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able to tell you more about it。
Certainly； this our last evening spent in Iceland will not have been the least joyous of our stay。 The dinner on board the 〃Reine Hortense〃 was very pleasant。 I renewed acquaintance with some of my old Baltic friends； and was presented to two or three of the Prince's staff who did not accompany the expedition to the Geysirs； among others； to the Duc d'Abrantes； Marshal Junot's son。 On sitting down to table； I found myself between H。I。H。 and Monsieur de Saulcy； member of the French Institute； who made that famous expedition to the Dead Sea； and is one of the gayest； pleasantest persons I have ever met。 Of course there was a great deal of laughing and talking； as well as much speculation with regard to the costume of the Icelandic ladies we were to see at the ball。 It appears that the dove…cots of Reykjavik have been a good deal fluttered by an announcement emanating from the gallant Captain of the 〃Artemise〃 that his fair guests would be expected to come in low dresses； for it would seem that the practice of showing their ivory shoulders is； as yet； an idea as shocking to the pretty ladies of this country as waltzes were to our grandmothers。 Nay； there was not even to be found a native milliner equal to the task of marking out that mysterious line which divides the prudish from the improper； so that the Collet…monte faction have been in despair。 As it turned out； their anxiety on this head was unnecessary； for we found； on entering the ball…room； that； with the natural refinement which characterises this noble people； our bright…eyed partners； as if by inspiration； had hit off the exact sweep from shoulder to shoulder； at whichafter those many oscillations； up and down； which the female corsage has undergone since the time of the first Directorgood taste has finally arrested it。
I happened to be particularly interested in the above important question； for up to that moment I had always been haunted by a horrid paragraph I had met with somewhere in an Icelandic book of travels； to the effect that it was the practice of Icelandic women； from early childhood； to flatten down their bosoms as much as possible。 This fact； for the honour of the island； I am now in a position to deny； and I here declare that； as far as I had the indiscretion to observe； those maligned ladies appeared to me as buxom in form as any rosy English girl I have ever seen。
It was nearly nine o'clock before we adjourned from the 〃Reine Hortense；〃 to the ball。 Already； for some time past； boats full of gay dresses had been passing under the corvette's stern on their way to the 〃Artemise；〃 looking like flower…beds that had put to sea；though they certainly could no longer be called a parterre；and by the time we ourselves mounted her lofty sides； a mingled stream of music； light； and silver laughter； was pouring out of every port…hole。 The ball…room was very prettily arranged。 The upper deck had been closed in with a lofty roof of canvas； from which hung suspended glittering lustres； formed by bayonets with their points collected into an inverted pyramid； and the butt…ends serving as sockets for the tapers。 Every wall was gay with flags；the frigate's frowning armament all hid or turned to ladies' uses： 82 pounders became sofasboarding…pikes； balustradespistols； candlesticksthe brass carronades set on end； pillarwise； their brawling mouths stopped with nose…gays； while portraits of the Emperor and the Empress； busts； colours draped with Parisian cunning； gave to the scene an appearance of festivity that looked quite fairy…like in so sombre a region。 As for our gallant host； I never saw such spirits； he is a fine old grey…headed blow…hard of fifty odd； talking English like a native； and combining the frank open…hearted cordiality of a sailor with that graceful winning gaiety peculiar to Frenchmen。 I never saw anything more perfect than the kind； almost fatherly； courtesy with which he welcomed each blooming bevy of maidens that trooped up his ship's side。 About two o'clock we had supper on the main…deck。 I had the honour of taking down Miss Thora； of Bessestad； and somehowthis time； I no longer found myself wandering back in search of the pale face of the old…world Thora； being； I suppose； sufficiently occupied by the soft； gentle eyes of the one beside me。 With the other young ladies I did not make much acquaintance； as I experienced a difficulty in finding befitting remarks on the occasion of being presented to them。 Once or twice； indeed； I hazarded； through their fathers； some little complimentary observations in Latin； but I cannot say that I found that language lend itself readily to the gallantries of the ball…room。 After supper dancing recommenced； and the hilarity of the evening reached its highest pitch when half a dozen sailors； dressed in turbans made of flags （one of them a lady with the face of the tragic muse）； came forward and danced the cancan； with a gravity and decorum that would have greatly edified what Gavarni calls 〃la pudeur municipale。〃
At 3 o'clock A。M。 I returned on board the schooner； and we are all now very busy in making final preparations for departure。 Fitz is rearranging his apothecary's shop。 Sigurdr is writing letters。 The last strains of music have ceased on board the 〃Artemise〃； the sun is already high in the heavens； the flower beds are returning on shore；a little draggled perhaps； as if just pelted by a thunder…storm； the 〃Reine Hortense〃 has got her steam up and the real； serious part of our voyage is about to begin。
I feel that my description has not half done justice to the wonders of this interesting island； but I can refer you to your friend Sir Henry Holland for further details； he paid a visit to Iceland in 1810； with Sir G。 Mackenzie； and made himself thoroughly acquainted with its historical and scientific associations。
CONCLUDING ACT。
SCENE。 R。 Y。 S： 〃Foam〃： astern of the 〃Reine Hortense〃
DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
VOICE OF FRENCH CAPTAIN； COMMANDING 〃R。H。〃 LORD D。 DOCTOR。 WILSON。
VOICE OF THE FRENCH CAPTAIN。〃Nous partons。〃
LORD D。〃All ready； Sir！〃
WILSON TO DOCTOR （sotto voce）。〃Sir！〃
DOCTOR。〃Eh？〃
WILSON。〃Do you know； Sir？〃
DOCTOR。〃What？〃
WILSON。〃Oh； nothing； Sir；only we're going to the hicy regions； Sir； ain't we？ Well； I've just seen that ere brig as is come from there； Sir； and they say there's a precious lot of ice this year！ （Pause。） Do you know； Sir； the skipper showed me the bows of his vessel； Sir？ She's got seven feet of solid timber in her for'ard： WE'VE only two inches； Sir！〃
（DIVES BELOW。）
VOICE OF FRENCH CAPTAIN （WITH A SLIGHT ACCENT）。〃Are you ready？〃
Lord D。…〃Ay； ay； Sir！ Up anchor！〃
LETTER VIII。
START FROM REYKJAVIKSNAEFELLTHE LADY OF FRODA…A BERSERK TRAGEDYTHE CHAMPION OF BREIDAVIKONUNDER FIORDTHE LAST NIGHTCROSSING THE ARCTIC CIRCLEFETE ON BOARD THE 〃REINE HORTENSE〃LE PERE ARCTIQUE…WE FALL IN WITH THE ICETHE 〃SAXON〃 DISAPPEARSMISTA PARTING IN A LONELY SPOTJAN MAYENMOUNT BEERENBERGAN UNPLEASANT POSITIONSHIFT OF WIND AND EXTRICATION〃TO NORROWAY OVER THE FAEM〃A NASTY COASTHAMMERFEST。
Hammerfest； July。
Back in Europe again；within reach of posts！ The glad sun shining； the soft winds blowing； and roses on the cabin