“This time is at my own disposal,” he answered, adding with a smile.  “If the struggle had come, Mistress Royal, I should think of you, no doubt, but I should not give you a moment’s attention.  The pointing of the smallest cannon would at the moment be of more importance than all your affairs.  A besieging army can have no cry of ‘Place aux dames;’ therefore I shall not invite you to stay after to-morrow.  I shall even send you home.  Or, lest I should hurt your feelings too much, I will put it this way; I shall send your father home, and he will take you with him.”

Elizabeth laughed; and the conversation went on with its interest increasing, when all at once Pepperell rose, and held out his hand to her in farewell.  “I may not see you again until we meet in Boston.” he said, “but if I can, I will come for a moment in the morning.”

She was surprised at his going away so soon after his assurance of being at leisure but as after speaking to her father he stepped over the side of the vessel, she perceived the reason for his sudden departure.  His trained eye had caught what the distance had hidden from her, the figure of a man coming rapidly toward the shore.

When the General landed, the keel of the little boat he was in grated on the beach at Stephen Archdale’s feet.  With a salute to his commander, the latter sprang into it, and before Elizabeth had recovered her breath, was coming over the ship’s side.

The General walked on without turning his head toward the schooner.  Nevertheless, it is true that once he said to himself distinctly.  “The Yankee in me does clamor to know what they want of that fellow.”

[Footnote 1:  Copyright, 1884, by Frances C. Sparhawk.]

* * * * *

ROOM AT THE TOP.

  Never you mind the crowd, lad,
    Or fancy your life won’t tell;
  The work is the work for a’ that
    To him that doeth it well. 
  Fancy the world a hill, lad;
    Look where the millions stop;
  You’ll find the crowd at the base, lad;
    There’s always room at the top.

  Courage and faith and patience,
    There’s space in the old world, yet;
  The better the chance you stand, lad,
    The further along you get. 
  Keep your eye on the goal, lad,
    Never despair or drop;
  Be sure that your path leads upward;
    There’s always room at the top.

* * * * *

TWO DAYS WITH THE A.M.C.

By Helen M. Winslow.

It is a divine up-reaching instinct in man that forces him to climb the hills of science, unlock the mysteries of ages, and wrest from the natural forces of earth and air, their well-guarded secrets.  Is it the subtle workings of this desire for the mastery over mechanical agencies, this prying into Nature’s secrets, that leads us out into the forest primeval and gives zest to mountain climbing?