The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 245: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~~ 188 THE STEAM PACKET. reject not my offer: it is not intended as a reward, for nothing cou adequately remunerate valour like yours: it is only a pledge of per- manent regard.” ‘“¢ On those conditions I accept the gift, ” said Albert; and he pressed with warmth the hand that placed a ring of immense wane upon. his finger. ‘‘ Mademoiselle,’ said M. Tascher’s daughter to Pauline, on her side, ‘‘allow me to leave some token of my gratitude and esteem with you also. You know,” she added, laughing, and in a whisper, ‘‘ that I am to be Queen of France; and then you shall not be forgotten. In the mean time, this chain’’—and she loosened one from her neck as she spoke—“ must express my attachment towards you, and link our hearts for ever in the bonds of friendship.”’ “You also, then, must keep a token to remind you of me,” said Pauline; and having left the room for a few moments, she returned with a bracelet, which she clasped upon her new friend’s wrist, receiv-_ ing the chain around her own neck at the same time. The word ‘‘ farewell” was then uttered on both sides; and M. Tascher departed with his daughter, leaving behind them at the humble cottage the most favourable impression upon all its inmates. But these impressions varied considerably in their nature. Pierre Michel was pleased with the open-hearted disposition and honest frankness of M. Tascher; while Pauline felt herself deeply interested in the beautiful daughter of that gentleman. But on his part, Albert experienced an undefinable admiration of the young lady who had just ~ taken her departure, which appeared to grow the more impassioned as he pondered upon her attractions. “Every word she had uttered in his hearing during her short stay at the cottage—the softness of her hazel eye—the luxuriance of her dark brown hair—her sweet smile— and the graces of her sylph-like form, were all treasured in his memory. In a word, he was deeply enamoured of Mademoiselle Tascher ; it was a love assuredly formed at first sight—but not the less sincere nor the less profound on that account; and from the moment. she quitted the humble cottage with her father, to enter the vehicle that was to convey her to Paris, Albert grew daily more and more melan- choly. And what was M. Tascher? This question frequently intruded itself upon his mind—for he often reflected, in his visionary musings, upon the claims which he might assert in aspiring to the hand of her whom he loved, at some future period. M. Tascher had been but - little communicative relative to himself or his circumstances. The: few particulars before recorded, and a word which had dropped from | Gomichbooks (E(0)