up a slight hill. This street is divided nearly in the middle by a curious old gate, called the bar; and which was, in fact, one of the gates of the ancient town. Towards this monument of antiquity, Mrs. Merton and Agnes bent their steps; and Mrs. Merton explained to her daughter, that bar was the Saxon name of gate.

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Oh, yes," cried Agnes, "you know we say Temple Bar; and I remember that the gates in York are called bars: but, mamma, what are those curious figures in front?"

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They are said to be the figures of a knight, renowned in romance, called Sir Bevis, of Hampton, and of Ascabart, a giant whom he slew."

"This giant was mighty, and he was strong,
And feet full thirty was he long ;

His lips were great, and hung aside;

His eyes were hollow, his mouth was wide:
Loathly he was to look upon,

And liker a demon than a man:

His staff was a young and torn-up oak;

And hard and heavy was his stroke."

"The giant Ascabart is alluded to in the first canto of Scott's Lady of the Lake; and many legends

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.

27

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."