“Amelia.—­I thought I heard a step.
Charles.—­’T is your tyrant coming.”

PROCTOR.

Jaspar and De Guy were for a long time closeted in the state-room.  On their reaeppearance Jaspar felt much easier.  The silky-toned attorney had used a variety of arguments to convince him that their schemes were working excellently well, and that everything, notwithstanding the resurrection of the negro, would terminate to his entire satisfaction.

The process of “wooding-up” on a Mississippi steamer, inasmuch as it affords the passengers an opportunity to exercise their locomotive powers on shore, is regarded as an interesting incident.  This was particularly true on board the Chalmetta, for she was crowded to nearly double her complement of cabin-passengers, and the space usually devoted to exercise was too much crowded to render it very pleasant.

When, therefore, the Chalmetta touched at a wood-yard, after leaving Baton Rouge, the passengers hurried on shore, to enjoy the novelty of an unconfined promenade.  De Guy, on pretence of further private conversation, induced Jaspar to forsake his post as sentinel over Emily, and join him in a walk.  For half an hour the attorney in his silky tones regaled the ears of Jaspar with various strange schemes, until the bell of the steamer announced her near departure.  Even then De Guy seemed in no haste, and assured his companion the boat would not start without them.  But the second bell admonished them that the steamer was already getting under way.  The passengers were all on board, and, as they heard in the distance the tinkling of the engineer’s bell, they started at a run to reach her.  By some accident, De Guy’s foot got between Jaspar’s legs, and he fell.  The attorney stooped, as if to assist him up, but, in reality, struck the fallen man a blow, which rendered him insensible.  De Guy hurried towards the boat, leaving the watchful uncle to shift for himself.  He reached the landing in season to jump upon the stern of the boat as it swung in shore.  Pushing through the crowd which had gathered to witness his exploit of getting on board, he retreated to his state-room, and locked the door.

Jaspar was not immediately missed by Emily, and his absence was too desirable to be the cause of any solicitude.  As the tea-hour approached, and the ladies were requested to take their places at table, she was very much surprised to see Mr. Maxwell present himself as her escort to the table.  Since the unhappy disclosure of his love in the office, she had regarded him with pity, rather than with the contempt he merited.  She could not but feel that he loved her.  His eloquent language and forlorn aspect had not been in vain, for they had saved him from her utter contempt.  A true woman cannot be conscious of possessing a portion of the love, even of a dissolute man, without feeling some respect for him.  To love truly and devotedly is an element of the angelic