When we came on deck Mrs. Burke stood a little while with her hand on my arm, whilst I looked aloft and around; our gaze met; she laughed in the fulness of some instant emotion of pleasure, and cried:
'Oh, dear Miss Marie, I wish Sir Mortimer could see the light that is in your eyes at this minute!'
'I wonder,' said I, 'if Dr. Bradshaw and the others foresaw that I should enjoy this voyage?'
'Are you enjoying it?' she exclaimed eagerly.
'I am constantly pining for home,' I answered, 'and longing—and longing, to see father and Archie. And yet, somehow, this splendid sunshine and wonderful scene of sea, this delicious feeling of being borne through the air, makes me so glad and light-hearted that I believe the strong tonic of the wind has affected my head.'
'No more than it has mine,' she exclaimed.
'It is like drinking wine in sorrow,' said I; 'the mind seems merry with it, and the eyes sparkle, but the heart is sad all the same and will speak presently.'
'I'll tell Mr. Owen how you talk,' said she. 'You're not fair to the remedy.'
'I don't want to sit,' said I. 'Let me look at the ship this fine morning: I should like to take a peep at the sailors' parlour. And suppose we go right into the bows there and watch the glorious white foam.'