* * * *

"Missus, de sun hab done gone, now, de chllens hab all gone from school
long ago, and Bingo's two eyes hab clean gone stretched, looking up de
road for de Sea-flower," remarked that worthy, putting his ebony head in
at the drawing-room door, where sat Mrs. Grosvenor, so busily engaged
making those garments for her husband, which she feared would be needed,
alas! so soon that she had not perceived the hours were gliding on
apace, and that it was long past the time when Sea-flower usually came
tripping in from school to receive her evening kiss, and to tell over
the events of the day.

"Has Harry come home yet? she may have gone up to the High School to
meet him."

"Yes, missus, massa Harry here a long time."

"Then you had better go and see what keeps her; you will probably meet
her on the way, and if it is not too late you may take the horse and
give her a ride."

"Yes, missus;" and the jet pony, so many shades lighter than his driver,
was soon lost in the distance.

The last faint shadows of the sun had died away, the moon had risen in
all her queenly beauty, and Vingo had not returned; neither had anything
been seen of the Sea-flower since she had left home early in the
afternoon; and now Mrs. Grosvenor really began to feel anxious, as she
stood looking out into the night; for, although the child was accustomed
to stroll about the fields in search of wild flowers, whenever she
liked, she had never before stayed away so long.

"Husband, had you not better go and see what has become of her? I cannot
think what keeps them."

"It is a mystery; but give yourself no uneasiness; I'll be bound the
child has made a safe harbor somewhere. She usually has a
look-out aloft."

"Ah! there they come, under a full press of sail!" cried Harry, who
loved well to imitate the nautical phrases of his father. "Does she not
make a grand figure-head!"

"Figure-head!" exclaimed Vingo; "I am tinking, young massa, if dis 'ere
head ob mine had not been made so solid like, 'spressly for figuring,
dat it been a powerful time afore you cotch sight ob dis bit ob
fly-away again. De good Lord be praised! but if I don't tink little
missy so filled wid what de angels libs on dat she make use ob de shadow
ob dar wings to take herself away ober dose yar commons! It make me
smile to tink how dat old Ingin look at Sea-flower, as if de sun was
puttin' out his eyes."

"Why, my child, you surely have not been out