“July 1st.—­Oh, this weary waiting!  Shall I never see the shores of England again?  The doctor says that I only make myself worse with fretting; but it is hard to linger so—­when at my journey’s end lies wealth almost beyond the imagination, and (what is far more to me) the sight of my dear ones.

“July 4th.—­In answer to my entreaties, Mr. Eversleigh has consented to make inquiries about the homeward-bound vessels starting from Colombo.  The result is that he has at once allayed my impatience, and compassed his end of keeping me a little longer, by selecting—­ upon condition that I approve his choice—­an East Indiaman due to sail in about a fortnight’s time.  The name of the ship is the Belle Fortune, and of the captain, Cyrus Holding.  In spite of the name the ship is English, and is a barque of about 600 tons register.  Her cargo consists of sugar and coffee, and her crew numbers some eighteen hands.  To-morrow I am going down with Mr. Eversleigh to inspect her, but I am prepared beforehand to find her to my liking.  The only pity is that she does not start earlier.

“July 6th.—­Weak as I am, even yesterday’s short excursion exhausted me, so that I felt unable to write a word last night.  I have been over the Belle Fortune, and am more than pleased, especially with her captain, whose honest face took my fancy at once.  I have a most comfortable cabin next to his set apart for me, at little cost, since it had been fitted up for a lady on the outward voyage:  so that I shall still have a little money in pocket on my return, as my living, both here and at Bombay, has cost me nothing, and the doctor’s bills have not exhausted my store.  I wrote to Margery to-day, making as light of my illness as I could, and saying nothing of the business on Malabar Hill.  That will best be told her when she has me home again, and can hold my hand feeling that I am secure.

“July 8th.—­I have been down again to-day to see the Belle Fortune.  I forgot to say that she belongs to Messrs. Vincent and Hext, of Bristol, and is bound for that port.  The only other passengers are a Dr. Concanen and his wife, who are acquaintances of Mr. Eversleigh.  Dr. Concanen is a physician with a good practice in Colombo, or was—­ as his wife’s delicate health has forced him to throw up his employment here and return to England.  Mr. Eversleigh introduced me to them this morning on the Belle Fortune.  The husband is almost as tall as my host, and looks a man of great strength:  Mrs. Concanen is frail and worn, but very lovely.  To-day she seemed so ill that I offered to give up my cabin, which is really much more comfortable than theirs.  But she would not hear of it, insisting that I was by far the greater invalid, and that a sailing vessel would quickly set her right again—­especially a vessel bound for England.  Altogether they promise to be most pleasant companions.  I forgot to say that Mrs. Concanen is taking a native maid home to act as her nurse.