Part 3 (1/2)
At last Uncle Ben returned. The last arrangements were made, the last adieus said, and one fine day the little party of four drove to the station to take train to Southampton, where the barque _Elizabeth_ was refitting. The girls waved their handkerchiefs gaily in response to the parting salutations of the villagers; but they fell very silent when their old friends were out of sight, and the Captain, looking straight before him, heard a sob or two on each side and behind. Like a wise man, he said nothing about the sadness of leaving the old home, but related some of his recent experiences in London.
”I met a fine old friend of mine, a missionary,” he said. ”He is stationed on one of the South Sea Islands, and hasn't been home for twenty years. A real good sort is Henry Corke. He has only been home a month, and yet he is going out almost at once. There's devotion for you, girls. I asked him if he'd like to come with us, offered him the attractions of refined female society----”
”That was enough to choke him off,” interrupted Tommy. ”I hate to be called a female.”
”Well, perhaps it was a mistake not to say tomboy. Anyhow, Corke was in too much of a hurry to come with us; prefers one of those dirty clanking steamers. Mighty poor taste, I call it.”
By the time they reached the station the girls had thrown off their despondency, and began to glow with excitement as they realized that they were actually entering upon a new life.
CHAPTER IV
ABOARD THE ”ELIZABETH”
”Here we are!” cried Captain Barton, as the train ran into the dock station at Southampton. ”Now mind you don't get run over.”
”The idea!” said Tommy; ”we have been here before, Uncle.”
”So you have, my dear, but good advice is none the worse for being said twice.”
They made their way across the metals, on which locomotives were hauling and pus.h.i.+ng heavy goods wagons, and came to the quay where the _Elizabeth_ lay taking in cargo. She looked a mere dwarf beside a Castle Liner not far away; but she was bright with the glory of new paint, and Captain Barton gazed at her with an affectionate pride that he would never have felt for a steams.h.i.+p. They went on board. Mr.
Purvis, the Scots mate, gave the girls a shy greeting. They smiled at those of the crew whom they recognized, and a look of pained bewilderment settled on the face of one, Sandy Sam, when Tommy asked him if he had any more big gooseberries.
”Never mention the word to him,” said the Captain anxiously, as they went below; ”he's very sensitive, my dear.”
”Ah! you're afraid your stories will be found out, you know you are,”
replied Tommy. ”Oh! what a sweet little cabin.”
The Captain had thrown open the door of the cabin which he had prepared for his nieces, next to the saloon. The girls looked in eagerly.
”How very nice!” said Elizabeth.
”I'm glad you like it, my dear,” said the Captain. ”I did my best, and Purvis was uncommon useful, too.”
”A woman couldn't have managed better,” said Mary.
”Well, you see, bachelor men like me and Purvis get into the way of making up for what we lose. We nearly forgot the looking-gla.s.s, though, not having any particular features ourselves to be proud of.”
The cabin was very daintily got up. The woodwork was beautifully polished. There were two bunks on one side, one above the other, and a third on the opposite side, each with a spotless white bed-cover. On one wall hung a looking-gla.s.s; and a tiny wash-hand basin of polished zinc was fitted into a little alcove. There were hooks for hanging clothes on the part.i.tion. The clear s.p.a.ce between the sides was only two or three feet across.
”Where shall we put our trunk?” asked Elizabeth practically.
”In the saloon, my dear,” replied her uncle. ”We'll fasten it there, to prevent it rolling about if we meet any rough weather.”
”We shall have to get up one at a time,” said Tommy, with a laugh.
”There isn't room for two to do up their hair at once.”
”Well, I know nothing about that,” said the Captain, rubbing his bald crown. ”You mustn't quarrel or fight about who shall be first, or I'll have to clap you in irons.”