As Mrs.Stevens buckled her shoes, she repeated: "I do so regret your going.

I shall be so anxious about you and so lonesome." [Illustration: Once more he bent over the sleeping children.] John heard her, but made no answer.

He was standing with folded arms gazing on his sleeping children.

Moisture gathered in his eyes, and he murmured a silent but fervent prayer to God to bless and spare them.
There came a knock at the door.

It was a sailor come to tell him the boat was waiting to carry him on board the ship, that the tide and wind were fair and they only awaited his arrival to sail.
Once more he tenderly bent over the sleeping children and pressed a kiss on the face of each.