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as he heard his father's 〃Amen；〃 so fervent and so deep； and he gazed
up and around； with fond and earnest looks； as thoughts and
resolutions； formed there of old； came gathering thick upon him。 And
there little Gertrude seemed first to accept him。 She whispered to
her papa； as they stood up to go away； that it was very good in God
Almighty to have sent Harry home； and； as they left the cloister； she
slipped into Harry's hand a daisy from the grave； such a gift as she
had never carried to any one else； save her father and Margaret； and
she shrank no longer from being lifted up in his arms； and carried
home through the twilight street。
He hurried into the drawing…room； and was heard declaring that all
was right； for Margaret was on the sofa； but he stopped short；
grieved at her altered looks。 She smiled as he stooped to kiss her；
and then made him stand erect； and measure himself against Norman；
whose height he had almost reached。 The little curly midshipman had
come back； as nurse said； 〃a fine…growed young man；〃 his rosy cheeks；
brown and ruddy； and his countenance
〃You are much more like papa and Norman than I thought you would be；〃
said Margaret。
〃He has left his snub nose and yellow locks behind；〃 said his father；
〃though the shaggy mane seems to remain。 I believe lions grow darker
with age。 So there stand June and July together again！〃
Dr。 May walked backwards to look at them。 It was good to see his
face。
〃I shall see Flora and Tom to…morrow！〃 said Harry； after nodding with
satisfaction； as they all took their wonted places。
〃Going！〃 exclaimed Richard。
〃Why； don't you know？〃 said Ethel； 〃it is current in the nursery that
he is going to be tried by court…martial for living with the King of
the Cannibal Islands。〃
〃Aubrey says he had a desert island； with Jennings for his man
Friday；〃 said Blanche。
〃Harry；〃 said little Gertrude； who had established herself on his
knee； 〃did you really poke out the giant's eye with the top of a fir…
tree？〃
〃Who told you so； Daisy？〃 was the general cry； but she became shy；
and would not answer more than by a whisper about Aubrey； who
indignantly declared that he never said so； only Gertrude was so
foolish that she did not know Harry from Ulysses。
〃After all；〃 said Ethel； 〃I don't think our notions are much more
defined。 Papa and Norman may know more； but we have heard almost
nothing。 I have been waiting to hear more to close up my letters to
Flora and Tom。 What a shame that has not been done！〃
〃I'll finish；〃 said Mary； running to the side…table。
〃And tell her I'll be there to…morrow；〃 said Harry。 〃I must report
myself； and what fun to see Flora a member of Parliament！ Come with
me； June； I'll be back next day。 I wish you all would come。〃
〃Yes； I must come with you；〃 said Norman。 〃I shall have to go to
Oxford on Thursday；〃 and very reluctant he looked。 〃Tell Flora I am
coming； Mary。〃
〃How did you know that Flora was a married lady？〃 asked Blanche； in
her would…be grown…up manner。
〃I heard that from Aunt Flora。 A famous lot of news I picked up
there！〃
〃Aunt Flora！〃
〃Did you not know he had been at Auckland？〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Aunt
Flora had to nurse him well after all he had undergone。 Did you not
think her very like mamma； Harry？〃
〃Mamma never looked half so old！〃 cried Harry indignantly。
〃Flora was five years younger！〃
〃She has got her voice and way with her；〃 said Harry； 〃but you will
soon see。 She is coming home soon。〃
There was a great outcry of delight。
〃Yes； there is some money of Uncle Arnott's that must be looked
after； but he does not like the voyage； and can't leave his office；
so perhaps Aunt Flora may come alone。 She had a great mind to come
with me； but there was no good berth for her in this schooner； and I
could not wait for another chance。 I can't think what possessed the
letters not to come！ She would not write by the first packet；
because I was so ill； but we both wrote by the next； and I made sure
you had them； or I would have written before I came。〃
The words were not out of his mouth before the second post was
brought in； and there were two letters from New Zealand！ What would
they not have been yesterday？ Harry would have burned his own； but
the long closely…written sheets were eagerly seized； as； affording
the best hope of understanding his adventures； as it had been written
at intervals from Auckland； and the papers； passing from one to the
other； formed the text for interrogations on further details； though
much more was gleaned incidentally in tete…a…tetes； by Margaret；
Norman； or his father； and no one person ever heard the whole
connectedly from Harry himself。
〃What was the first you knew of the fire； Harry？〃 asked Dr。 May；
looking up from the letter。
〃Owen shaking me awake； and I thought it was a hoax；〃 said Harry。
〃But it was true enough； and when we got on deck； there were clouds
of smoke coming up the main hatch…way。〃
Margaret's eyes were upon him； and her lips formed the question； 〃And
he？〃
〃He met us； and told us to be steadybut there was little need for
that！ Every man there was as cool and collected as if it had been no
more than the cook's stoveand we should have scorned to be
otherwise！ He put his hand on my shoulder and said； 'Keep by me；'
and I did。〃
〃Then there was never much hope of extinguishing the fire？〃
〃No； if you looked down below the forecastle it was like a furnace；
and though the pumps were at work； it was only to gain time while the
boats were lowered。 The first lieutenant told off the men； and they
went down the side without one word； only shaking hands with those
that were left。〃
〃Oh； Harry！ what were you thinking of？〃 cried Blanche。
〃Of the powder；〃 said Harry。
Ethel thought there was more in that answer than met the ear； and
that Harry； at least； had thought of the powder to…night at church。
〃Mr。 Ernescliffe had the command of the second cutter。 He asked to
take me with him； I was glad enough； and Owenhe is mate； you know
went with us。〃
As to telling how he felt when he saw the good ship Alcestis blown to
fragments； that was past Harry； and all but Blanche were wise enough
not to ask。 She had by way of answer； 〃Very glad to be safe out of
her。〃
Nor was Harry willing to dwell on the subsequent days； when the
unclouded sun had been a cruel foe； and the insufficient stores of
food and water did； indeed； sustain life； but a life of extreme
suffering。 What he told was of the kindness that strove to save him；
as the youngest； from all that could be spared him。 〃If I dropped
asleep at the bottom of the boat； I was sure to find some one shading
me from the sun。 If there was an extra drop of water； they wanted me
to have it。〃
〃Tell me their names； Harry！〃 cried Dr。 May。 〃If ever I meet one of
them〃
〃But the storm； Harry； the storm？〃 asked Blanche。 〃Was that not
terrible？〃
〃Very comfortable at first； Blanche；〃 was the answer。 〃Oh； that
rain！〃
〃But when it grew so very bad？〃
〃We did not reck much what happened to us；〃 said Harry。 〃It could
not be worse than starving。 When we missed the others in the
morning； most of