; but the boy did not look up, only went on
reading.

But Jack Jeens heard, and he started where he lay, guessed the object of
the visit, and stretched out a hand to seize the boy.

"I'm not tired, Jack," cried Phil. "I can go on reading for--O,
Auntie!" he shouted joyously, and dropping the book as he sprang up, he
bounded into the lady's arms, to begin kissing her passionately again
and again.

"Phil--my darling!" she sobbed. "Have I found you again?"

"Yes, Auntie dear," cried the little fellow, "but--" He struggled from
her embrace and darted behind Jack Jeens, gazing wildly around.

"Is Uncle there?" he whispered, hoarsely.

"No, my boy; he has gone, and you will not see him again."

"Ah," cried Phil; "and have you come to fetch me home?"

"My darling, yes," cried the visitor, and as the boy sprang to her arms
again she held him tightly to her breast and turned proudly upon the
lieutenant. "Now, sir," she cried, "do you think he will be ill-used?"

"I am satisfied, madam," said the officer, smiling. "So, then, we are
to lose our little powder monkey? You are going away, then, sir?"

"Yes," cried the boy, eagerly; "along with Auntie. No," he cried,
excitedly--"no! I can't go and leave poor Jack. Auntie, dear, oh, he
has been so good to me, you don't know. No, I can't come away now.
Besides, they wouldn't let me come. I'm a sailor, serving the King.
But I'll come sometimes and see you."

"O, Phil, my darling!" sobbed his aunt.

"You don't know what he has done for me. No, Jack, I won't go away now
you're so weak and ill."

"Weak--ill--with wounds?" cried Phil's aunt eagerly, as she turned to
the lieutenant.

"Yes, madam; one of our brave seamen, badly wounded at Trafalgar."

"But ought he not to be ashore where he could be properly nursed?" cried
Phil's aunt.

"I nurse him," said Phil, proudly, "and feed him too. He can't use his
arms, Auntie."

"Then why not bring him home, Phil, dear, where he could be well nursed
back to health, and then--"

That was the way it was settled, for an hour later Jack Jeens was being
carefully slung down into the gig and then rowed ashore, while as Phil,
after his aunt had taken her place, slid down one of the falls to join
them, pretty well the whole crew was on deck to cheer the powder monkey
till he was out of sight.

Years passed before Phil stepped on board a King's ship again, and then
it was in the uniform of a middy--the middy of one of the s