--"

"Just so. Well, that's all settled, then," interrupted the captain.
"I'll have him removed at once, and you'll attend him, doctor--who
better?--that is, if you can spare the time."

The doctor was quite ready to spare the time, and the captain bustled
off to tell his sister what was in store for her, and to order Rosebud
to pack up and return to school without delay, so as to make room for
the patient.

Great was his astonishment that his Rosebud burst into tears on
receiving the news.

"My Bud, my darling, don't cry," he said, tenderly drawing the fair head
to his rugged bosom. "I know it must be a great disappointment to have
a week cut off your holidays, but I'll go down to Folkestone with you,
an' take a lodging there, an you an' I will have a jolly time of it
together--till I get another ship--"

"Oh! father, it's not _that_!" exclaimed poor Rose almost indignantly;
"it's--it's--"

Not being able to explain exactly what it was that ailed her, she took
refuge in another flood of tears.

"Oh!" she thought to herself, "if I might only stay and nurse him!" but
she blushed at the very thought, for she was well aware that she knew no
more about scientific nursing than a tortoiseshell cat! Three months of
the most tender and careful nursing by Miss Millet failed, however, to
set Jeffrey Benson on his legs. He was very patient and courageous.
Hope was strong, and he listened with approval and gratitude to his
nurse's teachings.

There came a day, however, which tried him.

"You think me not much better, doctor?" he asked, somewhat anxiously.

"Not much," returned the doctor, in a low, tender tone; "and I fear that
you must make up your mind never again to be quite the same man you
were."

"Never again?" exclaimed the youth, in startled surprise.

The doctor said nothing, but his look was--"never again."

CHAPTER SIX.

GOOD NEWS TO THE CAPTAIN--ALSO TO JEFF.

There is a period, probably, in the life of every man, when a feeling
akin to despair creeps over him, and the natural tendency of his heart
to rebel against his Maker becomes unquestionable. There may be some on
whom this epoch descends gently--others, perhaps, who may even question
whether they have met with it at all; but there must be many, of whom
Jeff was one, on whom it comes like a thunderbolt, scathing for a time
all the finer qualities of heart and mind.

"If it had only come at a later period of life, or in some other form,