Somehow the glad young voice, quivering with excitement, touched his heart in an unexpected and unusual manner.
It was pleasant to be welcomed like this--to feel that one person in the world at least was glad of his coming.

For Trent was a sorely stricken man and the flavour of life had gone from him.

Many a time he had looked over the steamer's side during that long, lonely voyage and gazed almost wishfully into the sea, in whose embrace was rest.

It seemed to him that he had been a gambler playing for great stakes, and the turn of the wheel had gone against him.
"Fred!" They stood with hands locked together, the boy breathless with surprise.
Then he saw that something was wrong.
"What is it, Trent ?" he asked quickly.

"Have we gone smash after all, or have you been ill ?" Trent shook his head and smiled gravely.
"Neither," he said.