shall be got ready for you as soon as
possible."

"Please, mum," said Sarah, who was still waiting in the hall, at hand
for whatever the guests might need, "they are quite ready, mum!"

"Ready!" repeated Mrs Gilmour surprised. "The spare rooms?"

"Yes, mum," replied Sarah, dropping a curtsey, with the proud
consciousness of having done well in her mistress's sight. "Me and
Molly went up to the rooms and did what you told me I'd have to do to-
morrow, as soon as ever Mr and Mrs Strong came, mum; so now they're
quite ready. Molly, too, went back afterwards to her kitchen, and is
warming up the curry, in case you should like it hot for supper."

"You've done quite right, Sarah, and just as I would have directed if
I'd been at home. Tell Molly from me, that there is nothing my brother
is fonder of than curry; and that she may send up supper as soon as
she's got it ready."

Sarah hurried off to quicken the preparations of her fellow-servant
below, her movements somewhat accelerated by Bob shouting out the cruel
refrain of the "forget-me-not poem!"

"Ah, but," put in the Captain, "the `good Sarah' did not forget her head
this time, at any rate! You'll have to alter your poem, Master Bob!"

Then, of course, ensued a lot of explanations, which led up to an
account of the picnic, the elaborate description of which Nellie had
taken such pains to write in her letter home to her mother.

All of which pains, alas! were thrown away; for here was her mother by
her side, while her graphic letter was lying uselessly in the box at the
post-office!

A series of questions and answers then followed rapidly in reference to
Bob and Miss Nell's doings since they had been down by the sea;
interspersed with sundry inquiries after Blinkie, the old dissipated
jackdaw left behind at home, and Snuffles, the black cat, who was a
martyr to chronic influenza, whence his very appropriate name!

Rover, who was wild with delight on seeing his old master and mistress
when he came in damp and dripping from his experiences of the wreck, was
not altogether forgotten, you may be sure, just because London friends
were thought of! On the contrary, he received many pats and caresses
besides getting an unexpected supper; a thing not generally in Rover's
line, but which, none the less, did not seem to come amiss to him on the
present occasion.

By this time, it was very late, the "tattoo" having sounded long since,
summoning all truant soldiers