t wished to have the same sort of veranda, but the
architect pointed out that while in Jamaica one requires shade, here one
wants light. So they are getting large sheets of glass specially made for
putting in instead of wood above the windows. Then, of course, we want
good fireplaces, whereas in Jamaica a fire is only necessary for a few
days in the year. There are also other little differences, but on the
whole it will remind me of the place I had for so many years."

"The house will have one advantage over that in Jamaica, Mr. Palethorpe."

"What is that?" he asked.

"You will be able to go to bed comfortably without fear of having the roof
taken from over your head by a hurricane."

"Ah! that is indeed a matter to which I have not given sufficient
consideration, but it is certainly a very substantial advantage, as we
have all good reason to know."

"I never think of it without shuddering," Alice said. "It was awful! It
seemed as if there was an end of everything! I think it was the memory of
that night that first set me thinking of going to England."

"Then I cannot but feel grateful to that hurricane, for if you had
remained out there it is probable that I should never have met you again."

"I am having a large conservatory built so that we can have greenness and
flowers all the year," Mr. Palethorpe remarked presently.

"I should think that would be charming. I hope you will be settled at
Dulwich long before I come back from my next cruise."

"Well, I don't know that I can say the same, Will. I hope your next cruise
will be a short one."

When dinner was over, the chairs were drawn up to the fire, and Will
related his adventures since his return from the West Indies.

"Have you heard of your two favourite sailors?" Alice interrupted.

"Dimchurch and Tom Stevens? No, I have not. I shall feel lost without them
at sea, and sincerely hope that I may some day run against them, in which
case I am sure, if they are free, they will join my ship."

"How terribly cut up they must have been," the girl said, "when they got
down to the beach and found that you were missing!"

"I am sure they would be," he replied. "I expect the rest of the men
almost had to hold them back by force."

"Well, go on. You were hit and made prisoner."

Will went on with his story till he came to his escape from Verdun.

"What was she like?" the girl asked. "I expect she was very pretty."

"No, not particularly so. She was a very p