It was not at all late when the Wallingford was slowly approaching the wharf where it was intended to bring-up.  There was a sloop ahead of us, which we had been gradually approaching for the last two hours, but which was enabled to keep in advance in consequence of the lightness of the wind.  This dying away of the breeze rendered the approaching noon-tide calm and pleasant; and everybody in-board, even to Grace, came on deck, as we moved slowly past the dwellings on the eastern bank, in order to get a view of the town.  I proposed that the Clawbonny party should land, contrary to our original intention, and profit by the opportunity to see the political capital of the State at our leisure.  Both Grace and Lucy were inclined to listen favourably; and the Drewetts, Andrew and his sisters, were delighted at this prospect of our remaining together a little longer.  Just at this moment, the Wallingford, true to her character, was coming up with the sloop ahead, and was already doubling on her quarter.  I was giving some orders, when Lucy and Chloe, supporting Grace, passed me on their way to the cabin.  My poor sister was pale as death, and I could see that she trembled so much she could hardly walk.  A significant glance from Lucy bade me not to interfere, and I hid sufficient self-command to obey.  I turned to look at the neighbouring sloop, and found at once an explanation of my sister’s agitation.  The Mertons and Rupert were on her quarter-deck, and so near as to render it impossible to avoid speaking, at least to the former.  At this embarrassing instant Lucy returned to my side, with a view, as I afterwards learned, to urge me to carry the Wallingford to some place so distant, as to remove the danger of any intercourse.  This accident rendered the precaution useless, the whole party in the other vessel catching sight of my companion at the same moment.

“This is an agreeable surprise!” called out Emily, in whose eyes Rupert’s sister could not be an object of indifference.  “By your brother’s and Mrs. Drewett’s account, we had supposed you at Clawbonny, by the bed-side of Miss Wallingford.”

“Miss Wallingford is here, as are my father, and Mrs. Drewett, and—­”

Lucy never let it be known who that other “and” was intended to include.

“Well, this is altogether surprising!” put in Rupert, with a steadiness of voice that really astounded me.  “At the very moment we were giving you lots of credit for your constancy in friendship, and all that sort of thing, here you are, Mademoiselle Lucie, trotting off to the Springs, like all the rest of us, bent on pleasure.”

“No, Rupert,” answered Lucy, in a tone which I thought could not fail to bring the heartless coxcomb to some sense of the feeling he ought to manifest; “I am going to no Springs.  Dr. Post has advised a change of scene and air for Grace; and Miles has brought us all up in his sloop, that we may endeavour to contribute to the dear sufferer’s comfort, in one united family.  We shall not land in Albany.”