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；