She was a good mother to me, and I
don't care who knows, I would sooner by half have died myself. Bless
you, miss! Bless you, miss!"

Then Tom sat down, and, putting his hands on the kitchen table, hid his
face in them, and by the working of his brawny shoulders I knew how much
he was affected. We left him to the care of our old cook, Betsy
Treggle, who, we knew, could minister to his sorrow better than we
could, and returned into the parlour.

"Sailors have got hearts, I see," observed my mother.

"I should think so, mother," said I; "the sea does not wash them away;
and yet there isn't a braver fellow ever stepped the deck of a ship than
the same Tom Rockets, who seems to be almost pumping his heart out
yonder."

Then I gave them all an account of his adventure at the taking of San
Fernando D'Omoa, when he handed the Spanish officer a cutlass to fight
with him. In the first few days I was at home I was made more of than I
ever had been before in my life. Tom stayed on with us. He had now no
home to go to--no friends for whom he cared. He recovered his spirits
and became as great a lion among his class as I was among mine--indeed,
I suspect a far greater, as he made more than I could of all the
adventures he had gone through, and was eager to tell about. The days
passed by very pleasantly, but I felt a weight oppressing me, and could
not rest till I had unburdened my mind to Jane about Madeline early on.
At last I got her alone quietly, and told her all that had happened from
beginning to end, and all my hopes and fears and wishes. She listened
attentively. Her countenance changed its expression frequently as I
went on. I looked at her earnestly to try and discover what she
thought.

"Oh, brother," she exclaimed at last, "I doubt not that she is a dear
charming girl. I doubt not that you love her, and that she is deserving
of your love, but she is the daughter of a rebel. She is living among
rebels; she will not leave them; but for you to go to them, to wed with
her would assuredly bring dishonour and disgrace upon your name."

"Why, Jane, I did not expect you to speak thus," I exclaimed. "You are
hard upon me. I would not wish to go and live with rebels; but the
Americans will not be rebels much longer. We are pressing them hard by
land and sea, and they will soon come to terms. If they do not give in
I think we shall give up, for everybody is heartily sick of the war.
Nobody is gaining anyth