Page:The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.djvu/162

158 "In that case," returned the other, coolly, "I will tell you what we will do. I have bought a steam yacht, and she will be ready for sea about the end of January. You will marry my daughter at once, and go round New Zealand for your honey-moon. When you return and I feel inclined, and you two turtle-doves don't object, I will join you, and we will make a tour of the world.

"Oh, how delightful," cried Madge, clasping her hands. "I am so fond of the ocean—with a companion, of course," she added, with a saucy glance at her lover.

Brian's face had brightened considerably, for he was a born sailor, and a pleasing yachting voyage in the blue waters of the Pacific, with Madge as his companion, was, to his mind, as near Paradise as any mortal could get.

"And what is the name of the yacht?" he asked, with deep interest.

"Her name," repeated Mr. Frettlby, hastily. "Oh, a very ugly name, and which I intend to change. At present she is called the 'Rosanna!'"

"Rosanna!"

Brian and his betrothed both started at this, and the former stared curiously at the old man, wondering at the coincidence between the name of the yacht and that of the woman who died in the Melbourne slum.

Mr. Frettlby flushed a little when he saw Brian's eye fixed on him with such an inquiring gaze, and arose with an embarrassed laugh.

"You are a pair of moon-struck lovers," he said, gaily, taking an arm of each and leading them into the house; "but you forget dinner will soon be ready."





Moore, sweetest of bards, sings—

But he evidently made this assertion to his callow days, and before he had learned the value of a good digestion. To a young and fervid youth, love's young dream is, no