e did hot weep, though her
heart was very sore. For it seemed very cruel to send the child so far
away to kinswomen who were strange to him--who she knew were not gifted
with any loving tenderness towards childhood, any compassion or
sympathy for waywardness. They would not understand Jeff. Might not
the cold discipline warp all the noble generous instincts of her
child's nature?

Then her hand began softly to stroke the quiet head. She could not see
his face, but his little body quivered more than once at her touch, and
she knew then that he could not be asleep. She did not speak to him
any more--she had no words ready--her heart was so full.

Presently Jeff lifted himself slowly from her knee. His glance
followed the direction of her eyes. He did not look her in the face at
once.

"Mother, dear, indeed I will remember. I have been saying it over and
over to myself, not to forget. I will be brave; it is a great thing to
be a brave man father has always said. When you come to fetch me you
shall see that I have not forgotten what you say, but--but do not let
it be too long. It is so hard to be a man--for a boy to be a man--to
be really brave--oh, so very hard! I wish I might cry, you know, but
now you have asked me not to--I cannot--I _will not_."

The mother rose up quickly and paced the room backwards and forwards,
with hands clasped and eyes bent on the floor. The little boy remained
quite still where she had left him.

"Jeff, not to-morrow, but the day after is when you are to go. Your
father will take you down to Bombay and see the steamer. We have so
short a time together, you and I, and, dearest, I can never say all the
things that are in my heart. You could not remember them if I did, and
even if you could they would only sadden you. It would be a cruel
burden to lay upon you, to tell you of my sorrow."

Jeff did not sob or cry when at last he lifted his brown eyes to his
mother's face. Yet his voice was weak and trembling as he said slowly:

"I will go away from you bravely, mother, as you wish it. I have never
been disobedient, have I? I will try and not forget till you come that
you wish me to be brave--that it is a noble thing to be brave." Then,
with a heart-rending sob, "Mother, oh mother, do not be very long
before you come!"

CHAPTER II.

On the voyage home Jeff found many things to amuse him, and made
friends in every part of the big steamer. The stewards, and the c