* * * * *

“Missus, de sun hab done gone, now, de chllens hab all gone from school long ago, and Bingo’s two eyes hab clean gone stretched, looking up de road for de Sea-flower,” remarked that worthy, putting his ebony head in at the drawing-room door, where sat Mrs. Grosvenor, so busily engaged making those garments for her husband, which she feared would be needed, alas! so soon that she had not perceived the hours were gliding on apace, and that it was long past the time when Sea-flower usually came tripping in from school to receive her evening kiss, and to tell over the events of the day.

“Has Harry come home yet? she may have gone up to the High School to meet him.”

“Yes, missus, massa Harry here a long time.”

“Then you had better go and see what keeps her; you will probably meet her on the way, and if it is not too late you may take the horse and give her a ride.”

“Yes, missus;” and the jet pony, so many shades lighter than his driver, was soon lost in the distance.

The last faint shadows of the sun had died away, the moon had risen in all her queenly beauty, and Vingo had not returned; neither had anything been seen of the Sea-flower since she had left home early in the afternoon; and now Mrs. Grosvenor really began to feel anxious, as she stood looking out into the night; for, although the child was accustomed to stroll about the fields in search of wild flowers, whenever she liked, she had never before stayed away so long.

“Husband, had you not better go and see what has become of her?  I cannot think what keeps them.”

“It is a mystery; but give yourself no uneasiness; I’ll be bound the child has made a safe harbor somewhere.  She usually has a look-out aloft.”

“Ah! there they come, under a full press of sail!” cried Harry, who loved well to imitate the nautical phrases of his father.  “Does she not make a grand figure-head!”

“Figure-head!” exclaimed Vingo; “I am tinking, young massa, if dis ’ere head ob mine had not been made so solid like, ’spressly for figuring, dat it been a powerful time afore you cotch sight ob dis bit ob fly-away again.  De good Lord be praised! but if I don’t tink little missy so filled wid what de angels libs on dat she make use ob de shadow ob dar wings to take herself away ober dose yar commons!  It make me smile to tink how dat old Ingin look at Sea-flower, as if de sun was puttin’ out his eyes.”

“Why, my child, you surely have not been out to Quady’s hut! it is a long way.”

“Ha! a fast sailor, always has a fair breeze; dropped anchor in the best harbor in these parts!  But what’s this? colors half-mast?” exclaimed the captain, as he caught sight of a little pouch, woven together of bright colored basket stuff, slung over her shoulder; a little drab paw, darting from out its deepest recesses in pursuit of a tantalizing curl, soon explains how matters stand, and a voice of the greatest feline sweetness is heard in reply to divers catlike salutations, proceeding from the adjoining apartment.