o
run home, it would be rare to tell them all?' Then looking up
doubtfully at his companion, he added:

'I'm sure I ought to know you, sir; I beg your pardon, but I can't put
your name to you.'

'Where do you think you have seen me?' asked the stranger eagerly.

'I don't remember, sir. It's very stupid of me. Is--is anything
wrong, sir? Can I do anything?'

'Yes,' cried the stranger, with his self-control breaking down, 'you
can tell me in mercy the name of your father.'

'My father's name was Bernard Wyndham,' said Godfrey wonderingly. 'He
was killed in the West Indies some years ago. I say, what is it,
sir--you're ill, aren't you? I'll fetch----'

But the stranger had fast hold of him.

'Don't fetch any one,' he gasped, 'I want you, only you. Godfrey, my
boy, my son, look at me, don't quite forget me--you say you've seen me
before! Godfrey, believe me--don't say you can't believe me, my boy,
my only child!'

The colour rushed into Godfrey's face.

'I--I don't understand,' he faltered. 'Why didn't you come?'

'Because I thought you were dead, my little boy; because they told me
every one died together, and you too. Because when I got free and came
back they showed me the graves and told me yours was one.'

Still Godfrey held back doubtfully, though the pale eager face was so
strangely familiar.

'But why didn't you come home?' he asked; 'they've been so unhappy
about you, the aunts have. Why didn't you let them know?'

'Because I was a coward, Godfrey; because I never knew they cared for
me--why should they? Ay, and why should you?'

He had turned his head away, when he suddenly felt himself seized in
such an embrace as Godfrey generally kept for Angel and Betty.

'Father,' cried the eager young voice, 'papa, I'm a brute, I didn't
understand! I know you now--I half knew you all the time. Why,
they've talked about you all these years, they never let me forget. I
say, I mustn't make a baby of myself, I'm an officer, you know, but it
makes one feel as if one was standing on one's head to think of
bringing you home to them.'

And I don't think that Godfrey disgraced the King's uniform, even if he
laid his curly head down on his new found father's shoulder and hugged
him as he hugged his Aunt Angel.

[Illustration: Chapter IX headpiece]

CHAPTER IX

IN PORT

'If conquering and unhurt I came
Back from the battle-field,
It is because thy prayers have been
My safe