登陆注册
4711000000020

第20章

"Come, little girl, I've got another dose for you. I fancy you won't take it as well as you did the last, but you will like it better after a while," said Dr. Alec, about a week after the grand surprise.

Rose was sitting in her pretty room, where she would gladly have spent all her time if it had been allowed; but she looked up with a smile, for she had ceased to fear her uncle's remedies, and was always ready to try a new one. The last had been a set of light gardening tools, with which she had helped him put the flower-beds in order, learning all sorts of new and pleasant things about the plants as she worked, for, though she had studied botany at school, it seemed very dry stuff compared with Uncle Alec's lively lesson.

"What is it now?" she asked, shutting her work-box without a murmur.

"Salt-water."

"How must I take it?"

"Put on the new suit Miss Hemming sent home yesterday, and come down to the beach; then I'll show you."

"Yes, sir," answered Rose obediently, adding to herself, with a shiver, as he went off: "It is too early for bathing, so I know it is something to do with a dreadful boat."

Putting on the new suit of blue flannel, prettily trimmed with white, and the little sailor-hat with long streamers, diverted her mind from the approaching trial, till a shrill whistle reminded her that her uncle was waiting. Away she ran through the garden, down the sandy path, out upon the strip of beach that belonged to the house, and here she found Dr. Alec busy with a slender red and white boat that lay rocking on the rising tide.

"That is a dear little boat; and 'Bonnie Belle' is a pretty name," she said, trying not to show how nervous she felt.

"It is for you; so sit in the stern and learn to steer, till you are ready to learn to row."

"Do all boats wiggle about in that way?" she asked, lingering as if to tie her hat more firmly.

"Oh, yes, pitch about like nutshells when the sea is a bit rough," answered her sailor uncle, never guessing her secret woe.

"Is it rough to-day?"

"Not very; it looks a trifle squally to the eastward, but we are all right till the wind changes. Come."

"Can you swim, uncle?" asked Rose, clutching at his arm as he took her hand.

"Like a fish. Now then."

"Oh, please hold me very tight till I get there! Why do you have the stern so far away?" and, stifling several squeaks of alarm in her passage, Rose crept to the distant seat, and sat there holding on with both hands and looking as if she expected every wave to bring a sudden shipwreck.

Uncle Alec took no notice of her fear, but patiently instructed her in the art of steering, till she was so absorbed in remembering which was starboard and which larboard, that she forgot to say "OW!" every time a big wave slapped against the boat.

"Now where shall we go?" she asked, as the wind blew freshly in her face, and a few, long swift strokes sent them half across the little bay.

"Suppose we go to China?"

"Isn't that rather a long voyage?"

"Not as I go. Steer round the Point into the harbour, and I'll give you a glimpse of China in twenty minutes or so."

"I should like that!" and Rose sat wondering what he meant, while she enjoyed the new sights all about her.

Behind them the green Aunt-hill sloped gently upward to the grove at the top, and all along the seaward side stood familiar houses, stately, cosy, or picturesque. As they rounded the Point, the great bay opened before them full of shipping, and the city lay beyond, its spires rising above the tall masts with their gay streamers.

"Are we going there?" she asked, for she had never seen this aspect of the rich and busy old city before.

"Yes. Uncle Mac has a ship just in from Hong Kong, and I thought you would like to go and see it."

"Oh, I should. I love dearly to go poking about in the warehouses with Uncle Mac; everything is so curious and new to me; and I'm specially interested in China because you have been there."

"I'll show you two genuine Chinamen who have just arrived. You will like to welcome Whang Lo and Fun See, I'm sure."

"Don't ask me to speak to them, uncle; I shall be sure to laugh at the odd names and the pig-tails and the slanting eyes. Please let me just trot round after you; I like that best."

"Very well; now steer toward the wharf where the big ship with the queer flag is. That's the 'Rajah,' and we will go aboard if we can."

In among the ships they went, by the wharves where the water was green and still, and queer barnacles grew on the slippery piles. Odd smells saluted her nose, and odd sights met her eyes, but Rose liked it all, and played she was really landing in Hong Kong when they glided up to the steps in the shadow of the tall "Rajah." Boxes and bales were rising out of the hold and being carried into the warehouse by stout porters, who tugged and bawled and clattered about with small trucks, or worked cranes with iron claws that came down and clutched heavy weights, whisking them aloft to where wide doors like mouths swallowed them up.

Dr. Alec took her aboard the ship, and she had the satisfaction of poking her inquisitive little nose into every available corner, at the risk of being crushed, lost, or drowned.

"Well, child, how would you like to take a voyage round the world with me in a jolly old craft like this?" asked her uncle, as they rested a minute in the captain's cabin.

"I should like to see the world, but not in such a small, untidy, smelly place as this. We would go in a yacht all clean and comfortable; Charlie says that is the proper way," answered Rose, surveying the close quarters with little favour.

"You are not a true Campbell if you don't like the smell of tar and salt-water, nor Charlie either, with his luxurious yacht. Now come ashore and chin-chin with the Celestials."

After a delightful progress through the great warehouse, peeping and picking as they went, they found Uncle Mac and the yellow gentlemen in his private room, where samples, gifts, curiosities, and newly arrived treasures of all sorts were piled up in pleasing pro-fusion and con-fusion.

同类推荐
  • 题家园新池

    题家园新池

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郊庙歌辞 梁太庙乐

    郊庙歌辞 梁太庙乐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 陀罗尼集经

    陀罗尼集经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伤寒六书

    伤寒六书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 清朝秘史

    清朝秘史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 至强军阀系统

    至强军阀系统

    二十一世纪的孤儿林烈穿越到一万年后的星际世界,那时人类内部处于混战阶段,军阀势力林立,林烈穿越时带着军阀系统,系统的任务就是将林烈培养成最强大的星际军阀头目,林烈的到来,注定会在为这片星空掀起腥风血雨,林烈能否统一人类,结束人类数千年的分裂状态?远处的深空,拥有太多的无知,人类,在宇宙中是否真正的强大?新的异族出现,人类面临的也许就是灭顶之灾!已完结了一本老书《星际之我欲兵狂》。军阀粉丝群号是282996594,欢迎大家加入。
  • 放开那个巫师

    放开那个巫师

    这是一个魔法的世界,绚丽多姿,群雄荟萃,他身具顶级血统和家世优秀,却是魔法低能儿,从小受人唾弃。机缘凑巧之下,他来到人类世界,从此,唤回前世超级能力,开始屌丝逆袭,直至成长为一个无上巫师,在他所在的世界,留下属于他的绝代传奇。
  • 生肖守护神

    生肖守护神

    十二生肖,象征着十二个月份,但是,没有人知道,他们也象征着十二位守护者。十二位传承着生肖血脉的守护者。他们拥有着自身属相的能力,默默的守卫着东方。麒麟,东方的祥瑞,当拥有麒麟血脉的王者降临时,他将统御十二生肖为守护东方而贡献出自己全部的力量。痞子麒麟,纵横人间,都市神话,十二生肖,尽在本书之中。
  • 娇宠嫡妃

    娇宠嫡妃

    陈妍雪,世人口中的草包傻子。传言其貌不扬,但却身份尊贵是相府唯一的嫡女。却因庶妹嫉妒被害溺水身亡。她现代毒神特工,一手毒术杀人于无形,只是世人却不知她的医术同样出神入化,只是因为职业原因鲜少人知晓。当她和她命运的转盘产生交集,一朝魂归。且看她如何扮猪吃老虎,玩转古代。
  • 凌天战魂

    凌天战魂

    诸天万界,武魂为尊。楚云偶然觉醒可以升级的至尊战魂,从此开始逆袭之路。从最初的一抹黑光,成长为骑乘真龙,肩扛屠龙刀、手握诛仙剑的无敌战魂!挥手间,覆灭万界,我主沉浮!
  • 魏晋风骨化沉香

    魏晋风骨化沉香

    文坛浊酒,一半被李白喝进诗里,另一半让魏晋文人就着寒食散干了,些许化作率性癫狂,余下的遁入愁肠。
  • 夫妻一场

    夫妻一场

    手紧握方向盘,大灯打到最亮,两只铜铃眼似的,在黑暗里劈开条光路,一侧偶尔有车超过去,程思凡就浑身一紧。妈,开慢点。儿子小非说。没问题。程思凡嘴上答着,心却揪紧了。下坡,刹车!小非又喊。程思凡恍然,连忙调整方向,是个小坡,少说有三四十度角,不爬到坡顶,看不到对面来车。这是她第一次上高速,学车学得糊里糊涂,找了关系,轻松拿证,买车才三个月,过去总是在市里转悠,真上高速,又是晚上,她考虑再三,加上儿子的鼓励,才终于踩足油门。
  • 不渝

    不渝

    唐禹安与邱协志相识17年,这17年,她过得有血有泪。她爱邱协志,为他留了长发,却换来他的一句,兄弟。后来就遇到了老顾,老顾一直追求唐禹安,而唐禹安却无法做出抉择。就在这时,唐禹安接到邱协志的电话,他们二人相见,邱协志说在出差时,认识了一个女生李新月,她竟然跑到邱协志所在的城市,于是便托付唐禹安照顾她。看到李新月的唐禹安,陷入了深思,这可不就是一个翻版的自己?刘贞的小说里似乎总是带着嘲讽,先从自己开刀,解剖精确,一个也不放过。平稳却又汹涌澎湃的文字里,很难找得到自怜自艾的避难处。
  • 吴医汇讲

    吴医汇讲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你看你看月亮的脸

    你看你看月亮的脸

    她在夜里第三次翻过身子的时候,客厅里按照爸爸手掌样子做成的镀锡模型上的迷你小金鱼缸里的黑色小金鱼恰好又吐出了这一分钟里的第二个小水泡。水泡慢慢升到水面上头,和其他存在的小水泡一起稚嫩而固执地小心翼翼装饰了这个从菜市场买回来的装了三分之二水的玻璃缸的内壁。它坚持了三十七秒钟以后,就快乐而幸福地爆破不见了。这时她的右手食指像遭到惊吓似的微微抖了抖。一只蜘蛛在离她距离一米七五的地方逮着了一只胖蚊子。谁也不知道此刻她是否正在做着梦,或者只是单纯而遭人忌妒地安宁而伟大地存在于这个世界上。熟睡。一些旧磁带乱七八糟地堆满了紧挨着她的单人床的床头柜。