said Tom . `` But I do not know my way to Shiny Wall , or where it is at all . '' `` Little boys must take the trouble to find out things for themselves , or they will never grow to be men ; so that you must ask all the beasts in the sea and the birds in the air , and if you have been good to them , some of them will tell you the way to Shiny Wall . '' `` Well , '' said Tom , `` it will be a long journey , so I had better start at once . Good-bye , Miss Ellie ; you know I am getting a big boy , and I must go out and see the world . '' `` I know you must , '' said Ellie ; `` but you will not forget me , Tom . I shall wait here till you come . '' And she shook hands with him , and bade him good-bye . Tom longed very much again to kiss her ; but he thought it would not be respectful , considering she was a lady born ; so he promised not to forget her : but his little whirl-about of a head was so full of the notion of going out to see the world , that it forgot her in five minutes : however , though his head forgot her , I am glad to say his heart did not . So he asked all the beasts in the sea , and all the birds in the air , but none of them knew the way to Shiny Wall . For why ? He was still too far down south . Then he met a ship , far larger than he had ever seen -- a gallant ocean-steamer , with a long cloud of smoke trailing behind ; and he wondered how she went on without sails , and swam up to her to see . A school of dolphins were running races round and round her , going three feet for her one , and Tom asked them the way to Shiny Wall : but they did not know . Then he tried to find out how she moved , and at last he saw her screw , and was so delighted with it that he played under her quarter all day , till he nearly had his nose knocked off by the fans , and thought it time to move . Then he watched the sailors upon deck , and the ladies , with their bonnets and parasols : but none of them could see him , because their eyes were not opened , -- as , indeed , most people 's eyes are not . At last there came out into the quarter-gallery a very pretty lady , in deep black widow 's weeds , and in her arms a baby . She leaned over the quarter-gallery , and looked back and back toward England far away ; and as she looked she sang : I. `` Soft soft wind , from out the sweet south sliding , Waft thy silver cloud-webs athwart the summer sea ; Thin thin threads of mist on dewy fingers twining Weave a veil of dappled gauze to shade my babe and me . II . `` Deep deep Love , within thine own abyss abiding , Pour Thyself abroad , O Lord , on earth and air and sea ; Worn weary hearts within Thy holy temple hiding , Shield from sorrow , sin , and shame my helpless babe and me . ''
Her voice was so soft and low , and the music of the air so sweet , XXXXX Tom could have listened to it all day .
as because down from than that till to toward within