EDINBURGH.
The storm had passed away during the night; and at day-break, Flora
hurried upon deck, to catch the first glance of--
"The glorious land of flood and fell,
The noble north countrie."
The sun was still below the horizon, and a thick mist hung over
the waters, and hid the city from her view. Oh, for the rising of that
white curtain! how Flora tried to peer through its vapoury folds, to
"Hail old Scotia's darling seat,"
the beautiful abode of brave, intelligent, true-hearted men, and
fair good women. Glorious Edinburgh! who ever beheld you for the first
time with indifference, and felt not his eyes brighten, and his heart
thrill with a proud ecstasy, the mingling of his spirit with a scene,
which in romantic sublimity, has not its equal in the wide world--
"Who would not dare
To fight for such a land!"
exclaims the patriotic wizard of the North. Ay, and to die for
it, if need be, as every true-hearted Scot would die, rather than see
one stain cast upon the national glory of his noble country. The
character of a people is greatly influenced by the local features of the
land to which it belongs; and the inhabitants of mountainous districts
have ever evaded most effectually the encroachments of foreign invaders.
The Scot may, perhaps, derive from his romantic country, much of that
poetic temperament, that stern, uncompromising love of independence,
which has placed him in the first rank as a man.
The sun at length rose; the fog rolled its grey masses upwards, and the
glorious old castle emerged from between the parting clouds, like some
fabled palace of the gods, its antique towers glittering like gold in
the sun.
"Oh, how beautiful!" exclaimed Flora, her eye kindling, and her cheek
flushing with delight.
"The situation of Quebec is almost as fine," said Captain Forbes, who
had been watching with pleasure the effect which the first sight of his
native city produced upon her countenance. "It will lose little by
comparison."
"Indeed," cried Flora, eagerly turning to the speaker, "I had formed no
idea of anything in Canada being at all equal to this."
"You have been there, Captain?" said Lyndsay.
"Yes, many times; and always with increased pleasure. Quebec combines
every object which is requisite to make a scene truly magnificent--woods,
mountains, rivers, cataracts; and all on the most stupendous scale. A
lover of nature cannot fail to be delighted with the rock-defended
fortress of British North America."
"You have made me quite happy, Captain Forbes," said Flora; "I have
contemplated a residence in Canada with feelings of such antipathy, that
your description of Quebec almost reconciles me to my lot. I can never
hate a country which abounds in natural beauty."
* * * * *
Boats were now constantly plying to and from the shore, conveying
passengers and their luggage from the ship to the pier. The Captain, who
had recognised a countryman in Lyndsay, insisted on the voyagers taking
breakfast with him before they left the vessel. Mrs. Lyndsay accepted
the offer with such hearty good-will, that the Captain laughed and
rubbed his hands in the excess of hospitable satisfaction, as he called
to his steward to place a small table under an awning upon the deck, and
serve the breakfast there.
"You will enjoy it much more in the fresh air, Mrs. Lyndsay," he said,
"after your severe illness, than in the close air."
Flora was delighted with the arrangement, and set the Captain down as a
man of taste, as by this means he had provided for her a double
feast--the beautiful scenery which on every side met her gaze, and an
excellent breakfast, served in the balmy morning air.
The rugged grace with which the gallant tar presided at what might be
termed his own private table, infused a cheerful spirit into those
around him, and never was a meal more heartily enjoyed by our emigrants.
James Hawke, who had been confined during the whole voyage to his berth,
now rejoined his friends, and ate of the savoury things before him in
such downright earnest, that the Captain declared that it was a pleasure
to watch the lad handle his knife and fork.
"When a fellow has been starving for eight and forty hours, it is not a
trifle that can satisfy his hunger," said Jim, making a vigorous
onslaught upon a leg of Scotch mutton. "Oh! I never was so hungry in my
life!"
"Not even during those two disastrous days last week, which we spent
starving at sea," said Flora.
"Ah, don't name them," said the boy, with an air of intense disgust.
"Those days were attended with such _qualms_ of conscience that I have
banished them from the log of life altogether. Oh, those dreadful days!"
"Why, Jim, you make a worse sailor than I expected," said Flora; "how
shall we get you alive to Canada?"
"Oh, never fear," said the lad, gaily; "I have cast all those horrible
reminiscences into the sea. I was very ill, but 'tis all over now, and
I feel as light as a feather; you will see that I shall be quite myself
again, directly we lose sight of the British shores."
On returning to the ladies' cabin, to point out her luggage to the
steward of the boat, Flora found that important functionary, pacing to
and fro the now empty scene of all her trouble in high disdain. She had
paid very little attention to Mrs. Lyndsay during the voyage. She had
waited with the most obsequious politeness on Mrs. Major F. and Mrs.
Dalton, because she fancied they were rich people, who would amply
reward her for her services. They had given her all the trouble they
possibly could, while she had received few commands from Flora, and
those few she had neglected to perform. Still, as Flora well knew that
the paid salary of these people is small, and that they mainly depend
upon the trifles bestowed upon them by passengers, she slipped
half-a-crown into her hand, and begged her to see that the trunks she
had pointed out were carried upon deck.
The woman stared at her, and dropped a low curtsey.
"La, Mem, you are one of the very few of our passengers who has been
kind enough to remember the stewardess. It's too bad--indeed it is. And
all the trouble that that Mrs. Dalton gave with her spoilt children, and
nasty black vagabond. And would you believe me, she went off without
bestowing on me a single penny! And worse than that, I heard her tell
the big fat woman, that never rose up in her berth, but to drink
brandy-and-water, 'That it was a bad fashion the Hinglish had of paying
servants, and the sooner it was got rid of the better.'
"'I perfectly hagrees with you,' said the fat woman; and so she gave
nothing;--no--not even thanks. Mrs. Major F---- pretended not to see me,
though I am sure I'm no midge; and I stood in the doorway on purpose to
give her a hint; but the hideous little old maid told me to get out of
the way, as she wanted to go upon deck to speak to the Major. Oh, the
meanness of these would-be fine ladies! But if ever they come to
Scotland in this boat again--won't I pay them off!"
Flora enjoyed these unsolicited confessions of a disappointed
stewardess; and she was forced to turn away her head for fear of
betraying a wicked inclination to laugh, which if indulged in at that
moment would, I have no doubt, have afforded her great satisfaction and
delight. As it was, she made no comment upon the meanness of her
fellow-passengers, nor consoled the excited stewardess by complaining of
their unlady-like conduct to herself.--What they were in their rank of
life, the stewardess was in hers. They were congenial souls--all
belonging to the same great family, and Flora was not a little amused by
the striking points of resemblance.
Bidding adieu to the Captain of the steamer, the Lyndsays and their
luggage were safely landed on the chain-pier at Newhaven; from thence
they proceeded to Leith, to the house of a respectable woman, the widow
of a surgeon, who resided near the Leith bank, and only a few minutes'
walk from the wharf.