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But Smart knew where their magazine was, and in a most unprincipled manner we abstracted whatever we could that would not be immediately discovered. Smart, who always had had a secret admiration for Schillie's sang froid and man-like propensities, treated her as his favourite pupil; and after she had hit the mark seventeen times running, held her up to us as worthy of imitation. Smart.
Such speeches were too much for Schillie's fortitude, and Gatty's sparkling eyes showed how successful her manœuvres were in being dismissed at once, "as too stupid to be borne with." Sometimes I handed over the little girls to her to say their lessons, and they were invariably dismissed before they could have said half of them.
The piano had been sadly damaged by the wet, so we begged her to set it right, that it might be ready for the new drawing room. We all drew plans of the house first, and, to the surprise of everybody, Schillie's was undoubtedly the best. So the little Mother was well bullied for being so disgusted at having to build a house, and yet taking the trouble of making such a good plan.
"Mother, may I creep up and ask Smart what the captain thinks about the land?" All. "Yes, do, do, dear boy." "Mind you are careful, my darling boy," said the anxious Mother. The captain came down himself with the boy, and corroborated Schillie's idea, that land was dangerous if the gale continued.
To use Schillie's words they were audibly and horribly elated at having captured such notable prisoners. Also they were questioned very much about themselves, and Schillie's friend, the King of the Pirates, asked if they belonged to a party of ladies and children supposed to be lost in a yacht about two years ago. To this she replied in the affirmative, hoping to hear news from home.
All sorts of pranks go on between Smart and the boys during dinner. Felix trying to upset his solemn gravity, while Oscar sends him with preserved ginger to Schillie's duck, roasted potatoes to Madame's tapioca pudding, whereby he gets very shamefaced, as Schillie, with blunt sincerity, points out his mistake.
The beaming light of Schillie's countenance seemed reflected on each young face, until we thought an halo of glory already surrounded them. The two men tenderly lifted up Madame, and laid her moaning and unconscious at our feet, and then placed themselves on each side of the group.
She did not think lessons would prosper; the cultivation of ladylike behaviour would be very difficult manners would be at a very low ebb music would be utterly abolished, and she was fast approaching a declaration on Schillie's side, when Serena, by a master-stroke of policy, brought her round.
But Madame was much more easily disposed of than the girls, in spite of Schillie's broad hints, and, at last, open remonstrances, that they would go about their own business, not one would stir. "What's the use of a holiday, unless we may spend it with our Mothers?" said Sybil. "That's all that we want a holiday for," said Serena, "that we may be with you all day."
On whose heart fell first the dread thought that something was pending over us, too horrible to be put into words? In the dead of night, I whispered low in Schillie's ear, "Do you think anything can have happened to the ship?" "Nonsense, who but you would think anything so ridiculous. Do you know I think I have discovered what these trees are. I am sure they are a species of Banyan."
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