"I was shipwrecked," repeated Mr. Letts, nodding.

"And had brain-fever after it through being in the water so long, and
lost his memory," continued Mrs. Green.

"It's wonderful what water will do--salt water," said Mr. Letts, in
confirmation.

Miss Foster sighed, and, raising the hand which was round her waist, bent
her head and kissed it. Mr. Letts colored, and squeezed her
convulsively.

Assisted by Mrs. Green he became reminiscent, and, in a low voice,
narrated such incidents of his career as had escaped the assaults of the
brain-fever. That his head was not permanently injured was proved by the
perfect manner in which he remembered incidents of his childhood narrated
by his newly found mother and sister. He even volunteered one or two
himself which had happened when the latter was a year or two old.

"And now," said Mrs. Green, in a somewhat trembling voice, "we must go
and tell your step-father."

Mr. Letts responded, but without briskness, and, with such moral support
as an arm of each could afford, walked slowly back. Arrived at a road of
substantial cottages at the back of the town, Mrs. Green gasped, and,
coming to a standstill, nodded at a van that stood half-way up the road.

"There it is," she exclaimed.