hat if the ship should be wrecked! What if
sickness should break out on board, or a mutiny occur, or should she be
captured by an enemy! He dreaded dangers for Grace which he did not
take into a moment's consideration in regard to himself, but he strove
not to allow her to perceive his anxiety.

"Father is not a person, as you well know, to be turned from his
purpose," she answered, trying to smile. "Mother has promised to go,
and I cannot let her go without me. She or father might fall ill, for
he is not so strong as he was, and I ought to be ready to nurse them,
and I hope, my dear Jack, that we shall be back as soon as you are,
though my chief anxiety is leaving Mary; and Harry also away. Perhaps,
too, we may meet; my father doesn't know exactly where we shall go after
we leave the China seas; it must depend upon the freight obtained."

"It is a wide region, and I was hoping that I could picture you when I
was away, safe at home," answered Uncle Jack, but he refrained from
saying more. He was unwilling to create any anxiety in Grace's mind.
He certainly, however, looked more distressed than any of the party.

After this Grace could be less at our house than usual, as she had to
help her mother in preparing for their voyage. The "Iris," she told us,
was to be got ready for sea with all despatch. Uncle Jack and I one
evening went on board to have a look at the ship that, as he observed,
he might at least know what sort of a craft Grace was sailing in. The
cabins were comfortably fitted up and well suited for the accommodation
of the captain's wife and daughter, as well as for a few other
passengers. I asked him what he thought of the ship.

"She's a fine enough vessel, but I can judge better of her if she were
loaded, and I should like to know what sort of a crew she has," he
answered. "Captain Bingley is a good seaman, and I respect him as
Grace's father; but he wants to make money, and he may be tempted to
overload his ship, or visit dangerous places to obtain freight."

I did not see the parting between Uncle Jack and Grace, as I went on
board the "Lily" the night before we sailed. I had already wished
good-bye to my dear mother and all the young ones, and as she had to
look after them, she could not come to see us off. I know very well
what she must have felt, and I heartily wished, when the moment came for
leaving, that I could have remained to comfort and protect her. My
going away must have bro