earance there; in other words, that I
wasn't wanted. I fancied that Lucy had begun to care for me, and so
Jack thought, I suspect, from what he said when I confessed to him that
I was over head and ears in love with his sweet little sister, and had
for her sake kept my heart intact, notwithstanding the fascinations of
all the charming creatures we met with in the West Indies. So in truth,
Murray, I am about as miserable a fellow as any in the three kingdoms
just now."

"I am very sorry to hear what you tell me," answered Alick. "We will do
our best to cheer you up; and our old friend, Admiral Triton, who
arrived a couple of hours ago, will, I am very sure, lend a hand in the
good work."

Terence, having unloaded his heart of his griefs, had considerably
regained his usual spirits by the time he had got up to the house, and
had shaken hands with Stella and the admiral. While he was talking to
the latter, Murray hinted to his wife not to ask questions about his
family or the Rogers', telling her briefly what had occurred. The
admiral immediately attacked Terence about the old story of the
portmanteau, and that led him into a whole series of yarns, laughing so
heartily himself at them, that Adair was compelled to laugh also.

"You must give me a cruise in the _Stella_ to-morrow, Murray," he said;
"she will be far the best style of locomotion for me, for these
mountains of yours don't suit me--and yet I should like to see something
of the magnificent scenery surrounding you." The proposal was at once
agreed to, and Stella said that she should like to go also.

Archie and Desmond now arrived, and paid their respects to the admiral.
Desmond was introduced in due form to the young heir of Bercaldine.

"Faith, Mrs Murray, he'll be after making a fine young midshipman one
of these days," said Gerald, patting the baby's cheek. "Won't you just
let Archie and me take him to sea with us next time we go afloat? We'll
watch over him as carefully as any she-nurse can do on shore, and teach
him all manner of tricks."

"I daresay you would," said Stella, laughing. "His nautical experiences
must be confined at present to a cruise on board the yacht now and then
in fine weather, though I don't forget the good care you took of Master
Spider on board the _Supplejack_. By the bye, what became of your pet,
may I ask?"

"Tom Rogers and I took him with us on board the _Niobe_. He was making
immense strides in civilisation, hav