"What will he think when he
comes back and finds you gone?"
"Tell him I have taken the advice he gave us in his sermon last Sunday.
Say I have turned my back on the world, the flesh, and the devil."
"How can you talk so, Robert! And the boys, too--you promised not to go
without bidding the boys good-by."
"That's true. I made my little nephews a promise, and I'll keep it." He
kicked off his shoes as he spoke, on the mat outside the door. "Light me
upstairs, Lizzie; I'll bid the two boys good-by without waking them."
She saw the uselessness of resisting him any longer; and, taking the
candle, went before him upstairs.
The boys--both young children--were sleeping together in the same bed.
The youngest was his uncle's favorite, and was called by his uncle's
name. He lay peacefully asleep, with a rough little toy ship hugged fast
in his arms. Kirke's eyes softened as he stole on tiptoe to the child's
side, and kissed him with the gentleness of a woman. "Poor little man!"
said the sailor, tenderly. "He is as fond of his ship as I was at his
age. I'll cut him out a better one when I come back. Will you give me my
nephew one of these days, Lizzie, and will you let me make a sailor of
him?"
"Oh, Robert, if you were only married and happy, as I am!"
"The time has gone by, my dear.
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