the Alice I knew, but she has changed far more than I have. She was a
little girl of fourteen then, very pretty, certainly, I thought, but still
quite a girl--" and he stopped.

"Now, you mean that I have grown into a young woman, and have lost my
prettiness?"

"I think your looking-glass tells you another story," he laughed. "If it
doesn't, it must be a very bad one."

"Well, now, do sit down," her father said. "You must have an immense deal
to tell us."

"It is a longish story," Will replied, "too long to tell straight off.
Besides, I want to ask some questions. When did you come home? Have you
come for good? If not, how long are you going to stay? though I am sorry
to say that the length of your visit can affect me comparatively little,
for I am appointed second-lieutenant of the _Jason_, and must join in a
few days."

"I congratulate you very heartily, Will," Mr. Palethorpe said. "You are
fortunate indeed to get such promotion so early."

"I am most fortunate, sir. Though just at present I feel inclined to wish
that it hadn't come quite so soon."

"In answer to your question, Will, I can say that we are home for good. I
have disposed of my estate and wound up my business, principally, I think,
because this little girl had made up her mind that she should like England
better than Jamaica."

"I am glad to hear that, sir. I shall have something to look forward to
when I return to England."

"Where are you staying?"

"At the Golden Cross."

"Well, then, you must go and fetch your luggage here at once. It would be
strange indeed if you were to be staying at any house but mine while you
are in London."

As he saw that the planter would not hear of a refusal, Will gladly
accepted the invitation, and, taking a fly, drove to the hotel, paid his
bill, and took his things away.

CHAPTER XVII

ON BOARD THE "JASON"

"I won't ask you for your story till after dinner," Mr. Palethorpe said.
"To enjoy a yarn one needs to be comfortable, and I feel more at home in
my arm-chair in the dining-room than I do in this room, with all its
fal-lals. You see, I have taken the house furnished. When I settle down in
a home of my own, I can assure you it will look very different from this.
In fact I have one already building for me. It is at Dulwich, and will be
as nearly as possible like my house in Jamaica. Of course there will be
differences. I at firs