88 THE CRATER; mony, as she approached, and great uneasiness beset him He knew she had not been as far as the Peak, and sup posed that Waally s fleet had intercepted her, Belts corning back for reinforcements. But, as the boat drew near, the fluttering of female dresses was seen, and then his unerring glas.* let him get a distant view of the sweet face of his young wife. From that moment the governor was incapa ble of giving a coherent or useful order, until Bridget had arrived. Vessels that came in from the southward were obliged to pass through the narrow entrance, between the Reef and the Hog Lot, where vvas the drawbridge so often mentioned. There was water enough to float a frigate, and It was possible to take a frigate through, the width beinor about fifty feet, though as yet nothing larger than the Friend Abraham White had made the trial. At this point, then, Woolston took his station, waiting the arrival of the Neshamony, with an impatience he was a little ashamed of exhibiting. Petts saw the governor, in good time, and pointed him out to Bridget, who could hardly be kept on board the boat, so slow did the progress of the craft now seem. But the tender love which this young couple bore each other was soon to be rewarded; for Mark sprang on board the Neshamony as she went through the narrow pass, and im mediately he had Bridget folded to his heart. Foreigners are apt to say that we children of this western world do not submit to the tender emotions with the same self-abandonment as those who are born nearer to the rising sun ; that our hearts are as cold and selfish as our manners ; and that we live more for the lower and grovelling passions, than for sentiment and the affections. Most sincerely do we wish that every charge which European jealousy, arid Eu-^pean superciliousness, have brought against the Ame rican character, was as false as this. That the people of this country are more restrained in the exhibition of all their emotions, than those across the great waters, we be lieve ; but, that the last feel the most, we shall be very unwilling to allow. Most of all shall we deny that the female form contains hearts more true to all its affections, spi 1 ts more devoted to the interests of its earthly head, or an identity of existence more perfect than those with which
