ey had together, when the boy's character opened like a
bud in the light and warmth of his mother's love--the long twilights
when he would sit on a stool with his young head resting on her knees,
and her loving hand in his fair hair--all these things were becoming to
Mrs Williams memories, and nothing more.

It was the trial of her life, and very sad to bear; the more so because
they were soon to be parted--certainly for years, perhaps for ever. The
time was drawing nearer and nearer; it was now June, and Mr Williams's
term of furlough ended in two months. The holidays at Roslyn were the
months of July and August, and towards their close Mr and Mrs Williams
intended to leave Vernon at Fairholm, and start for India--sending back
Eric by himself as a boarder in Dr Rowlands's house.

After morning school, on fine days, the boys used to run straight down
to the shore and bathe. A bright and joyous scene it was. They
stripped off their clothes on the shingle that adjoined the beach, and
then, running along the sands, would swim out far into the bay till
their heads looked like small dots glancing in the sunshine. This year
Eric had learned to swim, and he enjoyed the bathing more than any other
pleasure.

One day after they had dressed, Russell and he began to amuse themselves
on the sea-shore. The little translucent pools left on the sands by the
ebbing tide always swarm with life, and the two boys found great fun in
hunting audacious little crabs, or catching the shrimps that shuffled
about in the shallow water. At last Eric picked up a piece of wood
which he found lying on the beach, and said, "What do you say to coming
crab-fishing, Edwin? this bit of stick will do capitally to thrust
between the rocks in the holes where they lie?"

Russell agreed, and they started to the rocks of the Ness to seek a
likely place for their purpose. The Ness was a mile off, but in the
excitement of their pleasure they were oblivious of time.

The Williamses, for the boys' convenience, usually dined at one, but on
this day they waited half an hour for Eric. Since, however, he didn't
appear, they dined without him, supposing that he was accidentally
detained, and expecting him to come in every minute. But two o'clock
came, and no Eric; half-past two, and no Eric; three, but still no Eric.
Mrs Williams became seriously alarmed, and even her husband grew
uneasy.

Vernon was watching for his brother at the window, and seeing Dun