"Hildebrand moves his sloop off to-morrow afternoon."
"And shall we go to-morrow?"
"If you don't object."
Winnie left the floor, clapping her hands together, and went back to her couch to think over at large the various preparations which she must make. Which pleasant business held her all the evening.
They were not large preparations, however; longer to think of than to do; especially as Winthrop took upon himself the most of what was done. One or two nick-nackeries of preparation, in the shape of a new basket, a new book, and a new shawl, seemed delightful to Winnie; though she did not immediately see what she might want of the latter in August.
"We shall find it cooler when we get under the shadow of Wut- a-qut-o, Winnie," said her brother; and Winnie was only too glad of a pretext to take the pretty warm wrapper of grey and blue worsted along.
She did not want it when they set out, the next afternoon. It was very warm in the streets, very warm on the quays; and even when the sloop pushed her way slowly out and left the quays at her back, there was little air stirring and the August sun beat down steadily on river and shore.
"This don't look much like gettin' up to Cowslip's Mill this night," said the skipper. "Ain't it powerful!"
"The wind is coming off from the South," said Winthrop.
"Yes, I felt some little puffs on my cheek," said Winnie.