Maurice's prediction of a fine day proved true.

At twelve o'clock the weather was as brilliant as possible; the sky blue and clear, the river blue and glittering.

The Mermaid, a small steamer, lay in the wharf, gaily decorated with flags; and throngs of people began to gather at the landing and on the deck.

Among a group of the most important guests, stood the acknowledged leader of the expedition, the 'Queen of Cacouna,' Mrs.Bellairs.She was talking fast and merrily to everybody in turn, giving an occasional glance to the provision baskets as they were carried on board, and meantime keeping an anxious look-out along the bank of the river, for the appearance of her own little carriage, which ought to have been at the rendezvous long ago.
A very handsome man stood beside her.

He was of a type the more striking because specimens of it so rarely found their way in to the fresh, vigorous, hard-working Colonial society.