s pervaded with the strong odor of tobacco; and I dared not
go near it for fear that I would meet his comrades, young officers,
or students like himself. I had heard, also, that he was not always
well-behaved, that sometimes he did not come in until very late at
night, and that often my father had found it necessary to give him a
serious talking to; secretly I greatly disapproved of his conduct.

But his approaching departure strengthened my affection, and caused me
extreme sorrow.

He was going to Polynesia, to Tahiti, almost to the end of the world,
and he expected to be away four years. To me that seemed an almost
endless absence, for it represented half of my own age.

I watched, with the greatest interest, the preparations that he made for
his voyage. The iron-bound trunks were packed with care. He wrapped the
gilt-embroidered uniform and his sword in a quantity of tissue paper,
and put them away with the same care one bestows upon a mummy when it is
relaid in its metal case. All of these things augmented the impression
that I had of the distance and dangers of the long voyage about to be
undertaken by my brother.

A sort of melancholy rested upon every one in the house, which became
deeper and more and more noticeable as the day for the separation
drew near. At our meals we were more silent; advice from my father
and assurances from my brother was the substance of most of the
conversations, and I listened meditatively without saying a word.

The day before my brother left he confided to my care--and I was greatly
honored to have him do so--the many fragile little things that he had
upon his mantel-piece; these he bade me guard faithfully until his
return.

He then made me a present of a handsome gilt edged, illustrated book
entitled, "A Voyage in Polynesia." It was the only book that in my early
childhood I had an affection for, and I constantly turned its pages
with eager pleasure. In the front of it there was an engraving of a very
pretty dark woman who, crowned with reeds, was sitting gracefully under
a palm tree. Under this picture was printed: "Portrait of her Majesty,
Pomare IV., Queen of Tahiti." Further over in the book there was a
picture of two beautiful maidens, with naked shoulders and crowned
heads, standing at the edge of the sea, and this was entitled: "Two
Young Tahitian Girls upon the Beach."

Upon the day of my brother's departure, at the last hour, the
preparations being over, and the la