Part 58 (1/2)

”Well, I like you better than any other point of the compa.s.s, and I'm sure I never thought I should like one of them,” replied Jack.

”That will not do for me; will you love only me?”

”I'm not likely to love the others,” replied Jack, shutting his eyes again; ”I _hate_ them all.”

”And love me?”

”Well, I do love you, that's a fact,” replied Jack, as he thought of the goose and the five guineas.

”Then look round, and you shall see me,” said the soft voice.

Jack, who hardly knew whether he was asleep or awake, did at this summons once more take the trouble to open his eyes, and beheld a fairy female figure, pellucid as water, yet apparently possessing substance; her features were beautifully soft and mild, and her outline trembled and s.h.i.+fted as it were, waving gently to and fro. It smiled sweetly, hung over him, played with his chestnut curls, softly touched his lips with her own, pa.s.sed her trembling fingers over his cheeks, and its warm breath appeared as if it melted into his. Then it grew more bold,--embraced his person, searched into his neck and collar, as if curious to examine him.

Jack felt a pleasure and gratification which he could not well comprehend: once more the charmer's lips trembled upon his own, now remaining for a moment, now withdrawing, again returning to kiss and kiss again, and once more did the soft voice put the question--

”Do you love me?”

”Better than goose,” replied Jack.

”I don't know who goose may be,” replied the fairy form, as she tossed about Jack's waving locks; ”you must love only me, promise me that before I am relieved.”

”What, have you got the first watch, as well as me?” replied Jack.

”I am on duty just now, but I shall not be so long. We southerly winds are never kept long in one place; some of my sisters will probably be sent here soon.”

”I don't understand what you talk about,” replied Jack. ”Suppose you tell me who you are, and what you are, and I'll do all I can to keep awake; I don't know how it is, but I've felt more inclined to go to sleep since you have been fanning me about, than I did before.”

”Then I will remain by your side while you listen to me. I am, as I told you, a wind----”

”That's puzzling,” said Jack, interrupting her.

”My name is 'S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.'”

”Yes, and a very long name it is. If you wish me to remember you, you should have had a shorter one.”

This ruffled the wind a little, and she blew rather sharp into the corner of Jack's eye,--however, she proceeded--

”You are a sailor, and of course you know all the winds on the compa.s.s by name.”

”I wish I did; but I don't,” replied Littlebrain, ”I can recollect you, and not one other.”

Again the wind trembled with delight on his lips, and she proceeded:--”You know that there are thirty-two points on the compa.s.s, and these points are divided into quarters; so that there are, in fact, 128 different winds.”

”There are more than I could ever remember; I know that,” said Jack.

”Well, we are in all 128. All the winds which have northerly in them, are coa.r.s.e and ugly; all the southern winds are pretty.”

”You don't say so?” replied our hero.

”We are summoned to blow, as required, but the hardest duty generally falls to the northerly winds, as it should do, for they are the strongest; although we southerly winds can blow hard enough when we choose. Our characters are somewhat different. The most unhappy in disposition, and I may say, the most malevolent, are the north and easterly winds; the N.W. winds are powerful, but not unkind; the S.E.