honour every new acquaintance; "I am not quite so nervous as that."

"Fine day for a steam, sir," said the lawyer, having acknowledged Mrs. Allen Barnaby's civility by a bow; for Mr. Gabriel Monkton, like the majority of his countrymen (as long at least as they remain on their native soil), never addressed his conversation to a lady while there was one of the nobler sex near, "and a capital boat this, as I expect you'll allow."

"Delightful, sir! Both, both delightful. The weather and the boat too are worthy of America," returned the major, with a smile of great amenity.

"I expect you mean the United States, sir, when you say America; for we can't calculate that this whole quarter of the world can show such craft as this, to say nothing of the weather."

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"Unquestionably, sir, I spoke incorrectly," returned the courteous major; but the fact is, that the immense disproportion, in point of importance, which the nation properly denominated the United States of America, bears to the entire continent, leads Europeans to forget that the quarter of the world called America, contains any thing else."

Likely enough, sir, and in time I should not be very greatly surprised if all the civilized portion of the world was to adopt, and take upon itself the appellation of United States, owning, one and all, maybe, the federal authority of our President. There are considerable many indications, up and down the world, in many directions, that makes it look probable, we think," said Mr. Gabriel Monkton.

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"I give you my honour, sir," returned the major, "that the same idea has repeatedly struck me, and for my own part I positively think it would be the salvation of mankind. Indeed, without some measure of that sort, I profess I don't see how the existence of the European nations is to be preserved."

"Why on this side the water we are all pretty well come to the same notion, that's a fact. But you see, sir, before any thing of that kind could be acted upon, we should have a good deal to do in the way of condescending to make sacrifices for the general good," returned Mr. Gabriel Monkton. "There is no denying, sir," he continued, with the modest air of a man acknowledging a weakness, "there is no denying that it is pleasant and agreeable, ay, very pleasant and agreeable, to be first and foremost of all the people of the earth. But if once we take it into our heads to make it a main object with our government that they shall gather all the nations of the world, and sit and brood over them, as I may say, hatching them out of their present egg-like sort of imprisonment, till they all fly off like so many freeborns, if once we do this, where will our superiority be? All the world will look then to share and share alike, I calculate."

"How admirably true!" exclaimed Mrs. Allen Barnaby, clasping her hands, and turning her great eyes towards the sky. "Is it not a pleasure, major, to listen to such magnificent ideas ?"

"I beg your excuse, sir, I did not know your title till your lady named it," said Mr. Gabriel Monkton. "In the English army, I presume, sir?"

"Yes, sir, that is my profession, I am a major in the army, and

hold also an appointment on the staff, which I am sorry to say will not permit my being long absent from home. It is a sad punishment for an enlightened Englishman, after once finding himself in the United States, to feel that he shall be obliged to leave them again," said the major, with a sigh.

"I expect it must, sir," returned his new acquaintance.

"Then you don't calculate," he added, after pausing for a moment "upon continuing here for the purpose of making any speculation in the mercantile line."

"No, sir, I have no idea of the kind. My duty, unfortunately, calls me elsewhere."

Then you are only here to take a stare at us, I guess, like the rest of the world. Nobody, I expect, counts themselves right down well educated in these days without having come a few thousand miles to look at the citizens of the United States," observed Mr. Gabriel Monkton, the natural harshness of his adust countenance a good deal softened. "It is pretty considerable much of a compliment that; I don't see the way to deny it, that's a fact. And pray, major, may I ask the favour of your name?"

Major Allen Barnaby had meditated more than once since leaving New York upon the probable advantages and disadvantages of once more making some little alteration in his name; but not having fully decided upon the measure, he was now in a manner compelled to decide against it, for he instantly remembered the numerous packages which bore labels which it would not do to contradict, and he therefore answered, though perhaps with some little shadow of hesitation,

'My name, sir, is Allen Barnaby. Permit me to present to you Mrs. Allen Barnaby."

The Yankee bowed stiffly, so stiffly indeed, that my heroine, who had rarely in the course of her eventful life found it so difficult to draw attention to herself, soon became weary of finding herself en tiers where she was not looked upon as a principal, and walked off to a sofa near the stern of the vessel, where two smart-looking ladies were already seated, whom she flattered herself she should find means of rendering more sociable than the stiff Mr. Gabriel Monkton.

CHAP. XXXIX.

MRS. ALLEN BARNABY was not better pleased at leaving the grim looking Mr. Gabriel Monkton, than he was at losing her company. He was not particularly fond of ladies' society at any time, and just now he thought the wife of his new acquaintance particularly in the way. No sooner was she fairly gone than he changed his tone and manner entirely, and entered at once upon the national cross-examination, to which all strangers are subjected, if intended to be noticed at all.

"And which way, I wonder, may you be travelling, sir, in order to see the most and the best of us?"

"My object at present, sir, is to see something of your magnificent lakes."

"The lakes? Yes, sir, the lakes are magnificent, unaccountable,

there's no doubt of it. And where might you happen to start from last?"

"Why we have been a good while merely travelling about from place to place, in order to see every thing without allowing ourselves time enough to stay very long anywhere,” said the major.

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"But where did you start from, sir, this trip?" persisted the Yankee. Why positively I forget the name of the place. I have a dreadful head for names," replied the Englishman.

"Indeed! Well, then, what was the name of the last place you stopped at, that you do remember."

"Oh! Baltimore was the last place at which we made any considerable halt. And West Point," added the major, apparently much delighted by the sudden recollection; " yes, I remember, now, we passed a fortnight at a place called West Point most delightfully.”

"Indeed?" returned Mr. Gabriel Monkton, with rather a comical accent. "Then I expect that though you are from the old country you have got some relations or counexions in the new one?"

"No, indeed! We have no such advantage," replied the major, "I am sure I wish we had; it would be delightful. But why, sir, should you suppose this likely?"

"Well now, in point of fact, I can't realize the notion of any one who has not got relations, either among the lads or the professors,-I can't realize, I say, any one biding at West Point a whole fortnight, because every thing curious there can be seen in two or three hours," observed Mr. Gabriel Monkton.

،، That is perfectly true, certainly," returned Major Allen Barnaby with a good humoured smile; "but yet, somehow or other, the place had an indescribable charm for us. Perhaps it might arise from its striking resemblance to a favourite scene with which we are familiar at home." "In the way of a military college do you mean, sir, or just in point of location ? "demanded the persevering inquirer.

"Both, my dear sir, both," replied the major, readily. "I have two nephews, whom I perfectly adore, at our military establishment at Sandhurst; and this circumstance, together with the extraordinary similarity of the scenery, produced a most remarkable effect upon us all. My dear wife, who is in all respects most completely a second self to me, was inconceivably touched by the coincidence, and this it was which induced us to remain there so long."

"And what's the name of the great river, Major Allen Barnaby, what answers to our Hudson at your college? It must be pretty considerably larger, I expect, than they have set any of your rivers and streams down in the maps; at least I can't say that I have ever realized any river in England to be equal to our Hudson. What may be the name, sir, of that one that runs below your military establishment?"

"It is the Thames, sir," replied the major, boldly, "which, though not perhaps quite so large just at Sandhurst as the Hudson is at West Point, is, nevertheless, a very noble stream, as I suppose you know." Why, as to that, sir, every thing goes by comparison," returned Mr. Gabriel Monkton; "and may I be so bold as to ask whether you found the discipline at West Point as much resembling your Sandhurst as the location does?"

"I should say, sir," returned the judicious major, "that the arrangements of all kinds at West Point were incomparably superior to ours; and though my nephews are devilish fine-looking lads, it is impossible not to allow that the American young gentlemen make altogether a much finer appearance. They carry themselves so admirably!"

"Likely enough, sir," was the complacent reply. "We mostly reckon that upon a fair comparison, and an honest judgment, the citizens of the United States are the finest race that Providence has, as yet, created upon the earth. And now, sir, may I take the freedom to ask which way you are going?"

"Why, upon my word, sir, I am hardly able to answer you," replied the major, with another of his frank and pleasant smiles. "The fact is, you see, sir, that we are travelling so wholely and solely for pleasure, that we took a resolution, at the very beginning, to fix upon nothing, but to go just here, there, and everywhere, as whim and fancy might dictate. You may depend upon it, sir, this is the way to enjoy travelling."

"Well, I don't know, it may perhaps to you gentry of the old country, who ain't, I expect, particular famous for knowing your own minds; but we American citizens prefer for the most part, I calculate, knowing when we set out to what place we are going," returned Mr. Gabriel Monkton, with a queer little smile.

"Then may I ask, sir, to which point of this most beautiful lake you may be bound," demanded the major gaily," as that perhaps may assist me in coming to a decision. I should be delighted, I assure you, in retaining the pleasure of your society as long as possible."

"The boat stops to wood, and put down, and maybe take up passengers at Cleveland, and it's a place that in course, like all our towns, has its beauties and recommendations, but nevertheless it is not desirable to stop at for long in comparison of Sandusky," was the answer. "Then it is to Sandusky, sir, I presume that you purpose going yourself?" said the major.

"Yes, sir, to Sandusky," replied the other.

Major Allen Barnaby then politely touched his hat and walked off. Having marked the direction which his lady had taken when she walked off before him, the major, with very proper conjugal feelings, took the same, which soon brought him in sight of the sofa where Mrs. Allen Barnaby had taken refuge, and on which she still sat, together with the two ladies whom she had found there. The excellent husband's amiable feelings in seeking her were immediately rewarded by seeing her rise from her place the moment she perceived him, and come forward to take his arm.

“In

"Well, I have been questioned enough, I hope, for one bout," said Mrs. Allen Barnaby, as soon as they had moved out of hearing. my life I never met with such curious people as those two women." "Then I hope you have been as cautious as they were curious, my dear?" said the major, looking a little anxious. "I have been undergoing a sharp questioning also, and my answers were calculated to give as little information as possible. I hope and trust that yours were given in the same spirit, for it would be rather suspicious if we were caught telling different stories."

"Then all we have got to hope, major, is, that your curious man,

and my curious women, do not belong to the same party, for as sure as the sun's in heaven, I have answered pretty nearly the truth to every question they have asked; except you know just for setting oneself off a little, which of course every body does when they talk about themselves to strangers; one must blaze away a little then or never; but excepting trying to make them think that I was a distant relation to blood royal, or something of that sort, I give you my honour that I have not told them a single lie."

"Then I give you my honour, Mrs. Allen Barnaby, that you are considerably more of a fool than I gave you credit for. After all I told you at Saratoga, I do think you might have found some better theme to descant upon, than the explaining at full length where we came from and all the rest of it," replied her husband frowning.

"I never said a single syllable about you, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen Barnaby; "I only talked a little of our delightful season at the Springs, and I'm sure you had nothing to do with that, not even the paying for it. Besides, it's nonsense making a fuss, Donny, what's done, is done. If you had any particular lies of your own that you wished me to tell, you should have said so. You know perfectly well, my dear, that I consider it quite a matter of duty in all that sort of thing, to do exactly what you desire. However, I Hatter myself there is no harm done, for the chances are fifty to one that your man and my women don't belong to each other."

"Don't they?" retorted Major Allen Barnaby, in a tone much less amiable than usual. "Just look to the right if you please."

Mrs. Allen Barnaby did look to the right, and thereupon certainly saw reason to doubt the accuracy of the opinion she had thus expressed; her fifty to one would have been a losing bet, for there stood Mr. Gabriel Monkton in the very closest converse with the two ladies she had just quitted, evidently listening to some information they were bestowing upon him with great attention; and what made this circumstance the more alarming, was that the very instant she turned her head towards them, they exchanged sinister glances, and ceased to speak.

The major was evidently much annoyed, but his usual excellent judgment prevented his indulging himself in reproaches to his admirable helpmate; on the contrary, he said to her with the same flattering air of confidence as usual,

"We have certainly got into a scrape, my Barnaby, with these confounded people, and all we can do now is to get quit of them as soon as possible. It will be best, too, not for us to seem confabulating and consulting together, so you go your way, and I'll go mine; but remember, we must both of us carry with us eyes and ears, which may be more profitably used than our tongues."

So saying, he walked away, leaving his penitent wife determined to atone for her indiscretion by keeping so sharp a look-out as might enable them to guess if any disagreeable consequences were likely to arise from her having given one account of their party, and her dearly beloved husband another.

These good resolutions were soon rewarded with the success they deserved; for upon her retiring to the ladies' cabin, and turning into one of the little beds which occasional rough weather upon this inland sea rendered necessary, she speedily found herself in the most favour