animent to
the noisy chorus.

Bob and Nellie watched their aunt and the Captain standing on the
platform, waving their handkerchiefs from the window of their
compartment, which they found it a hard matter to shove their heads
through two at a time, until a bend in the line swept aunt Pollys
Captain Dresser, platform and all out of sight.

Then, sitting down disconsolately in their seats, Bob, who, of course,
thought it unmanly to cry, screwed himself up in a corner in default of
that alleviation of his misery, looking the very picture of woe; while
poor Nell, being a girl and freed from such Spartan obligations, sought
refuge from her sorrow in silent tears.

"Now, Nellie dear," said her mother reprovingly, "you mustn't be so
foolish! Of course, I can make allowance for your sorrow at leaving
Southsea, where you have been so happy; but these partings, dearie, will
come some time or other, and, besides, you know, both aunt Polly and
Captain Dresser have promised to come up to us at Christmas, so you'll
see them again soon."

This made poor Nell try to compose herself; and presently she smiled
through her tears, exchanging reminiscences of the past few weeks of
their enjoyment by the sea with Bob, who also, after a time, shook off
his grumpiness--the feeling that they were going "home" again, by and by
overcoming their depression at leaving, perhaps for ever, the scene of
so many delights and such a terrible ordeal at the last!

"I wonder how old Blinkie will look?" said Bob, trying to picture the
jackdaw as he would appear when conscious of his owner's return; and
then, deciding in his own mind that the only tribute of affection which
he might expect would, most probably, be a sharp peck from Blinkie's
beak, he added, "I dare say he won't remember me at all!"

Nellie's thoughts were directed to Snuffles the asthmatic cat, her great
pet; and she believed that highly-trained animal would not only know her
again after her long absence, but would certainly express her
satisfaction in a much more endearing manner, if not quite so touching
or pointed!

Thus the two beguiled the tedium of their journey; and, such was their
joy on the train's arrival in town at last, that no one would have
believed them to be the same Bob and Nell who had given way so greatly
to their grief on leaving the seaside!

Naturally, Rover's pleasure at being released from his temporary
imprisonment in the guard's van could be easily accounte