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When the last day came, he was in such spirits that he was found doing double-shuffles in corners, hugging the midshipmite, who was a little girl of about Kitty’s age, and treating his messmates to peanuts with a lavish hand. Will had her hornpipe, also, when the curtain was down, kissed every one of the other “sisters, cousins, and aunts,” and joined lustily in the rousing farewell cheers given by the crew.

A few hours later, a cheerful-looking boy might have been seen trudging toward one of the railway-stations. A new hat, brave in blue streamers, was on his head; a red balloon struggled to escape from one hand; a shabby carpet-bag, stuffed full, was in the other; and a pair of shiny shoes creaked briskly, as if the feet inside were going on a very pleasant errand.

About this young traveller, who walked with a sailor-like roll and lurch, revolved a little girl chattering like a magpie, and occasionally breaking into song, as if she couldn’t help it.

“Be sure you come next Saturday; it won’t be half such fun if you don’t go halves,” said the boy, beaming at her as he hauled down the impatient balloon, which seemed inclined to break from its moorings

“‘Yes, I know
That is so!'”

hummed the girl with a skip to starboard, that she might bear a hand with the bag. “Keep some cherries for me, and don’t forget to give Kit the doll I dressed for her.”

“I shouldn’t have been going myself if it hadn’t been for you, Will. I never shall forget that,” said Jimmy, whom intense satisfaction rendered rather more sedate than his friend.

“Running away to sea is great fun,

‘With a tar that ploughs the water!'”

sung Will in spite of herself.

“‘And a gallant captain’s daughter,'”

echoed Jimmy, smiling across the carpet-bag. Then both joined in an irrepressible chorus of “Dash it! Dash it!” as a big man nearly upset them and a dog barked madly at the balloon.

Being safely landed in the train, Jimmy hung out of the window till the last minute, discussing his new prospects with Will, who stood on tiptoe outside, bubbling over with fun.

“I’ll teach you to make butter and cheese, and you shall be my dairy-woman, for I mean to be a farmer,” he said, just as the bell rang.

“All right, I’d like that ever so much.” And then the irrepressible madcap burst out, to the great amusement of the passengers,–

“‘For you might have been a Roosian,
A Frenchman, Turk or Proosian,
Or an Ital-i-an.'”

And Jimmy could not resist shouting back, as the train began to move,–

“‘But in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations,
I’m an Amer-i-can.'”

Then he subsided, to think over the happy holiday before him and the rich cargo of comfort, independence, and pleasure he had brought home from his successful cruise in the “Pinafore.”