‘Agnes, I have been longing to say that in case your memory should remain silent after this ship has arrived in England my mother will take care that you shall not want. This she will do as much for my sake as for your own, and out of her own love for you too. I have not spoken of this before, dear, because I disliked even to hint at any arrangements which implied that your memory might be wanting after so long a time as the voyage of this ship will take to complete. And yet I have also thought that it would comfort you to know that your future, should your mind continue sightless, will not be friendless.’ She took my hand, and whilst she caressed it continued, ‘It will come to your taking my place. When I am gone my mother will be alone, and my earnest wish is that you should be her companion.’ ‘Oh, Alice,’ said I, ‘you will live to remain your mother’s companion. Would that God permitted that one life laid down availed to save another’s....’ END OF THE SECOND VOLUME PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON [Illustration] Transcriber’s Notes Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in the original book; otherwise they were not changed. Simple typographical errors were corrected. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Alone on a Wide Wide Sea, Vol. II (of 3), by W. Clark Russell