The trio, thereupon, got very confidential together, Bob telling how
they had got their dog Rover with them, only he was travelling in the
guard's van, being too big to be put in the box under the carriage, as
he would have been if he'd been a little dog instead of a fine big black
retriever, which he, Bob, was very glad to say he was, and "not a mere
lady's pet like a pug or a toy terrier," while Nellie, in her turn,
intimated her intention of making a collection of shells and seaweed
when she got to the shore, which, she said, she longed to reach so as to
`see the sea,' that being the dearest wish of her heart.
The Captain, on his part, reciprocated these friendly advances in the
heartiest way, expressing the strongest desire to make the acquaintance
of Rover, as well as to take his fellow-travellers out in his yacht for
a sail whenever the weather was fine enough; that is, if they promised
to behave themselves properly, and always `did what they were told and
obeyed orders,' Captain Dresser saying, with an expressive wink that
made him look more jackdaw-like than ever, that he invariably insisted,
even in the presence of their "dear aunt Polly," on being "captain of
his own ship."
They were in the midst of all these mutual confidences, the Captain
chattering away like an old hen clucking round a pair of new-found
chicks, and Bob and Nellie full of glee and exuberant anticipations of
all the coming fun they were going to have afloat and ashore; when,
suddenly, the light of the further window of the railway-carriage,
opposite that near to which the trio were grouped in close confab, was
obscured by a dark body pressing against it from without, as if some one
was trying to gain admittance.
"Hallo!" cried the Captain. "What's that--who's there?"