"Not so much as a sailor, of course; but every one can do something—every one who is cool and not afraid."
"By Jove! but I should think 'twould be fun! only I should be afraid; I shouldn't like to go to the bottom."
"No, most of us would object to that."
"I wish you wouldn't say 'by Jove,' Robert," said Isabel; "I wish you wouldn't take up expressions from your school-fellows that you never hear at home."
"Isabel isn't fond of foreign importations," said Fanny.
"Yes, she is, though," retorted Robert wisely, "what is she made of, from top to toe, but foreign importations?"
Amid the general laugh which followed this thrust, Mrs. Hartland's voice was heard at the head of the stairs:
"Fanny! brother George will want to go to his room; is it ready for him?"
"Yes, mother, it is all ready; I will go and see. You will have plenty of time, George; for dinner is half an hour later to-day, on account of father."
Not long after this, there was a thundering rap at George's door, which opened and admitted his youngest brother, a lad of ten years.