t, "or--I think I
should say,--Mrs. Belloo mam,--there ain't no word for it! least-ways
not as I know on, nohow. No words be strong enough to tell the
J-O-Y--j'y, mam, as fills us--one an' all." Here, he waved his hand to
where stood the comely Prudence with the two rosy-cheeked maids peeping
over her buxom shoulders.

"Only," pursued Adam, "I be glad--ah! mortal glad, I be,--as 'tis you,
Mr. Belloo sir. There ain't a man in all the world,--or--as you might
say,--uni-verse, as is so proper as you to be the husband to our Miss
Anthea--as was,--not nohow, Mr. Belloo sir. I wish you j'y, a j'y as
shall grow wi' the years, an' abide wi' you always,--both on ye."

"That is a very excellent thought Adam!" said Bellew, "and I think I
should like to shake hands on it." Which they did, forthwith.

"An' now, Mrs. Belloo mam," Adam concluded, "wi' your kind permission,
I'll step into the kitchen, an' drink a glass o' Prue's ale--to your
'ealth, and 'appiness. If I stay here any longer I won't say but what I
shall burst out a-singing in your very face, mam, for I do be that
'appy-'earted,--Lord!"

With which exclamation, Adam laughed again, and turning about, strode
away to the kitchen with Prudence and the rosy-cheeked maids, laughing
as he went.

"Oh my dears!" said little Miss Priscilla, "I've hoped for this,--prayed
for it,--because I believe he is--worthy of you, Anthea, and because you
have both loved each other, from the very beginning; oh dear me; yes you
have! And so, my dears,--your happiness is my happiness and--Oh,
goodness me! here I stand talking sentimental nonsense while our Small
Porges is simply dropping asleep as he stands."

"'Fraid I am a bit tired," Small Porges admitted, "but it's been a
magnif'cent night. An' I think, Uncle Porges, when we sail away in your
ship, I think, I'd like to sail round the Horn first 'cause they say
it's always blowing, you know, and I should love to hear it blow. An'
now--Good-night!"

"Wait a minute, my Porges, just tell us what it was the Money Moon said
to you, last night, will you?"

"Well," said Small Porges, shaking his head, and smiling, a slow, sly
smile, "I don't s'pose we'd better talk about it, Uncle Porges, 'cause,
you see, it was such a very great secret; an 'sides,--I'm awful sleepy,
you know!" So saying, he nodded slumberously, kissed Anthea sleepily,
and, giving Miss Priscilla his hand, went drowsily into the house.

But, as for Bellew it seemed to him th