ngland at last, and perhaps some day to see the Oxford
and Cambridge boat-race.

The little maid who tripped at his side was perhaps ten or eleven--an
odd blending of the sister's beauty and alertness with the brother's
vigorous contentment. A prophet, versed in such matters, would have
predicted that ten years hence Miss "Jill" Oliphant might seriously
interfere with the shape of her elder sister's nose. But as no prophets
were present, only a fogey like Mr Armstrong and an inexperienced boy
like Roger, no one concerned themselves about the future, but voted the
little lady of ten a winsome child.

"Well, thanks for all _your_ help," said Tom to his elder sister. "I
don't know what we should have done without her. Eh, Roger?"

"Upon my word, with _you_ in charge down there," retorted the young
lady, "I wouldn't have been safe in that awful place a minute longer. I
wonder you haven't packed up Jill in one of the trunks."

"Oh, Cousin Roger took care of me," said Miss Jill demurely.

"I hope Armstrong did the same to you, Rosalind," said Roger. "Here,
Tom; this is my tutor, Frank Armstrong--a brick. Here, Jill; say how do
you do to Mr Armstrong."

Jill horrified Mr Armstrong by putting up her face to be kissed.
Indeed the poor gentleman as he shook the glass out of his eye and gazed
down at this forward young person in consternation, presented so
pitiable a spectacle, that Rosalind, Roger, and Tom all began to laugh.

"She won't bite," said Tom reassuringly.

Mr Armstrong, thus encouraged, took off his hat, and stooping down,
kissed the child on the brow, much to that little lady's satisfaction.
This important operation performed, Captain Oliphant expressed concern
for Roger's cough, and proposed that his ward should take the girls and
himself to the hotel, while no doubt Mr Armstrong would not mind
remaining to help Tom with the luggage. By which excellent arrangement
the party succeeded at last in getting clear of the "Oriana."

The tutor had his hands full most of that morning Tom Oliphant's idea of
looking after the luggage was to put his hands in his pockets and
whistle pleasantly up and down the upper deck; nor was it till Mr
Armstrong took him bodily below, and made him point out one by one the
family properties (among which, by the way, he included several articles
belonging to other owners), that he could be reduced to business at all.

Then for half an hour he worked hard; at the end of which