sea, he changed his purpose and wrote to his
sister explaining his reasons.

"I don't want to go through another parting, Sally," he said. "You know
I love you and Mary with all my heart, but that heart is not so tough as
it ought to be perhaps, and I could not bear saying `good-bye' again,
when I have said it already, although I didn't think it was for long.
If Ned is found, and I make no doubt about the matter, we shall have, I
pray God, a happy meeting, and I expect to find Mary grown at least an
inch taller, tell her. Don't either of you fret; whatever happens all
will be for the best--of that you may be sure. Should it please Him who
governs all things to call me away--and I do not shut my eyes to the
possibility--you will find my will in my desk. I have provided, as far
as I can, for you and Mary."

This letter was received the very morning the "Hope" was to sail. It
caused considerable disappointment to Aunt Sally and Mary, but they
could not help confessing that after all it was for the best.

"My good brother always acts wisely," said Aunt Sally. "It would have
cost us a good deal to say `good-bye,' when we knew he was going away to
that terrible country Africa!"

"Perhaps the `Hope' will come off here," observed Mary; "we shall then
see uncle and Tom Baraka, and perhaps Mr Hanson and Charley, and be
able to send messages by them to Ned. As they sailed this morning, they
may be off here in a couple of days."

Mary, as may be supposed, kept a constant look-out through the
lieutenant's telescope, but time went by and no schooner appeared. Some
days afterwards a letter, which had been landed by a pilot vessel,
brought information that the "Hope" was already in the chops of the
channel and all well. Aunt Sally and Mary at first felt a great blank
in their existence. The lieutenant's cheery voice was no longer heard,
and his chair stood vacant at their daily meals, while, instead of the
master, Miss Sally led the morning and evening prayer to the diminished
household. Tom Baraka's merry laugh was also missed, for in spite of
his one absorbing thought, he was merry when he gave way to his natural
disposition.

Aunt Sally and Mary did not, however, neglect their usual avocations.
They had plenty of work now that Jane had not time to assist them.

The garden had to be attended to, and they persevered in their visits to
the neighbouring poor. Mary very frequently went to see Mr Shank. The
old man re