of light heart and easy fancy will, the ladies made imagined voyages in
each of the more notable vessels they passed,--all cheap and safe trips,
occupying half a second apiece. Then they came forward to the bow, that
they might not lose any part of the harbor's beauty and variety, and
informed themselves of the names of each of the fortressed islands as they
passed, and forgot them, being passed, so that to this day Aunt Melissa
has the Fort Warren rebel prisoners languishing in Fort Independence. But
they made sure of the air of soft repose that hung about each, of that
exquisite military neatness which distinguishes them, and which went to
Aunt Melissa's housekeeping heart, of the green, thick turf covering the
escarpments, of the great guns loafing on the crests of the ramparts and
looking out over the water sleepily, of the sentries pacing slowly up and
down with their gleaming muskets.

"I never see one of those fellows," says Cousin Frank, "without setting
him to the music of that saddest and subtlest of Heine's poems. You know
it, Lucy;" and he repeats:--

"Mein Herz, mein Herz is traurig,
Doch lustig leuchtet der Mai;
Ich stehe gelehnt an der Linde,
Hoch auf der alten Bastei.

* * * * *

"Am alten grauen Thurme
Ein Schilderhauschen steht;
Ein rothgerockter Bursche
Dort auf und nieder geht.