are told of his conqueror Sir Bevis, who appears to have resided near Southampton, at a place still called Sir Bevis's mount."

"I suppose these figures below are Sir Bevis's arms," said Agnes; "if there ever was such a person."

"I do not wonder that you have not full faith in Sir Bevis," said Mrs. Merton, smiling; "but, for my own part, I believe that all the heroes of romance we hear about in different places are real personages, though the deeds they did have been so exaggerated as to make us doubt their existence.”

"But the arms, mamma," repeated Agnes,"whose do you think they are?"

"Most of them are probably those of the persons who have repaired the gate, at different times; and, I think, those of Queen Elizabeth are in the centre. The queer-looking animals that sit below, however, most probably belonged to Sir Bevis, as they appear of the same date as his figure."

They now took a rapid glance at the very handsome shops which lined the High-street on both sides, and returned to the pier, where they found the steampacket just ready to start.

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CHAPTER II.

Passengers down the River.-Sea-nettles. - Netley Abbey and Fort.-View of the Isle of Wight.-Adventure of the Portmanteau.— Landing at West Cowes.- Crossing the Medina. -Salt Works at East Cowes.

THE pier at Southampton has only been erected a few years, and is called Victoria-pier, because it was opened by her present Majesty before her accession to the throne. Mrs. Merton and her daughter walked rapidly along it; for the bell had already rung, and the steam-packet was on the point of starting when they arrived. For a few minutes after they came on deck, they were too much hurried to observe any thing particular, but Agnes had the pleasure of seeing that her dear little portmanteau was quite safe among the rest of the luggage. The day was fine, and the water sparkled in the sun-beams, as the steam-boat pursued its way rapidly down the river.

The first thing that attracted Agnes' attention, was

the appearance of some workmen who were taking up a few of the upright pieces of wood which supported the pier. These piles were bored through in several places; and Mrs. Merton asked her if she could tell the cause.

"The cause is the Pholas, or Stone-piercer," said Agnes. "I remember, mamma, you told me all about that curious shell-fish long ago; and that the piles are now obliged to be covered with nails driven into them, to prevent them from being bored through: but I never saw any of the piles before." She had not much time to look at them now; as, though the wind was against them, the steam-packet flew on as rapidly as the railway-train had done: and, as Mrs. Merton gave her arm to her husband, who was walking up and down the deck, Agnes knelt on the seat near the side of the vessel, to watch the little billows as they rose up rapidly, and broke against it. But her attention was soon engaged by some curious little animals which were seen in the water, and which appeared like fairy umbrellas, opening and shutting occasionally as they floated along. Some of these curious creatures were rather large, with a kind of fringe round the lower part; and others had what

appeared to be a fleshy cross on their summit, which was of a bright purple. They were so numerous that Agnes thought she should like to catch one or Fig. 1.

two, and she leant over for that purpose; but her little arms were not long enough to reach the water. A young man who saw her trouble was about to assist her, when the old gentleman who had been their fellow traveller by the rail-road stopped him. "You had better not touch them," said he; "they will sting you."

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Sting!" cried Agnes, can such beautiful creatures sting?"

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Yes," replied Mr. Bevan, “if you were to take them into your hand, you would find an unpleasant tingling, which would be followed by heat and pain, like the smarting produced by the sting of a nettle.”

"The vulgar people here, called them Chopped Ham," said a young man, with a book in his hand; "and they say that the sting is the mustard that is usually eaten with Ham. In the Legends of the Isle of Wight," continued he, glancing at his book, "this strange name is supposed to allude to a chieftain of the name of Ham, who was killed and chopped in pieces near Netley Abbey, and who has given his name, not only to Southampton, but to Hampshire."

"I should like to get some of these curious creatures in spite of their stinging," cried Agnes; "they are so beautiful. They look like fairy parasols, continually opening and shutting, but made of the finest gauze, and trimmed with long fringe; and see, there are some tinted with all the colours of the rainbow." Yes," said Mrs. Merton, the poet says,

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-There 's not a gem

Wrought by man's art to be compared to them;