Fannywasallagitationandflutter；allhopeandapprehension。
　　Themomenttheystopped，atrollopy-lookingmaidservant，seeminglyinwaitingforthematthedoor，steppedforward，andmoreintentontellingthenewsthangivingthemanyhelp，immediatelybeganwith，“TheThrushisgoneoutofharbour，pleasesir，andoneoftheofficershasbeenhereto——
　　“Shewasinterruptedbyafinetallboyofelevenyearsold，who，rushingoutofthehouse，pushedthemaidaside，andwhileWilliamwasopeningthechaise-doorhimself，calledout，“Youarejustintime。Wehavebeenlookingforyouthishalf-hour。TheThrushwentoutofharbourthismorning。Isawher。Itwasabeautifulsight。
　　Andtheythinkshewillhaveherordersinadayortwo。
　　AndMr。Campbellwashereatfouro’clocktoaskforyou：
　　hehasgotoneoftheThrush’sboats，andisgoingofftoheratsix，andhopedyouwouldbehereintimetogowithhim。“
　　AstareortwoatFanny，asWilliamhelpedheroutofthecarriage，wasallthevoluntarynoticewhichthisbrotherbestowed；buthemadenoobjectiontoherkissinghim，thoughstillentirelyengagedindetailingfartherparticularsoftheThrush’sgoingoutofharbour，inwhichhehadastrongrightofinterest，beingtocommencehiscareerofseamanshipinheratthisverytime。
　　AnothermomentandFannywasinthenarrowentrance-passageofthehouse，andinhermother’sarms，whomethertherewithlooksoftruekindness，andwithfeatureswhichFannylovedthemore，becausetheybroughtherauntBertram’sbeforeher，andtherewerehertwosisters：
　　Susan，awell-grownfinegirloffourteen，andBetsey，theyoungestofthefamily，aboutfive——bothgladtoseeherintheirway，thoughwithnoadvantageofmannerinreceivingher。ButmannerFannydidnotwant。
　　Wouldtheybutloveher，sheshouldbesatisfied。
　　Shewasthentakenintoaparlour，sosmallthatherfirstconvictionwasofitsbeingonlyapassage-roomtosomethingbetter，andshestoodforamomentexpectingtobeinvitedon；butwhenshesawtherewasnootherdoor，andthatthereweresignsofhabitationbeforeher，shecalledbackherthoughts，reprovedherself，andgrievedlesttheyshouldhavebeensuspected。Hermother，however，couldnotstaylongenoughtosuspectanything。
　　Shewasgoneagaintothestreet-door，towelcomeWilliam。
　　“Oh!mydearWilliam，howgladIamtoseeyou。
　　ButhaveyouheardabouttheThrush？Sheisgoneoutofharbouralready；threedaysbeforewehadanythoughtofit；
　　andIdonotknowwhatIamtodoaboutSam’sthings，theywillneverbereadyintime；forshemayhaveherordersto-morrow，perhaps。Ittakesmequiteunawares。AndnowyoumustbeoffforSpitheadtoo。Campbellhasbeenhere，quiteinaworryaboutyou；andnowwhatshallwedo？
　　Ithoughttohavehadsuchacomfortableeveningwithyou，andhereeverythingcomesuponmeatonce。“
　　Hersonansweredcheerfully，tellingherthateverythingwasalwaysforthebest；andmakinglightofhisowninconvenienceinbeingobligedtohurryawaysosoon。
　　“Tobesure，Ihadmuchrathershehadstayedinharbour，thatImighthavesatafewhourswithyouincomfort；
　　butasthereisaboatashore，Ihadbettergooffatonce，andthereisnohelpforit。WhereaboutsdoestheThrushlayatSpithead？NeartheCanopus？Butnomatter；
　　here’sFannyintheparlour，andwhyshouldwestayinthepassage？Come，mother，youhavehardlylookedatyourowndearFannyyet。“
　　Intheybothcame，andMrs。Pricehavingkindlykissedherdaughteragain，andcommentedalittleonhergrowth，beganwithverynaturalsolicitudetofeelfortheirfatiguesandwantsastravellers。
　　“Poordears!howtiredyoumustbothbe!andnow，whatwillyouhave？Ibegantothinkyouwouldnevercome。
　　BetseyandIhavebeenwatchingforyouthishalf-hour。
　　Andwhendidyougetanythingtoeat？Andwhatwouldyouliketohavenow？Icouldnottellwhetheryouwouldbeforsomemeat，oronlyadishoftea，afteryourjourney，orelseIwouldhavegotsomethingready。AndnowI
　　amafraidCampbellwillbeherebeforethereistimetodressasteak，andwehavenobutcherathand。
　　Itisveryinconvenienttohavenobutcherinthestreet。
　　Wewerebetteroffinourlasthouse。Perhapsyouwouldlikesometeaassoonasitcanbegot。“
　　Theybothdeclaredtheyshouldpreferittoanything。
　　“Then，Betsey，mydear，runintothekitchenandseeifRebeccahasputthewateron；andtellhertobringinthetea-thingsassoonasshecan。Iwishwecouldgetthebellmended；
　　butBetseyisaveryhandylittlemessenger。“
　　Betseywentwithalacrity，proudtoshewherabilitiesbeforeherfinenewsister。
　　“Dearme!“continuedtheanxiousmother，“whatasadfirewehavegot，andIdaresayyouarebothstarvedwithcold。Drawyourchairnearer，mydear。IcannotthinkwhatRebeccahasbeenabout。IamsureItoldhertobringsomecoalshalfanhourago。Susan，youshouldhavetakencareofthefire。“
　　“Iwasupstairs，mama，movingmythings，“saidSusan，inafearless，self-defendingtone，whichstartledFanny。
　　“YouknowyouhadbutjustsettledthatmysisterFannyandIshouldhavetheotherroom；andIcouldnotgetRebeccatogivemeanyhelp。“
　　Fartherdiscussionwaspreventedbyvariousbustles：
　　first，thedrivercametobepaid；thentherewasasquabblebetweenSamandRebeccaaboutthemannerofcarryinguphissister’strunk，whichhewouldmanageallhisownway；
　　andlastly，inwalkedMr。Pricehimself，hisownloudvoiceprecedinghim，aswithsomethingoftheoathkindhekickedawayhisson’sport-manteauandhisdaughter’sbandboxinthepassage，andcalledoutforacandle；
　　nocandlewasbrought，however，andhewalkedintotheroom。
　　Fannywithdoubtingfeelingshadrisentomeethim，butsankdownagainonfindingherselfundistinguishedinthedusk，andunthoughtof。Withafriendlyshakeofhisson’shand，andaneagervoice，heinstantlybegan——
　　“Ha!welcomeback，myboy。Gladtoseeyou。Haveyouheardthenews？TheThrushwentoutofharbourthismorning。
　　Sharpistheword，yousee!ByG——，youarejustintime!
　　Thedoctorhasbeenhereinquiringforyou：hehasgotoneoftheboats，andistobeoffforSpitheadbysix，soyouhadbettergowithhim。IhavebeentoTurner’saboutyourmess；itisallinawaytobedone。
　　Ishouldnotwonderifyouhadyourordersto-morrow：
　　butyoucannotsailwiththiswind，ifyouaretocruisetothewestward；andCaptainWalshthinksyouwillcertainlyhaveacruisetothewestward，withtheElephant。
　　ByG——，Iwishyoumay!ButoldScholeywassaying，justnow，thathethoughtyouwouldbesentfirsttotheTexel。Well，well，weareready，whateverhappens。
　　ButbyG——，youlostafinesightbynotbeinghereinthemorningtoseetheThrushgooutofharbour!
　　Iwouldnothavebeenoutofthewayforathousandpounds。
　　OldScholeyraninatbreakfast-time，tosayshehadslippedhermooringsandwascomingout，Ijumpedup，andmadebuttwostepstotheplatform。Ifevertherewasaperfectbeautyafloat，sheisone；andthereshelaysatSpithead，andanybodyinEnglandwouldtakeherforaneight-and-twenty。Iwasupontheplatformtwohoursthisafternoonlookingather。ShelaysclosetotheEndymion，betweenherandtheCleopatra，justtotheeastwardofthesheerhulk。“
　　“Ha!“criedWilliam，“_that’s_justwhereIshouldhaveputhermyself。It’sthebestberthatSpithead。
　　Buthereismysister，sir；hereisFanny，“turningandleadingherforward；“itissodarkyoudonotseeher。“
　　Withanacknowledgmentthathehadquiteforgother，Mr。Pricenowreceivedhisdaughter；andhavinggivenheracordialhug，andobservedthatshewasgrownintoawoman，andhesupposedwouldbewantingahusbandsoon，seemedverymuchinclinedtoforgetheragain。
　　Fannyshrunkbacktoherseat，withfeelingssadlypainedbyhislanguageandhissmellofspirits；
　　andhetalkedononlytohisson，andonlyoftheThrush，thoughWilliam，warmlyinterestedashewasinthatsubject，morethanoncetriedtomakehisfatherthinkofFanny，andherlongabsenceandlongjourney。
　　Aftersittingsometimelonger，acandlewasobtained；
　　butastherewasstillnoappearanceoftea，nor，fromBetsey’sreportsfromthekitchen，muchhopeofanyunderaconsiderableperiod，Williamdeterminedtogoandchangehisdress，andmakethenecessarypreparationsforhisremovalonboarddirectly，thathemighthavehisteaincomfortafterwards。
　　Ashelefttheroom，tworosy-facedboys，raggedanddirty，abouteightandnineyearsold，rushedintoitjustreleasedfromschool，andcomingeagerlytoseetheirsister，andtellthattheThrushwasgoneoutofharbour；