since----"

"Yes, yes," said Barry hurriedly, as he rose, and coming over to her
took both her hands in his, and looked into her pale face. "Oh that I
had only known of his misfortunes six months ago, when I could have
helped you. Rose, dear Rose----"

"Don't, don't," she said brokenly; "why do you come to us now, when for
a year you have never written? I said to you just now that I was glad
to see you. It is not so. Your coming has made me very, very
unhappy--for I was trying to forget."

"For God's sake, Rose, hear me. I cannot now tell you all that has
happened to me, for your father will be here presently, and my personal
honour is pledged to my captain to be on board to-night, and so I must
hurry away at once and it will be impossible for me to come ashore
to-morrow. But you shall have a letter from me in the morning, that
will tell you all, and clear me in your eyes, dear."

The man's eyes glowed with the passionate sincerity of his words, and
she uttered a sob of joy.

"Oh, Ted, Ted, if you only knew how I have suffered! I could not
understand it . . . it was killing me. If it were not for poor father
I should have been glad to die. And now you are going away again. Oh,
what does it all mean? I feel dull and stupid, and cannot think----"
then a burst of tears.

"Hush, little woman. To-morrow my letter will help you to forget the
unhappiness I have unintentionally caused you. There, look up, dear
Rose, and listen. I hear your father coming. I cannot again part from
you without telling him of my love for you."

"Ted! I shall be the happiest woman in the world then; for then I can
talk of you to him when you are at sea. How many long, long months
this time, Ted?" and she smiled through her tears.

"Not many, I hope, dear--not more than six, I hope."

Mr. Maynard's step sounded on the landing, and in another moment he
came in.

"Here it is, my dear----" he began, and then he stopped suddenly.
"Crying, my child? Poor little girl, you are done up, and weak as
well."

"Indeed I'm not, father. I feel lovely and strong. See," and she
sprang to him, and threw her arms around his neck, to his intense
amazement.

Then Barry spoke out straightforwardly.

"Mr. Maynard, ever since we came out together in the _Maid of Judah_ I
have loved Rose. And to-night I ask your forgiveness for not having
told you so two years ago. But I was waiting till I got a ship of my
own."

The old man gentl