutton, a master inHis Majesty's Navy," in all the places that it was requisite so to do.Then he affixed the seal, and, folding all the upper part of the sheetover, so as to conceal the contents, he rang a little silver bell, whichalways stood at his elbow. The outer cabin-door was opened by thesentry, who thrust his head in at the opening.
"I want one of the young gentlemen, sentry," said the rear-admiral.
The door closed, and, in another minute, the smiling face of LordGeoffrey was at the entrance of the after-cabin.
"Who's on deck, my lord," demanded Bluewater, "beside the watch?"
"No one, sir. All the idlers keep as close as foxes, when the decks aregetting it; and as for any of our snorers showing their faces before sixbells, it's quite out of the question, sir."
"Some one must surely be stirring in the gun-room, by this time! Go andask the chaplain and the captain of marines to do me the favour to stepinto the cabin--or the first lieutenant; or the master; or any of theidlers."
The midshipman was gone two or three minutes, when he returned with thepurser and the chaplain.
"The first lieutenant is in the forehold, sir; all the marines have gottheir dead-lights still in, and the master is working-up his log, thegun-room steward says. I hope these will do, sir; they are the greatestidlers in the ship, I believe."
Lord Geoffrey Cleveland was the second son of the third duke in theEnglish empire, and he knew it, as
well as any one on board. AdmiralBluewater had no slavish respect for rank; nevertheless, like all meneducated under an aristocratic system, he was influenced by the feelingto a degree of which he himself was far from being conscious. This youngscion of nobility was not in the least favoured in matters of duty, forthis his own high spirit would have resented; but he dined in the cabintwice as often as any other midshipman on board, and had obtained forhimself a sort of license for the tongue, that emboldened him to utterwhat passed for smart things in the cock-pit and gun-room, and which,out of all doubt, were pert things everywhere. Neither the chaplain northe purser took offence at his liberties on the present occasion; and,as for the rear-admiral, he had not attended to what had been uttered.As soon, however, as he found others in his cabin, he motioned to themto approach his desk, and pointed to the paper, folded down, asmentioned.
"Every prudent man," he said, "and, especially every prudent sailor andsoldier, in a time of war, ought to be provided with a will. This ismine, just drawn up, by myself; and that instrument is an old one, whichI now destroy in your presence. I acknowledge this to be my hand andseal," writing his name, and touching the seal with a finger as hespoke; "affixed to this my last will and testament. Will you have thekindness to act as witnesses?"
When the chaplain and purser had affixed their names, there stillremained a space for a third signature. This, by a sign from hissuperior, the laughing midshipman filled with his own signature.
"I hope you've recollected, sir," cried the boy, with glee, as he tookhis seat to obey; "that the Bluewaters and Clevelands are related. Ishall be grievously disappointed, when this will is proved, if my namebe not found somewhere in it!"
"So shall I, too, my lord," drily returned Bluewater; "for, I fullyexpect it will appear as a witness; a character that is at once fatal toall claims as a legatee."
"Well, sir, I suppose flag-officers can do pretty much as they pleasewith their money, since they do pretty much as they please with theships, and all in them. I must lean so much the harder on my two oldaunts, as I appear to have laid myself directly athwart-hawse offortune, in this affair!"
"Gentlemen," said the rear-admiral, with easy courtesy, "I regret it isnot in my power to have your company at dinner, to-day, as I am summonedashore by Sir Gervaise, and it is uncertain when I can get off, again;but to-morrow I shall hope to enjoy that pleasure."
The officers bowed, expressed their acknowledgments, accepted theinvitation, bowed once or twice more each, and left the cabin, with theexception of the midshipman.
"Well, sir," exclaimed Bluewater, a little surprised at finding he wasnot alone, after a minute of profound reverie; "to what request am Iindebted still for the pleasure of your presence?"
"Why, sir, it's just forty miles to my father's house in Cornwall, and Iknow the whole family is there; so I just fancied, that by bending ontwo extra horses, a chaise might make the Park gates in about fivehours; and by getting under way on the return passage, to-morrow aboutthis time, the old Caesar would never miss a crazy reefer, more or less."
"Very ingeniously put, young gentleman, and quite plausible. When I wasof your age, I was four years without once seeing either father ormother."
"Yes, sir, but that was such a long time ago! Boys can't stand it, halfas well now, as they did then, as all old people say."
The rear-admiral's lips moved slightly, as if a smile struggled abouthis mouth; then his face suddenly lost the expression, in oneapproaching to sadness.
"You know, Geoffrey, I am not commander-in-chief. Sir Gervaise alone cangive a furlough."
"Very true, sir; but whatever you ask of Sir Gervaise, he always does;more especially as concerns us of your flag-ship."
"Perhaps that is true. But, my boy, we live in serious times, and we maysail at an hour's notice. Are you ignorant that Prince Charles Edwardhas landed in Scotland, and that the Jacobites are up and doing? If theFrench back him, we may have our hands full here, in the channel."
"Then my dear mother must go without a kiss, for the next twelvemonth!"cried the gallant boy, dashing a hand furtively across his eyes, inspite of his resolution. "The throne of old England must be upheld, eventhough not a mother nor a sister in the island, see a midshipman inyears!"
"Nobly said, Lord Geoffrey, and it shall be known at head-quarters._Your_ family is whig; and you do well, at your time of life, to stickto the family politics."
"A small run on the shore, sir, would be a great pleasure, after sixmonths at sea?"
"You must ask Captain Stowel's leave for that. You know I neverinterfere with the duty of the ship."
"Yes, sir, but there are so many of us, and all have a hankering after_terra firma_. Might I just say, that I have your permission, to askCaptain Stowel, to let me have a run on the cliffs?"
"You may do _that_, my lord, if you wish it; but Stowel knows that hecan do as he pleases."
"He would be a queer captain of a man-of-war, if he didn't sir! Thankyou, Admiral Bluewater; I will write to my mother, and I know she'll besatisfied with the reason I shall give her, for not coming to see her.Good-morning, sir."
"Good-morning,"--then, when the boy's hand was on the lock of thecabin-door--"my lord?"
"Did you wish to say any thing more, sir?"
"When you write, remember me kindly to the Duchess. We were intimate,when young people; and, I might say, loved each other."
The midshipman promised to do as desired; then the rear-admiral was leftalone. He walked the cabin, for half an hour, musing on what he had donein relation to his property, and on what he ought to do, in relation tothe Pretender; when he suddenly summoned his coxswain, gave a fewdirections, and sent an order on deck to have his barge manned. Thecustomary reports went their usual rounds, and reached the cabin inabout three minutes more; Lord Geoffrey bringing them down, again.
"The barge is manned, sir," said the lad, standing near the cabin-door,rigged out in the neat, go-ashore-clothes of a midshipman.
"Have you seen Captain Stowel, my lord?" demanded the rear-admiral.
"I have, sir; and he has given me permission to drift along shore, untilsunset; to be off with the evening gun of the vice-admiral."
"Then do me the favour to take a seat in my barge, if you are quiteready."
This offer was accepted, and, in a few minutes, all the ceremonies ofthe deck had been observed, and the rear-admiral was seated in hisbarge. It was now so late, that etiquette had fair play, and no pointwas omitted on the occasion. The captain was on deck, in person, as wellas gun-room officers enough to represent their body; the guard wasparaded, under its officers; the drums rolled; the boatswain piped sixside boys over, and Lord Geoffrey skipped down first into the boat,remaining respectfully standing, until his superior was seated. Allthese punctilios observed, the boat was shoved off from the vessel'sside, the eight oars dropped, as one, and the party moved towards theshore. Every cutter, barge, yawl, or launch that was met, and which didnot contain an officer of rank itself, tossed its oars, as this barge,with the rear-admiral's flag fluttering in its bow, passed, while theothers lay on theirs, the gentlemen saluting with their hats. In thismanner the barge passed the fleet, and approached the shore. At thelanding, a little natural quay formed by a low flat rock, there was ageneral movement, as the rear-admiral's flag was seen to draw near; andeven the boats of captains were shoved aside, to give the naval _pas_.As soon, however, as the foot of Bluewater touched the rock, the littleflag was struck; and, a minute later, a cutter, with only a lieutenantin her, coming in, that officer ordered the barge to make way for _him_,with an air of high and undisputed authority.
Perhaps there was not a man in the British marine, to whom the etiquetteof the service gave less concern, than to Bluewater. In this respect, hewas the very reverse of his friend; for Sir Gervaise was a punctiliousobserver, and a rigid enforcer of all the prescribed ceremonials. Thiswas by no means the only professional point on which these twodistinguished officers differed. It has already been mentioned, that therear-admiral w
as the best tactician in England, while the vice-admiralwas merely respectable in that branch of his duty. On the other hand,Sir Gervaise was deemed the best practical seaman afloat, so far as asingle ship was concerned, while Bluewater had no particular reputationin that way. Then, as to discipline, the same distinction existed. Thecommander-in-chief was a little of a _martinet_, exacting compliancewith the most minute regulations; while his friend, even when a captain,had thrown the police duty of his ship very much on what is called theexecutive officer: or the first lieutenant; leaving to that importantfunctionary, the duty of devising, as well as of executing the system bywhich order and cleanliness were maintained in the vessel. Nevertheless,Bluewater had his merit even in this peculiar feature of the profession.He had made the best captain of the fleet to his friend, that had everbeen met with. This office, which, in some measure, corresponds to thatof an adjutant-general on shore, was suited to his generalizing andphilosophical turn of mind; and he had brought all its duties within thecircle and control of clear and simple principles, which rendered thempleasant and easy. Then, too, whenever he commanded in chief, asfrequently happened, for a week or two at a time, Sir Gervaise beingabsent, it was remarked that the common service of the fleet went onlike clock-work; his mind seeming to embrace generals, when it refusedto descend to details. In consequence of these personal peculiarities,the captains often observed, that Bluewater ought to have been thesenior, and Oakes the junior; and then, their joint commands would haveproduced perfection; but these criticisms must be set down, in a greatmeasure, to the natural propensity to find fault, and an inherent desirein men, even when things are perfectly well in themselves, to provetheir own superiority, by pointing out modes and means by which theymight be made much better. Had the service been on land, this opinionmight possibly have had more practical truth in it; but, the impetuosityand daring of Sir Gervaise, were not bad substitutes for tactics, in thestraight-forward combats of ships. To resume the narrative.
When Bluewater landed, he returned the profound and general salute ofall on or near the rock, by a sweeping, but courteous bow, which wasnevertheless given in a vacant, slovenly manner; and immediately beganto ascend the ravine. He had actually reached the grassy acclivityabove, before he was at all aware of any person's being near him.Turning, he perceived that the midshipman was at his heels, respectalone preventing one of the latter's active limbs and years fromskipping past his superior on the ascent. The admiral recollected howlittle there was to amuse one of the boy's habits in a place likeWychecombe, and he good-naturedly determined to take him along withhimself.
"You are little likely to find any diversion here, Lord Geoffrey," hesaid; "if you will accept of the society of a dull old fellow, likemyself, you shall see all I see, be it more or less."
"I've shipped for the cruise, sir, and am ready and happy, too, tofollow your motions, with or without signals," returned the laughingyoungster. "I suppose Wychecombe is about as good as Portsmouth, orPlymouth; and I'm sure these green fields are handsomer than the streetsof any dirty town I ever entered."
"Ay, green fields are, indeed, pleasant to the eyes of us sailors, whosee nothing but water, for months at a time. Turn to the right, if youplease, my lord; I wish to call at yonder signal-station, on my way tothe Hall."
The boy, as is not usual with lads of his age, inclined in "the way hewas told to go," and in a few minutes both stood on the head-land. As itwould not have done for the master to be absent from his staff, duringthe day, with a fleet in the roads, Dutton was already at his post,cleanly dressed as usual, but trembling again with the effect of thelast night's debauch on his nerves. He arose, with great deference ofmanner, to receive the rear-admiral, and not without many misgivings ofconscience; for, while memory furnished a tolerable outline of what hadoccurred in the interview between himself and his wife and daughter,wine had lost its influence, and no longer helped to sustain hisself-command. He was much relieved, however, by the discreet manner inwhich he was met by Bluewater.
"How is Sir Wycherly?" inquired the admiral saluting the master, as ifnothing had happened; "a note from Sir Gervaise, written aboutday-break, tells me he was not, then, essentially better."
"I wish it were in my power to give you any good news, sir. He must beconscious, notwithstanding; for Dick, his groom, has just ridden overwith a note from Mr. Rotherham, to say that the excellent old baronetparticularly desires to see my wife and daughter; and that the coachwill be here, to take them over in a few minutes. If you are bound tothe Hall, this morning, sir, I'm certain the ladies would be delightedto give you a seat."
"Then I will profit by their kindness," returned Bluewater, seatinghimself on the bench at the foot of the staff; "more especially, if youthink they will excuse my adding Lord Geoffrey Cleveland, one ofStowel's midshipmen, to the party. He has entered, to follow my motions,with or without signals."
Dutton uncovered again, and bowed profoundly, at this announcement ofthe lad's name and rank; the boy himself, taking the salute in anoff-hand and indifferent way, like one already wearied with vulgaradulation, while he gazed about him, with some curiosity, at thehead-land and flag-staff.
"This a good look-out, sir," observed the midshipman; "and one that issomewhat loftier than our cross-trees. A pair of sharp eyes might seeevery thing that passes within twenty miles; and, as a proof of it, Ishall be the first to sing out, 'sail, ho!'"
"Where-away, my young lord?" said Dutton, fidgeting, as if he hadneglected his duty, in the presence of a superior; "I'm sure, yourlordship can see nothing but the fleet at anchor, and a few boatspassing between the different ships and the landing!"
"Where-away, sure enough, youngster?" added the admiral. "I see somegulls glancing along the surface of the water, a mile or two outside theships, but nothing like a sail."
The boy caught up Dutton's glass, which lay on the seat, and, in aminute, he had it levelled at the expanse of water. It was some littletime, and not without much sighting along the barrel of the instrument,that he got it to suit himself.
"Well, Master Sharp-eyes," said Bluewater, drily, "is it a Frenchman, ora Spaniard?"
"Hold on, a moment, sir, until I can get this awkward glass to bear onit.--Ay--now I have her--she's but a speck, at the best--royals and headof top-gallant-sails--no, sir, by George, it's our own cutter, theActive, with her square-sail set, and the heads of her lower sails justrising. I know her by the way she carries her gaff."
"The Active!--that betokens news," observed Bluewater, thoughtfully--forthe march of events, at that moment, must necessarily brink on a crisisin his own career. "Sir Gervaise sent her to look into Cherbourg."
"Yes, sir; we all know that--and, there she comes to tell us, I hope,that Monsieur de Vervillin, has, at last, made up his mind to come outand face us, like a man. Will you look at the sail, sir?"
Bluewater took the glass, and sweeping the horizon, he soon caught aview of his object. A short survey sufficed, for one so experienced, andhe handed the glass back to the boy.
"You have quick eyes, sir," he said, as he did so; "that is a cutter,certainly, standing in for the roads, and I believe you may be right intaking her for the Active."
"'Tis a long way to know so small a craft!" observed Dutton, who alsotook his look at the stranger.
"Very true, sir," answered the boy; "but one ought to tell a friend asfar as he can see him. The Active carries a longer and a lower gaff,than any other cutter in the navy, which is the way we all tell her fromthe Gnat, the cutter we have with us."
"I am glad to find your lordship is so close an observer," returned thecomplaisant Dutton; "a certain sign, my lord, that your lordship willmake a good sailor, in time."
"Geoffrey is a good sailor, already," observed the admiral, who knewthat the youngster was never better pleased, than when he dropped thedistance of using his title, and spoke to, or of him, as of aconnection; which, in truth, he was. "He has now been with me fouryears; having joined when he was only twelve. Two more years will makean officer of
him."
"Yes, sir," said Dutton, bowing first to one, and then to the other."Yes, sir; his lordship may well look forward to that, with _his_particular merit, _your_ esteemed favour, and his _own_ great name. Ah!sir, they've caught a sight of the stranger in the fleet, and bunting isat work, already."
In anchoring his ships, Admiral Bluewater had kept them as closetogether, as the fog rendered safe; for one of the great difficulties ofa naval commander is to retain his vessels in compact order, in thick orheavy weather. Orders had been given, however, for a sloop and a frigateto weigh, and stretch out into the offing a league or two, as soon asthe fog left them, the preceding day, in order to sweep as wide a reachof the horizon as was convenient. In order to maintain their ground in alight wind, and with a strong tide running, these two cruisers hadanchored; one, at the distance of a league from the fleet, and theother, a mile or two farther outside, though more to the eastward. Thesloop lay nearest to the stranger, and signals were flying at hermain-royal-mast-head, which the frigate was repeating, and transmittingto the flag-ship of the commander-in-chief. Bluewater was so familiarwith all the ordinary signals, that it was seldom he had recourse to hisbook for the explanations; and, in the present instance, he saw at oncethat it was the Active's number that was shown. Other signals, however,followed, which it surpassed the rear-admiral's knowledge to read,without assistance; from all which he was satisfied that the strangerbrought intelligence of importance, and which could only be understoodby referring to the private signal-book.
While these facts were in the course of occurrence, the coach arrived toconvey Mrs. Dutton and Mildred to the Hall. Bluewater now presentedhimself to the ladies, and was received as kindly as they had separatedfrom him a few hours before; nor were the latter displeased at hearinghe was to be their companion back to the dwelling of Sir Wycherly.
"I fear this summons bodes evil tidings," said Mrs. Dutton; "he wouldhardly think of desiring to see us, unless something quite serious wereon his mind; and the messenger said he was no better."
"We shall learn all, my dear lady, when we reach the Hall," returnedBluewater; "and the sooner we reach it, the sooner our doubts will beremoved. Before we enter the carriage, let me make you acquainted withmy young friend, Lord Geoffrey Cleveland, whom I have presumed to inviteto be of the party."
The handsome young midshipman was well received, though Mrs. Dutton hadbeen too much accustomed, in early life, to see people of condition, tobetray the same deference as her husband for the boy's rank. The ladiesoccupied, as usual, the hind seat of the coach, leaving that in front totheir male companions. The arrangement accidentally brought Mildred andthe midshipman opposite each other; a circumstance that soon attractedthe attention of the admiral, in a way that was a little odd; if notremarkable. There is a charm in youth, that no other period of lifepossesses; infancy, with its helpless beauty, scarcely seizing upon theimagination and senses with an equal force. Both the young persons inquestion, possessed this advantage in a high degree; and had there beenno other peculiarity, the sight might readily have proved pleasing toone of Bluewater's benevolence and truth of feeling. The boy was turnedof sixteen; an age in England when youth does not yet put on theappearance of manhood; and he retained all the evidences of a gay,generous boyhood, rendered a little _piquant_, by the dash of archness,roguery, and fun, that a man-of-war is tolerably certain to impart to alad of spirit. Nevertheless, his countenance retained an expression ofingenuousness and of sensitive feeling, that was singularly striking inone of his sex, and which, in spite of her beauty of feature, hair, andcomplexion, formed the strongest attraction in the loveliness ofMildred; that expression, which had so much struck and charmedBluewater--haunted him, we might add--since the previous day, byappearing so familiar, even while so extraordinary, and for which he hadbeen unable to recollect a counterpart. As she now sat, face to facewith Lord Geoffrey, to his great surprise, the rear-admiral found muchof the same character of this very expression in the handsome boy, as inthe lovely girl. It is true, the look of ingenuousness and of sensitivefeeling, was far less marked in young Cleveland, than in Mildred, andthere was little general resemblance of feature or countenance betweenthe two; still, the first was to be found in both, and so distinctly, asto be easily traced, when placed in so close contact. Geoffrey Clevelandhad the reputation of being like his mother; and, furnished with thisclue, the fact suddenly flashed on Bluewater's mind, that the being whomMildred so nearly and strikingly resembled, was a deceased sister of theDuchess, and a beloved cousin of his own. Miss Hedworth, the young ladyin question, had long been dead; but, all who had known her, retainedthe most pleasing impressions equally of her charms of person and ofmind. Between her and Bluewater there had existed a tender friendship,in which, however, no shade of passion had mingled; a circumstance thatwas in part owing to the difference in their years, Captain Bluewaterhaving been nearly twice his young relative's age; and in part,probably, to the invincible manner in which the latter seemed wedded tohis profession, and his ship. Agnes Hedworth, notwithstanding, had beenvery dear to our sailor, from a variety of causes,--far more so, thanher sister, the Duchess, though _she_ was a favourite--and therear-admiral, when his mind glanced rapidly through the chain ofassociation, that traced the accidental resemblance of Mildred to thisesteemed object, had a sincere delight in finding he had thus beenunconsciously attracted by one whose every look and smile now forciblyreminded him of the countenance of a being whom, in her day, he hadthought so near perfection. This delight, however, was blended withsadness, on various accounts; and the short excursion proved to be somelancholy, that no one was sorry when it terminated.
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