"Waiting in sorrow and weeping, Waiting out there in the cold, Why should she have cause to sorrow? Why, her mother lay there in the mould.
"And where was the child's own father? Was he in the cold ground, too? No, her father was in the billiard-room. I pity the poor child, don't you?"
"That's too sweet for anything, Hilda! All you girls are clever but me," sighed Edna, half enviously.
"I've just decided that I'll be a poetess like Mrs. Browning, when I grow up," said Hilda, calmly. "I never tried writing poetry before, but it's just as _easy_. It would be very interesting to be a poetess," added Hilda, who was given to day-dreams, in which she was always famous.
It was not long after dawn, early as that was, when the younger fry were all astir in the Maxwell household. The boys were up to see that everything was in order about the boat, and to transport the necessary number of cushions and rugs for the comfort of their passengers. Cricket dragged reluctant Hilda, who dearly loved her morning snooze, out of bed almost as early, though Eunice and Edna lazily turned over for another scrap of a nap. Still, they were not long able to withstand the general buzz of excitement, and long before seven they also were up and about, gathering together their various belongings. Cook had the generous luncheon-baskets all packed, with provision sufficient for a small regiment. Before breakfast everything was on board, the luncheon was packed away in the little locker, and cushions and extra wrappings were all in place.
Breakfast was a hasty ceremony, for the boys were eagerly watching the time, and tide, and breeze, and so would hardly give the rest time to eat. It was not quite eight when they mustered their party on the dock. At the last moment Cricket appeared with a small bundle, carefully wrapped in newspaper, the contents of which she absolutely refused to reveal.
"You'll know by and by," was all she would say, "and you needn't try to solve into the mystery now."
The breeze favoured the start, and the swelling sails swept the _Gentle Jane_ along at a scudding pace. Hilda, who had never been sailing before, was delighted at the swift motion. The sky was as blue as blue could be, with flecks of white clouds all over it, the water was sparkling and clear, and dashed with a delightful little swish against the bow.