ark appearance at first led me to suppose.

"Yes, indeed I do," I answered; "I always have wished to go to sea, and
now I have a stronger motive than ever. Perhaps Mr Ward has told you."

"Yes; I know all about it--very right," said Mr Henley. "And you want
to secure a berth for your four-footed companion there. He's a fine
fellow. I'll try and arrange that for you. Captain Seaford is a very
reasonable man, and you will like him, I know. We shall go out of dock
to-morrow, or the next day at furthest. You may join us at Gravesend,
if you like, but I would advise you to come on board here. It will save
you expense and trouble, and you will find much to interest you in
seeing the ship go out of dock."

All this seemed very easily and agreeably arranged. Mr Henley was, I
found, a connection of Captain Seaford's, and much trusted by him, so
that he did not speak without authority in what he said. He then took
us round the ship. She had her cargo on board, but she was taking in
stores and provisions, and appeared to be in a state of great confusion.
She was, I found, to carry a certain number of first and second class
emigrants to the Cape. Mr Ward insisted on accompanying me to London
Bridge, declaring that the walking about in the service of my father's
son did him more good than all the doctor's physic he could take. On
our way there he told me that the first mate of the _Orion_, Mr Paul
Grimes, was a very different sort of person to William Henley, and that
he was certainly a bad-tempered and not a well-disposed man, at all
events.

"Never mind, though," said my old friend. "Keep on doing your duty. Do
not retort. Return good for evil, and so you will in the end `heap
coals of fire on his head.' There are few men's hearts which cannot be
softened in that way."

Mr Ward kindly shook my hand when I parted from him, and begged that I
would come to him early the next day with my chest before going on board
the _Orion_.

I saw the tears trickling down my dear mother's cheeks as I gave her an
account of what had occurred during the day.

"Surely He does not desert the fatherless and widows who cry unto him;
and he employs his emissaries often in the shape of human beings to do
his work," she exclaimed, as she put her head upon my shoulder while I
stood by her side.

The next morning I was up by daybreak finishing all my preparations. I
will not describe the parting at last. It was very grievous for u