216 THE REGRETTED WATCH. 



boat,, through the cabin window, on that fearful morning, on my way 

 thither I espied this identical repeater hanging up in its owner's 

 state-room, which I had to pass, and remembering the immense value 

 lie attached to it, I hastily thrust it into my pocket, intending to give 

 him an agreeable surprise, should we be fortunate enough to escape 

 with our lives ; and this was the occasion I had chosen to make the, 

 to him undreamt-of, restoration. 



" You desert us early, sir," said I to this Widower of the Watch, 

 as we had christened him, observing that he was about to take his 

 leave ; " what o'clock is it ?" 



" I should think about nine," replied he, putting his right hand to 

 his empty fob, and giving an expressive shrug. " Ah, my fine 

 repeater ! Had I only saved that, I should'nt have cared a fig for all 

 the rest. I can never get such another. I will never wear a watch 

 again." 



ee Nay, sir do me the favour to wear this one in remembrance of a 

 fellow-sufferer, who deeply sympathizes in your loss," said I, taking 

 the so much regretted repeater from my pocket, and handing it to 

 him across the table. 



A shout of surprise and wonder broke from the astonished company, 

 as they beheld the identical watch restored to its disconsolate owner. 

 But imagine, dear reader ! the transports of the Widower of the 

 Watch himself, on finding his beloved thus miraculously, as it were, 

 restored to him from the fathomless depths of the ocean, in all its 

 pristine beauty and unimpaired accomplishments ! Fancy him over- 

 whelming the saviour of his precious treasure with heart-felt acknow- 

 ledgments of gratitude, and reiterated assurances of friendly assistance 

 with purse and influence ! Depict to thyself the effect of such a sur- 

 prise on one of so reserved a disposition, displaying itself in unwonted 

 outbreaking^ of sociality and good-humour, delightful to behold ! 

 But imagine, and fancy, and depict till doomsday his probable 

 acknowledgments and conduct on the occasion, thou canst conceive 

 nothing that can possibly equal his actual deportment. 



Taking the watch, and scrutinizing it for a moment with the most 

 imperturbable sang froid, and then looking from it to me directly in 

 the face, he exclaimed, with an air of hasty rebuke "DAMN it! YOU'VE 

 BROKEN THE GLASS !" and putting it in his fob, wished us a hurried 

 farewell, and I never saw him more. W. B. H. 



