Captain Brown was not an old man, yet in his fine strong face there were deep lines traced by twenty years on the sea. Ten years on the bridge basking in the sun, facing storm and danger had told their tale. He was in the employ of a great navigation company whose ships went to the ends of the earth for trade. He had built this home-nest for wife and child, to which and to whom he could set the compass of his heart from any port and on any sea. Three years ago wife and child had taken passage over the eternal sea. Now he came back only occasionally, between trips. His housekeeper always kept the house as nearly as possible like it was when wife and child were there. "I have a week, perhaps ten days ashore," explained Captain Brown next morning at the breakfast table, "and I was just wondering what I could do all that time--when here you are! You are to remain a week. Tut, tut, business"--this to Uncle Gilbert who had protested--"you ought not to worry any longer about business. Aren't we making you good money? Oh, I see! Aunt Sarah; well, we'll send for her. Your father can't possibly be moved, can he, Miss Lucy?" "He's very comfortable here," replied Lucy. "To be sure he is--and you, too, look as though a rest would help you." "I have to get back soon--ought to be in Cork tomorrow, in fact," said Uncle Gilbert. "Well, now Gilbert, if you _have_ to, I've no more to say--about you. Go, of course; but Lucy and her father are going to stay with me. I'm the doctor and the nurse. You go to Aunt Sarah, for that's your 'business reason' and it's all right--I'm not blaming you--and in a week come back for your well brother." "Yes, that might do," agreed Uncle Gilbert, with much relief in his manner of saying it. "I don't like to impose on you--" "Look here--if you want to do me a favor, you go to your wife and let me take care of these people. In fact," he laughed, "I don't want you around bothering. The steamer sails for Dublin this evening." Out of this pleasant banter came the fact that Uncle Gilbert could very well go on his way to Ireland. His brother was in no immediate danger--in fact that morning he was resting easily and his power of speech was returning. Gilbert spoke to his brother about the plan, and no protest was made. So that evening, sure enough, Uncle Gilbert was driven in to Liverpool by the captain, where he set sail for home. No sooner was his brother well out of the way than Lucy's father called to her. He had been up and dressed all afternoon. He was now reclining in the captain's easy chair by the window. Lucy came to him. "Yes, father," she said. He motioned to her to sit down. She fetched a stool and seated herself by him, so that he could touch her head caressingly as he seemed to desire. "Where is Chester?" he asked slowly, as was his wont when his speech came back. "In London," she replied. "He could not come with us." "So--Gilbert said;--but I--want him." "Shall we send for him?" "Yes."