It was a remarkably joyous
occasion, and it was two o'clock in the morning when the banquet-hall was
cleared.
All the forenoon was spent in exchanging the parting greetings. Both Lord
Tremlyn and Sir Modava invited any or all of the party who might be in
India or in England to visit them; and the commander and Mrs. Belgrave, as
well as the others, extended similar invitations to the three gentlemen.
After tiffin, when the party started for the steamer that was to convey
them to the two ships, it seemed as though all the citizens of Colombo,
with their ladies, had gathered to assist in the parting benedictions. The
military band alternated with the Italian, cheers without number rent the
air, and the party had all they could do to return the salutes, and answer
all the kindly words spoken to them by entire strangers.
The steamer cast off her fasts, and then the din was greater than ever. The
guests at the banquet went off to the ships, from the smoke-stacks of which
the black smoke was pouring out, as if to emphasize the reality of the
departure. All manner of courtesies were exchanged, but finally the
passengers were all on board of the Blanche and Guardian-Mother. A salute
was fired from the heaviest guns on both vessels, the screws began to turn,
the final words were shouted, and the steamers stood to the southward.
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