sons, and I haven't a doubt you can make it all right; and
I'll be off! Everything has got to be on board to-night. I'll come after
you early this evening." With this he departed.

When Mr. Burke had gone, Mrs. Cliff, very much excited by what she had
heard and by the thought of what she was going to do, told Willy that
she could go on with the packing while she herself went over to the
church in Brooklyn and explained matters to the members of the Synod who
intended to go with her, and give them a chance to decide whether or not
the plan proposed by Mr. Burke would suit them.

She carried out this intention and drove to Brooklyn in a carriage, but,
having been delayed by many things which Willy wanted to know about the
packing, and having forgotten in what street the church was situated,
she lost a good deal of time; and when she reached her destination she
found that the Synod had adjourned _sine die_.

Mrs. Cliff sighed. It was a great pity to have taken so much trouble,
especially when time was so precious, but she had done what she could.
It would be impossible for her to find the members in their temporary
places of abode, and the only thing she could do now was to tell them
the change in her plans when they came on board that evening, and then,
if they did not care to sail with her, they would have plenty of time to
go on shore again.

CHAPTER XXII

THE "SUMMER SHELTER" GOES TO SEA

Mr. Burke did not arrive to escort Mrs. Cliff and Willy Croup to the
yacht until nearly nine o'clock in the evening. They had sent their
baggage to the vessel in the afternoon, and had now been expecting him,
with great impatience, for nearly an hour, but when Mr. Burke arrived,
it was impossible to find fault with him, for he had been busy, he said,
every minute of the day.

He had made up a full crew; he had a good sailing-master, and the first
mate who had been on the yacht before; everything that he could think of
in the way of provisions and stores were on board, and there was
nothing to prevent their getting out of the harbor early in the morning.

When Mrs. Cliff stepped on board her yacht, the _Summer Shelter_, her
first thought was directed towards her guests of the Synod; and when the
mate, Mr. Burdette, had advanced and been introduced to her, she asked
him if any of the clergymen had yet appeared.

"They're all aboard, madam," said he--"fourteen of them! They came
aboard about seven o'clock, and they stay