-haired, in white gowns and crisp
ribbons.

But Judy ate nothing, although Perkins tempted her with various offers.

"I'm not a bit hungry," she said, over and over again, and Anne, who
was ravenous, felt positively greedy in the face of such daintiness.

"You are tired," said the Judge at last, as Judy sat with her chin in
her hand, gazing at a picture of her father which hung over the
fireplace--a full-length portrait in uniform. "Go to bed, dear." And
in spite of protests, as soon as Anne had finished her supper, he
ordered them both to bed.

"What are we going to do about her, Perkins?" the Judge asked in a
worried tone, when he and the old servant were alone.

"Miss Judy, sir?"

"Yes. She isn't well, Perkins."

"She will be better down here, sir," said Perkins. "She is like her
father, you know, sir--likes the water--"

"Perkins--" after a pause.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you think--he is alive?"

It was the first time in years that the Judge had spoken of his son.
Perkins stopped brushing the crumbs from the table, and came and stood
beside his master, looking into the fire thoughtfully.

"Miss Judy thinks he is, sir," he said at last.

"I know--"

"And I find that it's the women that's mostly right in such things,"
went on Perkins. "A man now only knows what he sees, but, Lord, sir, a
woman knows things without seein'. Sort of takes them on faith, sir."

"The uncertainty is bad for Judy," said the Judge, the deep lines
showing in his care-worn face.

Perkins laid a respectful hand on the back of his chair. "You'd best
go to bed yourself; sir," he said, gently, "you're tired, sir."

"Yes--yes." But he did not move until Perkins had drawn the water for
his bath and had laid out his things, and had urged him, "Everything is
ready, sir." Then he got up with a sigh, "I wish I knew."

"I wish I knew," he said, a half-hour later, as the careful Perkins
covered him with an extra blanket. "I wish I knew where he
is--to-night."

Outside the wind moaned, the rain beat against the windows and the
waves boomed unceasingly. Perkins drew the curtain tight, and laid the
Judge's Bible on the little table by the bed, where his hand could
reach it the first thing in the morning; then he picked up the lamp and
went to the door.

"I think wherever he is, he's bein' took care of, sir," he said,
comfortingly, and with an affectionate glance at the gray head on the
pillow, he went out and closed the door.