The crow had gone with Prudence. She had permitted him to go, hoping he would spread his wings and fly away. But no; he hopped sedately behind her, and when she turned he blinked up at her mildly. Once she took him in her hand, and flung him up in the air, for that was the way she and Leander had taught him to fly off home. Now Devil flapped his wings obstinately, then alighted on the ground near her. Two or three children stopped to gaze at him. Prudence asked a boy if he would like to have a tame crow, but he promptly answered that his cat would eat it. Thus it happened that when the _Scythia_ left the wharf that day, near a certain man and woman, who stood together on deck, there was a little black shape sitting on some luggage. One of the hands began to take up the bags. "Hullo! Where sh'll I stow the bird?" he called out. Lawrence turned, and his face darkened. But a hand was laid softly on his arm. "Dear," said his wife's voice, "let us call the crow our mascot. Surely you can't blame him because he won't forsake us." Then Prudence promised the man that she would pay him well if he would take care of Devil during the voyage. She glanced laughingly at her companion. "I couldn't give him away, he wouldn't leave us, and I can't kill him." Lawrence's face cleared. He put his hand over the hand on his arm. "Nothing matters," he said, in an undertone, "so long as we are together." CHAPTER IX. "COLD PORRIDGE HOT AGAIN." A small boy in a blue navy suit was running up the beach. The wind was blowing against him as he ran, and he frequently stumbled; but he didn't mind the stumbles. He was chuckling to himself, and, when he burst into the room, where his mother sat with her sister, his chuckle became a noisy laugh. "Don't laugh so loud, Lee," said Prudence's mother, holding up her hand. "I think I'm going to have a headache." But Leander did not stop his laugh in the least. He came up to the hearth between the two women, and stood in front of the fire; for there was a low fire,--"to cheer her up," Mrs. Ffolliott had said. "I tell you, marmer," he exclaimed, "here's a go!" Before he could further explain his remark the door opened again and Carolyn entered. She went up to her mother and sat down on a footstool by her, leaning on her lap. "I wanted to be with you, mamma, this last evening," she said. Mrs. Ffolliott felt her eyes fill, but she spoke cheerfully. "Where's Prue?" she asked. She stroked her daughter's hair. "Oh, she went out half an hour ago," was the reply. "She said she was so nervous she couldn't stay in the house; besides, she had an engagement with Leander. What are you here for, Lee?" She looked in surprise at her brother. "What you here for, yourself?" was the immediate response. Then the boy resumed his laugh. "Won't there be a lammin' s'prise on the _Vireo_?" he exclaimed. "I hope he'll think she's a ghost. But I got cheated out of my sail all the same, 'n' the wind's just whizzin' good."