will be of an understanding to you." And at that moment he raised his
glass of champagne and said:

"To the destiny of those born of American and French blood
commingled!"

All those present arose to their feet and drank that toast with loving
looking at me, and I did not know what I should do until that good old
gray boat capitaine patted me upon the shoulder and said across his
empty glass:

"God bless and keep you, child!"

"I thank everybody," I answered as I went into the embrace of my very
large lady friend from the State of Cincinnati, and then into the
embrace of the other ladies.

"I've been knitting all day for two months but I'm going to begin to
sit up at night," sobbed the lady from a queer Keokuk name as I took
her into my embrace on account of her extreme smallness.

It was at a very late hour, just before retiring, that I ascended to
the deck with my Capitaine to view the effect of a very young moon on
the waves of the ocean.

"Is it that you think now your soldier of France has done your command
well, _mon Capitaine_?" I asked of him.

"Most extremely well, and entirely in the mode of a woman. Those two
young men have made of themselves very noble competitors for your