y did not get my letter, but I can't stop. Jennings will tell
you. Take care of him. Come, Daisy--" for he had kept her unwilling hand
all the time. "But what's that for?" pointing to the black ribbons, and,
stopping short, startled.

"Because of poor Harry," said the bewildered child.

"Oh, that's right!" cried he, striding on, and dragging her in a
breathless run, as he threw open the well-known doors; and, she escaping
from him, hid her face in Mary's lap, screaming, "He says he is Harry!
he says he is not drowned!"

At the same moment Ethel was in his arms, and his voice was sobbing,
"Ethel! Mary! home! Where's papa?" One moment's almost agonising joy in
the certainty of his identity! but ere she could look or think, he was
crying, "Mary! oh, Ethel, see--"

Mary had not moved, but sat as if turned to stone, with breath
suspended, wide-stretched eyes, and death-like cheeks--Ethel sprang to
her, "Mary, Mary dear, it is Harry! It is himself! Don't you see? Speak
to her, Harry."

He seemed almost afraid to do so, but, recovering himself, exclaimed,
"Mary, dear old Polly, here I am! Oh, won't you speak to me?" he added
piteously, as he threw his arm round her and kissed her, startled at the
cold touch of her cheek.

The spell seemed broken, and, with a wild hoarse shriek that rang
through the house, she struggled to regain her breath, but it would only
come in painful, audible catches, as she held Harry's hand convulsively.

"What have I done?" he exclaimed, in distress.

"What's this! Who is this frightening my dear?" was old nurse's
exclamation, as she and James came at the outcry.

"Oh, nurse, what have I done to her?" repeated Harry.

"It is joy--it is sudden joy!" said Ethel. "See, she is better now--"

"Master Harry! Well, I never!" and James, "with one wring of the hand,
retreated, while old nurse was nearly hugged to death, declaring all the
time that he didn't ought to have come in such a way, terrifying every
one out of their senses! and as for poor Miss May--

"Where is she?" cried Harry, starting at the sight of the vacant sofa.

"Only upstairs," said Ethel; "but where's Alan? Is not he come?"

"Oh, Ethel, don't you know?" His face told but too plainly.

"Nurse! nurse, how shall we tell her?" said Ethel.

"Poor dear!" exclaimed nurse, sounding her tongue on the roof of her
mouth. "She'll never abear it without her papa. Wait for him, I should
say. But bless me, Miss Mary, to see you go on li