152 .FOLKESTONE. 



steamers and vessels. The tide was coming in, and some 

 of the smaller vessels were afloat. They found the steamer 

 there in which they were to go that evening. They knew 

 it by the smoke which was issuing from the chimney, which 

 showed they wei-e " firing up" on board, so as to have the 

 steam ready when the hour should arrive. They went on 

 board this steamer, descending by a long and steep gang- 

 plank, and John chose the place where he said that he and 

 Lawrence would sit during the passage. 



When the time arrived for dinner, they went to the ho- 

 tel, which was very near, and after dinner John went into 

 the reading-room, and spent half an hour at his studies. 

 This left him half an hour more of work to complete his 

 task for the day, and this he was going to take, as has al- 

 ready been stated, in the form of a conversational lecture 

 on the passage. 



Clouds had begun to gather in the sky before Lawrence 

 and John went in to dinner, and when John had finished 

 his study he found that the sky was entirely overcast, and 

 that it was beginning to rain. 



"Lawrence," said John, after going to the door and look- 

 ing out, "it is beginning to rain. There's a storm coming 

 on." 



" Yes," said Lawrence, " so I see." 



" And what shall we do about going ?" 



"Do just what you think best," said Lawrence; "you 

 are in command." 



" But I can ask advice, I suppose," said John. " What 

 would you advise me to do ?" 



"Well," said Lawrence, "it is just as you please; but if 

 you ask my advice, I should not advise you to go unless 

 the boat goes." 



" Nonsense, Lawrence !" said John. " Of course we can 

 not possibly go unless the boat goes." 



