‘George,’ she said, ’conceal nothing from me; there is danger, imminent danger.  Tell me at once.’

‘Indeed, Venetia,’ said Captain Cadurcis, ’I am sure everything will be quite right.  There is some danger, certainly, at this moment; but of course, long ago, they have run into harbour.  I have no doubt they are at Spezzia at this moment.  Now, do not be alarmed; indeed there is no cause.  God bless you!’ he said, and bounded away.  ‘No cause,’ thought he to himself, as the wind sounded like thunder, and the vapour came rushing up the ravine.  ’God grant I may be right; but neither between the Tropics nor on the Line have I witnessed a severer squall than this!  What open boat can live in this weather Oh! that I had been with them.  I shall never forgive myself!’

CHAPTER X.

Venetia found her mother walking up and down the room, as was her custom when she was agitated.  She hurried to her daughter.  ’You must change your dress instantly, Venetia,’ said Lady Annabel.  ’Where is George?’

’He has gone down to Spezzia to papa and Plantagenet; it is a white squall; it comes on very suddenly in this sea.  He ran down to Spezzia instantly, because he thought they would be wet,’ said the agitated Venetia, speaking with rapidity and trying to appear calm.

‘Are they at Spezzia?’ inquired Lady Annabel, quickly.

‘George has no doubt they are, mother,’ said Venetia.

‘No doubt!’ exclaimed Lady Annabel, in great distress.  ’God grant they may be only wet.’

‘Dearest mother,’ said Venetia, approaching her, but speech deserted her.  She had advanced to encourage Lady Annabel, but her own fear checked the words on her lips.

‘Change your dress, Venetia,’ said Lady Annabel; ’lose no time in doing that.  I think I will send down to Spezzia at once,’

‘That is useless now, dear mother, for George is there.’

‘Go, dearest,’ said Lady Annabel; ’I dare say, we have no cause for fear, but I am exceedingly alarmed about your father, about them:  I am, indeed.  I do not like these sudden squalls, and I never liked this boating; indeed, I never did.  George being with them reconciled me to it.  Now go, Venetia; go, my love.’

Venetia quitted the room.  She was so agitated that she made Pauncefort a confidant of her apprehensions.

‘La! my dear miss,’ said Mistress Pauncefort, ’I should never have thought of such a thing!  Do not you remember what the old man said at Weymouth, “there is many a boat will live in a rougher sea than a ship;” and it is such an unlikely thing, it is indeed, Miss Venetia.  I am certain sure my lord can manage a boat as well as a common sailor, and master is hardly less used to it than he.  La! miss, don’t make yourself nervous about any such preposterous ideas.  And I dare say you will find them in the saloon when you go down again.  Really I should not wonder.  I think you had better wear your twill dress; I have put the new trimming on.’