Elinor sang very readily, and very sweetly; the Swiss airs sounded charmingly among the hills; and she was accompanied by Mary Van Alstyne, while Charlie, with the two Hazlehursts, made up a respectable second for several songs.
Some gathering clouds at length warned the party to turn inn-ward again.
"It is to be hoped the shower won't reach us, for your sake, ladies," said Robert Hazlehurst.
"I hope not, for the sake of my bibi!" said Mrs. Creighton. "It is the prettiest little hat I have had these three years; it would be distressing to have it spoilt before it has lost its freshness."
{"bibi" = a stylish hat of the 1830s}
"There is no danger, marm," said one of the boatmen, with a good-natured gravity, that made Mrs. Creighton smile. "Them 'ere kind of clouds often goes over the lake, without coming up this way."
And so it proved; the party reached the hotel safely, all agreeing that they had had a very pleasant day, and were not at all more tired than was desirable after such an excursion.
CHAPTER X. {XXXIII}
"……………………….. Sebastian are you?
If spirits can assume both form and suit,
You come to fright us!"
SHAKSPEARE. {sic}
{William Shakespeare, "Twelfh Night", V.i.221, 235-236}