Everyone was very kind to me , especially the officers . Do n't laugh , Jo , gentlemen really are very necessary aboard ship , to hold on to , or to wait upon one , and as they have nothing to do , it 's a mercy to make them useful , otherwise they would smoke themselves to death , I 'm afraid . Aunt and Flo were poorly all the way , and liked to be let alone , so when I had done what I could for them , I went and enjoyed myself . Such walks on deck , such sunsets , such splendid air and waves ! It was almost as exciting as riding a fast horse , when we went rushing on so grandly . I wish Beth could have come , it would have done her so much good . As for Jo , she would have gone up and sat on the maintop jib , or whatever the high thing is called , made friends with the engineers , and tooted on the captain 's speaking trumpet , she 'd have been in such a state of rapture . It was all heavenly , but I was glad to see the Irish coast , and found it very lovely , so green and sunny , with brown cabins here and there , ruins on some of the hills , and gentlemen 's countryseats in the valleys , with deer feeding in the parks . It was early in the morning , but I did n't regret getting up to see it , for the bay was full of little boats , the shore so picturesque , and a rosy sky overhead . I never shall forget it . At Queenstown one of my new acquaintances left us , Mr. Lennox , and when I said something about the Lakes of Killarney , he sighed , and sung , with a look at me ... `` Oh , have you e'er heard of Kate Kearney ? She lives on the banks of Killarney ; From the glance of her eye , Shun danger and fly , For fatal 's the glance of Kate Kearney . '' Was n't that nonsensical ? We only stopped at Liverpool a few hours . It 's a dirty , noisy place , and I was glad to leave it . Uncle rushed out and bought a pair of dogskin gloves , some ugly , thick shoes , and an umbrella , and got shaved à la mutton chop , the first thing . Then he flattered himself that he looked like a true Briton , but the first time he had the mud cleaned off his shoes , the little bootblack knew that an American stood in them , and said , with a grin , `` There yer har , sir . I 've given 'em the latest Yankee shine . '' It amused Uncle immensely . Oh , I must tell you what that absurd Lennox did !
He got his friend Ward , who came on with us , to order a bouquet for me , and the first thing I saw in my room was a lovely one , with `` Robert XXXXX 's compliments , '' on the card .
Briton Irish Jo Killarney Lennox Queenstown bootblack countryseats jib left