“Oh! I say, that reminds me. Do tell us the rest of the story of the elephant hunt, Mr Jackman,” cried Junkie.
“Not just now, my boy. It’s a long story. Besides, we are on our way to church! Some other time I will tell it you.”
“It would take half the romance away from my mother’s visit if the eagle were killed,” remarked Milly, who did not overhear the elephant parenthesis.
“Has your mother, then, decided to come?” asked Barret.
“Yes. In spite of the sea, which she dreads, and steamers, which she hates, she has made up her mind to come and take me home.”
“How charming that will be!” said Barret.
“Indeed!” returned Milly, with a significant look and smile.
“Of course I did not mean that,” returned Barret, laughing. “I meant that it would be charming for you to have your mother out here, and to return home in her company. Is she likely to stay long?”
“I cannot tell. That depends on so many things. But I am sure of one thing, that she longs to see and thank you for the great service you rendered me on the day of your arrival here.”
Barret began to protest that the service was a comparatively small one, and such as any man might gladly render to any one, when the arrival of the boat at the landing-place cut him short.