1832.] The Portrait : a Sketch. 269 



him. She rues the consent which has been wrung from her. They 

 have brought her to the church. For this half hour have they been try- 

 ing to prevail upon her to allow the ceremony to proceed. I never saw 

 such a scene ! How they can stand it, I know not ; but, for my part, 

 it was too much for me, and I was obliged to come away." 



The truth flashed across me. I broke from Armstrong, and rushed 

 into the church. It was she ! I met them bearing her fainting from 

 the altar, supported by the man whose scowl I had encountered in the 

 Exhibition-room. The knot had been tied ! As they passed by me, I 

 stood like an idiot I spoke not moved not they went out of the 

 church all power of reflection or action seemed to have deserted me. 

 I mechanically submitted to the guidance of Armstrong, who, with his 

 friend, conducted me home. 



" Come," said I, suddenly starting up, after I had sat, as Armstrong 

 has assured me, for upwards of two hours without speaking" Come, 

 I shall embark to-night for England \" 



He did not attempt to dissuade me. " I shall accompany you, my 

 lad," said he. 



We had but few arrangements to make; nevertheless, when we 

 arrived at Kingstown, we were too late for the packet; she had sailed 

 half an hour before. 



" What shall we do ?" asked Armstrong. 



<{ Take up our quarters here till to-morrow evening," replied I. "I 

 shall not set foot in Dublin again." 



" Content !" rejoined Armstrong. 



It came on a dreadful night wind, rain, and thunder. 'Twas a relief 

 to the chaos of my heart the tempest was in unison with it. I watched 

 an opportunity, and stealing out, went down to the beach. The night 

 was terrifically grand. As far as the eye could reach, there was nothing 

 but one undulating, heaving sheet of foam. You could scarcely hear the 

 thunder for the breakers. I discerned a party at a distance busy about 

 something. I approached them. A vessel was in the offing on the bar, 

 and they were about to launch the life-boat ; they had almost accom- 

 plished their purpose, when one of the crew was struck down and stun- 

 ned they could not tell with what. Obeying an impulse, for which I 

 could not account, but which probably owed its origin to an utter reck- 

 lessness of life, I made a rush, and sprung into the boat " I can pull 

 an oar, my lads \" I exclaimed " Lay to, and tug away !" 



We slowly approached the ship. As we neared her, we saw that the 

 crew had taken to the boat, which was pulling from her. We hailed it. 

 Our cry was answered. It disappeared ; we hailed it again again. 

 No reply. It had gone down ! We looked at one another and shud- 

 dered, but spoke not. We were now alongside of the wreck. Upon the 

 poop, the only part above the water, stood two individuals, who watched 

 us, without speaking. We rowed to leeward of the vessel, took them 

 off, and after ascertaining that there was not another soul on board, 

 made back, and reached the shore. 



It was a man and a woman whom we had rescued. We conveyed 

 them to the inn the female was consigned to the charge of the land- 

 lady. Armstrong and I undertook the task of attending to her com- 

 panion, whom we soon equipped with dry apparel from our own trunks, 

 and easily prevailed upon to take a seat at our board, which was spread 

 for supper. 



