THE DEPARTURE.
MRS. CORWIN very hastily placed every ornament on the bureau and mantel
of her guest-chamber in the drawers, locked them, and took the keys,
sent Nancy to the attic for a couple of spittoons, then kissing Bessie
and Jamie, who were in bed, went down to her guests.
It was now dusk, and the captain sat smoking on the piazza, while Lewis
lay asleep on the library lounge.
Mr. Corwin walked back and forth on the piazza, talking with his
visitor of foreign parts and different kinds of trade. In the mean
time, the two ladies asked questions about old friends and talked of
their school days.
"Do you like travelling about from one country to another?" asked Mrs.
Corwin.
"Oh, I like it amazingly! I should never be contented to settle down
as you have. It must be very dull here. And, Alice, I was never so
surprised as to find you married to such a man. Why, you were the
handsomest girl in school, and rich into the bargain."
"Mr. Corwin is a Christian gentleman," said the wife, earnestly, "and
the most affectionate husband I have ever seen."
Mrs. McIntire laughed. "I never thought of making you angry," she said.
"If you like living in such a prim, prosy way, nobody can object. But I
can tell you, it's the first time I've heard a prayer for years."
"I can only say I'm sorry for you," answered the lady, sighing.
"The captain thought it a good joke," Mrs. McIntire went on. "He
laughed well, I assure you, while we were out walking; and he thinks as
I do, that as Lewis' conduct doesn't please Mr. Corwin, we had better
go back to town in the morning."
"Yes, I suppose that would be best," remarked Mrs. Corwin, with
dignity. "We endeavor to make the Bible our guide during every hour of
the day; and you, who are governed by different rules, would not be
happy here. I am sorry, Adeline, that you do not feel the need of God's
help in training your son. You may be sure, his conduct will give you
a keener pang than you ever knew yet, if you do not teach him to obey
while he is young."
"I don't deny he's rather wild," urged his mother, "having just come
off the ship, where he's the pet and plaything of all on board; but
he'll come out right. You and your husband have one way; and we have
another. But we wont quarrel about it."
After a while, a lady and gentleman living in the neighborhood called,
and the conversation became general. When they took their leave, Mr.
Corwin said to his wife:—
"Captain McIntire tells me he has concluded to return to his ship in
the morning. I shall order a hack from the stable to take them there at
any time they please. I have an engagement in another direction, and
shall not go to the city to-morrow."
"Say nine o'clock," said the captain. "I must be on board ship as early
as I can."
"I don't know what we shall do with Lewis," said his mother, "he's so
sound asleep; it's no use to undress him."
"Shall I ring for a man to carry him upstairs?" asked Mrs. Corwin.
"I wish you would."
Lewis kicked, and screamed, and tried to bite the servant when he
attempted to move him; but, to the relief of all, was soon soundly
sleeping in bed, with his clothes, and even his shoes on.
In the morning neither Mrs. McIntire nor her son left their room
until the hack drove to the door. The captain seemed much more like a
gentleman than the night before, and apologized for his boy's conduct,
by saying:—
"His mother has always humored him till he's a nuisance in good
society."
At family prayers, Mr. Corwin asked God to bless their friends who were
about to leave, and make their only child a comfort and blessing to
them.
It was evident that the captain did not think this a joke, for his
voice shook when he thanked his host, and he said:—
"I've never thought much about the subject of religion. But I begin to
fear I've been in the wrong."
Mrs. Corwin shook hands with Lewis, and gave him a paper bag full of
oranges and cake, for his lunch.
Mr. Corwin helped the lady in, waited till the driver lashed on the
trunk securely, and then asked Lewis if he wished help too.
"No, I sha'n't ride in there," said the boy, flushing with anger. "I'm
going to drive and hold the whip."
Mr. Corwin opened his pocketbook, and paid the hackman. "You must take
your own risk," he said to the man. "I caution you against letting that
child have the reins."
"Lewis," shouted his father, "come in here this minute!"
"I wont! I'm going to drive."
"Come here, sir, or I'll thrash you within an inch of your life."
"Come, come, young man; I can't be wasting my time. In with you," said
the hackman, tossing the boy inside the hack as if he had been a trunk.
Then he snapped the door to, put up the steps with a crash, mounted the
box, and drove off.
[Illustration]