The morning call., 1893-01-15
CHAPTER V.

SHE VISITS THE CHILDE HAROLD.
l rose early next morning, sent for tine
cook and gave her certain instructions.
The servants in our strangely ordered home
were as much mine as my stepfather's-l
paid half their wages. But my own maid
was at my own cost and she waited upon
me only.
Captain Butler and my cousin arrived
shortly after 1870, and at l O'Clock we
sat down 10 as dainty and elegant a
meal as l and the cook and my maid could
contriye among us. We drank champagne :;
nv fathers silver was upon the table; in
the middle was a rich dollhouse uosegay
which had cost me guinea and half. Ny
maid, discreet, gaod-lookiDg girl, waited
admirably Nv cousin stared and asked
me, boy-like. if l dined thus every day?
laughed and answered: ''Off as good dishes,
VIII, but never so we'll, because / often dine
alone when dine at hume at all"
II should like to dine with you every
day." said VIII.
had dressed myself with extraordinary
care. but my eyes wanted the sparkle of the
previous evening, my checks the rose of
those merry hours. | wondered as / glanced
at Captain Butter whether the thought of
me had Kept him awake all night. Some
how could not look at him with the con-
fidence of the previous evening. felt shy,
my eyes stole to his face and dropped on de-
lection, my appetite was poor and my laugh
uHnaturally loud with nerve. His own
manner was a little constrained, and saw,
and NV heart throbbed and leaped when /
saw. admiration strong IN his look when
ever he addressed or listened TO me. Oh,
thought !. what would give now for sauci-
ness enough to ask you downright. Have
you a sweetheaIt?"
During the course OF the dinner l said to
him, Don't you think my way of living
stranger"
You need stepfather to understand my
unhappy state"
mo very unhappy state, surely" said
he, looking at the table, and then round the
well-furDisbed room.
Il think shall go on voyage some of
these days, WILL" said l.
sail with me, Marian" he answered.
where's your ship bound TOP"
Sydney, New South Wales-a splendid
trip. Three months there, three months
back; three months to see the country in"
"And you give me fortnight to make up
my mlnd?' said /, laughing. Don't they
send the convicis 10 SydneyS l can't fancy
that country. 1t is nothing 20 meet ones
transported fellOw-eountrymen. There are
plenty of such folks walking past this house
at this minute. Who would leave Stepney
for Sydney?"
My cousin asked what trade the Arab
Chief would be In.
Captain Butler answered that he believed
she was TO trade to the West Indies and
eastern South American ports.
There's big world for you that way,
Marian" said VIII. Down there the winds
full of bright parrots, every tree writhes
with monkeys. Robinson Crusoe lived all
alone somewhere IN these parts, that's If
the great river of Oroon0ques where it was
In Fridays time; the home of the great sea
serpent is in the Caribbean Sea, and If you
kick up an old stone by chance you stand to
unearth mine of precious metal"
/ hy ric off
ward left the house. Ii was clear cold
afternoon. with q bright. blue sky for Lon
don. We took coach to Limehouse and
then boat. There is no change in the
East India docks in all these years. j went
TO them for memory's sake not very long
ago and all was the same, ii seemed to me,
saving the steamers. The basins were full
of ships OF many sizes and Of all rigs; the
air was radiant with the flicker and tremble
of scores of flags; strange smells of dis
tant countries loaded the atmosphere;
sweet oils and spices, wool and scarlet
oranges and scented timber When / was
a child my father bad sometimes taken
me TO those docks when he went to them
Oh business. / thought Of him as / looked,
and felt little girl again with the odd
Honderment and delight of child as L
stared at the shipping and the complicated
heights OF spar and rigging, at the grinding
cranes heavily lifting cargoes in and out, as
oreathed the odors OF the Uttered quays.
as L hardened to the shouts, TO the songs OF
the seamen at the winch or capstan, TO the
voices OF the wind in the gear, soft in the
fabric OF the taller ships as the gar whist
lings Of silver pipes heard afar.
Ne walked leisureiy along the quays.
Wits ship lay In a corner at distance.
and he was for enthusiastically pressing
forward 10 arrive at her: his ardent pace
kept him abe lad, and he often turned TO in
ylte us 10 come on. But / was listening 10
captain Butler, and was in no great hurry
a last we came TO WHY'S ship, the Cbilde
Harold. Oh, my great God when think
OF II! when think Of standing beside Cap
tain Butler and looking at that ship with
my cousin at my elbow calling my attention
To points with young sailors pridel
She was very handsome vessel OF her
kind. aud big ship according TO the burthen
of those days. Though she was receiving
cargo fast, her sides lowered high above
the wall. She had been newly coppered,
aud her metal glanced snnnily upon the
soup-lke water She fioated on. Captain
Butler took my hand and We followed VIII
up the gangway plank and gained the ships
deck. A man with a beard stood at the
yawn oil the great main hatch. VIII touched
his cap aud whispered that he WAS the mate
OF the ship. Captain Butler went up and
shook hands with him, and rejoined us,
saying that lie had made the mans acquaint-
ance at Callao. A quantity of cases were
beinc swung over the rail, and as they were
lowered down the hatch heard noise of
voices below. calls and yells and the kind