the
travellers, as his father did not choose to interrupt his
school-education; but no one was more active than he in forwarding the
preparations for the voyage, and no one more sanguine about its
results.

'We shall have Willy back,' he would say, 'turned into a fine strong
fellow, as good a cricketer as Geoffrey or I, and a better scholar than
either of us.'

Margaret and Rose were to go; and Rose's young friends all came to take
leave of her, and talk over the plan, and find Madeira in the map, and
look at views of the island, which had been given to Willy. And a
sailor-friend, who had been all over the world, used to come and
describe Madeira as one of the most beautiful of all the beautiful
places he had visited, and tell of its blue sea, fresh and bright,
without storms; its high mountains, neither barren nor bleak; and its
climate, so warm and soft, that Willy might sit out all day in the
beautiful gardens under hedges of fragrant geraniums. And when Willy
talked of enjoying the gardens while his stronger sisters were climbing
the hills, there was more to be told of cradles borne upon men's
shoulders, in which Willy could be carried to the top of the highest
hills as easily as his sisters on their mountain ponies. And now the
packing was all finished, and the luggage sent on board, and every body
was anxious to follow it; for the ship was reported as quite
comfortable, and the house was decidedly the reverse. Margaret and her
father had been on board to arrange the cabins, accompanied by their
sailor-friend, who professed to know how to fit up a berth better than
any body. He had caused all the furniture to be fastened, or, as he
called it, _cleated_ to the floor, that it might not roll about in rough
weather. The books were secured in the shelves by bars, and swinging
tables hung from the ceilings. Willy's couch was in the most airy and
convenient place at the stern cabin window, and there was an easy chair
for him when he should be able to come out on deck. The ship was said to
be in perfect order, whereas the house was in the utmost confusion and
desolation: the carpets rolled up, the pictures taken down, the mirrors
covered with muslin, the furniture and bookcases with canvass; not a
vestige left of former habits and occupations, except me and my little
mansion. But in the midst of all the bustle, I was as calm and collected
as if nothing had happened. I sat quietly in my arm-chair, staring
composedly at a