Edward also was weary and in need of sleep, so presently went to his
state-room, leaving Ben to attend to the luggage and watch for Mrs.
Conly's arrival.

Faithful Ben waited patiently about for a couple of hours, then began to
grow uneasy lest Mrs. Conly should not arrive in season. Another hour
passed, and he reluctantly roused his young master to ask what could be
done.

"What's wanted?" Edward asked, waked by Ben's loud rap on the state-room
door.

"Miss Louise she hasn't come yet, Marse Ed'ard," he said, "and de
steamah'll be startin' fo' long. I don' know whar to go to look her up, so
please excuse me for rousin' ye, sah."

"Hasn't come yet, do you say, Ben? and the vessel about to sail?"
exclaimed Edward in dismay, springing from his berth to open the door.
"Why, yes," looking at his watch, "there's barely half an hour left, and I
don't see what we can do."

"No time now fo' me to go an' hunt up Miss Louise, Marse Ed'ard? Ise berry
sorry, sah, dat I didn't come soonah to ax you 'bout it, but I didn't like
to 'sturb you," said Ben, looking much distressed.

"Never mind, Ben," Edward answered kindly, "you couldn't have gone for
her, because she gave me no address, and I have not the least idea where
to send for her."

"Den what am to be done, sah?"

"We will have to sail without her. I could not think of asking my sister
to wait for the next steamer," Edward said, more as if thinking aloud than
talking to Ben.

The latter bowed respectfully and withdrew, but only to come hurrying back
the next moment with a telegram from Virginia.

"Mother taken suddenly ill. Remains with me. Send luggage to No. ----
street."

This news of his aunt's illness caused Edward regret not wholly unmingled
with satisfaction in the thought of being spared her companionship on the
voyage and afterward.

He read the message aloud to Ben. "You see it would have done no good if
we could have gone for her," he remarked. "But go, make haste to have the
baggage sent ashore to the address given here."

Elsie's state-room adjoined her brother's. She too had been roused by
Ben's knock and overheard a part of what passed between him and his young
master. Dinah also was listening.

"What dat dey say, Miss Elsie?" she queried in a startled tone, "Miss
Louise sick?"

"I think that was what Master Edward said; but go to his door, Dinah, and
ask."

Edward came himself with his answer and bringing a second telegram; this
time from th