about collecting honest gold (somebody
else's), to brighten up his coronet. We're a poverty-stricken lot, my
child, and it's for me, with your help, to retrieve the fallen fortunes
of this branch of the family."

"That's settled then," said I, as drily as I could with wet tears in
the background. "And now, let's go to bed, please. I'm sleepy."

I wasn't; but my eyes were hot, and there was a lump in my throat. I
was homesick--dreadfully homesick, for something--I don't know what,
but it seemed to be something I've never had yet and probably never can
have. That is why I wanted to be alone, and write everything down
exactly as it has happened.

II

ABOUT CROSSING THE WATER

Only ten days have passed, but I feel as if they were a hundred, I have
lived so much. I've heard people near me in deck-chairs saying that
it's been a "dull voyage," but whatever else it has been for _me,_ it
hasn't been dull.

In the first place, I've never been on the sea before, except crossing
the Channel, which doesn't count, of course. And now that I've been
thrown with so many people--all sorts of people--I realise how few I
have known in my life, so far. If I had about twice as many fingers and
toes as I have, I believe I might tick off every human being I've ever
met as actual acquaintances, outside my own relations.

I've lived always at dear, beautiful old Battlemead (it seems doubly
beautiful as I think of it now, from far away); and till last year most
of my time was spent in the schoolroom, or walking, or pottering about
in a pony carriage with one of the governesses I used to drive to
distraction. When we had house parties I was kept out of the way, as
Mother said it spoiled young girls to be taken notice of, and I should
have my fun later. When the others went up to town for the Season, as
they often did, I was left behind, and though Battlemead is within
five-and-twenty miles of London, I suppose I haven't been there more
than two dozen times in my life. When I did go, it was generally for a
concert, or a matinee, and, of course, I enjoyed it immensely; but I
don't know that it taught me much about life. And the one time I was
taken abroad we had nothing to do with anyone we met at hotels. Being
on this big ship seemed at first exactly like being at a play when I
had been brought in late, and found it difficult to know which were the
leading actors, which the villains and villainesses, and what the plot
was about.