The Argosy — page 232: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee Ee ee eee ee — Fenny Morris's Veyage. 217 “Good gracious, Jenny!” cried Mrs. Webb, ‘‘do you mean to say a thing like this can go all the way to California ?” “ Heaven knows,” returned her friend, “‘ but if it does I daresay we shall go in it.” Amidst all kinds of bustle and noise they reached the ship. It was a great tall black-looking vessel, up whose side was an impracticable ladder that people were scaling with great haste and disregard to appearances. ‘““We have not much time to lose,” said Mr. Bumble. ‘The pilot Says we are late as it is. Get up, young lady, get up.” “Oh, by all means,” cried Jenny, in cheerful desperation ; and giving Mrs. Webb an imploring glance to keep close behind her, began to mount the perpendicular ascent with blind courage. It was only a moment or so, though it seemed an age to the two women—and they stood on the deck of the vessel and took breath. It was a scene of confusion. Ropes and men were everywhere. The shouts from one to another, the rushings about on all sides, the packages and the ropes they bumped against quite bewildered them. “This way, my dear young friends, this way to your cabins,” said good Mr. Bumble. They gladly followed him. A small door, opening into what seemed a little house on deck, led them into a low room, with doors on each side, and a table in the centre. Towards the other end, near a small window in the wall, sat a gentleman, reading with great calmness, and seemingly at perfect ease. A pleasant-looking man who glanced up at them with a pair of nice grey eyes. “There are your apartments,” said Mr. Bumble, pointing to two doors bearing the respective Nos. 8 and 10 over them ; and into them the ladies stepped: and as quickly stepped out again, confronting each other, and uttering the word “ Apartments!” in an exclamatory tone of inquiry. Mr. Bumble had gone; and the gentleman sat reading quietly and undisturbed, so there was no one to answer it. “Do you suppose—does he suppose,” asked Mrs. Webb, in a tone of subdued despair, “that any Christian woman could dress herself or go to bed in such a salt-box as that? Why, my elbows touch the wal! on either side. I never could get as much as my shoes off without opening the door!” ‘Perhaps all the cabins are like this, and we shall have to make the best of it,” said Jenny. ‘‘ You know we promised not to be dismayed at trifles !” “But who could have imagined it !—and the idea of his calling them apartments!” ejaculated the dismayed Mrs. Webb. Suddenly a bright thought struck her. “Jenny, let me see you go into your box and shut the door ; and that will strengthen me to attempt mine.” This feat accomplished, the ladies with something like resignation CoOnniclooolxs CO im