once started for London. As he stood on the deck of the steamer he
heard an imbecile chuckle in his ear. It was the simple old
clergyman: "You are going to London to join the Church, John; Golly
is going there, too, as hospital nurse. There's a pair of you!
He! he! Look after her, John, and protect her Manx simplicity."
Before John could recover himself, Golly was at his side executing
the final steps of a "cellar-door flap jig" to the light-hearted
refrain:--


"We are a simple family--we are--we are--we are!"


And even as her pure young voice arose above the screams of the
departure whistle, she threw a double back-somersault on the
quarterdeck, cleverly alighting on the spikes of the wheel before
the delighted captain.

"Jingle my electric bells," be said, looking at the bright young
thing, "but you're a regular minx--"

"I beg your pardon," interrupted John Gale, with a quick flush.

"I mean a regular MANX," said the captain hurriedly.

A singular paleness crossed the deeply religious face of John. As
the vessel rose on the waves, he passed his hand hurriedly first
across his brows and then over his high-buttoned clerical
waistcoat, that visible sign of a devoted ascetic life! Then
murmuring in his low, deep voice, "Brandy, steward," he disappeared