"I don't mean in school, but I mean--well, I hardly know; well, he knows a good deal about ship-building." "What's the matter with Gabriel ?" asked the Consul, quickly.
"Oh, nothing is the matter with Gabriel; he is all right--quite right.
Did you think there was anything wrong ?" At this moment Rachel entered the room, and Uncle Richard gave a sigh of relief.
Rachel saw in a moment that her father had begun to talk, and went over to the bed.
"Tell me all about it, Rachel," said the invalid.

"I should like to tell you the whole story, father; everything has turned out so well.

But I am not sure that you could bear the surprise--and such a joyful surprise, too." As she said these words she looked at him calmly.
The invalid began to get impatient, and Rachel took hold of his hand as she continued her story.

"You see, the ship was ready for launching, quite ready, and so away she went just at the very nick of time--without being burnt, you understand--out into the fjord; and now she is quite safe, and everything is all right.

Now, father, you know it all." "But what about Gabriel ?" said the Consul, looking at his brother.
"Oh, it was Gabriel who managed everything, because Tom Robson never came," said Rachel.
"Drunk, you know; drunk as a lord.