er a few pence if every week
she would darn their stockings. And the darns were indeed of surprising
neatness for a little maid of but eleven years of age.

Sally could buy no stockings as yet with her earnings, but a cheap pair
of shoes she already had bought, and on the sweet September day, away
with the rest she went to see the _Belle Virgeen_ set sail.

Very hard she strained her eyes to get a glimpse of her Fairy Prince,
and her poor little heart was aching at thought of his crossing the
great lonely ocean to remain nearly a year away.

"Oh, a year doth seem such a very long while," she murmured, "and
although I should be ready to die of shame did any one know it, yet
great comfort and company hath it been for me to dream and imagine about
the Fairy Prince."

So much was there going on, and so great the bustle, that not much
thought could fill her mind, and soon there came an extra stir, a
carriage drove along the road, a lithe young form sprang out, and midst
a cheer from the "hands" that crowded the landing, Lionel Grandison went
up the gangplank.

Then came the signal from Captain Rothwell to draw in the hawsers, and
let the trim vessel glide.

Yes, there were Sir Percival Grandison, young Mistress Lucretia, and
Mistress Rosamond Earlscourt, all waving their kerchiefs, and smiling
bravely at the young student, who held his sea-cap high above his head,
waving it constantly.

Lady Gabrielle had not come to see him sail away. Like unto other
mothers at such times, she had not wished to see the lad depart.

On the edge of the crowd stood Sally. Still farther back she went, and
not much notice did she take that she was standing near a great wagon
that had brought some luggage to the dock, until all at once, from
around the other side, she heard a musical voice half sobbing out a
prayer:

"O Lorr Gord, do keep de chile f'om all de dangers ob de mighty deep!
Doan't let de waves nor de billows be swallerin' ob him up. Keep my
babby safe f'om all de mis'ries ob a forr'n land. Dese yere arms
has held him troo all kiner sickernesses. Deah Lorr, keep my chile
safe--Yah! yah! yah!"

It was Mammy Leezer, who, without stopping to end her prayer in proper
shape, had suddenly joined the cheer that went up as the vessel dropped
slowly down the stream.

Very still it grew again as the _Belle Virgeen_ drifted off and away,
until in the distance the staunch ship grew small, and the figure of a
boy standing straight an