CHAPTER XIV. They see the flash with sudden lightnings flare THE LUSIAD. DURING the short conversation which took place between Arthur and George, the latter had been made acquainted with two important facts; namely, that Arthur was apprised of the reports circulated in England with regard to himself and Alice Graham, and that he was ignorant of the Christian name of her supposed admirer. Anxious for her sake, to cultivate the acquaintance of the man to whom in all probability her future fate would be intrusted, but unwilling to appear either an object of pity or a source of embarrassment, as a rejected suitor of the woman who favoured his new friend, he came to the determination of assuming the character of a near relation to the individual in question, and of concealing from Ashmont his real birth and parentage. It was likely that by these means, a greater freedom of intercourse would subsist between them; and the event justified the expectation: the two young men soon became exceedingly inti matę. The approaching separation of Arthur and Mr. Middleton made so many arrangements necessary to complete a transfer of accounts to other hands, that, though Arthur had removed from his uncle's house, it was impossible for him to think of leaving the country at that period. During this time, Shenstone and he had ample means of improving their acquaintance. Arthur took delight in the society of one who, by his own account, had passed some time in -shire, and with whom he could dilate on the perfections of his intended, and deplore the untoward circumstances which caused their separation; and to George, though the subject was in a certain degree painful, there was still a melancholy pleasure in hearing those praises lavished on one to whom he was still ready and willing to devote his existence. Amongst the engagements entered into by Mr. Middleton, there was one of a peculiar and delicate nature with a Dutch merchant, the conduct of which affair had been entrusted to Arthur. It was highly important to Mr. Middleton's interests, that whatever might be the result of the transaction (the seat of which was to be in the Corea), he should have the earliest possible intelligence of it; and in order that no unnecessary delay should take place, it had been arranged that Arthur was to go out and meet the Dutch vessel at a given island in those seas, she being bound to various other ports, previous to her return to Bombay; amonst others, to Nangesaki, the Dutch settlement in Japan. This agreement had been made some time previous to Mr. Middleton's quarrel with his nephew, and the period now drew near when Arthur originally was to have set sail in search of the desired intelligence. Aware that this affair was one that could not with prudence be intrusted to a person not conversant with the transactions which had given rise to it, and that for this reason his uncle would feel particularly embarrassed in the choice of a person qualified to undertake the management of the business, he considered it due to the kindness with which he had been treated up to the period of their unfortunate rupture, to offer to fulfil the engagement he had entered into during the epoch of their intimacy. To his communication to this effect, he received the following answer: "Sir, "It is my opinion that by proposing to fulfil your engagement with regard to the Corea business, you act like a gentleman: I am sorry your understanding should not keep pace with your good breeding. Had it been otherwise, it is probable you would not have been fool enough to refuse the hand of a fine girl with a good fortune, for the sake of a penniless English Miss. The Jessy will be ready for sea in a week's time. Go along; and if possible come back rather wiser than you went. "I am Sir, your obedient servant. Arthur could not refrain from a smile when he' showed this curious specimen of polite correspondence to George Shenstone, proposing to him at the same time to accompany him in the expedition. Shenstone assented, and the two friends immediately began their preparations for a voyage which must necessarily consume a considerable portion of their time. On the day preceding that which was fixed upon for their departure, Shenstone called upon his friend, requesting him to take charge of a sealed packet he held in his hand. "It is of consequence," said he, "that this packet should be preserved. I have a duplicate of it in my own possession, but for greater security I should consider myself greatly obliged if you would retain this one in yours. I cannot tell, no one can tell, whether I shall return hither alive, though I do not own to any more than an ordinary presentiment of evil. But be the event what it may, I have but one request to make; namely, if I die, that you will open the packet, and fulfil the injunctions you will find in it. If I live— but that contingency speaks for itself, and we can discuss that matter at our leisure." Arthur willingly agreed to Shenstone's request, and the two friends separated to meet the following day on board the Jessy. The vessel was of considerable size, and calculated to lessen the great miseries of a voyage to those for whom sailing for its own sake has little or no charms. But Arthur was not one of these, and delighted in the prospect of the various places that, in the course of so long an expedition as that which they had in view, it would be necessary as well as agreeable to visit. After passing the island of Ceylon, the Jessy was bound through the straits of Sunda to Batavia, at which place they expected to hear tidings of the Dutchman of which they were in search. There was, however, one drawback to the pleasure of the voyage. The captain of their vessel, a man named Hawkins, was speedily discovered to be morose, and impracticable to a great degree, obstinate and brutal towards those who were under him, and ill disposed in any way to accommodate his passengers, or to minister to their convenience or pleasure, No source of contention arose between Bombay and Batavia; and having prosperously arrived at the latter place, they received the information that the Dutchman had touched there after a prosperous voyage, and having taken in the necessary stores, proceeded on her course with every prospect of a favourable voyage. In process of time the Jessy put to sea, with the same favourable prospect as to wind and weather before her. But Hawkins, who had hitherto been awed, by his slight acquaintance with the two young men, and his scanty knowledge as to the degree of impunity with which he might exercise his love of tyranny and his taste for making himself disagreeable, into treating them with tolerable civility, finding that both Shenstone and Arthur were quiet men, disposed in general to be satisfied, and well inclined to practise |