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holding his hand in one of hers； and resting the other on his
shoulder； and gazing in silence into his face。 Each was stillshe
was gathering strengthhe dreaded word or look。
〃Tell me how and where；〃 she said at last。
〃It was in the Loyalty Isles； it was feverthe exertions for us。
His head was lying here；〃 and he pointed to his own breast。 〃He sent
his love to youhe bade me tell you there would be meeting by and
by； in the haven where he would be。 I laid his head in the grave
under the great palmI said some of the prayersthere are
Christians round it。〃
He said this in short disconnected phrases； often pausing to gather
voice； but forced to resume； by her inquiring looks and pressure of
his hand。
She asked no more。 〃Kiss me；〃 she said； and when he had done so；
〃Thank you； go down； please； all of you。 You have brought great
relief。 Thank you。 But I can't talk yet。 You shall tell me the
rest by and by。〃
She sent them all away； even Ethel； who would have lingered。
〃Go to him； dearest。 Let me be alone。 Don't be uneasy。 This is
peacebut go。〃
Ethel found Mary and Harry interlaced into one moving figure； and
Harry greedily asking for his father and Norman； as if famishing for
the sight of them。 He wanted to set out to seek the former in the
town； but his movements were too uncertain； and the girls clung to
the newly…found； as if they could not trust him away from them。 They
wandered about； speaking； all three at random； without power of
attending to the answers。 It was enough to see him； and touch him；
they could not yet care where he had been。
Dr。 May was in the midst of them ere they were aware。 One look； and
he flung his arms round his son； but； suddenly letting him go； he
hurst away； and banged his study door。 Harry would have followed。
〃No； don't；〃 said Ethel； then； seeing him disappointed； she came
nearer； and murmured； 〃'He entered into his chamber and'〃
Harry silenced her with another embrace； but their father was with
them again； to verify that he had really seen his boy； and ask； alas！
whether Alan were with Margaret。 The brief sad answer sent him to
see how it was with her。 She would not let him stay； she said it was
infinite comfort； and joy was coming； but she would rather be still；
and not come down till evening。
Perhaps others would fain have been still； could they have borne an
instant's deprivation of the sight of their dear sailor； while
greetings came thickly on him。 The children burst in； having heard a
report in the town； and Dr。 Spencer waited at the door for the
confirmation； but when Ethel would have flown out to him； he waved
his hand； shut the door； and hurried away； as if a word to her would
have been an intrusion。
The brothers had been summoned by a headlong apparition of Will Adams
in Cocksmoor school； shouting that Master Harry was come home； and
Norman's long legs out…speeding Richard； had brought him back；
flushed； and too happy for one word； while； 〃Well； Harry；〃 was
Richard's utmost； and his care for Margaret seemed to overpower
everything else； as he went up； and was not so soon sent away。
Words were few downstairs。 Blanche and Aubrey agreed that they
thought people would have been much happier； but； in fact； the joy
was oppressive from very newness。 Ethel roamed about； she could not
sit still without feeling giddy； in the strangeness of the revulsion。
Her father sat； as if a word would break the blest illusion； and
Harry stood before each of them in turn； as if about to speak； but
turned his address into a sudden caress； or blow on the shoulder； and
tried to laugh。 Little Gertrude； not understanding； the confusion；
had taken up her station under the table； and peeped out from beneath
the cover。
There was more composure as they sat at dinner； and yet there was
very little talking or eating。 Afterwards Dr。 May and Norman
exultingly walked away； to show their Harry to Dr。 Spencer and Mr。
Wilmot； and Ethel would gladly have tried to calm herself； and
recover the balance of her mind； by giving thanks where they were
due； but she did not know what to do with her sisters。 Blanche was
wild； and Mary still in so shaky a state of excitement； that she went
off into mad laughing； when Blanche discovered that they were in
mourning for Harry。
Nothing would satisfy Blanche but breaking in on Margaret； and
climbing to the top of the great wardrobe to disinter the coloured
raiment； beseeching that each favourite might be at once put on； to
do honour to Harry。 Mary chimed in with her； in begging for the
wedding merinoswould not Margaret wear her beautiful blue？
〃No； my dear； I cannot；〃 said Margaret gently。
Mary looked at her and was again in a flood of tears； incoherently
protesting； together with Ethel； that they would not change。
〃No； dears；〃 said Margaret。 〃I had rather you did so。 You must not
be unkind to Harry。 He will not think I do not welcome him。 I am
only too glad that Richard would not let my impatience take away my
right to wear this。〃
Ethel knew that it was for life。
Mary could not check her tears； and would go on making heroic
protests against leaving off her black； sobbing the more at each。
Margaret's gentle caresses seemed to make her worse； and Ethel；
afraid that Margaret's own composure would be overthrown； exclaimed；
〃How can you be so silly？ Come away！〃 and rather roughly pulled her
out of the room； when she collapsed entirely at the top of the
stairs； and sat crying helplessly。
〃I can't think what's the use of Harry's coming home；〃 Gertrude was
heard saying to Richard。 〃It is very disagreeable；〃 whereat Mary
relapsed into a giggle； and Ethel felt frantic。
〃Richard！ Richard！ what is to be done with Mary？ She can't help it；
I believe； but this is not the way to treat the mercy that〃
〃Mary had better go and lie down in her own room；〃 said Richard；
tenderly and gravely。
〃Oh； please！ please！〃 began Mary； 〃I shall not see him when he comes
back！〃
〃If you can't behave properly when he does come；〃 said Richard；
〃there is no use in being there。〃
〃Remember； Ritchie；〃 said Ethel； thinking him severe； 〃she has not
been well this long time。〃
Mary began to plead； but； with his own pretty persuasive manner； he
took her by the hand； and drew her into his room； and when he came
down； after an interval； it was to check Blanche； who would have gone
up to interrupt her with queries about the perpetual blue merino。 He
sat down with Blanche on the staircase window…seat； and did not let
her go till he had gently talked her out of flighty spirits into the
soberness of thankfulness。
Ethel； meanwhile； had still done nothing but stray about； long for
loneliness； find herself too unsteady to finish her letters to Flora
and Tom； and； while she tried to make Gertrude think Harry a pleasant
acquisition； she hated her own wild heart； that could not rejoice；
nor give thanks； aright。
By and by Mary came down； with her bonnet on； quite quiet now。 〃I am
going to church with Ritchie；〃 she said。 Ethel caught at the notion；
and it spread through the house。 Dr May； who just then came in with
his two sons； looked at Harry； saying； 〃What do you think of it？
Shall we go； my boy？〃 And Harry； as soon as he understood； declared
that he should like nothing better。 It seemed what they all needed；
even Aubrey and Gertrude begged to come； and； when the solemn old
minster was above their heads； and the hallowed stillness around
them； the tightened sense of half…realised joy began to find relief
in the chant of glory。 The voices of the sanctuary； ever uplifting
notes of praise； seemed to gather together and soften their emotions；
and agitation was soothed away； and all that was oppressive and
tumultuous gave place to sweet peace and thankfulness。 Ethel dimly
remembered the like sense of relief； when her mother had hushed her
wild ecstasy； while sympathising with her joy。 Richard could not
trust his voice； but Mr。 Wilmot offered the special thanksgiving。
Harry was； indeed； 〃at home；〃 and his tears fell fast over his book；
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 li