"Now, do not get excited," said Mrs. Harrington soothingly. "Just
come here and listen to me. Luke has behaved very badly. He has
been idle and stubborn on board the Britannia. He has been rude and
ungrateful to me."

She found she had taken the boy's hand, and she dropped it suddenly,
as if ashamed of showing so much emotion.

"I am not going to have my house upset by the tantrums of a bad-
tempered boy. It is nearly dinner time. Luke is sure to come back.
If he is not back by the time we have finished dinner I will send
one of the men out to look for him. He is probably sulking in some
corner of the gardens."

Seeing that Fitz was white with anxiety, she forgot herself so much
as to draw him to her again.

"Now, Fitz," she said, "you must obey me and leave me to manage Luke
in my own way. I know best. Just go and dress for dinner. Luke
will come back--never fear."

But Luke did not come back.



CHAPTER III. A SEA DOG.

There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his
heart.