Now if you had left your wife at home, as Mr.Dawson has!" "I have done that," said Cardo, "but I am not at all likely to fall into low spirits.

I have never in my life known what that means; but a man, more especially a married man, must have his moments of serious thought sometimes." "Yes, of course," said the lady, with a considerable diminution of interest in "the handsome Mr.Wynne!" "You have left your little ones too, I suppose ?" "No," said Cardo, laughing, "I have none." "Ah, indeed, that's a pity!" and she took the first opportunity of joining her friend, and telling her of her discovery.
Cardo continued to look out to sea.

No, bad enough to leave Valmai, but "little ones"?
Would that time ever come?
and as he pondered, a fresh idea seemed to strike him.

It was evidently a painful one, it stung him like the lash of a whip, and clenching his hands, and muttering something between his teeth, he roused himself hastily, and joined a party of young people, who were amusing themselves with the pranks of a little boy, who, delighted with the notice taken of him, strutted about and gave his orders, in imitation of the captain.
"Oh, here's Mr.Wynne," said the little urchin, and in a moment he was lifted on to Cardo's shoulder, whooping with delight, and for the next hour, the laugh was loudest and the fun most furious where Cardo and his little friend were located.

Before long, however, the storm was upon them.