y from
them. At first she began to inspect their contents with a view to
tabulate them and help the captain, but she gets so deep in them that
she forgets time altogether, and I have often found her, after having
been several hours in the library, sitting there poring over a huge
volume without having made a single note or jotting! The captain is
quite facetious about it, and said yesterday that if she didn't work a
little harder he'd have to dismiss her from the service an' ship a new
hand. Then he dragged us both out for a long walk on the beach. We
cannot resist him. Nobody can. And _such_ cream as we have!--more like
thin butter than cream. And such quantities of it too, for he declares
he is very fond of it, and must always have plenty on hand. But I
cannot help thinking it is for our sakes he has it, for although he
talks much about it and makes great demonstration and noise when he
drinks it, he does not really consume much--and you know it must be
drunk by somebody, else it would spoil. Oh! we are having, as the
captain himself says, a remarkably jolly time of it here, and only want
you to make our happiness complete. But with all his fun and energy and
cheerfulness, I cannot avoid noticing that dear Captain Bream is
frequently very pensive and absent. I cannot help thinking sometimes
that he is the victim of some secret sorrow.'"

At this point Ruth looked up in her mother's face and burst into a fit
of hilarious laughter.

"Only think, mother," she said, "of great big, stout, jolly old Captain
Bream having a secret sorrow!"

"My dear," said Mrs Dotropy in a reproachful tone, "you are too
flippant in your references to stout old people. You should remember
that even the stoutest of them may once have been thin. And it is not
impossible that Captain Bream may still be suffering from unrequited
affection, or--"

Again Ruth burst into silvery laughter, but checked it and apologised.

"I can't help it mother. It does seem so funny to think of Captain
Bream having ever been thin, or with hair on his head, or suffering from
disappointed love. I wonder that it does not occur to Kate that the
good man is perhaps suffering because of the sorrows of others. It
would be much more like his generous and unselfish nature. But now,
mother, may I write to Kate and tell her to expect us next week?"

"Yes, I think you may. But why are you in such haste, child?"

"Because I'm burning to clear up that lit