t hisself down on the end of the jetty, same as a man
that's going fishing. 'Lord-a-massy, Jemmy,' says the boys, looking up
out of the boat; 'whatever in the name of goodness are you doing there?'
'They're telling me,' says Jemmy, bobbing the gin-bottle up and down
constant, flip-a-flop, flip-a-flop atop of the water; 'they're telling
me,' says he, 'that poor ould Hughie is down yonder, and I'm thinking
there isn't nothing in the island that'll fetch him up quicker till
this.'"

"But what is going on here, Capt'n?" said Lovibond, with an inclination
of his head toward the table where Willie Quarrie was still laboring
with his invitations.

"It's railly wuss till ever, sir," groaned Willie from behind his pen.

"What does it mean?" said Lovibond.

"It manes that I'm sailing to-morrow," said Davy.

"Sailing!" cried Lovibond.

"That's so," said Davy. "Back to the ould oven we came from. Pacific
steamer laves Liverpool by the afternoon tide, and we'll catch her aisy
if we take the 'Snaefell' in the morning. Fixed a couple of berths
by telegraph, and paid through Dumbell's. Only ninety pounds the
two--for'ard passage--but nearly claned out at that. What's the odds
though? Enough left to give the boys a blow-out to-night, and then,
heigho! stone broke, cut your stick and get out of it."

"A couple of berths? Did you say two?" said Lovibond.

"I'm taking Willie along with me," said Davy; "and he's that joyful at
the thought of it that you can't get a word out of him for hallelujahs."

Willie's joy expressed itself at that moment in a moan, as he rose from
the table with a woe-begone countenance, and went out on his errand of
invitation.

"But you'll stay on," said Davy, "Eh?"

"No," said Lovibond, in a melancholy voice.

"Why not, then?" said Davy.

Lovibond did not answer at once, and Davy heaved up to a sitting posture
that he might look into his face.

"Why, man; what's this--what's this?" said Davy. "You're looking as down
as ould Kinvig at the camp meeting, when the preacher afore him had used
up all his tex'es. What's going doing?"

Lovibond settled himself on the sofa beside Davy, and drew a deep
breath. "I've seen her again, Capt'n," he said, solemnly.

"The sweet little lily in the church, sir?" said Davy.

"Yes," said Lovibond; and, after another deep breath, "I've spoken to
her."

"Out with it, sir; out with it," said Davy, and then, putting one hand
on Lovibond's knee caressingly, "I've seen