yourself. The ear-trumpet seems a sensible part of her, like the
antennae of some insects. If you have any little remark to make, you
drop it in; and she helps you to make remarks by this delicate little
appeal of the trumpet, as she slightly directs it towards you; and if you
have nothing to say, the appeal is not strong enough to embarrass you.
All her talk was about herself and her affairs; but it did not seem like
egotism, because it was so cheerful and free from morbidness. And this
woman is an Atheist, and thinks that the principle of life will become
extinct when her body is laid in the grave! I will not think so; were it
only for her sake. What! only a few weeds to spring out of her
mortality, instead of her intellect and sympathies flowering and fruiting
forever!


September 13th.--My family went to Rhyl last Thursday, and on Saturday I
joined them there, in company with O'Sullivan, who arrived in the Behama
from Lisbon that morning. We went by way of Chester, and found S-----
waiting for us at the Rhyl station. Rhyl is a most uninteresting place,
--a collection of new lodging-houses and hotels, on a long sand-beach,
which the tide leaves bare almost to the horizon. The sand is by no
means a marble pavement, but sinks under the foot, and makes very heavy
walking; but there is a promenade in front of the principal range of
houses, looking on the sea, whereon we have rather better footing.
Almost all the houses were full, and S----- had taken a parlor and two
bedrooms, and is living after the English fashion, providing her own
table, lights, fuel, and everything. It is very awkward to our American
notions; but there is an independence about it, which I think must make
it agreeable on better acquaintance. But the place is certainly
destitute of attraction, and life seems to pass very heavily. The
English do not appear to have a turn for amusing themselves.