."

"And I too would like to see it," sighed Jack, "if--if I thought Flora
could stand it."

"Oh I think I could."

[Illustration: "_The old dial-stone._"
Page 212.]

"Well, the weather is delightful; why shouldn't we sail round?"

"Agreed," said Jack; "we shall."

They hired a yacht, not a very fast one. There were no _Thistles_ in
those days. But she was most clean and comfortable, and the party had
favouring winds all the way round, and in due time arrived safely in
Lowestoft harbour.

Then nothing less than a coach and postillions would suit M'Hearty.

"It shan't be at your expense though, Captain Jack," he said, "nor yours
either, Tom. Why, I have made oceans of prize-money, and an old bachelor
like me doesn't really know how to spend it."

The surprise began when they reached the lodge gate. "Why," cried Jack,
"there is some one living here. I expected to find the place in ruins."
The surprise increased when they reached the lawn, for here the general
and sly old Richards met them laughing. But when the party were ushered
into the drawing-room, and saw everything in its place as it had been
years ago, and the general and Richards "ready to die" stifling a laugh,
why, then the surprise reached a climax.

"Pinch me, Tom," cried Jack. "I'm in a dream."

What a happy first-coming that was, to be sure! but there were many more
to follow.

* * * * *

The autumn tints were on the trees, evening primroses and dahlias nodded
by the pathways, and many a rare old flower besides.

One evening Jack, with his sister and Gerty, was walking in the bright
moonlight along the broad and grassy path that swept under the lime
avenue. Flora had gone on, and Jack had given Gerty his arm.

Suddenly they came to the old dial-stone. And here they stopped, for
Jack had remembered his dream. He was Gerty's equal now in every way,
and so he told her his dream, and he told her something else; told her
of all his manly love that neither absence nor the vicissitudes of war
could ever banish from his heart. And much more, too, he told her that
we need not pry into. Flora went on and on. Just once she glanced
behind. Gerty was very close to Jack.

When, a whole hour after this, they entered the great drawing-room arm
in arm, they looked very happy indeed. There was no one there but
Richards and the general. "Why, where ever have you two truants been?"
said the latter.

"We have