.

"I certainly will not refuse any thing as a remembrance from you, Sir
Charles," replied the Major; "I accept your splendid present with many
thanks, and so will Swinton, I am certain; but he will be more pleased
with the kind attention than he will be with its great value; and I
trust you will believe me when I add that such is also my own feeling."

"I only hope you may have both as much pleasure in receiving as I have
in giving them," replied Sir Charles; "so put them in your pocket and
say no more about them. There is Alexander coming up, I know his tread;
I hope you do not mean to desert him now that the shooting season is
coming on; he will be very lonely, poor fellow, without you."

"I have good news, my dear uncle," said Alexander, as he entered;
"Swinton is coming home; I have a letter from him, and he will be here,
he trusts, a fortnight after his letter."

"I shall be most happy to shake hands with him," said Sir Charles. "Pray
write for him to come down immediately he arrives."

Three weeks after this announcement Swinton made his appearance, and we
hardly need say was most warmly welcomed. Omrah he would not bring with
him, as he wished him to continue his education; but the Major declared
that he had left the boy because he was afraid of his being taken from
him. Our travelers were thus all reunited, and they agreed among
themselves that it was quite as comfortable at the hall as it was at the
Bechuana country; and that if the sporting was not quite so exciting, at
all events it was not quite so dangerous.

Swinton and the Major remained with Alexander till the opening of the
next year, and then they both left at the same time, and sailed in the
same ship; the Major to rejoin his regiment in India, Swinton to his
favorite locality in Africa, to obtain some more specimens in natural
history.

As the physician had declared, Sir Charles never rose from his bed
again; but he sunk so gradually that it was almost imperceptible, and it
was not until the summer of that year that he slept with his fathers,
dying without pain, and in perfect possession of his senses.

Alexander now came into possession of the estates and title, and
certainly he entered upon them without any reproach as to his conduct
toward his uncle, who died blessing him. And now my tale is ended, and I
wish my young readers farewell.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mission, by Frederick M