hank you!"

"Very bad advice that. Promise nothing of the kind, Philip; but what
are you thanking him for, Kate?" said the cheery voice of the colonel
as he came in the door.

"Thanking him for Seymour, father."

"Ah, my boy," said the colonel, grasping his hand, "you don't know how
glad I am to see you. It is like one returning from the dead. But it
is late and cold and quite dark. Supper is ready, let us go up to the
Hall. I shall see the Naval Commissioners in a few days, Seymour, and
get you another and a better ship. The country is full of your action;
they 've struck a medal for you and voted you prize money and thanks,
and all that. I make no doubt I can get you the best ship there is on
the ways, or planned. 'T was a most heroic action--"

"Not now, father," said Katharine, jealously, throwing her arm about
her lover. "He shall not, cannot, go now; he must have rest for a long
time, and he must have me! We are to be married as soon as he is well,
and the country must wait. Is it not so, John?"

"What's that?" said the colonel, pretending great surprise.

"Sir," answered Seymour, nervously, "I have something to say to
you,--something I must say. Will you give me the privilege of a few
moments' conversation with you?"

"Seymour," said the colonel, smiling, "you asked me that once before,
did you not?"

"Yes, sir, I believe so."

"And I answered you--how?"

"Why, you said, if my memory serves me, that you--"

"Exactly, that I would see you after supper, and so I will. Come,
children, let us go in; this time I warrant you there will be no
interruptions."

The father and son turned considerately and walked away, leaving the
two lovers to follow.

"You won't leave me, John, will you, now that you have just come back?"

"No, Kate, not now; I am good for nothing until I get strong."

"Good for me, though; but when you do get strong?"

"Then, if my country needs me, dearest, I shall have to go. But I fear
there will be no more ships of ours to get to sea, the blockade is
getting more strict every day. I can be a soldier, though. No, Kate,
do not beg me. My duty to my country constrains me."

"Don't talk about it now, then, John. At least I shall have you for a
long time; it will be long before you are well again."

"Yes, I fear so," he said with a sigh.

"Why do you sigh, dearest?"

"Because I want to stay with you, and I ought to welcome any
opportunity to enter active service