uttered
gruffly, 'He is pretty near a saint, he is,' nodding towards the house,
'and I would not like to be shut out from where he goes. So we will just
let bygones be bygones. There's my hand on it, if you will take it in
the same spirit.'

Jack grasped the proffered hand with a mighty grip. His heart was full.

'Let it be how you please,' he said, in eager gratitude, 'so long as you
do forgive me. I am more thankful than I am able to say for the kindness
and forgiveness which have been shown me. But do not think that I shall
ever forget the past, or cease to feel the most bitter sorrow for what I
have done.'

Peet returned the pressure of his hand with a little more warmth, and
Estelle thought his face was softer.

There was no time for more words. The children rushed out to pursue
Jack. Mrs. Peet, even with Estelle's assistance, could no longer
restrain them.

Jack must say good-bye to Aunt Betty, and have a word with the Earl. As
they all walked up the Park together, the sailor told them that Lord
Lynwood had asked him to persuade Mrs. Wright to come to
Tyre-cum-Widcombe. He would give her a little cottage, a pretty garden,
and would see that she wanted for nothing all her life. Jack himself was
offered a permanent berth on Lord Lynwood's own yacht. A shout of
delight greeted this announcement. Estelle was full of joy.

'We shall see you and dear Goody very often,' she cried, with sparkling
eyes. 'Oh, won't we make you both happy!'

The other children echoed her delight.

'I have a great plan,' went on Estelle, dancing along gleefully, 'and I
know it will simply send everybody wild with joy.'

'What is it?' asked Alan, eagerly. 'As long as it does not take you
away, I don't mind.'

'I think I can persuade Father to take us all in his yacht, and we will
bring Goody here ourselves.'

This proposal did indeed send the children wild. Not a word could Jack
get in edgewise for several minutes.

'You are sure she will come?' asked Estelle.

'I think she will,' said Jack, smiling. 'She will never be happy away
from our little Missie.'

THE END.

[Illustration: "'Have you spoken to Jack?'"]

[Illustration: "I struck furiously at the brute."]

ROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.

By HAROLD ERICSON.

IX.--A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.

[Illustration]

'Oh, yes,' said Bobbie Oakfield, a night or two after Vandeleur's story
of the plucky Japanese sailor; 'that young Hayashi was a smart fellow,
and as brave as they