“How soon can we get there?” asked Hearty.
“If we keeps away at once, and this here wind holds, early to-morrow; but, if it falls light, not till the afternoon, maybe; and, if it chops round to the eastward, not till next morning,” replied Snow.
“By all means keep away at once, and get there as fast as you can,” said Hearty; and the master disappeared from the cabin.
Directly afterwards we heard him call the hands aft to case off the main-sheet, the square-sail and gaff-topsail were set, and, by the comparatively easy motion, we felt that we were running off before the wind. Not a little did it contribute to our comfort in concluding our dinner.
The next day, at noon, saw us safely anchored in Cowes Roads.
“There’s Mr Hearty and the Gentle Giant, I declare,” exclaimed the melodious voice of Miss Susan Rattler, from out of a shrubbery, as my two friends were pacing along on the road towards Egypt, to call on Lady Cardiff.
“Oh, the dear men! you don’t say so, Susan!” replied her sister.
Bubble and I were close under them, a little in advance, so they did not see us, though we could not avoid hearing what was said.
“Yes, it’s them, I vow; we must attack them about the pic-nic forthwith,” said Susan.
“Don’t mention Jane Seaton, or poor Ned will be too much out of spirits to do any thing,” observed her sister.