"Oh Phil, dear Phil, is it really you? And can you ever forgive me—me that have been so bad?" whispered Tad brokenly.
"Hush, dear old man; I know the temptation was a big one to you, and what you done's all forgiven—be sure of that."
"But how did you find me?" inquired Tad.
"Oh, I knowed what you'd always thought of doin'," answered Phil, "and so we come straight here to Granville in one of the house-waggons, and I ran down to the quay to see if I could find the 'Stormy Petrel,' feelin' sure you'd make for her if she was in port. But Tad," continued Phil, "where's baby Victor? Is he down in the cabin? Marie's here, half mad at losin' him."
Tad's face fell.
"He's very ill, Phil; he's had to be took to the hospital; his chest is awful bad, I'm afeared."
At this Phil turned away from his friend, and stepped off the boat on to the quay to tell Marie this sad news, for she was standing there waiting to hear about the child. The tears welled up in her dark eyes as Phil spoke, but she said nothing, only glancing reproachfully towards Tad ere she turned and went into the town, bending her steps towards the hospital where the little one was lying.
While Tad stood sadly watching her out of sight, he presently saw coming slowly along by the water side good old Mother Sophie. Leaping on shore, he ran to meet her.
"Dear Mother Sophie," he cried, "I have been the most wicked, thankless boy that ever lived, to leave you as I did, after all your goodness. But I am sorry, and oh, I—"
"If you are sorry for having made us so anxious, child, I pardon you. But tell me, Edouard, where is baby Victor?"