avages; shouting, gesticulating,
pushing one another about, and all seeming to try to make as much noise
as they possibly could. It was then that the fun began. Piled up in the
balcony were baskets full of flowers, confetti, bon-bons, and tiny wax
balls full of scented water. We flung these far and wide among the crowd
below, some receiving the flowers and bon-bons, and some being hit by
the wax balls, which, bursting, scented the victim rather too heavily
for his enjoyment. It was all taken, however, with the greatest
good-humour, and the merry throng passed on to parade round the town,
and end with a dance under the palm-trees in the public gardens.

And so my life in my southern home had passed like a kind of delightful
dream, and it was not until my father talked of change that I had ever
thought there could be an awakening.

The little time left to me fled all too fast, and brought the
much-dreaded day when I must leave everything that had grown so dear. I
can never forget our parting. A hurried message had been sent to us that
the steamer was to start earlier, and that I must go on board in the
evening instead of on the following morning as had been at first
arranged. The full moon shone on the waters of the bay, lighting up the
vessel which was to take me so far away, and which had steamed out a
little from the quay where the launch was waiting. Big girl as I was, my
father carried me in his arms down the garden. I held my cheek pressed
close against his, and we neither of us spoke, for there are some
heart-breaks too great for words. The fireflies were flitting about like
living jewels, every blossom looked clear-cut and perfect in the
moonlight; I can smell even now the heavy scent of the orange-blossom as
we went along the terrace walk, and hear the tremulous call of some
night-bird among the mimosa-trees. It was but a short way to the quay,
and we were soon in the launch, steaming out over the bay to where the
lights of the great ship shone red against the pale moonlight.

"So this is the small passenger I'm waiting for!" said the captain, as
my father helped me on deck. "Well, I'm sorry, but I can't allow
elaborate leave-takings. We're beyond our time already, the tide's on
the turn, and if we don't start at once we sha'n't be able to cross the
bar. We've had our steam up since sunset."

"Good-bye, my darling, my darling!" said Father, as he held me close for
one long, last kiss. "We shall meet again, God