

THE 'NEVADA/ 81 



floating palaces that ply between San Francisco and 

 Panama, but, at the same time, far from the best of 

 them. The day was beautiful on which I went on 

 board, for the sun was as bright as ever gladdened 

 a landscape, and all the passengers had a holiday 

 appearance. 



' Leaning on the bulwarks close to the gangway, 

 about ten minutes before getting under way, taking 

 observation of those who were to be my fellow- 

 travellers, I was very much struck by a young lady, 

 apparently not over seventeen, who, under the 

 guardianship of a middle-aged, sinister, repulsive- 

 looking man, came on board, and passed aft to the 

 cabin ; and as any number of boxes, of every size and 

 calibre, accompanied them, at once I came to the 

 conclusion that they were also passengers. 



Few see a really pretty woman accompanied by 

 a vulgar or repulsive-looking man, without conjec- 

 turing how extraordinary is the mesalliance : at 

 least, to speak for myself, I seldom do. It is a 

 combination of sweet and sour, sunshine and storm, 

 beauty and the beast : qualities so utterly dissimilar, 

 that more than our ordinary interest is unavoidably 

 awakened. 



' The deep-toned, sonorous whistle had given 

 warning to the dearest friends that the hour for 

 parting had come. Elderly gentlemen and young 

 ones again and again shook hands, and repeated their 

 last words of instructions or good wishes ; ladies 

 kissed and rekissed each other, and again had a kiss 



G 



