“I do not want to go back,” said Phronsie; “and they are no special friends of ours.”
Joel came up just then, and brought a steamer-chair for Phronsie, and put her in it. He smiled at her and at old Mrs. Benson, but Phronsie looked up in his face quickly. “Joel,” she exclaimed as he bent over her, “what is it? Is Grandpapa all right?”
“Yes indeed; right and sound as a nut,” he said quickly. “He’s deep in his book, and won’t stir for an hour you may depend.”
Phronsie leaned back in her chair only half-satisfied, as Joel gave her another smile and hurried off.
He didn’t appear at dinner; and Grandpapa, who always ate his three meals a day on shipboard, and knew that Joel did the same, thought it odd. “Ah, Joel’s knocked over,” he said with a laugh, “now we’ll take him down, Phronsie, for being a poor sailor.”
Phronsie glanced across at his vacant place with a sigh; but she smiled cheerily to the old gentleman, and the meal went on, old Mr. King being in the best of spirits, and the life of the captain’s table.
At nightfall, as little Mrs. Benson slipped off to her stateroom, Phronsie parted with her at the door. “Now I know, deary, the Lord means me to see my old home once more. Seems as if I could smell the green grass;” she grasped the young girl’s hands eagerly, and there was a world of longing in her quiet eyes. “O Miss Pepper! there’s no grass like the green grass of old England, and there’s no sun like the sun that shines over old England. I’ve been hungry for it, dear,” her voice sank to a happy whisper; “but now I’m almost there.”
“Yes,” said Phronsie, happy in the other’s happiness, and feeling a little of her own dreadful load of suspense lifted; “we shall be in port day after to-morrow if all goes well.”
“Only one more day after to-morrow,” said the little old lady with a sudden cry of joy, “and I shall see my two boys. Praise the Lord! Well, will you kiss me good-night, deary, and forgive an old woman for keeping you standing so long?”
Phronsie bent over, and laid her fresh young lips on the withered cheek.