"Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been,
A sound that makes us linger, yet farewell."
The day of departure at length arrived. Thompson had been busy the greater part of the night in getting every thing ready for the voyage. It was a lovely morning, and the wind, although light, was propitious1.
Acme2 had parted with her relations and friends the day previous.
She was henceforward to share the destiny of one, who was to supply the place of both to her. Attached to them as she was, and grateful as she felt for their kindness in the hour of need, there was nothing in that parting to throw a permanent gloom on the hopes of the youthful bride.
Her love, and the feelings it engendered3, were of that confiding4 nature, that she could have followed George anywhere, and been happy still. As it was, her lot seemed cast "in pleasant places," and no foreboding of evil, except indeed for George, ever marred5 the waking dreams of Acme. Her simple heart had already learnt, to look up with respect and affection to Sir Henry, and yearned6 with fond longing7 for the period when she should return a sister's love.
She had that lively talent too, which, miniatured as it was, allowed of her fully8 appreciating the superiority of the English she had lately met, to the general run of those with whom she had hitherto associated. An English home had none but charms for her.
"Come Acme," said George, as he assisted her in adjusting the first bonnet9 that had ever confined her wavy10 curls, "wish good bye to your ring-dove, dear! Mrs. Graham will take good care of it; and Thompson has just finished the packing."
The boat which was to convey them to the vessel11 was so near, that they had agreed to walk down to the place of embarkation12.
As George left the room, a tall figure presented itself on the staircase.
"Ah, Clark!" said George, "my good fellow! I am very sorry to part with you. I do not know what I shall do without my pay serjeant!" and he held out his hand.
It was grasped gratefully.
"Thank you, your honour!"
The old soldier stood erect13, and put his hand to his cap.
"God bless you! Mr. Delme. I have served under many officers, but never under a kinder. May the Almighty14 bless you, Sir, in all your wanderings."
The soldier turned away--one large drop burst o'er the lid, and trickled15 down his sun-burnt cheek.
With the back of his hand, he brushed it off indignantly.
His converse16 may be rough--his manner rude--his hand ever ready for quarrel;--but, believe us! ye who deem the soldier beneath his fellow-men,--that the life of change--of chance--of hardship--and of danger--which is his, freezes not the kindlier emotions of the soul, if it sweep away its sicklier refinements17. Beneath the red vest, beat hearts as warm and true, as ever throbbed18 beneath operative apron19, or swelled20 under softest robe of ermine.
George was moved by the man's evidently sincere grief. He reached the bottom of the stairs. The company to which he belonged was drawn21 up in the court yard.
In front of it, the four tallest men supported a chair, and almost before George Delme was aware of their purpose, bore him to it, and lifted him on their shoulders, amidst the huzzas of their comrades. The band, too, which had voluntarily attended, now struck up the march which George delighted to hear; and, followed by his company, he was carried triumphantly22 towards the mole23.
George's heart was full.
Sir Henry felt deeply interested in the scene; and poor Acme leant on his arm, and wept with joy.
Yes! there are moments in life, and this was one, when the approval of our inferiors awakens24 a degree of pride and mental satisfaction, that no panegyric25 of our superiors, no expressions of esteem26 from our equals, could have ever called forth27. Such approval meets us, as the spontaneous effusion of hearts that have looked up to ours, and have not been deceived.
This pride was it that flushed George's cheek, and illumed with brightness his swimming eye. He was thus carried till he arrived at the spot where his boat should have been. It was already, with Thompson and their baggage, half way towards the vessel. In its place was the regimental gig, manned by George's best friends. Its steersman was Colonel Vavasour, drest in the fanciful aquatic29 costume his regiment28 had adopted.
Trifling30 as this may appear, this act of his Colonel, seemed to George the very highest compliment that had ever been paid him.
George Delme turned to his company, and with choking voice thanked them for this last mark of attention. We are very certain that a shake of the hand from a prince, would not have delighted him as much, as did the hearty31 farewell greeting of his rough comrades.
Even Acme blushingly went up to the chair-supporters, and, with a winning smile, extended her small hand. Vavasour assisted her into the gig, and it was with a bounding elasticity32 of spirit, to which he had long been a stranger, that George followed. As the boat cut through the water, they were greeted with a last and deafening33 huzza.
In a short time they were alongside the vessel. The captain was pacing the deck, and marking the signs of the wind, with the keen eye of the sailor. A chair was lowered for Acme. She shook hands with the rowers. George parted from them as if they had been brothers, and from Colonel Vavasour last of all.
"Take care of yourself, my dear boy," said the latter, "do not forget to write us; we shall all be anxious to know how you have stood the voyage."
As the gig once more shot its way homewards, and many a friendly handkerchief waved its adieu, George felt, that sad as the parting was, he should have felt it more bitterly if they had loved him less.
To divert their minds from thoughts of a melancholy34 nature, Sir Henry, as the boat made a turn of the land, and was no longer visible, proposed exploring the cabin. This they found small, but cleanly. Some hampers35 of fruit, and a quantity of ice, exhibited agreable proofs of the attention of Acme's relations. We may, by the way, observe, that rarely does the sense of the palate assert its supremacy36 with greater force than on board-ship. There will the thought--much more the reality--of a mellow37 pine--or juicy pomegranate--cause the mouth to water for the best part of a long summer's day. On their ascending38 the deck, the captain approached Sir Henry.
"No offence! Sir; but I guess the wind is fair. If you want nothing ashore39, we will off, Sir, now! if you please."
Delme acquiesced40.
How disagreable is the act of leaving harbour in a merchant ship!
Even sailors dislike it, and growl41 between their teeth, like captive bears. The chains of the anchor clank gratingly on the ear. The very chorus of the seamen42 smacks43 of the land, and wants the rich and free tone that characterises it in mid-sea. Hoarse44 are the mandates45 of the boat-swain! his whistle painfully shrill46! The captain walks the deck thoughtfully, and frowningly ruminates47 on his bill of lading--or on some over-charge in the dock duties--or, it may be, on his dispute on shore with a part owner of the vessel.
And anon, he shakes off these thoughts, and looks on the weather-side--then upwards48 at the the masts--and, as he notes the proceedings49, his orders are delivered fiercely, and his passions seem ungovernable.
The vessel, too, seems to share the general feeling--is loath50 to leave the port.
She unsteadily answers the call of her canvas--her rigging creaks--and her strong sides groan--as she begins lazily and slowly to make her way.
Glad to turn their attention to anything rather than the scene around, George began conversing51 on the effect the attentions of his company and brother officers had had on him.
"Their kindness," said George, "was wholly unexpected by me, and I felt it very deeply. An hour before, I fancied that Acme and my own family monopolised every sympathy I possessed52. But, thank God! the heart has many hidden channels through which kindness may steal, and infuse its genial53 balm."
"I felt it, too, George!" said his brother, "and was anxious as to the effect the scene might have on you. I am glad it was unexpected. We are sometimes better enabled to enact54 our parts improvising55 them, than when we have schooled ourselves, and braced56 all our energies to the one particular purpose.
"Acme, how did you like the way George's men behaved?"
"It made me weep with joy," replied the young Greek, "for I love all who love my Giorgio."
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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awakens
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的第三人称单数 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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panegyric
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| n.颂词，颂扬 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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aquatic
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| adj.水生的，水栖的 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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hampers
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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smacks
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| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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mandates
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| 托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式） | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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ruminates
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| v.沉思( ruminate的第三人称单数 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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52
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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53
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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54
enact
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| vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演 | |
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improvising
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| 即兴创作（improvise的现在分词形式） | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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