You will try; won't you, Ralph ?" "I will indeed, mother." Mr.Penfold did his best to keep up the spirits of all of the party when they parted on board the packet; but Mrs.Conway quite broke down at last.

Mabel cried unrestrainedly, and his own eyes had a suspicious moisture in them as he shook hands with Ralph.

Fortunately they had arrived a little late at the wharf, and the partings were consequently cut short.

The bell rang, and all the visitors were hurried ashore; then the hawsers were thrown off and the sails hoisted.

As long as the party remained in sight Ralph stood on the stern waving his handkerchief to them; then, having removed the traces of tears from his cheeks, he turned to look at what was going on around him.
The packet was a brig of about two hundred tons, and she carried about twenty passengers, of whom fully half Ralph judged by their appearance to be military men.