ewhat
melancholy tone she had unwittingly introduced into their last parting
conversation. "You'll be a regular little travelled monkey, like the
one belonging to the Dutchman that we were reading about the other day
which could do everything almost but speak, although I don't think
anybody would accuse you of any want of ability on the latter score, you
chatterbox!"

"No, no, little mother; I think not likewise," chuckled Eric
complacently. "I'm not one of your silent ones, not so! But, hurrah!--
There comes Fritz turning in under the old gateway. He said he would
try and get away for half an hour in the afternoon from the counting-
house to wish me another good-bye and see me off, if Herr Grosschnapper
could spare him. Ah ha, Master Fritz," shouted out the sailor lad, as
his brother drew nigh, "you're just in time to see the last of me. I
thought the worthy Herr would not let you come, you are so very late."

"Better late than never," said the other, smiling, coming up beside the
pair, who were standing in front of one of the railway carriages, into
which Eric had already bundled his bag. "The old man did growl a bit
about my `idling away the afternoon,' as he called it; but when I
impressed him with the fact that you were going away to sea, he relented
and let me come, saying that it was a good job such a circumstance did
not occur every day!"

"Much obliged to him, I'm sure!" said Eric, with that usual toss of his
head which threw back his mane-like locks of yellow hair. "He would
have been a fine old curmudgeon to have refused you leave to wish good-
bye to your only brother!" And he put one of his arms round Fritz's
neck as he spoke.

"Hush, my son," interposed Madame Dort. "You must not speak ill of the
good merchant who has been such a kind friend to Fritz and given him
regular employment in his warehouse!"

"All right, mutterchen, I won't mention again the name of the old cur--,
I mean dear old gentleman, little mother, there!" And then catching the
twinkling eye of Fritz, the two burst into a simultaneous laugh at the
narrow escape there had been of his repeating the obnoxious epithet;
while Madame Dort could not help smiling too, as she gazed fondly into
the merry face of the roguish boy, standing by his brother's side and
clinging to him with that deep fraternal affection which is so rarely
seen, alas! in members of the same family.

Truly, they were sons of whom any mother might have been