trious prince
condescend to help us to move tables and chests of drawers?"

Jack threw a very significant glance towards Nelly, as though to say,
"She is at the old game."

"Well, sir? I wait your answer," said Julia.

"For twenty-four hours I am at your orders," said Jack.

"And then under what commander do you serve?"

"Captain Fortune, I suspect," said he, gravely. "A gentleman, or lady,
perhaps, that has shown me no especial fondness up to this."

"Jack says he is going to leave us," said Nelly, as her eyes filled up.

"But why?" cried George.

"But why?" echoed Julia.

"Haven't I given proof enough," said Jack, with a faint laugh, "that I'm
not what Miss Julia there calls a very logical animal; that when I get
a wayward fancy in my head I follow it faithfully as if it was a
strong conviction. Well, now, one of these moments has come to me; and
thinking, besides, that this pleasant sort of life here is not exactly
the best preparation for a rougher kind of existence, I have made up my
mind to slip my cable after I 've seen Gusty."

"Well, then, let us profit by the short time left us," said Julia,
quietly. "Come and help me in the house. I shall want you, too, George."

"You must do without me, Julia. I have only just discovered a letter
in my pocket, with the seal unbroken, that I ought to have answered
at least a fortnight ago. It is from Sir Marcus Cluff," said he, in a
whisper, "making me an offer of the vicarage at Hoxton."

"What a kind fellow!"

"Who's a kind fellow?" asked Jack.

"A certain gentleman, who made me the flattering proposal to become his
wife and nurse, and who now offers to make George his chaplain."

"It rains good luck here," said Jack, with a half bitter smile. "Why
won't it drift a little in _my_ direction? By the way, Nelly, what about
the letter I asked you to write to Marion?"

"It is written. I only want to fill in the name of the person. You told
me to keep a blank for it."

"I 'll go and fetch my pocket-book," said he, and broke away at once,
and hastened towards the house.

"I'm delighted at your good news, Julia," said Nelly; "though it almost
breaks my heart to think how desolate we shall soon be here."

"Never anticipate evil fortune. We are still together; and let us not
mar the present by glancing at a possible future."

"And poor Jack," began Nelly; but unable to finish, she turned away her
head to hide the emotion she felt.

"He shall--he must stay,"