"Eh, auntie ?" "Hush, my dear," said Mrs Gilmour reprovingly, but obliged to laugh too in spite of herself, although she tried to hide it for fear Hellyer would think they were making fun of him; and she turned to him to say, "We expect the Captain, Hellyer, every minute.

Why, here he is!" There he was, most decidedly; and he soon made his presence known.
"Hullo, you good people!" he shouted, while yet some little distance off, as he made his way down the slope followed by Bob and Dick, "I hope you've got something for us to eat, for we're all as hungry as hunters." "Come on," answered Mrs Gilmour, "everything is ready, and Nell and I are only waiting for you loiterers to begin." "Loiterers, indeed!" retorted the Captain good-humouredly, as he hobbled along with some difficulty by the aid of his stick down the uneven path, "you would loiter too if you had my poor legs to walk with! Never mind, though, here we are at last; and, I tell you what, ma'am, that table- cloth there and the good things you've got on it is the prettiest sight I've seen to-day." "What!" exclaimed Mrs Gilmour.

"Prettier than the Roman villa ?" "Hang the Roman villa! I beg your pardon, ma'am, but the word slipped out unawares." After this apology for his somewhat strong expression, the old sailor was proceeding to give the reason for his condemnation of the archaeological remains he and the boys had been to see, when he noticed Hellyer standing by in an attitude of attention.
"Why, man," he cried, "what brings you here ?" "I've got a letter for you, sir," replied Hellyer, handing an envelope over to him, and saluting him in the same way as he had done Mrs Gilmour just before.

"Here it is, sir!" "Humph!" ejaculated Captain.

Dresser, opening the missive and running his eyes over the contents.