"Miss Louise she hasn't come yet, Marse Ed'ard," he said, "and de
steamah'll be startin' fo' long. I don' know whar to go to look her up, so
please excuse me for rousin' ye, sah."

"Hasn't come yet, do you say, Ben? and the vessel about to sail?"
exclaimed Edward in dismay, springing from his berth to open the door.
"Why, yes," looking at his watch, "there's barely half an hour left, and I
don't see what we can do."

"No time now fo' me to go an' hunt up Miss Louise, Marse Ed'ard? Ise berry
sorry, sah, dat I didn't come soonah to ax you 'bout it, but I didn't like
to 'sturb you," said Ben, looking much distressed.

"Never mind, Ben," Edward answered kindly, "you couldn't have gone for
her, because she gave me no address, and I have not the least idea where
to send for her."

"Den what am to be done, sah?"

"We will have to sail without her. I could not think of asking my sister
to wait for the next steamer," Edward said, more as if thinking aloud than
talking to Ben.

The latter bowed respectfully and withdrew, but only to come hurrying back
the next moment with a telegram from Virginia.

"Mother taken suddenly ill. Remains with me. Send luggage to No. ----
street."