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The delirium went off； he could talk quite clearly and comfortably；
and he used to lie listening； when David and I had our odd sort of
talks。 I believe； if you had been there； or we could have
strenthened him any way； he might have got over it； but he never
thought he should； and he used to talk to me about all of you； and
said Stoneborough had been the most blessed spot in his life； he had
never had so much of a home； and that sharing our grief； and knowing
you； had done him great good； just when he might have been getting
elated。 I cannot recollect it all； though I tried hard； for
Margaret's sake； but he said Hector would have a great deal of
temptation； and he hoped you would be a father to him； and Norman an
elder brother。 You would not think how much he talked of Cocksmoor；
about a church being built there； as Ethel wished； and little Daisy
laying the first stone。 I remember one night； I don't know whether
he was quite himself； for he looked full at me with his eyes； that
had grown so large； till I did not know what was coming； and he said；
'I have seen a ship built by a sailor's vow； the roof was like the
timbers of a shipthat was right。 Mind； it is so。 That is the ship
that bears through the waves； there is the anchor that enters within
the veil。' I believe that was what he said。 I could not forget
thathe looked at me so； but much more he said； that I dimly
remember； and chiefly about poor dear Margaret。 He bade me tell her…
…his own precious pearl； as he used to call herthat he was quite
content； and believed it was best for her and him both； that all
should be thus settled； for they did not part for ever； and he
trusted But I can't write all that。〃 （There was a great tear…blot
just here）。 〃It is too good to recollect anywhere but at church。 I
have been there to…day； with my uncle and aunt； and I thought I could
have told it when I came home； but I was too tired to write then； and
now I don't seem as if it could be written anyhow。 When I come home；
I will try to tell Margaret。 The most part was about her； only what
was better seemed to swallow that up。〃
The narrative broke off here； but had been subsequently resumed。
〃For all Mr。 Ernescliffe talked as I told you； he was so quiet and
happy； that I made sure he was getting well； but Jennings did not；
and there came an old heathen native once to see us； who asked why we
did not bury him alive； because he got no better； and gave trouble。
At last； one nightit was the third of Augusthe was very restless；
and could not breathe； nor lie easily； I lifted him up in my arms；
for he was very light and thin； and tried to make him more
comfortable。 But presently he said； 'Is it you； Harry？ God bless
you；' and； in a minute； I knew he was dead。 You will tell Margaret
all about it。 I don't think she can love him more than I did； and
she did not half know him； for she never saw him on board； nor in all
that dreadful time； nor in his illness。 She will never know what she
has lost。〃
There was another break here； and the story was continued。
〃We buried him the next day； where one could see the sea； close under
the great palm； where David hopes to have a church one of these days。
David helped us； and said the Lord's Prayer and the Glory with us
there。 I little thought； when I used to grumble at my two verses of
the psalms every day； when I should want the ninetieth； or how glad I
should be to know so many by heart； for they were such a comfort to
Mr。 Ernescliffe。
〃David got us a nice bit of wood； and Jennings carved the cross； and
his name； and all about him。 I should have liked to have done it；
but I knocked up after that。 Jennings thinks I had a sun…stroke。 I
don't know； but my head was so bad； whenever I moved； that I thought
only Jennings would ever have come to tell you about it。 Jennings
looked after me as if I had been his own son； and there was David
too； as kind as if he had been Richard himselfalways sitting by； to
bathe my forehead； or； when I was a little better； to talk to me； and
ask me questions about his Christian teaching。 You must not think of
him like a savage； for he is my friend； and a far more perfect
gentleman than I ever saw any one； but you； papa； holding the command
over his people so easily and courteously； and then coming to me with
little easy first questions about the Belief； and such things； like
what we used to ask mamma。 He liked nothing so well as for me to
tell him about King David； and we had learned a good deal of each
other's languages by that time。 The notion of his heartlike
Cocksmoor to Ethelis to get a real English mission； and have all
his people Christians。 Ethel talked of good kings being Davids to
their line； I think that is what he will be； if he lives； but those
islanders have been dying off since Europeans came among them。〃
But Harry's letter could not tell what he confessed； one night； to
his father； the next time he was out with him by starlight； how
desolate he had been； and how he had yearned after his home； and； one
evening； he had been utterly overcome by illness and loneliness； and
had cried most bitterly and uncontrollably； and； though Jennings
thought it was for his friend's death； it really was homesickness；
and the thought of his father and Mary。 Jennings had helped him out
to the entrance of the hut； that the cool night air might refresh his
burning brow。 Orion shone clear and bright； and brought back the
night when they had chosen the starry hunter as his friend。 〃It
seemed；〃 he said； 〃as if you all were looking at me； and smiling to
me in the stars。 And there was the Southern Cross upright； which was
like the minster to me； and I recollected it was Sunday morning at
home； and knew you would be thinking about me。 I was so glad you had
let me be confirmed； and be with you that last Sunday； papa； for it
seemed to join me on so much the more； and when I thought of the
words in church； they seemed； somehow； to float on me so much more
than ever before； and it was like the minster； and your voice。 I
should not have minded dying so much after that。〃
At last； Harry's Black Prince had hurried into the hut with the
tidings that his English father's ship was in the bay； and soon
English voices again sounded in his ears； bringing the forlorn boy
such warmth of kindness that he could hardly believe himself a mere
stranger。 If Alan could but have shared the joy with him！
He was carried down to the boat in the cool of the evening； and
paused on the way； for a last farewell to the lonely grave under the
palm tree…one of the many sailors' graves scattered from the tropics
to the poles； and which might be the first seed in a 〃God's acre〃 to
that island； becoming what the graves of holy men of old are to us。
A short space more of kind care from his new friends and his
Christian chief； and Harry awoke from a feverish doze at sounds that
seemed so like a dream of home； that he was unwilling to break them
by rousing himself； but they approved themselves as real； and he
found himself in the embrace of his mother's sister。
And here Mrs。 Arnott's story began； of the note that reached her in
the e