n
eager inquiring glance at Maud. He advanced towards her, but seemingly
restrained himself, and taking his wife by the hand, led her from the
room.

During their absence Captain Hudson, sitting down by Maud, to my great
surprise said, "Do you think, my dear, that the poor lady you supposed
was your mother was really so?"

Maud started, then seemed lost in thought. "She was very, very kind to
me, and I used to call her `mamma,' because I had no other mamma then,
but I have a faint idea that there was some one else whom I loved still
better, and who had given me to her, saying, that we should meet again."

"Then I think there is no doubt it," exclaimed Captain Hudson. "Suppose
you were to find your real father and mother, could you bear the joy of
meeting them?" he asked.

Maud trembled all over, and I now began to suspect the truth. In a few
minutes Mr and Mrs Arnold re-entered the room. I was surprised at the
wonderful command which Mr Arnold had over himself. He placed his wife
on a sofa, and then led Maud up to her.

"It may be that we are in error," he said, "but God's goodness is great,
and such as this dear girl is might have been our child."

Mrs Arnold gazed at Maud's features for a few moments, then hastily
took off her tippet. On her neck was a well-known mark which assured
her that her hopes were realised. She drew her to her bosom and sobbed
aloud.

We truly grieved to part with good Captain and Mrs Hudson, but we were
to meet ere long again. Our heathen crew were soon distributed among
the inhabitants, and all of them earnestly desired to be instructed in
the truth. Tofa made rapid progress in his studies under Mr Arnold,
and expressed his ardent wish to return as a missionary to his native
land. Mrs Norton laboured devotedly as a catechist, and rendered the
greatest service to Mr Arnold in his work, while Maud and I assisted
Mrs Arnold in the girls' school, as we had been accustomed to do under
my dear mother, while Abela was of great use among the older women.

Two years passed by, when it was announced that the "True Love" was once
more entering the harbour. We hastened down to the landing-place to
meet our kind old friend. We saw the boat coming with the captain and
his wife and a gentleman with them. Captain Hudson assisted him to
land. He gazed anxiously at us as we approached, then tottered towards
me with arms outstretched.

My joy was full. He was my dear father. He had