he slipped into Harry's
hand a daisy from the grave, such a gift as she had never carried to any
one else, save her father and Margaret, and she shrank no longer from
being lifted up in his arms, and carried home through the twilight
street.

He hurried into the drawing-room, and was heard declaring that all was
right, for Margaret was on the sofa; but he stopped short, grieved at
her altered looks. She smiled as he stooped to kiss her, and then made
him stand erect, and measure himself against Norman, whose height he
had almost reached. The little curly midshipman had come back, as nurse
said, "a fine-growed young man," his rosy cheeks, brown and ruddy, and
his countenance--

"You are much more like papa and Norman than I thought you would be,"
said Margaret.

"He has left his snub nose and yellow locks behind," said his father;
"though the shaggy mane seems to remain. I believe lions grow darker
with age. So there stand June and July together again!"

Dr. May walked backwards to look at them. It was good to see his face.

"I shall see Flora and Tom to-morrow!" said Harry, after nodding with
satisfaction, as they all took their wonted places.

"Going!" exclaimed Richard.

"Why, don't you know?" said Ethel; "it is current in the nursery that
he is going to be tried by court-martial for living with the King of the
Cannibal Islands."

"Aubrey says he had a desert island, with Jennings for his man Friday,"
said Blanche.

"Harry," said little Gertrude, who had established herself on his knee,
"did you really poke out the giant's eye with the top of a fir-tree?"

"Who told you so, Daisy?" was the general cry; but she became shy, and
would not answer more than by a whisper about Aubrey, who indignantly
declared that he never said so, only Gertrude was so foolish that she
did not know Harry from Ulysses.

"After all," said Ethel, "I don't think our notions are much more
defined. Papa and Norman may know more, but we have heard almost
nothing. I have been waiting to hear more to close up my letters to
Flora and Tom. What a shame that has not been done!"

"I'll finish," said Mary, running to the side-table.

"And tell her I'll be there to-morrow," said Harry. "I must report
myself; and what fun to see Flora a member of Parliament! Come with me,
June; I'll be back next day. I wish you all would come."

"Yes, I must come with you," said Norman. "I shall have to go to Oxford
on Thursday;" and very reluctant he loo