On the way back to the hotel, as my companion was thinking aloud, I heard him alternately muttering in soft tones, “What a pretty hand,” and then, in harsh and hasty tones, ’"Confound,” ... “crusty old fellow;” and reflecting thereon, I came to the conclusion that if the expressions indicated weakness, they indicated that pardonable civilizing weakness, susceptibility to the charms of beauty; and I consequently thought more kindly of my future fellow-traveller.  In the evening we were joined by my brother and a young officer of the Household Brigade, who were to be fellow-passengers in our trip across the Atlantic.

Early morning witnessed a procession of hackney coaches, laden as though we were bent on permanent emigration.  Arrived at the quay, a small, wretched-looking steamer was lying alongside, to receive us and our goods for transport to the leviathan lying in mid-channel, with her steam up ready for a start.

The operation of disposing of the passengers’ luggage in this wretched little tea-kettle was amusing enough in its way.  Everybody wanted everybody else’s traps to be put down, below, and their own little this, and little that, kept up:  one group, a man, wife, and child, particularly engaged my attention; the age of the child, independent of the dialogue, showed that the honeymoon was passed.

WIFE.—­“Now, William, my dear, do keep that little box up!”

HUSBAND.—­“Hi! there; keep that hat-box of mine up!” (Aside,) “Never mind your box, my dear, it wont hurt.”

WIFE.—­“Oh, William, there’s my little cap-box going down! it will be broken, in pieces.”

HUSBAND.—­“Oh! don’t be afraid, my dear, they’ll take care of it.  Stop, my man, that’s my desk; give it me here,” &c. &c.

The dialogue was brought to a sudden stop by the frantic yell of the juvenile pledge of their affections, whose years had not yet reached two figures; a compact little iron-bound box had fallen on his toe, and the poor little urchin’s pilliloo, pilliloo, was pitiful.  Mamma began hugging and kissing, while papa offered that handy consolation of, “Never mind, that’s a good boy; don’t cry.”  In the meantime, the Jacks had profited by the squall, and, when it ceased, the happy couple had the satisfaction of seeing all their precious boxes buried deep in the hold.

The stream of luggage having stopped, and the human cargo being all on board, we speedily cast off our lashings, and started:  fortunately, it was fine weather, for, had there been rain, our ricketty tea-kettle would have afforded us no protection whatever.  On reaching the leviathan, the passengers rushed up hastily, and, armed with walking-sticks or umbrellas, planted themselves like sentries on the deck.  As the Jacks came tumbling up with the luggage, shouts of “Hi! that’s mine,” rent the air; and if Jack, in the hurry and confusion, did not attend to the cry, out would dart one or other with umbrella