Yr Ynys Unyg | Page 4

the last adieus were said, the last looks
given, the last words spoken. We were off! The die is cast, and it
seemed strange to me that now and only now did fearful doubts, and
vain regrets, and sad forebodings oppress my heart, and take possession
of my mind. With striking vividness I recalled how, mainly to please
myself and amuse my mind, I had projected and finally carried out this

expedition; how I had covered my own private wishes and thoughts
under the plea of the good it would do my little boy, the benefit it was
to all young people to enlarge their minds by travelling and experience,
the novelty of the adventure, and the sort of certain uncertainty which
was to attend our steps and ways during the next eight months, thus
giving the charm of novelty and singularity to the whole scheme. I
know not how long I should have dwelt on these circumstances, had
not the children come to wish me their wonted good night. Schillie
declared I had moped enough, the girls were eager that together we
should take our last view of England, for the breeze that carried us now
so fast through the water bid fair to take us soon out of sight of land.
The young soon lose the painful feelings of parting; besides, they were
so delighted at being really off, they had been so fearful lest anything
should occur to prevent one or all going, so as to destroy the unity, if I
may so call it, of the party, that unmitigated pleasure alone pervaded
them. This buoyancy of their feelings had as yet prevented any
symptoms of illness, and I don't think there was a pale face amongst the
party, save the little invalid and Smart, the gamekeeper. He sat silent
and amazed between his two dogs, and, could we have analyzed his
feelings, I have no doubt we should have been privy to most curious
and contradictory ideas. Qualms were coming over him of various
kinds, equally foreign to his nature. Probably, for the first time, he was
experiencing fear and sickness at the same moment, and quite unable to
understand the symptoms of either. The boys had not yet found out
what made their dear Smart so dull and unlike himself, when they were
so joyous and delighted. We all rose up, and went together to watch the
fading land. Various exclamations proved how much our thoughts
dwelt on that beloved shore, and long after my short sight had deemed
it passed from view did my dear girls exclaim, "they yet saw it; there
were still lights." But Captain MacNab wanted his deck to himself, so
with cheerful good nights, the moon being up, we descended to take
our first meal on board, and use those narrow couches at which we
were so much amused, and which the children had been longing to try
from the moment they came on board. Such a noisy tea never was,
interrupted now and then by a lurching of the vessel, which was such a
new thing to us that all started, some in fear, some in fun, and some, I
must own, with other feelings not very agreeable. The oddity of having

nothing steady on our swinging table, the laughing at the pale looks
that flitted across the faces of others, the grave determination with
which little Winny declared "that now she was really a sailor, she
would only eat ship biscuit," caused intense merriment. But ere tea was
over one or two of our party disappeared, and when twelve o'clock
arrived Captain MacNab had La Luna all to himself and his men, for
the feminine crew were deep in slumber, caused by the, to them,
unusual motion of the sea, and the unwonted excitement of the day.
CHAPTER II.
May 4.--The next morning there were many defaulters, myself amongst
the number. In lieu of the laughter and joy of the preceding evening,
there were groans, and moans, and beseechings for tea or a drink of
water. Sybil, Gatty, and Serena all rose valiantly; Gatty scornfully
repudiating the possibility of being ill. But it was in vain, "the loftiest
spirit was lowliest laid." The little girls rather courted the notion. Being
ill in bed of course precluded the idea of lessons, with which a certain
portion of every day had been threatened, and as they lay in bed thus
they discoursed:--
Zoë.--"I really do not think it will be pleasant if we are to be like this all
the time."
Lilly.--"Oh, Zoë, I am so snug, I have got a nice book to read, and there
will be no playing on the piano to-day."
Winny.--"Oh! I am very sorry for that. If I did not feel so funny, I
should like