We will start, if you please, with a first principle. All bodies that float, displace as much fluid as is equal in weight to themselves. Good, we have got our first principle! What do we deduce from that? Manifestly this, that in order to keep a vessel afloat, it is necessary ship and cargo should be of less weight than the weight of the water. (she looks round) Pray follow me here, madam--the weight of water equal in bulk to that part of the vessel which it is intended to immerse. Now, madam, salt water is specifically thirty times heavier than fresh, and a vessel in the German Ocean will not sink so deep as in the Thames, consequently you see, when we load our ship for the London market----
MAD. L. (aside). Why, where can they have gone to?
CAPT. W. I say, when we load for the London market, we have hydrostatically three alternatives before us, either we load one-thirtieth part less than we can safely carry at sea, or we take one-thirtieth part out when we arrive at the mouth of the river; or we do neither the one or the other, and, as I have already had the honor of remarking, on reaching Greenwich, down we go.
MAD. L. (rises and looks off, R. U. E., aside). This delay is most surprising, I----
CAPT. W. Ah, I see; you are struck with the change of the wind. Very extraordinary, really. Nor'-nor'-west this morning; now due nor', veering slightly to nor'-east; ten to one, this afternoon, will veer round to the south, (following her up C.) Is there anything, my dear madam, more remarkable than the variableness of the wind in England? Is there any phenomenon more bewildering to the scientific inquirer? You will tell me that its principal cause is the electric fluid which abounds in the air; you will remind me of the experiment of that illustrious philosopher, who measured the velocity of a great storm by a small flight of feathers. I grant all of your propositions.
MAD. L. I beg your pardon, you kindly attribute to me knowledge which I don't at all possess; my dear husband might have replied to you; as for myself, I can only thank you for your very agreeable and instructive conversation, and as I fear Mr. Vanstone is rather exceeding his extent of walk----
CAPT. W. Bless my soul, the post.
MAD. L. The post?
CAPT. W. I think that is the old fellow, yonder, that carries round the letters. I am anxiously expecting one from a dear sister of mine in Scotland.
MAD. L. And I am not less anxious, for I have a brother at Geneva, who is far from being well; and as he has not written to me for the last fortnight, I----
CAPT. W. It's the man, madam, and here he is coming; he has a letter for one of us, it's quite clear, and if I dared trust my fluttering pulse, I----
POSTMAN enters, L. U. E. Who for, my good man--speak!
POSTMAN. Madame Lecompte., [Goes to her, gives it. Exit, L. U. E.
CAPT. W. For you, madam. I leave you to peruse it. (he turns away, up stage.)
MAD. L. From my brother! (tears it open, reads a few lines, and screams) Good heavens!
CAPT. W. (coming down). My dear madam!
MAD. L. He's very ill--he thinks he's dying; he implores me to come to him instantly.
CAPT. W. Bless my soul! I'm very sorry.
MAD. L. My sight fails me. Will you oblige me, sir, by calling Mr. Vanstone?
CAPT. W. Certainly, my dear madam; certainly, (he goes to R. U. E., and waves his hat) Mr. Vanstone, Mr. Vanstone! He is coming, my dear madam.
MAD. L. Thank you, indeed. I must go in-doors. I feel so faint I can scarcely stand. Oh! If I should be too late! (totters into house; he following and commiserating, then turning and rubbing his hands.)
CAPT. W. That letter was a masterpiece--not merely a mechanical triumph, an exact rendering of the hand--but the man's mind, his style, ideas. Yes, that constitutes my triumph; that's a something to be proud of!
VANSTONE enters, R. U. E., with MAGDALEN. VANS. You called to me, Mr. Bygrave.
CAPT. W. For Madame Lecompte, sir. She has bad news--a letter from her brother, who it seems is very ill.
VANS. Then I must leave you, Miss Bygrave, for an instant, an instant only; but I go the proudest and happiest of men. (after kissing her hand, he enters L. house.)
CAPT. W. From which words I am to infer that he has proposed to you, and been accepted?
MAG. He has. (on seat R.)
CAPT. W. And would only be too happy if he could marry you to-morrow. Let him restrain his impatience for a week, and perhaps it can be managed.
MAG. In a week?
CAPT. W. Perhaps less, if he's active. As soon as this woman starts for Switzerland, he has simply to start for London, buy a license and a ring.
MAG. Oh wretchedness!
CAPT. W. So! I think both of us are to be congratulated--you on the fascinations which have hooked this trout so easily, and I on the tact and firmness that saved the sport from interruption.
VANSTONE enters from L. house. VANS. (eagerly to CAPT. W.). Mr. Bygrave, was ever anything so fortunate! Her brother's dying, and she is resolved to start for Switzerland to-day.
CAPT. W. And you, Mr. Vanstone, for London the day after; when, having arranged all the preliminaries, by the time your worthy housekeeper has reached her brother's side, you and your young bride will have reached Scotland on your wedding tour.
VANS. Oh, rapture! Dear Miss Bygrave! (he approaches MAGDALEN ardently.)
VOICE OF MAD. L. (off L. 1. E. ). Mr. Vanstone!
VANS. I'm coming, my good Lecompte. (he goes into house, MAGDALEN'S head falls on the back of the chair.)
CAPT. W. I think I shall touch my two hundred pounds. (stands rubbing his hands.)
CURTAIN.
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ACT V. SCENE.--Aaron's Buildings, Regent's Park. A Sitting Room in a Lodging House.
CAPTAINS KIRKE and WRAGGE discovered at table, R.
CAPTAIN KIRKE. And she married this Mr. Vanstone?
WRAG. Yes, my dear sir, she married him about a week after you left Aldborough, and married him as I have told you.
CAPT. K. To regain the properly which herself and siste