at the sea. Arguments and entreaties left him
unmoved, and he was just about to express his sorrow for her troubles and
leave, when she gave a sudden start and put her arm through his.

"Here comes your sister!" she exclaimed.

Mr. Letts started in his turn.

"She has seen me holding your arm," continued Mrs. Green, in a tense
whisper. "It's the only way I can explain it. Mind, your name is Jack
Foster and hers is Betty."

Mr. Letts gazed at her in consternation, and then, raising his eyes,
regarded with much approval the girl who was approaching. It seemed
impossible that she could be Mrs. Green's daughter, and in the excitement
of the moment he nearly said so.

"Betty," said Mrs. Green, in a voice to which nervousness had imparted
almost the correct note--"Betty, this is your brother Jack!"

Mr. Letts rose sheepishly, and then to his great amazement a pair of
strong young arms were flung round his neck, and a pair of warm lips--
after but slight trouble--found his. Then and there Mr. Letts's mind was
made up.

[Illustration: "Then and there Mr. Letts's mind was made up.]

"Oh, Jack!" said Miss Foster, and began to cry softly.

"Oh, Jack!" said Mrs. Green, and, moved by thoughts, perhaps, of what
might have been, began to cry too.

"There, there!" said Mr. Letts.

He drew Miss Foster to the seat, and, sitting between them, sat with an
arm round each. There was nothing in sight but a sail or two in the far
distance, and he allowed Miss Foster's head to lie upon his shoulder
undisturbed. An only child, and an orphan, he felt for the first time
the blessing of a sister's love.

"Why didn't you come home before?" murmured the girl.

Mr. Letts started and squinted reproachfully at the top of her hat. Then
he turned and looked at Mrs. Green in search of the required information.
"He was shipwrecked," said Mrs. Green.

"I was shipwrecked," repeated Mr. Letts, nodding.

"And had brain-fever after it through being in the water so long, and
lost his memory," continued Mrs. Green.

"It's wonderful what water will do--salt water," said Mr. Letts, in
confirmation.

Miss Foster sighed, and, raising the hand which was round her waist, bent
her head and kissed it. Mr. Letts colored, and squeezed her
convulsively.

Assisted by Mrs. Green he became reminiscent, and, in a low voice,
narrated such incidents of his career as had escaped the assaults of the
brain-fever. That his head was not permanently inj