' And the great ships will pass your
beautiful ship, and when people ask 'What is that craft, and who is
Cassall?' they will say that Cassall gave of his abundance during his
lifetime, so that seamen might be relieved of bitter suffering; and
those brave men will be so very grateful. And oh! uncle, fancy going out
to sea in your own monument, and watching your own wealth working
blessedness before your eyes. Why, you will actually have all the
pleasures of immortality before you have lost the power of seeing or
knowing anything. Oh, uncle dear, think if you can only see _one_
sailor's limbs saved by means of your money! Think of having a hundred
living monuments of your goodness walking about in the beautiful
world--saved and made whole by you!"
The girl frightened the plucky old gentleman. His voice trembled, and he
said, "Why, we must send you to Parliament! You can beat most of those
dull sconces. Why, you're a no-mistake born orator--a talkee-talkee
shining light! But if you go in for woman's rights and take to short
hair, I shall die, after burning my will! And now you kiss me, my
darling, and don't scare me any more with that witch's tongue." Was ever
millionaire in such manner wooed? Was ever millionaire in such fashion
won? The gipsy's eyes glowed, and her heart heat in triumph. Was this
the Diana of Ferrier's imagination? Was this the queen of whom that
athletic young gentleman was silently dreaming as he swung over the
pulsing mountains of the North Sea? This slyboots! This most infantile
coax!
I wish some half-dozen of the most charming young ladies in England
would only begin coaxing, and coax to as good purpose! I would go out
next summer and willingly end my days in work on the water, if I thought
my adorable readers would only take Marion Dearsley's hint, and help to
blot out a little misery and pain from this bestained world.
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