o the Misses Hosmer at
your rooms."

"A letter for us--how charming!" cried Faith, while Hope nodded
vigorously.

But the captain, with a glance at his daughters, said lightly,

"And nothing for me?"

"I think she hoped to see you, Captain, but doubtless her letter
explains everything. Did you know the old Madam is dead?"

"No! You don't say so. And is that why Lord Duncan--"

The Traveler shook his head. "I am a good deal in the dark about the
particulars, but I learned something of the drift of affairs from the
husband's own lips. I know he repented deeply of yielding such
implicit obedience to that proud old woman's wishes. But she ruled all
of her kin with a rod of iron. And to such a nature as Lady Moreham's
the constant restraint, the sarcastic comments, and the vigilant
training to which she was subjected, must have been terribly irksome.
I can at least vaguely understand it, and I have her permission to ask
you for her side of the affair."

"Yes," assented the captain. "Well, well I am glad the embargo is
removed. It was that separation that the old dame insisted upon, which
broke her heart. It was bad enough to be so completely cut off from
all her own family, but when her husband, himself, consented that she
should be banished for a season, to be properly molded and made over by
Mrs. Poinsett, while he traveled in foreign lands, it was the last
hold. She never could grip her anchor to any faith in God or man, for
a time, and I think she hated everybody--at any rate everybody in the
aristocracy."

"And we thought her proud of her rank!" murmured Faith. "Do you
remember that first day when we called her 'a specimen of British
aristocracy,' Hope?"

"I remember when _I_ did," was the honest answer. "It was a foolish
thing to say, and I have regretted it ever since."

"We can never judge with absolute correctness," mused the Traveler,
with his kindly smile.

"But papa, hasn't she any home relatives left to her--not even a
sister?" asked Faith, and unconsciously her arm stole about the waist
of her beloved twin.

"I hope she has," was the answer, as the rugged sailor's face turned
fondly towards the two. "I have a notion that her letter will explain
how, all unconsciously, my little girls have been a link between her
and her dear old home."

"We?" cried both, "how wonderful! How could we? Do tell us!"

"Let the letter tell," said the captain, and the Traveler remarked in a
reveren