Madge would be happier without knowledge of
him. It was her own longing for her father, reported by Captain Jules,
that had impelled Robert Morton at last to reveal himself to her.

Madge could not comprehend all of this at once. She did not even try to
do so. She realized only that, after being without any parents, she had
suddenly come into two fathers at the same time, her own father and
Captain Jules, who was her more than foster father.

With a low, glad cry she went swiftly across the room. She did not try to
think or to ask questions at that moment about the past, she only flung
her young arms about her father's neck in a long embrace, feeling that at
last she had some one in the world who was her very own.

While Madge, her father, and Captain Jules were trying to see how they
could bear the miracle and shock of their great happiness, a small, dark
object darted into the room and planted its claws in Madge's hair. It
pulled and chattered with all its might.

[Illustration: "I am Going to Keep House for You at 'The Anchorage.'"]

The little captain laughed with the tears in her eyes. "It's that
good-for-nothing monkey!" she exclaimed as she disentangled the
creature's tiny hands. Then she kissed her father and afterwards Captain
Jules. "Now I know why this monkey is called Madge, and I am sorry to
have such a jealous, bad-tempered namesake."

The captain scolded the monkey gently. "Don't you fret about this
particular namesake. If you only knew all the others you have had! Every
single pet that two lonely old men could get to stay around the house
with them we have named for you."

Captain Morton did not go back to the houseboat with his daughter. Madge
thought she would rather tell her friends of her great happiness alone.
She wouldn't even let Captain Jules escort her. "You'll both have plenty
of my society after a while," she argued, "for I am going to come to keep
house for you at 'The Anchorage' some day."

Madge rowed slowly back to the "Merry Maid." She was thinking over what
she would say to Miss Jennie Ann and the girls. How should she announce
to them that her quest was ended, her victory over Fate won?

As she neared the houseboat she saw that her companions were gathered on
deck, evidently watching for her. Madge rested on her oars and waved one
hand to them. Four hands waved promptly back to her. A moment more and
she had come alongside the "Merry Maid." As she clambered on deck she
cast a s