Finally they found them, and, instead of nice large rooms, they were so very small that Alice felt she never could live in them for a week or ten days, and the berths were so narrow she said, "O papa, you can never get into one of those in the world."
"Oh, yes, I can," said Mr. Winter, "and perhaps before we reach Liverpool I shall wish they were narrower yet."'
Mrs. Winter and Alice had one room, and Mr. Winter was across the passage with another gentleman.
After settling their valises and rugs they went up on deck to see the people, and also the last of the city itself. Large baskets of fruits and flowers in every shape were constantly being brought on board, and much to Alice's delight there was a large bunch of violets from her school friends at home.
She had been looking at the other people a little enviously, especially at a girl of her own age who had many friends to see her, and her arms full of flowers.
Very soon the gong sounded, and Alice, who had never heard one, put her hands to her ears to shut out the noise. As soon as the man had passed by Alice said,—
"What is that?"
"That is a gong, dear," said her papa, "and is now being used to notify the people who are not sailing on the steamer that it is time to go ashore."
The people who left kissed their friends hurriedly, and went down the gang-plank as if afraid they might be carried away, after all.
After the people were on the dock and the mailbags had been put on the steamer, very slowly but surely the great steamer backed out into the river. Tugs turned her around, and carefully she steamed toward the ocean, trying to avoid the many boats moving about the river in all directions.