Charlotte was distressed to discover that she would be the only passenger aboard the ship because it meant that she would be in the company of only sailors, with no other women or people of her social class. As a thirteen-year-old upper-class girl, she had never been in such an environment before, and it made her worried and anxious about what lay ahead. She was used to the comforts of her home and the presence of other ladies, which provided some level of security and familiarity. Being alone among sailors made her feel vulnerable and unsure about how she would be treated or what kind of dangers she might encounter during her voyage.
