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evening； he had been utterly overcome by illness and loneliness； and
had cried most bitterly and uncontrollably； and； though Jennings
thought it was for his friend's death； it really was homesickness；
and the thought of his father and Mary。 Jennings had helped him out
to the entrance of the hut； that the cool night air might refresh his
burning brow。 Orion shone clear and bright； and brought back the
night when they had chosen the starry hunter as his friend。 〃It
seemed；〃 he said； 〃as if you all were looking at me； and smiling to
me in the stars。 And there was the Southern Cross upright； which was
like the minster to me； and I recollected it was Sunday morning at
home； and knew you would be thinking about me。 I was so glad you had
let me be confirmed； and be with you that last Sunday； papa； for it
seemed to join me on so much the more； and when I thought of the
words in church； they seemed； somehow； to float on me so much more
than ever before； and it was like the minster； and your voice。 I
should not have minded dying so much after that。〃
At last； Harry's Black Prince had hurried into the hut with the
tidings that his English father's ship was in the bay； and soon
English voices again sounded in his ears； bringing the forlorn boy
such warmth of kindness that he could hardly believe himself a mere
stranger。 If Alan could but have shared the joy with him！
He was carried down to the boat in the cool of the evening； and
paused on the way； for a last farewell to the lonely grave under the
palm tree…one of the many sailors' graves scattered from the tropics
to the poles； and which might be the first seed in a 〃God's acre〃 to
that island； becoming what the graves of holy men of old are to us。
A short space more of kind care from his new friends and his
Christian chief； and Harry awoke from a feverish doze at sounds that
seemed so like a dream of home； that he was unwilling to break them
by rousing himself； but they approved themselves as real； and he
found himself in the embrace of his mother's sister。
And here Mrs。 Arnott's story began； of the note that reached her in
the early morning with tidings that her nephew had been picked up by
the mission…ship； and how she and her husband had hastened at once on
board。
〃They sent me below to see a hero；〃 she wrote。 〃What I saw was a
scarecrow sort of likeness of you； dear Richard； but； when he opened
his eyes； there was our Maggie smiling at me。 I suppose he would not
forgive me for telling how he sobbed and cried； when he had his arms
round my neck； and his poor aching head on my shoulder。 Poor fellow；
he was very weak； and I believe he felt； for the moment； as if he had
found his mother。
〃We brought him home with us； but when the next mail went； the fever
was still so high； that I thought it would be only alarm to you to
write； and I had not half a story either； though you may guess how
proud I was of my nephew。〃
Harry's troubles were all over from that time。 He had thenceforth to
recover under his aunt's motherly care； while talking endlessly over
the home that she loved almost as well as he did。 He was well more
quickly than she had ventured to hope； and nothing could check his
impatience to reach his home； not even the hopes of having his aunt
for a companion。 The very happiness he enjoyed with her only made
him long the more ardently to be with his own family； and he had
taken his leave of her； and of his dear David； and sailed by the
first packet leaving Auckland。
〃I never knew what the old Great Bear was to me till I saw him
again！〃 said Harry。
It was late when the elders had finished all that was to be heard at
present； and the clock reminded them that they must part。
〃And you go to…morrow？〃 sighed Margaret。
〃I must。 Jennings has to go on to Portsmouth； and see after his
son。〃
〃Oh； let me see Jennings！〃 exclaimed Margaret。 〃May I not； papa？〃
Richard； who had been making friends with Jennings； whenever he had
not been needed by his sisters that afternoon； went to fetch him from
the kitchen； where all the servants； and all their particular
friends； were listening to the yarn that made them hold their heads
higher； as belonging to Master Harry。
Harry stepped forward； met Jennings； and said； aside； 〃My sister；
Jennings； my sister that you have heard of。〃
Dr。 May had already seen the sailor； but he could not help addressing
him again。 〃Come in； come in； and see my boy among us all。 Without
you； we never should have had him。〃
〃Make him come to me；〃 said Margaret breathlessly； as the embarrassed
sailor stood； sleeking down his hair； and； when he had advanced to
her couch； she looked up in his face； and put her hand into his great
brown one。
〃I could not help saying thank you；〃 she said。
〃Mr。 May； sir！〃 cried Jennings； almost crying； and looking round for
Harry； as a sort of protector〃tell them； sir； please； it was only
my dutyI could not do no less； and you knows it； sir；〃 as if Harry
had been making an accusation against him。
〃We know you could not；〃 said Margaret； 〃and that is what we would
thank you for； if we could。 I know heMr。 Ernescliffemust have
been much more at rest for leaving my brother with so kind a friend；
and〃
〃Please； miss； don't say no more about it。 Mr。 Ernescliffe was as
fine an officer as ever stepped a quarter…deck； and Mr。 May here
won't fall short of him； and was I to be after leaving the like of
them to the mercy of the black fellowsthat was not so bad neither？
If it had only pleased God that we had brought them both back to you；
miss； but； you see； a man can't be everything at once； and Mr。
Ernescliffe was not so stout as his heart。〃
〃You did everything； we know〃 began Dr。 May。
〃'Twas a real pleasure；〃 said Jennings hastily； 〃for two such real
gentlemen as they was。 Mr。 May； sir； I beg your pardon if I say it
to your face； never flinched； nor spoke a word of complaint； through
it all； and； as to the other〃
〃Margaret cannot bear this；〃 said Richard； coming near。 〃It is too
much。〃
The sailor shook his head； and was retreating； but Margaret signed
him to come near again； and grasped his hand。 Harry followed him out
of the room； to arrange their journey； and presently returned。
〃He says he is glad he has seen Margaret； he says she is the right
sort of stuff for Mr。 Ernescliffe。〃
Harry had not intended Margaret to hear； but she caught the words；
smiled radiantly； and whispered； 〃I wish I may be！〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
Margaret had borne the meeting much too well for her own good； and a
wakeful night of palpitation was the consequence； but she would not
allow any one to take it to heart； and declared that she should be
ready to enjoy Harry by the time he should return； and meantime； she
should dwell on the delight of his meeting Flora。
No one had rested too soundly that night； and Dr。 May had not been
able to help looking in at his sleeping boy at five in the morning；
to certify himself that he had not only figured his present bliss to
himself； in his ten minutes' dream。 And looking in again at half…
past seven； he found Harry half dressed； with his arm round Mary；
laughing； almost sobbing； over the treasures in his cupboard； which
he had newly discovered in their fresh order。
Dr。 May looked like a new man that morning； with his brightened eye
and bearing； as if there were a well…spring of joy within him； ready
to brim over at once in tear and in smile； and finding an outlet in
the praise and thanksgiving that his spirit chanted； and his face
expressed； and in that sunny genial benevolence that must make all
share his joy。
He was going to run over half the townevery one would like to hear
it from him； Ethel and Mary must go to the restthe old women in the
almshouses； where lived an old cook who used to be fond of Harry
they should have a feast； all who were well enough in the hospital
should have a tea…drinking； Dr。 Hoxton had already granted a holiday
to the school； every boy with whom they had any connection should
come to dinner； and Edward Anderson should be asked to meet Harry on
his return； because； poor fellow； he was so improved。
Dr。 May was in such a transport of kind…hearted schemes； that he was
not easily made to hear that Harry had not a sixpence wherewith to
reach London。
Ethel； meanwhile； was standing beside her brother tendering to him
some gold； as his last quarter。
〃How did you get it； Ethel？ do you keep the purse？〃
〃No； but papa took Cocksmoor in your stead； when〃
〃Nonsense； Ethel；〃 said Harry； 〃I don't want it。 Have I not all my
pay and allowance for the whole time I was dead？ And as to robbing
Cocksmoor〃
〃Yes； keep it； Ethel；〃 said her father； 〃do you think I would take it
now； when if there were a thank…offering in the world。 And； by the
bye； your Cooksmoor children must have something to remember this
by〃
Every one could have envied Norman； for travelling to London with
Harry； but that he must proceed to Oxford in two days； when Harry
would return to them。 The station…master； thinking he could not do
enough for the returned mariner； put the two brothers into the coupe；
as if they had been a bridal couple；