wn as "Jenny Gussett's Hotel," and
kept by a gigantic coloured woman nearly seven feet high, where all the
passengers by the mail steamers who had no friends in the island, used
invariably to put up. Here, after ordering an early dinner, dad took me
out with him to call on a shipping agent at whose place of business he
had agreed to meet Captain Miles, leaving my mother and sisters with
their crowd of darky attendants at the hotel until we should come back.

The captain was punctual to his appointment like most sailors.

"Ha, Eastman," he said when dad and I entered the agent's store, "you're
just in the nick of time. I was only speaking of you a minute ago to
our friend here. Got the youngster I see."

"Yes, here he is," replied dad.

"That's all right then," said Captain Miles. "How are you, Master Tom--
glad to go to sea, eh?"

"Well--" I stammered hesitatingly, not liking to tell an untruth.

"Oh, I know," said he interrupting me. "Sorry to leave mother and the
girls, I suppose? Never mind, my boy, these partings must come some
time or other, and the sooner they are over the better. I shall start,
Eastman," he added, turning to dad, "late in the afternoon, as soon as
the wind sets off the land; so, you'd better send the boy aboard when
the sun begins to sink. My boat is now waiting at the end of the wharf
to take his traps."

"Thanks, Miles," replied my father; "but, won't you come round with us
to Jenny Gussett's Hotel and have some lunch? My wife will be glad to
see you."

"Oh, has she come in to town to see the youngster off?" asked the
captain.

"Yes, we all rode in," answered dad. "The whole kit of us are here."

"All right; I'll come then, as soon as I've finished arranging matters
and signing bills of lading with my agent here," said Captain Miles
cordially, adding, with one of his knowing winks to dad, "I've no doubt
your missis wants to give me all sorts of directions about young Master
Hopeful, eh?"

"You might be further out in your guess," rejoined dad with a laugh; and
presently the three of us went back to the hotel together, it being near
the hour at which dad had ordered our early dinner, or luncheon, to be
got ready.

The time soon slipped by at our meal, which none of us seemed to enjoy
very much save the captain, who, of course, was not affected by any sad
thoughts of parting, the same as dad and mother and I and my sisters
were--that is excepting Baby Tot, for she looked