SuddenlyMrs。Chailey，turningfromthesubjectofsheets，dismissingthementirely，clenchedherfistsonthetopofthem，andproclaimed，“Andyoucouldn’taskalivingcreaturetositwhereIsit！“
　　Mrs。Chaileywasexpectedtositinacabinwhichwaslargeenough，buttooneartheboilers，sothatafterfiveminutesshecouldhearherheart“go，“shecomplained，puttingherhandaboveit，whichwasastateofthingsthatMrs。Vinrace，Rachel’smother，wouldneverhavedreamtofinflicting——Mrs。Vinrace，whokneweverysheetinherhouse，andexpectedofeveryonethebesttheycoulddo，butnomore。
　　Itwastheeasiestthingintheworldtograntanotherroom，andtheproblemofsheetssimultaneouslyandmiraculouslysolveditself，thespotsandladdersnotbeingpastcureafterall，but——
　　“Lies！Lies！Lies！“exclaimedthemistressindignantly，assheranupontothedeck。“What’stheuseoftellingmelies？“
　　Inherangerthatawomanoffiftyshouldbehavelikeachildandcomecringingtoagirlbecauseshewantedtositwhereshehadnotleavetosit，shedidnotthinkoftheparticularcase，and，unpackinghermusic，soonforgotallabouttheoldwomanandhersheets。
　　Mrs。Chaileyfoldedhersheets，butherexpressiontestifiedtoflatnesswithin。Theworldnolongercaredabouther，andashipwasnotahome。Whenthelampswerelityesterday，andthesailorswenttumblingaboveherhead，shehadcried；shewouldcrythisevening；shewouldcryto-morrow。Itwasnothome。Meanwhileshearrangedherornamentsintheroomwhichshehadwontooeasily。
　　Theywerestrangeornamentstobringonaseavoyage——chinapugs，tea-setsinminiature，cupsstampedfloridlywiththearmsofthecityofBristol，hair-pinboxescrustedwithshamrock，antelopes’headsincolouredplaster，togetherwithamultitudeoftinyphotographs，representingdownrightworkmenintheirSundaybest，andwomenholdingwhitebabies。Buttherewasoneportraitinagiltframe，forwhichanailwasneeded，andbeforeshesoughtitMrs。Chaileyputonherspectaclesandreadwhatwaswrittenonaslipofpaperattheback:
　　“ThispictureofhermistressisgiventoEmmaChaileybyWilloughbyVinraceingratitudeforthirtyyearsofdevotedservice。“
　　Tearsobliteratedthewordsandtheheadofthenail。
　　“SolongasIcandosomethingforyourfamily，“shewassaying，asshehammeredatit，whenavoicecalledmelodiouslyinthepassage:
　　“Mrs。Chailey！Mrs。Chailey！“
　　Chaileyinstantlytidiedherdress，composedherface，andopenedthedoor。
　　“I’minafix，“saidMrs。Ambrose，whowasflushedandoutofbreath。
　　“Youknowwhatgentlemenare。Thechairstoohigh——thetablestoolow——there’ssixinchesbetweenthefloorandthedoor。
　　WhatIwant’sahammer，anoldquilt，andhaveyousuchathingasakitchentable？Anyhow，betweenus“——shenowflungopenthedoorofherhusband’ssittingroom，andrevealedRidleypacingupanddown，hisforeheadallwrinkled，andthecollarofhiscoatturnedup。
　　“It’sasthoughthey’dtakenpainstotormentme！“hecried，stoppingdead。“DidIcomeonthisvoyageinordertocatchrheumatismandpneumonia？ReallyonemighthavecreditedVinracewithmoresense。Mydear，“Helenwasonherkneesunderatable，“youareonlymakingyourselfuntidy，andwehadmuchbetterrecognisethefactthatwearecondemnedtosixweeksofunspeakablemisery。
　　Tocomeatallwastheheightoffolly，butnowthatwearehereI
　　supposethatIcanfaceitlikeaman。Mydiseasesofcoursewillbeincreased——IfeelalreadyworsethanIdidyesterday，butwe’veonlyourselvestothank，andthechildrenhappily——“
　　“Move！Move！Move！“criedHelen，chasinghimfromcornertocornerwithachairasthoughhewereanerranthen。
　　“Outoftheway，Ridley，andinhalfanhouryou’llfinditready。“
　　Sheturnedhimoutoftheroom，andtheycouldhearhimgroaningandswearingashewentalongthepassage。
　　“Idaresayheisn’tverystrong，“saidMrs。Chailey，lookingatMrs。Ambrosecompassionately，asshehelpedtoshiftandcarry。
　　“It’sbooks，“sighedHelen，liftinganarmfulofsadvolumesfromthefloortotheshelf。“Greekfrommorningtonight。
　　IfeverMissRachelmarries，Chailey，praythatshemaymarryamanwhodoesn’tknowhisABC。“
　　Thepreliminarydiscomfortsandharshnesses，whichgenerallymakethefirstdaysofaseavoyagesocheerlessandtryingtothetemper，beingsomehowlivedthrough，thesucceedingdayspassedpleasantlyenough。
　　Octoberwaswelladvanced，butsteadilyburningwithawarmththatmadetheearlymonthsofthesummerappearveryyoungandcapricious。
　　Greattractsoftheearthlaynowbeneaththeautumnsun，andthewholeofEngland，fromthebaldmoorstotheCornishrocks，waslitupfromdawntosunset，andshowedinstretchesofyellow，green，andpurple。
　　Underthatilluminationeventheroofsofthegreattownsglittered。
　　Inthousandsofsmallgardens，millionsofdark-redflowerswereblooming，untiltheoldladieswhohadtendedthemsocarefullycamedownthepathswiththeirscissors，snippedthroughtheirjuicystalks，andlaidthemuponcoldstoneledgesinthevillagechurch。
　　Innumerablepartiesofpicnickerscominghomeatsunsetcried，“Wasthereeversuchadayasthis？““It’syou，“theyoungmenwhispered；
　　“Oh，it’syou，“theyoungwomenreplied。Alloldpeopleandmanysickpeopleweredrawn，wereitonlyforafootortwo，intotheopenair，andprognosticatedpleasantthingsaboutthecourseoftheworld。
　　Asfortheconfidencesandexpressionsoflovethatwereheardnotonlyincornfieldsbutinlamplitrooms，wherethewindowsopenedonthegarden，andmenwithcigarskissedwomenwithgreyhairs，theywerenottobecounted。Somesaidthattheskywasanemblemofthelifetocome。Long-tailedbirdsclatteredandscreamed，andcrossedfromwoodtowood，withgoldeneyesintheirplumage。
　　Butwhileallthiswentonbyland，veryfewpeoplethoughtaboutthesea。Theytookitforgrantedthattheseawascalm；
　　andtherewasnoneed，asthereisinmanyhouseswhenthecreepertapsonthebedroomwindows，forthecouplestomurmurbeforetheykiss，“Thinkoftheshipsto-night，“or“ThankHeaven，I’mnotthemaninthelighthouse！“Foralltheyimagined，theshipswhentheyvanishedonthesky-linedissolved，likesnowinwater。
　　Thegrown-upview，indeed，wasnotmuchclearerthantheviewofthelittlecreaturesinbathingdrawerswhoweretrottingintothefoamallalongthecoastsofEngland，andscoopingupbucketsfullofwater。Theysawwhitesailsortuftsofsmokepassacrossthehorizon，andifyouhadsaidthatthesewerewaterspouts，orthepetalsofwhiteseaflowers，theywouldhaveagreed。
　　Thepeopleinships，however，tookanequallysingularviewofEngland。
　　Notonlydiditappeartothemtobeanisland，andaverysmallisland，butitwasashrinkingislandinwhichpeoplewereimprisoned。
　　Onefiguredthemfirstswarmingaboutlikeaimlessants，andalmostpressingeachotherovertheedge；andthen，astheshipwithdrew，onefiguredthemmakingavainclamour，which，beingunheard，eitherceased，orroseintoabrawl。Finally，whentheshipwasoutofsightofland，itbecameplainthatthepeopleofEnglandwerecompletelymute。Thediseaseattackedotherpartsoftheearth；
　　Europeshrank，Asiashrank，AfricaandAmericashrank，untilitseemeddoubtfulwhethertheshipwouldeverrunagainstanyofthosewrinkledlittlerocksagain。But，ontheotherhand，animmensedignityhaddescendeduponher；shewasaninhabitantofthegreatworld，whichhassofewinhabitants，travellingalldayacrossanemptyuniverse，withveilsdrawnbeforeherandbehind。Shewasmorelonelythanthecaravancrossingthedesert；shewasinfinitelymoremysterious，movingbyherownpowerandsustainedbyherownresources。Theseamightgiveherdeathorsomeunexampledjoy，andnonewouldknowofit。
　　Shewasabridegoingforthtoherhusband，avirginunknownofmen；
　　inhervigorandpurityshemightbelikenedtoallbeautifulthings，forasashipshehadalifeofherown。
　　Indeediftheyhadnotbeenblessedintheirweather，onebluedaybeingbowledupafteranother，smooth，round，andflawless。
　　Mrs。Ambrosewouldhavefounditverydull。Asitwas，shehadherembroideryframesetupondeck，withalittletablebyhersideonwhichlayopenablackvolumeofphilosophy。Shechoseathreadfromthevari-colouredtanglethatlayinherlap，andsewedredintothebarkofatree，oryellowintotherivertorrent。
　　Shewasworkingatagreatdesignofatropicalriverrunningthroughatropicalforest，wherespotteddeerwouldeventuallybrowseuponmassesoffruit，bananas，oranges，andgiantpomegranates，whileatroopofnakednativeswhirleddartsintotheair。
　　BetweenthestitchesshelookedtoonesideandreadasentenceabouttheRealityofMatter，ortheNatureofGood。Roundhermeninbluejerseyskneltandscrubbedtheboards，orleantovertherailsandwhistled，andnotfaroffMr。Peppersatcuttinguprootswithapenknife。Therestwereoccupiedinotherpartsoftheship:
　　RidleyathisGreek——hehadneverfoundquartersmoretohisliking；
　　Willoughbyathisdocuments，forheusedavoyagetoworkofarrearsofbusiness；andRachel——Helen，betweenhersentencesofphilosophy，wonderedsometimeswhatRachel_did_dowithherself？Shemeantvaguelytogoandsee。Theyhadscarcelyspokentwowordstoeachothersincethatfirstevening；theywerepolitewhentheymet，buttherehadbeennoconfidenceofanykind。Rachelseemedtogetonverywellwithherfather——muchbetter，Helenthought，thansheoughtto——andwasasreadytoletHelenaloneasHelenwastoletheralone。
　　AtthatmomentRachelwassittinginherroomdoingabsolutelynothing。
　　Whentheshipwasfullthisapartmentboresomemagnificenttitleandwastheresortofelderlysea-sickladieswholeftthedecktotheiryoungsters。Byvirtueofthepiano，andamessofbooksonthefloor，Rachelconsidereditherroom，andthereshewouldsitforhoursplayingverydifficultmusic，readingalittleGerman，oralittleEnglishwhenthemoodtookher，anddoing——asatthismoment——
　　absolutelynothing。
　　Thewayshehadbeeneducated，joinedtoafinenaturalindolence，wasofcoursepartlythereasonofit，forshehadbeeneducatedasthemajorityofwell-to-dogirlsinthelastpartofthenineteenthcenturywereeducated。Kindlydoctorsandgentleoldprofessorshadtaughthertherudimentsofabouttendifferentbranchesofknowledge，buttheywouldassoonhaveforcedhertogothroughonepieceofdrudgerythoroughlyastheywouldhavetoldherthatherhandsweredirty。
　　Theonehourorthetwohoursweeklypassedverypleasantly，partlyowingtotheotherpupils，partlytothefactthatthewindowlookeduponthebackofashop，wherefiguresappearedagainsttheredwindowsinwinter，partlytotheaccidentsthatareboundtohappenwhenmorethantwopeopleareinthesameroomtogether。
　　Buttherewasnosubjectintheworldwhichsheknewaccurately。
　　Hermindwasinthestateofanintelligentman’sinthebeginningofthereignofQueenElizabeth；shewouldbelievepracticallyanythingshewastold，inventreasonsforanythingshesaid。
　　Theshapeoftheearth，thehistoryoftheworld，howtrainsworked，ormoneywasinvested，whatlawswereinforce，whichpeoplewantedwhat，andwhytheywantedit，themostelementaryideaofasysteminmodernlife——noneofthishadbeenimpartedtoherbyanyofherprofessorsormistresses。Butthissystemofeducationhadonegreatadvantage。Itdidnotteachanything，butitputnoobstacleinthewayofanyrealtalentthatthepupilmightchancetohave。
　　Rachel，beingmusical，wasallowedtolearnnothingbutmusic；
　　shebecameafanaticaboutmusic。Alltheenergiesthatmighthavegoneintolanguages，science，orliterature，thatmighthavemadeherfriends，orshownhertheworld，pouredstraightintomusic。
　　Findingherteachersinadequate，shehadpracticallytaughtherself。
　　Attheageoftwenty-foursheknewasmuchaboutmusicasmostpeopledowhentheyarethirty；andcouldplayaswellasnatureallowedherto，which，asbecamedailymoreobvious，wasareallygenerousallowance。Ifthisonedefinitegiftwassurroundedbydreamsandideasofthemostextravagantandfoolishdescription，noonewasanythewiser。
　　Hereducationbeingthusordinary，hercircumstanceswerenomoreoutofthecommon。Shewasanonlychildandhadneverbeenbulliedandlaughedatbybrothersandsisters。Hermotherhavingdiedwhenshewaseleven，twoaunts，thesistersofherfather，broughtherup，andtheylivedforthesakeoftheairinacomfortablehouseinRichmond。Shewasofcoursebroughtupwithexcessivecare，whichasachildwasforherhealth；asagirlandayoungwomanwasforwhatitseemsalmostcrudetocallhermorals。
　　Untilquitelatelyshehadbeencompletelyignorantthatforwomensuchthingsexisted。Shegropedforknowledgeinoldbooks，andfounditinrepulsivechunks，butshedidnotnaturallycareforbooksandthusnevertroubledherheadaboutthecensorshipwhichwasexercisedfirstbyheraunts，laterbyherfather。