estly pressed her hand to his
lips, and gazed into her beautiful face in silence.

Harry observed that his mother had lost her cheerful, happy expression,
which had given her the youthful look not of her years, and he feared
that his conduct had been a source of deeper grief to her than he had
supposed; but now that she again looked upon her son, her pale, pensive
face was lit up with the smile of contentment, and a heart of thanks was
hers that so many blessings were yet her portion.

A noise which strongly reminded Harry of the rattling of the rigging in
a gale of wind, was now heard in the hall, and Vingo presented himself
at the door; he looked at Harry, then at his mistress, while the pupil
of his eye gave place to its lighter counterpart, and raising both
hands, he exclaimed,--"De good Lord be praised! 'pears like I couldn't
be any fuller ob laugh if I find old Phillis hersef!" and grasping his
master's extended hand, he laughed until it seemed as if the corners of
his mouth would meet.

"I's right glad to see you, young massa, 'deed I is; but where is de old
fellow Neptune?"

"Yes, yes, where is the faithful creature?" asked Sea-flower; "at our joy
in seeing you, we have quite forgotten him."

Just then the dog's well remembered bark was heard at the door, and on
opening it, the animal marched in, and laying a little parcel which he
had brought in his mouth, upon the floor, he jumped upon the Sea-flower,
nearly overpowering her, in his delight frisking from one to the other
as if he were mad. Harry was now, for the first time, aware that the dog
had not come with him, and examining the parcel which he had brought,
to his no little astonishment he found it was the identical curiously
wrought block, which he had found after that dreadful night of the
storm. Among the many gifts which he had brought home to his mother and
sister, he had forgotten this simple one, and now he remembered that he
had not seen it for a long time. Why the dog should have noticed so
trifling a thing, was indeed singular. Harry related the circumstances
by which he had come in possession of the curiosity, and from the
presents of silks, crapes, fruits, etc., which he had brought to the
Sea-flower, she turned to the mysterious little curiosity with a greater
interest, examining the grotesque figures with a fascination, when
accidentally pressing a pearl setting, the box (for such it was
discovered to be,) flew open, and revealed to her