rised at you, Emma!" said Mr. Dutton. "When, you are grown
up you may be as frightened as you please; but if you don't practise
self-command as a child, you'll be very properly whipped."

At this allusion to her misfortunes another howl seemed impending, only
that her attention was arrested by an orange tossed carelessly in the
air.

"Whoever catches it may have it. Don't look at mamma; she has abdicated
for the present, and we are here to put the kingdom to rights. Don't you
think, Emma," in a whisper, "it would be a very good thing if that
squalling, bald-headed young fraternity of yours were slapped?"

"Mammy says it is his teeth."

"No reason he should set ours on edge. I'd compose him if I had the
chance! Well, Miss Leigh, if I can't fetch anything else for this lady,
I'll go on deck, and return presently to report progress and help you
back again."

The storm raged for many hours more, and struck terror into the hearts of
the women and children. Mr. Dutton and some of the other gentlemen were
up all night, as well as the captain and officers; but the morning rose
calm and delicious over a sleeping sea, and cheerfulness and high spirits
reigned in the ship. They were within a day of land, too--a more welcome
prospect than ever, after the perils and dangers of the night. The
dinner-table had scarcely an absentee, and was far more lively than it
had ever been yet.

"One can sleep comfortably to-night, being so near land," cried the
thoughtless Mrs. Butler.

"There have been more shipwrecks off the coast of Ireland than any
other," said Mr. Dutton, sardonically. He was the only one who did not
display unmixed delight at reaching England; and, when other people are
exuberantly rejoicing at the very thing that is annoying ourselves, to
moderate their transports a little is a satisfaction.

"Oh, how can you be so shocking! But I don't believe you. Once we are in
sight of land, if there were any danger, what would prevent us getting
into boats and rowing to it?"

And then Mr. Dutton plunged into a ghastly tale of a steamer that had
struck on the Irish coast at night, and the passengers had to take to the
boats in their bed-clothes. One poor mother, with a baby tied on her back
with a shawl, and another child in her arms, found the shawl empty, the
infant having slipped out into the sea; and how they remained beating
about for hours before they could land, nearly perished with cold from
insufficient clothing.