Why did you pass a night at sea in this weather?
Is it a riddle?
Grieved to say my father not so well.

Best love, and please keep on shore.

MARY." At first Morris was angry with this rather flippant message; then he laughed.

As he had already discovered, in fact, his anxieties had been quite groundless.

The page-boy, Thomas, it appeared, when questioned, had given the inquirers to understand that his master had gone out to fish, taking his breakfast with him.