And the next few days seemed like one long dreary night to Rosalie. Of the inquest and the preparations for the funeral she knew nothing. She seemed like one in a dream. The fair went on all around her, and the noise and racket made her more and more miserable. What she liked best was to hear the dull roaring of the sea, after the naphtha lights were out and all in the fair was still.
For, somehow, with the roaring of the waves the fishermen's song came back to her—
'So keep up heart and courage, friends!
For home is just in sight;
And who will heed, when safely there,
The perils of the night?'
And, somehow—Rosalie hardly knew why—that song comforted and soothed her.
CHAPTER XIII
VANITY FAIR
'Miss Rosie dear, can I speak to you?' said Toby's voice, the day before the funeral.
'Yes; come in, Toby,' said the child mournfully.
'I should like to see you, Miss Rosie,' said Toby mysteriously. 'You won't be offended, will you? but I brought you this.'
Then followed a great fumbling in Toby's pockets, and from the depths of one of them was produced a large red pocket-handkerchief, from which, when he had undone the various knots, he took out most carefully a little parcel, which he laid on Rosalie's knee.