It's so hard to remember! It is something like
this! I seem to have lived for such a long time, and when I look back I
can remember things that happened a very long time ago, but then there
seems a gap, and everything is all misty, and it makes my head ache
dreadfully to try and remember," he moaned.

"Then don't try," she said kindly. "I'll read to you for a little time
if you like, and you shall sit quite quiet."

He seemed not to have heard her. He continued presently--

"Once before I died, it was all I wanted. Just to have heard her speak,
to have seen my little girl grown into a woman, and the sea was always
there, and Oom Sam would always come with that cursed rum. Then one day
came Trent and talked of money and spoke of England, and when he went
away it rang for ever in my ears, and at night I heard her calling for
me across the sea. So I stole out, and the great steamer was lying
there with red fires at her funnel, and I was mad. She was crying for me
across the sea, so I took the money!"

She patted his hand gently. There was a lump in her throat, and her eyes
were wet.

"Was it your daughter you wanted so much to see?" she asked softly.

"My daughter! My little girl," he answered! "And I heard her calling to
me with her mother's voice across the sea. So I took the money."

"No one would blame you very much for that, I am sure," she said
cheerfully. "You are frightening yourself needlessly. I will speak to
Father, and he shall help you."

He held up his hand.

"He is hiding me," he whispered. "It is through him I knew that they
were after me. I don't mind for myself, but she might get to know, and I
have brought disgrace enough upon her. Listen!"

There were footsteps upon the stairs. He clung to her in an agony of
terror.

"They are coming!" he cried. "Hide me! Oh, hide me!"

But she too was almost equally terrified, for she had recognised her
father's tread. The door was thrown open and De Souza entered, followed
by Scarlett Trent.

CHAPTER XXXVI

The old man and the girl were equally terrified, both without cause. Da
Souza forgot for a moment to be angry at his daughter's disobedience;
and was quick to see that her presence there was all to his advantage.
Monty, as white as death, was stricken dumb to see Trent. He sank back
gasping into a chair. Trent came up to him with outstretched hands and
with a look of keen pity in his hard face.

"Monty, old chap," he said, "what on earth ar