CHAPTER VI. LONDON.

efendedit,andravedathim.Theywereastrangepair.Shemightbethirty-nineorforty,andwasbuxomandbloomingasagirloftwenty.Hard,loud,vainandvulgar,hermindandbodyalikeseemedbrazenandimperishable.Ishouldthink,fromherchildhood,shemusthavelivedinpublicstationsandinheryouthmightverylikelyhavebeenabarmaid. Towardsmorningherdiscourseranonanewtheme:“theWatsons,”acertainexpectedfamily-partyofpassengers,knowntoher,itappeared,andbyhermuchesteemedonaccountofthehandsomeprofitrealizedintheirfees.Shesaid,“Itwasasgoodasalittlefortunetoherwheneverthisfamilycrossed.” Atdawnallwereastir,andbysunrisethepassengerscameonboard.Boisterouswasthewelcomegivenbythestewardesstothe“Watsons,”andgreatwasthebustlemadeintheirhonour.Theywerefourinnumber,twomalesandtwofemales.Besidesthem,therewasbutoneotherpassenger—ayounglady,whomagentlemanly,thoughlanguid-lookingmanescorted.Thetwogroupsofferedamarkedcontrast.TheWatsonsweredoubtlessrichpeople,fortheyhadtheconfidenceofconsciouswealthintheirbearingthewomen—youthfulbothofthem,andoneperfectlyhandsome,asfarasphysicalbeautywent—weredressedrichly,gaily,andabsurdlyoutofcharacterforthecircumstances.Theirbonnetswithbrightflowers,theirvelvetcloaksandsilkdresses,seemedbettersuitedforparkorpromenadethanforadamppacketdeck.Themenwereoflowstature,plain,fat,andvulgartheoldest,plainest,greasiest,broadest,Isoonfoundwasthehusband—thebridegroomIsuppose,forshewasveryyoung—ofthebeautifulgirl.DeepwasmyamazementatthisdiscoveryanddeeperstillwhenIperceivedthat,insteadofbeingdesperatelywretchedinsuchaunion,shewasgayeventogiddiness.“Herlaughter,”Ireflected,“mustbethemerefrenzyofdespair.”Andevenwhilethisthoughtwascrossingmymind,asIstoodleaningquietandsolitaryagainsttheship’sside,shecametrippinguptome,anutterstranger,withacamp-stoolinherhand,andsmilingasmileofwhichthelevitypuzzledandstartledme,thoughitshowedaperfectsetofperfectteeth,sheofferedmetheaccommodationofthispieceoffurniture.Ideclineditofcourse,withallthecourtesyIcouldputintomymannershedancedoffheedlessandlightsome.Shemusthavebeengood-naturedbutwhathadmadehermarrythatindividual,whowasatleastasmuchlikeanoil-barrelasaman? Theotherladypassenger,withthegentleman-companion,wasquiteagirl,prettyandfair:hersimpleprintdress,untrimmedstraw-bonnetandlargeshawl,gracefullyworn,formedacostumeplaintoquakerism:yet,forher,becomingenough.Beforethegentlemanquittedher,Iobservedhimthrowingaglanceofscrutinyoverallthepassengers,asiftoascertaininwhatcompanyhischargewouldbeleft.Withamostdissatisfiedairdidhiseyeturnfromtheladieswiththegayflowershelookedatme,andthenhespoketohisdaughter,niece,orwhatevershewas:shealsoglancedinmydirection,andslightlycurledhershort,prettylip.Itmightbemyself,oritmightbemyhomelymourninghabit,thatelicitedthismarkofcontemptmorelikely,both.Abellrangherfather(Iafterwardsknewthatitwasherfather)kissedher,andreturnedtoland.Thepacketsailed. ForeignerssaythatitisonlyEnglishgirlswhocanthusbetrustedtotravelalone,anddeepistheirwonderatthedaringconfidenceofEnglishparentsandguardians.Asforthe“jeunesMeess,”bysometheirintrepidityispronouncedmasculineand“inconvenant,”othersregardthemasthepassivevictimsofaneducationalandtheologicalsystemwhichwantonlydispenseswithproper“surveillance.”Whetherthisparticularyoungladywasofthesortthatcanthemostsafelybeleftunwatched,Idonotknow:or,ratherdidnotthenknowbutitsoonappearedthatthedignityofsolitudewasnottohertaste.Shepacedthedeckonceortwicebackwardsandforwardsshelookedwithalittlesourairofdisdainattheflauntingsilksandvelvets,andthebearswhichthereondancedattendance,andeventuallysheapproachedmeandspoke. “Areyoufondofasea-voyage?”washerquestion. Iexplainedthatmyfondnessforasea-voyagehadyettoundergothetestofexperienceIhadnevermadeone. “Oh,howcharming!”criedshe.“Iquiteenvyyouthenovelty:firstimpressions,youknow,aresopleasant.NowIhavemadesomany,Iquiteforgetthefirst:Iamquiteblaséeabouttheseaandallthat.” Icouldnothelpsmiling. “Whydoyoulaughatme?”sheinquired,withafranktestinessthatpleasedmebetterthanherothertalk. “Becauseyouaresoyoungtobeblaséeaboutanything.” “Iamseventeen”(alittlepiqued). “Youhardlyloo