THE OLD GENTLEMAN’S QUESTION.

The next Monday morning Timpey and I went down together to the pier, to await the arrival of the steamer.  She had brought a doll with her, which Mrs. Millar had given her, and of which she was very proud.

Captain Sayers sent for me, as soon as the steamer came up to the pier, to tell me that two gentlemen had come to see my grandfather.  I held the child’s hand very tightly in mine, for I had felt sure they had come for her.

The gentlemen came up the steps a minute or two afterwards.  One of them was a middle-aged man, with a very clever face, I thought.  He told me he had come to see Mr. Alexander Fergusson, and asked me if I could direct him which way to go to the house.

‘Yes, sir,’ I said; ‘Mr. Fergusson is my grandfather.’  So we went up towards the lighthouse, Timpey and I walking first to lead the way, and the gentlemen following.  The other gentleman was quite old, and had white hair and gold spectacles, and a pleasant, kindly face.

Timpey could not walk very fast, and she kept running first to one side and then to another, to gather flowers or pick up stones, to I took her in my arms and carried her.

‘Is that your little sister?’ asked the old gentleman.

‘No, sir,’ I said; ’this is the little girl who was on board the Victory!

‘Dear me! dear me!’ said both gentlemen at once.  ‘Let me look at her,’ said the old man, arranging his spectacles.

But Timpey was frightened, and clung to me, and began to cry.  ’Never mind, never mind,’ said the old gentleman kindly; ’we’ll make friends with one another by-and-by.’

By this time we had reached the house, and the middle-aged gentleman introduced himself as Mr. Septimus Forster, one of the owners of the lost vessel, and said that he and his father-in-law, Mr. Davis, had come to hear all particulars that my grandfather could give them with regard to the shipwreck.

My grandfather begged them to sit down, and told me to prepare breakfast for them at once.  They were very pleasant gentlemen, both of them, and were very kind to my grandfather.  Mr. Forster wanted to make him a handsome present for what he had done; but my grandfather would not take it.  They talked much of little Timpey, and I kept stopping to listen as I was setting out the cups and saucers.  They had heard nothing more of her relations; and they said it was a very strange thing that no such name as Villiers was to be found on the list of passengers on board.  They offered to take her away with them till some relation was found; but my grandfather begged to keep her.  The gentlemen, seeing how happy and well cared for the child was, gladly consented.

After breakfast Mr. Forster said he should like to see the lighthouse, so my grandfather went up to the top of the tower with him, and showed him with great pride all that was to be seen there.  Old Mr. Davis was tired, and stayed behind with little Timpey and me.