After riding along for half an hour, in a path cut through the otherwise impervious wood, we came to a naked, storm-scathed, and sun-baked promontory of red clay and grey stone, which beetled over the sea so abruptly, that the line of vision struck the water at least a mile beyond the beach, which was thus entirely hid from our sight. The spot where we stood seemed to be the eastern headland, or cape, of a small and most beautiful bay, which opened to our view down to leeward. Beyond us, out at sea, the water was roughened by a fiery sea-breeze--to use the West Indian phrase--the blue water being thickly speckled with white crests; and from the speed with which the white sails in the offing slid along their liquid way, like feathers, or snow-flakes floating down the wind, it might be called a brisk gale. Every now and then a tiny white speck would emerge from under the bluff into sight, and skim away until lost in the misty distance; and a coaster from the offing, as she hauled in for the bay, would as suddenly vanish for a time, until she again appeared, diminished in the distance to a sea-bird, gliding slowly along the glasslike surface of the small bay, when she would fold her white wings, and become stationary at anchor near the shipping-place, or Barquedier, as it is called. "We must go down and see that beautiful bay, Helen--Miss Hudson, I mean--beg pardon"---- "We have not time, Mr Brail, to-day; we must return, as my father wishes us to visit some beautiful scenery in the woods; but we shall ride to it another forenoon--only, why will you distress yourself about calling me Helen--why, I _am_ Helen--every body calls me Helen--with your precise _Miss_ Hudson, and _Mademoiselle_ Duquesné. If you stick to such formalities, I will positively treat you to a few _calculations_ and _guessings_." Here the laughing girl gave the true nasal twang of Jonathan himself. "Well, well--agreed--Helen you shall be--my Helen." She looked at me, and blushing, held up her finger, and shook her head--as if she had said--"No, no,--not quite _yet_." My heart stopped a beat to gather strength, and then gave such a devil of a bounce--"Hillo," thought I--"Ha, ha, Master Benjamin!" We therefore returned homewards, and having extended our ride in another direction, and been highly gratified by the scenery, we found ourselves seated at dinner, in the lower piazza of the court facing the east, so as to be screened from the rays of the setting sun by the roof of the house.