eman suddenly seized his handkerchief, with a view to
wipe his eyes, but, changing his mind, blew his nose instead.

Just then the door opened, and a small domestic entered with that
eminently sociable meal, tea. With a final explosion, worthy of Hecla
or Vesuvius, the cat shot through the doorway, as if from a catapult,
and found refuge in the darkest recesses of the familiar coal-hole.

"But who," said Mr Rigonda, casting his eyes suddenly downward, "who is
this charming little brown-eyed maid that you have brought with you from
the isles of the southern seas? A native--a little Fiji princess--eh?"

"Hush! father," whispered Pauline in his ear, "she's a dear little
orphan who has adopted me as her mother, and would not be persuaded to
leave me. So, you see, I've brought her home."

"Quite right, quite right," returned the old man, stooping to kiss the
little one. "I've often thought you'd be the better of a sister, Pina,
so, perhaps, a daughter will do as well."

"Now, then, tea is ready; draw in your chairs, darlings," said Mrs
Rigonda, with a quavering voice. The truth is that all the voices
quavered that night, more or less, and it was a matter of uncertainty
several times whether the quavering would culminate in laughter or in
tears.

"Why do you so often call Pina a queen, dear boy?" asked Mrs Rigonda of
her volatile son, Otto.

"Why?" replied the youth, whose excitement did not by any means injure
his appetite--to judge from the manner in which he disposed of muffins
and toast, sandwiched now and then with wedges of cake--"Why? because
she _is_ a queen--at least she _was_ not long ago."

An incredulous smile playing on the good lady's little mouth, Pauline
was obliged to corroborate Otto's statement.

"And what were you queen of?" asked her father, who was plainly under
the impression that his children were jesting.

"Of Refuge Islands, daddy," said Pina; "pass the toast, Otto, I think I
never _was_ so hungry. Coming home obviously improves one's appetite."

"You forget the open boat, Pina."

"Ah, true," returned Pauline, "I did for a moment forget that. Yes, we
were fearfully hungry _that_ time."

Of course this led to further inquiry, and to Dominick clearing his
throat at last, and saying--"Come, I'll give you a short outline of our
adventures since we left home. It must only be a mere sketch, of
course, because it would take days and weeks to give you all the
details."

"Don't be pro