"The
vessel has a long voyage to make, and would only touch at the Cape of
Good Hope on her way; so we cannot expect to hear yet. I wonder at you,
Lorischen, alarming me with your misgivings! I am sure I am anxious
enough already about poor Eric."

"Ach himmel! I meant no harm, dear lady," rejoined the other; "but,
when one has thoughts, you know, they must find vent, and I've been
dreaming of him the last three nights. I do wish he were safe back
again. The house is not itself without him."

"You are not the only one that thinks that," said Madame Dort. "Why,
even the very birds that come to be fed at the gallery window miss him!
They won't take their bread crumbs from my hand as they used to do last
winter from his; you remember how tame they were, and how they would hop
on his shoulder when he opened the window and called them?"

"Aye, that do I, well! He was a kind lad to bird and beast alike.
There is my old cat, which another boy would have tormented according to
the nature of all boys where poor cats are concerned; but Eric loved it,
and petted it like myself! Many a time I see Mouser looking up at that
model of his ship there, blinking his eyes as if he knew well where the
young master is, for cats have deeper penetration than human folk give
them credit for. I heard him miaow-wowing this morning; and, when I
went to look for him, there he was on the top of the stove, if you
please, gazing up at the little ship, with his tail up in the air as
stiff as a hair-brush! I couldn't make it out at all, and that's what
made me so thoughtful to-day about the dear lad, especially as I'd
dreamt of him, too."

"My dear Lorischen, you absurd creature," laughed out Madame Dort. "I'm
glad you said that. Don't you know what was old Mouser's grievance?
Was I not close behind you at the time the cat was making the noise, and
did not Burgher Jans' dog rush out of the room as the door was opened?
Of course, Mouser got on the stove to be out of his way, and that was
why you thought he was speaking in cat language to poor Eric's little
model ship. What a superstitious old lady you are, to be sure!"

"Ah well, you may think so, and explain it away, madame," said
Lorischen, in no way convinced; "but I have my beliefs all the same; and
I think that cat knows more than you and I do. Dear, dear! There, I
declare it is snowing again. What a Christmas we will have, and how the
dear lad would have enjoyed it, eh?"

"Y