'Is that your real intention, Henry, or are you joking,' asked the earl, as the young man finished speaking.
'I certainly intend, sir, to spend the time allotted to me here, in doing as I have said,' replied Henry.
'Then it is my opinion that you will have a tiresome time of it,' said the earl.
'With all deference to your better judgment, my lord, I anticipate a far different result.'
'Well, then, I wish you all prosperity in your adventurous undertaking,' replied the earl, 'but be careful to keep within sight of the ship.'
'I shall undoubtedly be very careful about that, sir, for although I own that I am an enthusiastic lover of romantic adventures, I do not by any means, aspire to the envious celebrity of being left alone, in all my glory, upon a desolate island. But who amongst all the party is hardy enough to volunteer to go with me. Will you, Arthur?'
'Why, what a selfish fellow you have got to be, Henry,' said Mary Hamilton, 'to start on a wild goose chase yourself, and then ask the only other young gentleman of the party to accompany you.'
'That would be ungallant, without dispute,' chimed in 'sweet' Ellen Armstrong.
'Upon a second thought, I am compelled to believe it would,' replied Henry. 'But to settle the matter, by Lord Armstrong's leave, I will take his servant Patrick with me.'
'Do you hear that, Patrick,' asked the earl?