Timpey was running by my side, her little hand in mine, and I could not bear to think how dull we should be when she was gone.

‘Why, it’s surely Mr. Davis,’ said my grandfather, as he rose to meet the old gentleman.

‘Yes,’ said he, ’it is Mr. Davis; and I suppose you can guess what I’ve come for.’

‘Not to take our little sunbeam, sir,’ said my grandfather, taking Timpey in his arms.  ’You never mean to say you’re going to take her away?’

‘Wait a bit,’ said the old gentleman, sitting down and fumbling in his pocket; ’wait until you’ve heard this letter, and then see what you think about her going.’

And he began to read as follows:  MY DEAR SIR,—­I am almost over powered with joy by the news received by telegram an hour ago.  We had heard of the loss of the Victory, and were mourning for our little darling as being amongst the number of those drowned.  Her mother has been quite crushed by her loss, and has been dangerously ill ever since the sad intelligence reached us.

    ’Need I tell you what our feelings were
    when we suddenly heard that our dear child
    was alive, and well and happy!

’We shall sail by the next steamer for England, to claim our little darling.  My wife is hardly strong enough to travel this week, or we should come at once.  A thousand thanks to the brave men who saved our little girl.  I shall hope soon to be able to thank them myself.  My heart is too full to write much to-day.

’Our child was travelling home under the care of a friend, as we wished her to leave India before the hot weather set in, and I was not able to leave for two months.  This accounts for the name Villiers not being on the list of passengers on board the Victory.

’Thanking you most sincerely for all your
efforts to let us know of our child’s safety,
’I remain, yours very truly,

‘EDWARD VILLIERS.’

‘Now,’ said the old gentleman, looking at me, and laughing, though I saw a tear in his eye, ‘won’t you let them have her?’

‘Well, to be sure,’ said my grandfather, ’what can one say after that?  Poor things, how pleased they are!

‘Timpey,’ I said, taking the little girl on my knee, ’who do you think is coming to see you?  Your mother is coming—­coming to see little Timpey!’

The child looked earnestly at me; she evidently had not quite forgotten the name.  She opened her blue eyes wider than usual, and looked very thoughtful for a minute or two.  Then she nodded her head very wisely, and said,—­

‘Dear mother coming to see Timpey?’

‘Bless her!’ said the old gentleman, stroking her fair little head; ’she seems to know all about it.’

Then we sat down to breakfast; and whilst we were eating it, old Mr. Davis turned to me, and asked if I had read the little piece of paper.

‘Yes, sir,’ said my grandfather, ‘indeed we have read it;’ and he told him about Jem Millar, and what he had said to me that last morning.  ’And now,’ said my grandfather, ’I wish, if you’d be so kind, you would tell me how to get on the Rock, for I’m on the sand now; there’s no doubt at all about it, and I’m afraid, as you said the last time you were here, that it won’t stand the storm.’