Very lightly Sidney laid her hand on his arm, and the touch thrilled Randolph, though he was furious to have to acknowledge it to himself. "Have I deserved such a speech?" "I don't know why I'm talking of myself at all," said Randolph gruffly; "it isn't my way." "Life will be better to you than you think. It's a good world to live in. Don't doubt everything and everybody." "Ah, you have as yet had no disillusions!" Then, aghast, he recollected; and her tense cry once more came to his ears: "Teach me to forget! Teach me to forget!" "I have had a few," said Sidney very quietly; "but the world is big, and we are not meant to grow bitter in it." Randolph caught his breath. Then through the darkness came a shout, and the next moment the Admiral's groom reined up his horse by them. "Oh, Baker, is that you? I am all right, and we're coming home as fast as we can." Sidney's voice was brisk and cheerful. "Ride back and tell the Admiral I'm coming. I got stranded on a sandbank." The groom galloped off. All serious talk was over, and very soon they were in the hall, with the Admiral and the Major fussing round them. The Major had just got in, very tired and rather cross now that the excitement was over. "We thought your boat had got upset," he said testily. "We never expected you would stick in the mud." "I'm so sorry I have disappointed you," said Sidney; then she put her arms up round her father's neck, and gave him a hug. "You are not sorry to see me back again, are you, dad?" Her father laid his hand caressingly on her head. "I shall say my prayers to-night with a grateful heart," he said; then he looked towards Randolph. "Thanks much to you for bringing me back my little girl. I could not live without her." Then Sidney slipped away to change her wet clothes. Half-way up the low broad staircase, she stopped and looked down at the little group in the hall. "Make Mr. Neville change his wet things, dad. Uncle Ted's clothes will fit him. And we shall be ready for dinner in twenty minutes." The belated dinner was served at half-past ten, and it was a cheerful meal. Afterwards, in the drawing-room, Randolph bade Sidney good-bye. "Shall we never meet again?" she exclaimed, as she laid her hand in his, and felt the emphasis of his words. "I don't like to make friends and lose them so quickly. Won't you be in these parts again before you sail?" He shook his head. "If I go, I go next week. Miss Urquhart, I shall be a lonely man out there. Will you write me a line occasionally? May I write to you? Just to keep up our friendship, which I trust we have started." "I shall like to hear from you how you are getting on, and will certainly answer your letters," responded Sidney gravely.