“No,” replied Mrs. Merton, “but it was remarkable at this period for the heroism displayed by the Countess of Portland, whose husband had been Governor of the Island, and who defended the Castle at Carisbrook against the militia of Newport, who were directed by the Parliament to assail it.” As soon as Mr. Merton had finished his business at Newport, they took the road to East Cowes, following the course of the Medina, and passing by East Cowes Castle on their route. As soon as they arrived at the ferry at East Cowes, the driver hailed the horseferry boat, and Agnes had an opportunity of seeing the manner in which it was worked by a rope across the river. They drove into the boat without getting out of the carriage, and drove out again in the same manner, when they reached the landing-place at West Cowes, and proceeded immediately to the pier, where they found a steam-boat just ready to start. While Mr. Merton was paying the driver, and Mrs. Merton was superintending the removal of the luggage, Agnes’s attention was attracted by the appearance of the young Londoner whom they had first met with at Freshwater, and afterwards seen shipwrecked at Black Gang Chine; but he was wonderfully changed since they saw him last. He was now pale and exhausted, and sitting on a chair, in which he was carried on board by two men, and immediately taken down into the cabin, where he remained during the voyage. He was followed by his Newfoundland dog, who also looked sadly changed since the day Agnes patted his head on the beach at Freshwater, where she had seen him first. Agnes was so deeply interested in watching this young man and his dog, that she did not perceive that her mamma had gone into the packet-boat, and Mrs. Merton, who was afraid lest Mr. Merton would over-fatigue himself, did not perceive that she was standing on the shore; and thus Agnes was in imminent danger of being left behind, for the men had actually began to remove the board, when she saw her danger and cried out to them to stay. The men laid down the board again, and Agnes ran hastily down it, but the steam-boat was already in motion; and Agnes would have been precipitated into the sea, if one of the seamen had not caught her in his arms and lifted her on board. The wind and tide were both in their favour, and the steam-boat proceeded so rapidly, that when Agnes had sufficiently recovered herself to think of looking for the sea-nettles, she found that the packet was going too fast for her to see one of them. They soon arrived at Calshot Castle and passed it close by; and, as they now proceeded a little more leisurely up the river, Agnes began to look round at her fellow-passengers. Immediately in front of her, sat an old gentleman with a small book in his hand; and when he opened it, several engravings flew out. Agnes instantly ran to pick them up; and when she returned them to the old gentleman, he thanked her, and asked her if she knew what one of the engravings represented.