re tightly grasped
in one hand all the way, dropped it in getting out of the cab. A brisk
young porter, however, came to their assistance: he picked up the money,
shouldered the luggage, and showed Maria where to take the tickets; then
he led them down some slippery steps and on board the steamboat, which
lay alongside the wharf ready to start. It was all new and confusing to
Susan, and it was not till she was settled on deck, wrapped in a warm
shawl with Grace in her arms, that she looked round her at what was
going on. There was so much to see that she could hardly open her eyes
wide enough to take it all in. First there was the captain standing on
his bridge with his rough blue pea-coat buttoned up to his chin, and a
gold band round his cap; his face was quite round, and quite red, except
in places where it was a sort of blue colour. His voice was very
hoarse, and Susan could not make out a word he said, though he shouted
out very loud now and then. Then there were the passengers, hurrying
across the narrow gangway, with all sorts of bags, and parcels, and
bundles of wraps, jostling each other in their eagerness to secure good
places, and over their heads meanwhile dark smoke came rushing out of
the tall black funnel, and there was a constant hissing noise. Then
Susan noticed a silent man standing behind a great wheel at one end of
the boat, and in front of this was written, "Please do not speak to the
man at the wheel." She thought this very strange--it was almost as
though the man at the wheel were in disgrace. As she was gazing at him
and thinking how dull he must be, shut out from all conversation, she
saw him turn the wheel backwards and forwards by some handles on which
his hands were resting: at the same moment the captain gave a gruff
roar, a great rope was hauled on board, and the steamer, which till now
had been curtseying gently up and down on the water, began to move
smoothly on her way.

Maria, who up to this time had not ceased to inquire if this was the
right boat for Ramsgate, settled herself at Susan's side when the start
was really made. The sun shone so brightly that it was warm and
pleasant on deck, and they found plenty to admire and point out to each
other as they went along. A journey by the steamboat was much nicer,
they agreed, than by the train. This agreeable state of things lasted
while they were on the river, but presently the steamer began to roll a
little, and to be tossed a