"And now tell me of yourselves. My mother is feeble and unwell, you
say?"
"Never strong, but tolerably well at present."
"So Walter said. By the way, Walter is a fine spirited fellow. I
should like to have him with me if we take another African voyage."
"He would like nothing better, poor fellow. But what strange things
you have seen and done since we met! How little we thought that
morning that it would be six years before we should sit side by side
again! And Prince Rupert is kind to you?"
"He treats me like a son or brother: never was man kinder," said
Edmund, warmly. "But the children? I must see them before I depart.
Little Lucy, is she as bold and pert as she was as a young child?"
"Little changed," said Rose, smiling, and telling her brother the
adventures at the dinner.
As cheerfully as might be they talked till Edmund had finished his
meal, and then Rose begged him to let her examine and bind up the
wound. It was a sword-cut on the right shoulder, and, though not
very deep, had become stiff and painful from neglect, and had soaked
his sleeve deeply with blood. Rose's dexterous fingers applied the
salve and linen she had brought, and she promised that at her next
visit she would bring him some clean clothes, which was what he said
he most wished for.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65