"Marster," said Joe, in his extreme anxiety, "I hopes you'll pardon the liberty, sir; but has you thought to take money enough for you and the missis?"
"Plenty, Joe! Pendleton, Heaven bless him, has seen to all that," smiled Mr. Berners.
"And, Marster, sir, I hopes as you've made some 'rangements as how we may hear from you when you gets over yonder."
"Certainly, Joe. A correspondence that will be both sure and secret has been contrived between the captain and myself."
"And, Missis," said Joe, turning weepingly towards his lady, "when you're over yonder, don't forget poor Joe; but send for him as soon as ever you can."
"Indeed I will, Joe," promised Sybil.
"And, missis! please don't let little Nelly forget me, neither. I love that little thing like a child!"
"Nelly will not forget you, Joe."
And the little dog, that Sybil had insisted on taking with her, even at the risk of its being recognized as hers, now jumped up from her place at her mistress' feet, and ran and licked Joe's face, as if to assure him of her continued love.
At which, for the first time, Joe burst out crying, and sobbed hard.