“Governor, when shall we go?”

“Hildebrand moves his sloop off to-morrow afternoon.”

“And shall we go to-morrow?”

“If you don’t object.”

Winnie left the floor, clapping her hands together, and went back to her couch to think over at large the various preparations which she must make.  Which pleasant business held her all the evening.

They were not large preparations, however; longer to think of than to do; especially as Winthrop took upon himself the most of what was done.  One or two nick-nackeries of preparation, in the shape of a new basket, a new book, and a new shawl, seemed delightful to Winnie; though she did not immediately see what she might want of the latter in August.

“We shall find it cooler when we get under the shadow of Wut-a-qut-o, Winnie,” said her brother; and Winnie was only too glad of a pretext to take the pretty warm wrapper of grey and blue worsted along.

She did not want it when they set out, the next afternoon.  It was very warm in the streets, very warm on the quays; and even when the sloop pushed her way slowly out and left the quays at her back, there was little air stirring and the August sun beat down steadily on river and shore.

“This don’t look much like gettin’ up to Cowslip’s Mill this night,” said the skipper.  “Ain’t it powerful!”

“The wind is coming off from the South,” said Winthrop.

“Yes, I felt some little puffs on my cheek,” said Winnie.

“Glad to hear it,” said the sloop master, a tall, bony, ill-set-together specimen of a shore and water man; —­ “there ain’t enough now to send an egg-shell along, and I’d like to shew you a good run, Mr. Landholm, since you’re goin’ along with me.  She looks smart, don’t she?”

“If she’ll only work as well,” said Winthrop.  “Hild’, you haven’t got much cargo aboard.”

“Only as much as’ll keep her steady,” answered the skipper.  “‘Seems to me nobody ain’t a wantin’ nothin’ up our ways.  I guess you’re the heaviest article on board, Winthrop; —­ she never carried a lawyer before.”

“Are lawyers heavy articles?” said Winnie laughing.

“‘Cordin’ to what I’ve heern, I should say they be; ain’t they, squire? —­ considerable, —­ especially when they get on folks’s hands.  I hope you’re a better sort, Winthrop, —­ or ain’t there much choice in ’em?”

“You shall try me when you get into trouble,” said Winthrop.

“Is this Mr. Cowslip’s old sloop?” said Winnie.

“She don’t look old, does she?” inquired Mr. Hildebrand.

“But I mean, is it the same he used to have? —­ No, she looks very handsome indeed.”

“She’s the old one though,” said the skipper, “the same old Julia Ann.  What’s the use o’ askin’ ladies’ ages? —­ she’s just as good as when she was young; and better dressed.  I’ve had the cabin fixed up for you, Mr. Landholm, —­ I guess it’ll be pretty comfortable in there.”