It felt all a dream to her; an odd, inexplicable, endless
dream, which never could become as real as the old days had been. Her
thoughts were all busy with the past, recalling faces and events long
ago forgotten; she scarcely ever looked on to the end of the voyage. The
sea was calm, and the soft wind sang low among the rigging, while point
after point along the shores stole by, and were lost to sight almost
unheeded, though she could not turn her steadfast, sorrowful gaze from
them till she could see them no more. Yet when Mr. Chantrey, reproaching
himself for bringing her, asked her if she repented, she was always
ready to say heartily that she would not go back, and leave them, for
the world.
Charlie alone of them all was quite happy in the change. For the last
nine months he had been constantly at school; seldom going home, and
then but for a day or two, when his mother was at her best. The boy
found himself all at once set free from school restraints, restored to
his father and mother, who had no one else to interest them; and with
all the delights of a ship and a voyage added to his other joys.
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