Oh! surely when his overflowing load of sorrows and dire miseries was meted out to man, some gentle Spirit pleaded for him--that he should not have foresight added to the tale, that he should not see the falling knife or hear the water lapping that one day shall entomb him?
Or, was it kept back because man, having knowledge, would be man without reason ?--for terror would make him mad, and he would end his fears by hurrying their fulfilment! At least, we are blind to the future, and let us be thankful for it.
Presently Lady Holmhurst got up from her chair, and said that she was going to bed, but that, first of all, she must kiss Dick, her little boy, who slept with his nurse in another cabin.

Augusta rose and went with her, and they both kissed the sleeping child, a bonny boy of five, and then they kissed each other and separated for the night.
Some hours afterwards Augusta woke up, feeling very restless.

For an hour or more she lay thinking of Mr.Tombey and many other things, and listening to the swift "lap, lap," of the water as it slipped past the vessel's sides, and the occasional tramp of the watch as they set fresh sails.

At last her feeling of unrest got too much for her, and she rose and partially, very partially, dressed herself--for in the gloom she could only find her flannel vest and petticoat--twisted her long hair in a coil round her head, put on a hat and a thick ulster that hung upon the door--for they were running into chilly latitudes--and slipped out on deck.
It was getting towards dawn, but the night was still dark.

Looking up, Augusta could only just make out the outlines of the huge bellying sails, for the Kangaroo was rushing along before the westerly wind under a full head of steam, and with every inch of her canvas set to ease the screw.