king any fuss
about it, was the wonderful style her sister Faith had shown since that
hairy monster came back again. It was manifest that the world contained
only one man of any high qualities, and nobody must dare to think even
twice about any conclusion he laid down. He had said to her, with a
penetrating glance--and it must have been that to get through such a
thicket--that dangerous people were about, and no girl possessing any
self-respect must think of wandering on the shore alone. The more she
was spied upon and admonished, the more she would do what she thought
right; and a man who had lived among savages for years must be a queer
judge of propriety. But, in spite of all these defiant thoughts, her
heart was very low, and her mind in a sad flutter, and she could
not even smile as she met her father's gaze. Supposing that she was
frightened at the number of the guests, and the noise of many tongues,
and the grandeur of the people, the gentle old man made a little signal
to her to come and have a whisper with him, as a child might do, under
courtesy of the good company. But Dolly feigned not to understand, at
the penalty of many a heart-pang.

The dinner went on with a very merry sound, and a genuine strength of
enjoyment, such as hearty folk have who know one another, and are met
together not to cut capers of wit, but refresh their goodwill and fine
principles. And if any dinner party can be so arranged that only five
per cent. has any trouble on its mind, the gentleman who whips away the
plates, at a guinea a mouth, will have to go home with a face of willow
pattern.

The other whose mind was away from her food, and reckless of its own
nourishment, was Blyth Scudamore's mother, as gentle a lady as ever
tried never to think of herself. In spite of all goodness, and faith in
the like, she had enough to make her very miserable now, whenever she
allowed herself to think about it, and that was fifty-nine minutes
out of sixty. For a brief account of her son's escape from Etaples had
reached her, through the kindness of Captain Desportes, who found means
to get a letter delivered to the Admiral. That brave French officer
spoke most highly of the honourable conduct of his English friend, but
had very small hope of his safety. For he added the result of his own
inquiries to the statement of M. Jalais, and from these it was clear
that poor Scuddy had set forth alone in a rickety boat, ill found and
ill fitted to meet ev