steed towards him. He started as he turned and saw me.

"What, Terence, is it you yourself?" he exclaimed, stretching out his
hands. "You have been a long time coming, and I fancied your ship must
have sailed, and that you could not obtain leave."

I told him that I had twice written, but he said that he had not
received either of my letters.

"You come to a house of mourning, my boy," he continued, "though I doubt
not you'll have been prepared for what I have to tell you."

"My father!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, he's gone; and really from the condition into which he had fallen,
it was a happy release, at all events to the rest of the family, who
could not watch him without pain."

"And my mother?" I answered anxiously.

"She is slowly recovering, and I think that your arrival will do her
good," he said. "Maurice and his young wife have come to live at the
castle, and they get on very well with your sisters and their husbands.
But what has become of Larry?" he asked, looking down the avenue,
expecting to see him following me.

When I told him, and had to mention how I had been so nearly lost, he
was greatly grieved.

"I am thankful we did not get your letter saying you were coming, or we
should have been very anxious about you," he said. "Now take your horse
round to the stables, while I go in and prepare your mother for your
arrival. It's better not to give her a sudden surprise."

I did as my uncle told me. As soon as I had entered the courtyard I met
Tim Daley, who gave a loud shout as he saw me, and at once, as I knew he
would do, inquired for Larry.

"Don't be asking questions," I said, fearing that there would be a wild
hullaballoo set up in the kitchen, which might reach my mother's ears
before my uncle had time to tell her of my arrival.

"But isn't Larry come with your honour?" asked Tim.

"Seamen can't always get leave from their ships," I answered, wishing to
put him off. "I'll tell you all about it by and by. And now just take
that poor brute into the stable. Rub him down well, and give him some
oats, for he's scarcely a leg left to stand on."

"Ah! shure your honour knows how to ride a horse smartly," said Tim, as
he led off the animal, while I hurried round to the front door. One of
my sisters let me in, and I had the opportunity of talking to her before
I was summoned to my mother. She appeared sad and much broken, but the
sight of me cheered her up, and as I talked on with her I w