I
wish you your health and much happiness till you return. Come, girls,
look after the dinner. Mary! where's Mary?"

"She went into the room a few minutes ago," said Emma, "but I'm here,
and can do all that is required without her or my aunt either. Come,
Percival, lay the cloth; Alfred, come and help me, this is almost too
heavy for me. Oh, here comes my aunt: now you may go away, Alfred; we
can get on better without you."

"There's gratitude," said Alfred, laughing.

As Henry had been in daily expectation of the summons, he was not long
in his preparations, and in a few minutes made his appearance,
accompanied by Mary Percival. They then sat down to dinner, not very
cheerful, for Captain Sinclair's unexpected departure had thrown a gloom
over them all; however, they rallied a little toward the close of the
meal, and Mr. Campbell produced one of his bottles of wine to drink
success and happiness to the travelers. It was then time to start.
Captain Sinclair and Henry shook hands with Mr. Campbell and the Miss
Percivals, and accompanied by the gentlemen of the party, walked down to
the beach.

"I can't bear parting with any one that I have been so intimate with,"
said Emma, after they were left alone. "I declare I could sit down and
have a hearty cry at Captain Sinclair's departure."

Mary sighed, but made no answer.

"I am not surprised to hear you say so, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "In
England, when we were surrounded with friends, parting was always
painful; but here where we have so few, I might almost say only Captain
Sinclair, it is of course most painful. However, it's only for a time, I
hope."

"It must be very dull to be on duty at the fort," said Mary; "I should
not be surprised at Captain Sinclair's not returning."

"I should be most exceedingly surprised," replied Emma; "I am sure that
he will come back, if he is not unavoidably prevented."

"Since he has expressed so much desire to rejoin his regiment, I should
be surprised as well as you, Emma," said Mrs. Campbell. "He is not a
volatile young man; but, come, we must clear away the dinner-table."

Mr. Campbell, Alfred, Percival, and Martin soon returned, for Captain
Sinclair was obliged to push off immediately, that he might return in
time to the fort, in obedience to his orders. Malachi and John had gone
out on a hunting expedition, and the Strawberry was at her own lodge.
The party that sat in the kitchen in the evening was, therefore, much
re