kept him with her, giving him a home in her own house, providing for his education, and discharging, as far as possible, all the tender duties of a mother towards him. Thus his life had been rendered almost, or quite, as happy under her roof as it had been in India, or even on the sea. But Tom Howard— that was his name-had never swerved from his resolution, or rather his wish, to be a sailor. He did not aspire to the Royal Navy, though he would have liked that best. Such a ship as he had sailed in from Calcutta, such messmates, such a captain, such a voyage, were all that he desired. And those who knew him best could not but admit that he was well calculated for such a profession. The love of adventure, the quiet courage and determination which he displayed whenever occasion called for it, the cheerful and contented disposition, and, in a word, the whole character and bearing of the lad, seemed to be in accordance with the desire and intention, which he so constantly expressed, of being a sailor.

"Well, mother," he said at length, in answer to her last appeal, "I mean to do everything I can to please you; but I do love the sea. Abbotscliff is near the sea; I shall be able to have a sail sometimes at Abbotscliff. And I have been thinking that I might go just a little of the way with you to-morrow. You will pass Abbotscliff. I might sail down Channel with you and go ashore there. Then instead of leaving you to-morrow, I should stay with you till the last moment, three or four days longer at least, and more than that if the wind were contrary, as perhaps it may be."

Mrs. Howard was more pleased than she would confess, at the idea of keeping her son two or three days longer with her; but she would give him no encouragement until she should have an opportunity of consulting Captain Broad, the commander of the ship Neptune, in which she was to make her voyage, not knowing whether it would be possible for him to

send a boat ashore at the place indicated. While she was thinking how this could be managed, fearing that she might not have an opportunity of seeing Captain Broad again before the time fixed for the ship's departure, the drawing-room window was opened, and Mrs. Beverley stepped forth upon the lawn, followed by her daughter. A stout, pleasant-looking woman was Mrs. Beverley, many years older than her sister; and Miss Beverley was in the same ratio older than her cousin Tom. The elder lady had something to say to Mrs. Howard, and took her aside, while Tom attached himself to the younger, and began telling her in earnest tones of the proposal he had just made.

"I want to see Captain Broad," he said, "and to ask him to manage it for me the going ashore, you know; but I cannot go to the East End of London to-night. I wish I had thought of it before. I am afraid my mother won't agree to it without his consent."

"I dare say not," said Joan-that was Miss Beverley's old-fashioned name; they were all rather old-fashioned people, like their house-"I dare say not; Captain Broad might not be able to put you ashore at Abbotscliff, and then you would have to go on to India instead of going to school."

"I should like that. I wish" But the wish might not be indulged; he knew that only too well, and the smile faded from his face, leaving the sentence unfinished. On the other hand, the difficulty suggested by his cousin Joan was too serious to be trifled with, and he answered, "I do wish I could see Captain Broad; but I can't leave my mother now. Oh, there's Darby!"

"Darby" was the name which Tom had given with saucy familiarity to a gentleman who, though not by any means old-fashioned in his own personal appearance, was known to entertain a very old-fashioned sort of attachment to Joan

C

Beverley. His real name was Darville. He made his appearance now at the drawing-room window, and leaping thence on to the lawn, came directly to Miss Beverley, and took her hand in his. Tom caught him by the arm at the same. moment, and told him the subject of their conversation. "What do you think about it, Mr. Darby?" Tom asked.

"I think you are as saucy as ever, Tom," he replied; "and I think it will be taken out of you before you have been long at school."

He was sorry when he had said it, for a shadow passed over the boy's face, though it was but for a moment.

"But about the trip down Channel, Mr. Darville, and about going to see Captain Broad?"

"It is too late; it would take you all the evening."

Tom looked at him wistfully. It seemed very hard that the possibility of such a delightful postponement of the day of parting should be lost only because the idea of it had not occurred to him sooner; but he could not go in search of Captain Broad then.

"Could we not send a note ?" he asked. "It would not be the same thing, of course, because I am sure Captain Broad would say 'Yes' if I were to ask him, and he might say 'No' to a letter, and there would be an end of it."

"What are you thinking of, Tom?" Mr. Darville asked, seeing that the boy's eloquent eyes were fixed upon him. "Tell me."

"If you bid me do so again, I will," he replied, "though you would perhaps say, as before, that it was like my impudence." "Tell me."

"I was thinking that you could perhaps go yourself to see Captain Broad, and that you would do it in a moment if Joan were to ask you."

Mr. Darville had anticipated the first part of the answer, but

not the second. The latter, however, seemed to give him the greater pleasure, though he threatened to rub Tom's ears for his impertinence.

"I was obliged to say it, you know," Tom explained, laughing, "because I said I would if you desired it. And it is true, is it not?"

"I don't know about that."

"Don't you? Then try him, Joan; try him; tell him to go."

"Would it be very inconvenient?" Joan asked, addressing Darville.

"Well, it is a long way. Besides, I had thought of spending a pleasant evening here with you."

"Hardly that, I think," said Joan. "You knew we should be otherwise engaged to-night-the last night."

"That's true," said Darville, who had only come to say good-bye to Mrs. Howard and Tom. "Perhaps I may as well go then."

Yes; go and see Captain Broad, and get his consent for Tom to go with him down Channel."

"I will, Joan."

"Thank you, Darby."

He was well satisfied with his reward, and after a word or two with Mrs. Howard, went away, followed to the gate by Tom, clinging to him and thanking him again and again, urging him at the same time to tell Captain Broad he must manage it somehow, and give orders to have his berth ready.

They were all made happy that night when Darville returned. It could easily be managed, the captain said. The pilot would leave the ship and go ashore not far from the place where Tom would have to land, and Tom could go in the pilot's. boat. As far as he, Captain Broad, was concerned, he would not mind taking the youngster all the way to Calcutta. His

berth should be got ready, and he could go down Channel with them at all events. The captain, it must be told, was an old friend of Mrs. Howard and her son. He had been chief mate of the ship in which they had taken passage from India some years previously, and Tom had kept up his acquaintance with him ever since, going to visit his ship whenever he returned from a voyage. Mrs. Howard had taken her berth in the Neptune, of which he was now in command, chiefly for this reason. She agreed to her son's proposal at once. They would be, as he had said, two or three days more together at the least. Two or three days! It was a great gain, coming as it did unexpectedly at the eleventh hour. Her heart felt lighter for it. It was but a putting off of the evil day; but meantime her sorrow was abated. To-morrow was no longer the word of grief and terror which it had been. Mother and son knelt down together that night, and thanked God for the respite, and slept the sounder for it afterwards.

THE

HE house and grounds which Mr. Beverley occupied were known by the name of Mulberry Lawn. A fine old mulberry-tree formed one of the most treasured ornaments of the garden; and to that, of course, the name of the place was generally attributed; but there was another reason: Mr.