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shoulder. She seemed to wear these little creatures as if they were some novel form of jewellery, and in point of fact they were very becoming. The bronzy velvet of the kitten’s fur contrasted with the yellower tints of her hair, and the little glancing bird was as beautiful as a sapphire amulet. Where the kitten had arrived from did not appear on the surface of things, but it could be easily seen that the paroquet was a “friendship’s offering” from the chief engineer, that official appearing for once in the full glare of day, and, careless of his nautical duties, standing beside the young lady with his usual modest air of silent admiration.

Arthur closed the shutter with a snap, shook his head, and returned to his correspondence. His English relations would hardly thank him for an introduction to all this menagerie, and he thought it safest not to attempt such a service. However, when he came down to lunch at the table d’hôte, where the news of his departure had already been discussed over the cocoanut curry, Alice looked so sorrowful, and even the undesirable passengers expressed so much regret at losing him, that his heart softened, and he felt quite sad at parting with them, one and all, from the chivalric old captain to the much checkered funny man.