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 *captain. That Spode tea-cup that you admired so much was a part of a set that he brought back from one of his voyages. Yes, ever since I was a child I've longed for the sea and for ships. Once I almost took a trip from New York to Fall River on a steamer, but just at the last moment mother decided to go by train instead. I was tragically disappointed. And now to think that after all these years I'm to—to go to sea!"

"But, you know," said Ned, breaking the little silence that followed, "it wouldn't be exactly going to sea, Miss Comfort, for, of course, the boat would be tied to the—the land, and—"

"It would be for me," replied Miss Comfort softly. "I'd be living on a boat with the water all around me. And I could watch the steamers and the ships come and go. And there'd be the smell of the salt water all the time, too. Oh, my dears, I'd love it! It—it sounds far, far too good to be true, Mr. Laurie. Are you sure that—that everything can be arranged?"

Miss Comfort felt for a square of linen with a narrow black border and gently dabbed her eyes. Laurie felt it his duty to acknowledge that he wasn't sure at all, but he did nothing of the