aft.

"Ailie wants to see you, Glynn, my boy," said Captain Dunning, as the
former entered the cabin; "and I want to speak to you myself--to thank
you Glynn. Ah, lad! you can't know what a father's heart feels when--Go
to her, boy." He grasped the youth's hand, and gave it a squeeze that
revealed infinitely more of his feelings than could have been done by
words.

Glynn returned the squeeze, and opening the door of Ailie's private
cabin, entered and sat down beside her crib.

"Oh, Glynn, I want to speak to you; I want to thank you. I love you so
much for jumping into the sea after me," began the child, eagerly, and
raising herself on one elbow while she held out her hand.

"Ailie," interrupted Glynn, taking her hand, and holding up his finger
to impose silence, "you obeyed me _in_ the water, and now I insist on
your obedience _out_ of the water. If you don't, I'll leave you.
You're still too weak to toss about and speak loud in this way. Lie
down, my pet."

Glynn kissed her forehead, and forced her gently back on the pillow.

"Well, I'll be good, but don't leave me yet, Glynn. I'm much better.
Indeed, I feel quite strong. Oh! it was good of you--"

"There you go again."

"I love you," said Ailie.

"I've no objection to that," replied Glynn, "but don't excite yourself.
But tell me, Ailie, how was it that you managed to keep afloat so long?
The more I think of it the more I am filled with amazement, and, in
fact, I'm half inclined to think that God worked a miracle in order to
save you."

"I don't know," said Ailie, looking very grave and earnest, as she
always did when our Maker's name happened to be mentioned. "Does God
work miracles still?"

"Men say not," replied Glynn.

"I'm sure I don't quite understand what a miracle is," continued Ailie,
"although Aunt Martha and Aunt Jane have often tried to explain it to
me. Is floating on your back a miracle?"

"No," said Glynn, laughing; "it isn't."

"Well, that's the way I was saved. You know, ever since I can remember,
I have bathed with Aunt Martha and Aunt Jane, and they taught me how to
float--and it's so nice, you can't think how nice it is--and I can do it
so easily now, that I never get frightened. But, oh!--when I was tossed
over the side of the ship into the sea I _was_ frightened just. I don't
think I _ever_ got such a fright. And I splashed about for some time,
and swallowed some water, but I got upon my back somehow. I can't tell