rst thing this morning to the
ship your father was to put the gentleman aboard. He had got alongside
all right, for I saw the gentleman himself, and he told me that he had
watched the wherry after she shoved off till he lost sight of her in a
heavy squall of rain. When it cleared off she was nowhere to be seen.
So, Peter, my poor boy, there's no hope, I'm afeard, and we shall never
see my old messmate or Ned Dore again."

"Oh, Tom! Tom! You don't mean to say that father's gone!" I cried
out.

"I'd sooner have lost another leg than have to say it," answered the old
man. "But it must be said notwithstanding, and now how are we to tell
mother?"

I could not answer, but kept repeating to myself, "Gone! Gone! Father
gone!" as Tom led me on to the house. We met the boy with the physic at
the door.

"Let Nancy give her the stuff first," said the old man, thoughtfully;
"maybe it will give her strength, and help her to bear the bad news."

Nancy took in the bottles, while Tom and I remained outside. After some
time she came out and told Tom that mother wanted to see him. He went
in, shaking all over so much that I thought he would have fallen. I
followed, when, seeing Mary, I threw my arms round her neck and burst
into tears. She guessed what had happened even before I told her. We
sat down, holding each other's hands and crying together, while Tom went
in to see mother. What he said I do not know, though I am sure he tried
to break the news to her as gently as he could. When she saw the hat,
which he still held in his hand, she knew that father was lost. She did
not go off into fits, as Tom afterwards told me he thought she would,
but remained terribly calm, and just bade him describe to her all that
he knew.

"I mustn't give in," she said at length, "I have the children to look
after, for if I was to go what would become of them?"

"While I'm able to work they shan't want, missus," answered Tom, firmly.

"I know what you'd wish to do, Tom; but there's one thing won't let you:
that thing is liquor," said mother.

"Then I'll never touch another drop as long as I live, missus!"
exclaimed Tom. "May God help me!"

"He will help you, Tom, if you ask Him," said mother; "and I hope that,
whether I live or die, you'll keep to that resolution."

I believe that conversation with Tom did mother much good; it took her
off from thinking of father. She was still, however, very ill, and had
to keep her bed. T