n had not impressed me very favourably. I determined also not to
enter the cabin till we were in the open sea and the pilots had left our
sloop, so that all possibility of return would be gone.

Our crew consisted of captain, steersman, two sailors, and a cabin-boy,
who bore the title of cook; we added that of valet, as he was appointed
to wait on us.

When the pilots had left us, I sought the entrance of the cabin,--the
only, and therefore the common apartment. It consisted of a hole two
feet broad, which gaped at my feet, and in which a perpendicular ladder
of five steps was inserted. I stood before it puzzled to know which
would be the best mode of descent, but knew no other way than to ask our
host the captain. He shewed it me at once, by sitting at the entrance
and letting his feet down. Let the reader imagine such a proceeding with
our long dresses, and, above all, in bad weather, when the ship was
pitched about by storms. But the thought that many other people are
worse off, and can get on, was always the anchor of consolation to which
I held; I argued with myself that I was made of the same stuff as other
human beings, only spoiled and pampered, but that I could bear what they
bore. In consequence of this self-arguing, I sat down at once, tried the
new sliding-ladder, and arrived below in safety.

I had first to accustom my eyes to the darkness which reigned here, the
hatches being constructed to admit the light very sparingly. I soon,
however, saw too much; for all was raggedness, dirt, and disorder. But I
will describe matters in the order in which they occurred to me; for, as
I flatter myself that many of my countrywomen will in spirit make this
journey with me, and as many of them probably never had the opportunity
of being in such a vessel, I wish to describe it to them very accurately.
All who are accustomed to the sea will testify that I have adhered
strictly to the truth. But to return to the sloop. Its age emulated
mine, she being a relic of the last century. At that time little regard
was paid to the convenience of passengers, and the space was all made
available for freight; a fact which cannot surprise us, as the seaman's
life is passed on deck, and the ship was not built for travellers. The
entire length of the cabin from one berth to the other was ten feet; the
breadth was six feet. The latter space was made still narrower by a box
on one side, and by a little table and two little se