LETTER I. 5 



In spite of the unfavourable conditions in which 

 I generally see it, I like Liverpool. It is an 

 amphibious town, and one of uncertain nationality. 

 Its language and manners seem to me to savour 

 almost as strongly of America as its atmosphere 

 does of tarred ropes and salt water, and there is 

 a freshness and vigour about it which seems to 

 me more full of hope and energy than the atmo- 

 sphere of any ordinary English town. 



But enough of Liverpool. Come on board 

 and be introduced to our fellow-passengers, 

 ' homing ' Canadians for the most part, who have 

 been loyally celebrating Her Most Gracious 

 Majesty's jubilee in England. Mr. O'Brien, the 

 irreverent Hibernian of our party, calls them 

 ' Jubilee Yanks.' Don't be disappointed, dear ; 

 I really am not going to be even a little bit 

 spiteful about our pretty cousins, for I am fain to 

 confess that they won my heart almost as entirely 

 as they did my husband's. 



But not just at first, Lena, for charity (let 

 alone love) is a somewhat difficult virtue to cul- 

 tivate on board ship towards the young women 

 whose jaunty red hats, blue eyes, and saucy 

 moods have enslaved and carried off the men, 

 whose whole time should be devoted to the 

 arrangement of your wraps and the carriage of 

 your beef-tea. They have not yet forgotten, 



