angry, to send me away. I ought, I know it now, to have waited, for
they would have written to my aunt. But I was horribly frightened,
and I couldn't bear to think of never seeing him again, and he came
and comforted me, and said he would take me to Mrs. Houghton, the
kind lady who was staying in the Ninon, and they would make it all
square for me--and then--oh! it was very sweet--but I never knew that
we were sailing away to Jersey to be married! I knew it was very
dreadful without any one's leave, but it was so noble of him to take
the poor little governess and defend her, and it wasn't as if my
mother had been alive. I didn't know Aunt Ursel then as I did
afterwards. And Mrs. Houghton said there was nothing else to be
done.'

'O don't leave off, mother. Do tell me. How long did you have him?'

'Six weeks then--and afterwards one fortnight at Dieppe. He was not
free. He had an old uncle, General Egremont, who was sick and hot-
tempered, and he was obliged to keep everything secret from him, and
therefore from everybody else. And so I was to live at Dieppe, while
he went out to take care of his uncle, and you know--you know--'

'Yes, I know, dear mother. But I am sure he was saving somebody
else, and it was a noble death! And I know how Aunt Ursel came to
Dieppe, and how I--your own little Frenchwoman--came to take care of
you. And haven't we been jolly without any of these fine relations
that never looked after you all this time? Besides, you know he is
very likely to be on a lonely coral island, and will come home yet.
I often think he is.'

'My dear child, I have been happier than I deserved,' said Alice