AN OLD TRAVELER'S RULE. 153 



"Not very well," said Lawrence. "You might, I sup- 

 pose, hire a sail-boat." 



Lawrence said this with a perfectly grave face, as if 

 he thought that the idea "of chartering a small sloop or 

 schooner for crossing the Channel by themselves, on a 

 night and in a storm in which the officers of a steamer 

 thought it not safe to go out, was one to be seriously en- 

 tertained. 



"No ; but seriously," said John, " what would you really 

 do if you were I ?" 



"I don't know what I should do if I were you," said 

 Lawrence, "but in such cases unless I have ladies under 

 my charge my rule is, if the boat goes, I go, and not 

 without." 



" Then m go," said John. 



Accordingly, about half past nine, John conducted Law 

 rence on board in the rain. 



G2 



