Nurse was very much pleased, but she said they
were too smart by half. But Papa told her it was because she
knew no better, and had never seen the parrots in the East
Indian Islands. Yesterday we all went to church. Carlo came
too, and when we got to the porch, Papa put up his hand, and
said, 'Prayers, sir!' and Carlo lay down and stayed there
till we came out. Papa says that he used to do so when he
was going to say prayers on board ship, and that Carlo
always lay quietly on deck till the service was over. Before
we went to church Papa gave me a little parcel sealed up, to
put in the plate. I asked him what it was, and he said it
was a thankoffering. Before one of the prayers the clergyman
said something. I don't quite remember the words, but it
began, 'A sailor desires to thank GOD--' and oh! I
_knew_ who it was, and I squeezed his hand very tight, and I
tried to pray every word of that prayer, only once I began
to think of the island--but I _did_ try! And indeed I do try
to be very, very thankful, for I am so very happy! Papa got
a letter from Barker this morning, and we are going out to
choose him a wedding present. He sent a photograph of the
girl he is going to marry, and I was rather disappointed,
for I thought she would be very lovely, only, perhaps,
rather sad-looking; but she doesn't look very pretty, and is
sitting in rather a vulgar dress, with a photograph book in
her hand. Her dress is tartan, and queer-looking about the
waist, you know, like Nurse's, and it is coloured in the
picture, and her brooch is gilt. Papa laughs, and says
Barker likes colour, as he does; and he says he thinks she
has a nice face, and he knows she is very good, and very
fond of Barker, and that Barker thinks her beautiful. He
didn't write before he went to see her, like Papa. He just
walked up to the house, and found her sitting at the window
with his photograph in her hand. She said she had been so
restless all day, she could do nothing but sit and look at
it. Wasn't it funny? She had been very ill with thinking he
was dead, and Barker says she nearly died of the joy of
seeing him again. Papa sends you his love, and I send lots
and lots of mine, and millions of kisses. And please,
_please_ come and see us if you can, for I miss you every