re I could tell them this, father was himself again, and busy
comforting mother in his cheery way.

"Now, don't fret, dear, any more," he said; "the thing is settled now.
Besides, you know, you agreed with me in the matter at Christmas-tide,
when, seeing how Allan's fancy was set, I told you I thought of writing
to London to get a ship for him, so that no time might be wasted when he
finally made up his mind."

"I know, Robert, I know," she answered, trying to control her sobs,
while I, glad in the new prospect, was as dry-eyed as you please; "but
it is so hard to part with him, dear."

"Yes, yes, I know," said he soothingly; "I shall miss the young
scaramouch, too, as well as you. But, be assured, my dear, the parting
will not be for long; and we'll soon have our gallant young sailor boy
back at home again, with lots of--oh! such wonderful yarns, and oh! such
presents of foreign curios from the lands beyond sea for mother, when
the Silver Queen returns from China."

"Aye, you will, mother dear, you will!" cried I exultingly.

"And though our boy will not wear the Queen's uniform like his
grandfather, and fight the foe," continued father, "he will turn out, I
hope, as good an officer of the mercantile marine, which is an equally
honourable calling; and, possibly, crown his career by being the captain
of some magnificent clipper of the seas, instead of ending his days like
my poor old dad, a disappointed lieutenant on half-pay, left to rust out
the best years of his life ashore when the war was over."

"I hope Allan will be good," said mother simply.

"I know he will be, with God's help," rejoined father confidently, his
words making me resolve inwardly that I would try so that my life should
not disgrace his assuring premise.

"I must go in now and tell Nellie," observed mother after a pause, in
which we were all silent, and I could see father's lips move as if in
silent prayer; "there'll be all Allan's shirts and socks to get ready.
To-morrow week, you said, the ship was to sail--eh, dear?"

"Yes, to-morrow week," answered father bracing himself up; "and while
your mother and Nellie are looking after the more delicate portions of
your wardrobe, Allan, you and I had better walk over to Westham, and see
about buying some new boots and other things which the outfitters
haven't got down on their list."

As he was going into such a fashionable place as Westham, the nearest
county town to our parish, at mother's