the two little boys were up in the gallery. nat was burnishing the reflectors and overlooking the great she, whose wonderful individuality was taking a strong hold upon the imagination of both the children. rupert knew almost all pat's stories about the wonderful creature who slept all the day, but waked up to keep watch all the night, and he was never tired of watching her cleaned and fed; but the process lasted longer some days than others, and they would vary the morning's work by going out upon the sunny gallery, and calling out to the men at work within what vessels were in sight, and where they seemed to be going. and whilst thus occupied, rupert would generally demand that pat should tell him some of jim's many stories, many of which they would try to enact between them, making believe that the gallery was the deck of a ship, and that they were the officers in charge. pat's vivid imagination, inherited from his mother, made this kind of make-believe easy and entrancing to him, and rupert delighted in it, and in flourishing about and being the lord and master of everything and everybody. he was growing so brown and sturdy that it was a treat to look at him, and pat had increased in health and strength visibly since he had had a little playmate to romp with. before that he had been inclined to spend rather too much time in sitting and thinking. the sea and the rocks and the sky gave him many strange ideas; and there was jim, too, who wanted so often to know things that took a great deal of puzzling out. pat had liked all the thinking, being of a cogitative turn, but it was better for him to run about and shout and play more, and to sit and ponder rather less. the parents looked in wonder at him sometimes, remembering how all last winter he had seemed wasting away, and had fallen into a state from which it seemed as though nothing but a miracle could lift him.they could not be thankful enough for the wonderful change. the dreamy wistfulness which had lingered so long in his eyes, was changing now to something more boyish and healthy. he did not look as though he were always walking on the border-land of the unseen world. the romps and merry games with his little companion were fast making a boy of him again, and nat looked with hearty satisfaction at the change.
a merry rosy pair they were up aloft to-day, and their shouts of glee rang cheerily over the dancing water. eileen now and again heard them as she sat at her needle below, and she would smile and glance upwards, as though to try and see what the urchins were about. to-day was a glad one at the lighthouse, for jim had taken a decided turn for the better. now that the broken ribs were properly set and in place, and no longer pressing upon the organs they had injured, he was relieved of the worst of the pain. he had been able to sleep and eat better, and to-day he felt so strong that he had coaxed nat and eileen to let him get up and sit beside the fire in the living room, well wrapped up in blankets, and with plenty of rugs about him. the doctor had said he might do this if he felt well enough, as a change of posture might be a relief. the children had watched the move with great interest; but had been sent upstairs after a while to let jim rest and be quiet. the mother had told pat to go and look out whether any boat from shore might not be coming to the rock. it was a fine day, and the week had expired which was to bring the doctor for another visit. he might come any day now; and the children were delighted to go up aloft and play the game of "look-out man," as they called it.
there were a good many fishing boats out in the bay, and rupert had been certain that every one of them was coming to lone rock, till at last he had grown weary of watching, had declared that nobody was coming to-day, and had suggested another game at which they had played some time. when, however, they were tired of this, pat had gone to the rail to look over, and now he called to rupert with some excitement.
"come and look! come and look!" he called out, "i do believe that boat is coming here! look how she skims along! what a pretty one she is! how white her sail is! and doesn't she go fast! i don't know that boat, prince rupert. i don't think she belongs in the bay. yet she looks just as if she was coming here. shall i call father and ask him what he thinks? she doesn't turn or tack. she comes straight, straight on. oh, i do hope she is coming! perhaps she has got something for you on board."
"perhaps it is my papa come for me," said rupert, not looking as though he knew exactly whether he relished this thought or not, "but i'm not sure that i'll go away with him if it is. i like being here. i like playing lighthouse games. i didn't have anybody to play with me before. i don't much fink i will go with him if he comes. i fink i'll belong to you're father and mother. i like them very much."
pat, not quite knowing how to reply, and greatly moved in spirit in case this pretty white-sailed boat should be coming to rob them of their darling, hastily called his father, who came out into the bright sunshine, and shaded his eyes with his hand.
"it looks as though she were making for lone rock," he said, "and it's no boat from our bay, pat; it's a better built and better-rigged craft than we often see in these parts. it's a yacht's boat by the look of her, and a tidy little craft she is. well, well, we shall soon know; but she's heading for lone rock as sure as fate; and it's not the coast-guard inspection, neither. that boat belongs to some gentleman, i'll be bound," and the man's eyes turned towards the little fellow beside him with a look that pat understood in a moment. his eyes filled with tears, and for a moment everything swam in a golden haze. they were coming to take away his little prince, the darling little boy who had become the first object in his life. however should he bear to let him go? it did not do to think about it. if he thought, he would surely cry, and that would be a pity, for perhaps rupert would cry too, and it would never do for his parents to find him in tears, they would think he had been badly treated, and take him away as quick as thought. no, he must put a brave face on, and try to make the best of it. perhaps prince rupert would decide not to go, and pat could hardly believe that his word would not be law if he once boldly asserted his determination.
"shall we go down and watch her come in, and tell her how to make the creek?" he asked of the child, and rupert assented gladly.
nat, too, descended the winding steps with the two children, and as he passed out he said to his wife—
"i believe the little fellow's friends are coming for him, wifie. there's a boat on its way that doesn't belong to our parts. make the place as bright as you can, and set some food on the table. i'll make them welcome to come in if they have a mind. may be they'll like to see the place as their little boy has lived in these last weeks."
eileen's kitchen was always neat and trim, and she soon whisked out a bright table-cover, and a few bits of ornaments, to smarten up the place, as she did for sundays and holidays, or when summer guests were expected. jim still sat by the fire dozing, and scarcely alive to what was passing; but it was out of the question to think of moving him again so soon. there he was and there he must remain; but she cast a quick eye all over her small domain, and saw that everything else was in order; and then she went out to see what was happening outside.
the children were standing below on the rocks, for the tide was ebbing, and nearly low. the sun caught the yellow curls of the little prince, and made them shine like gold. he was visibly excited, and kept hopping from one foot to another, whilst pat held his hand in a close, protecting clasp, and kept him from slipping in his excitement, and falling amongst the wet sea-weed.
nearer and nearer came the pretty boat, skimming its way through the water like a white-winged sea-bird. it was manned by sailors in uniform; plainly it was what nat had said, the boat from some gentleman's yacht. "that's our boat, i do believe!" cried little rupert, as it drew near. "our men wear tings like that on their heads. i fink papa must have sent them to fetch me!"
pat's heart beat so fast he did not know how to reply; but there was no need for him to say anything; for just at that moment the sail came fluttering down; they saw in the stern of the boat a lady and gentleman, sitting together, looking eagerly ahead; and the next moment a cry went up that awoke an answering thrill in eileen's heart, and made the tears spring suddenly to pat's eyes—the cry of a woman's voice—
"it is! it is! rupert! rupert! my own little boy!"
rupert started at the sound of that call, looked hard at the boat, and then waved his little hand joyously.
"mamma! mamma!" he cried, and pulling pat by the sleeve, he added, in a tone of pleasurable excitement, "that lady is my mamma, pat, and the gentleman is my papa, and those are his sailors. i should have liked him to bring his soldiers better; but perhaps he has them on shore waiting." pat looked as one in a dream. he could not understand it—the child's calmness in the recognition which should have filled him with ecstasy, and the evident deep emotion of the mother. hardly had the boat touched the rock before the pretty young lady, with the sweet, sad face, had sprung out, catching at nat's outstretched hand, and in another moment she had come flying towards them, and sinking on her knees upon the wet sea-weed, she took the little one in her arms in a clasp so close that it seemed as though she would never let him go; and pat knew that the tears were raining down her face, and that the reason why she did not speak was that she could not for overmastering emotion.
when he looked up it was to find a tall, stalwart, bronzed man standing beside them, who put his hand upon pat's head, and said kindly—
"well, my little man, and have you been helping to take care of our little boy for us all these days?" and pat crimsoned to his very ears with shyness and pleasure.
"we are all so very, very fond of him, sir," answered the boy shamefacedly. "are you going to take him away from us?"
he could not help asking the wistful question, and as he did so he raised his face and met the glance of a pair of very kindly, though very keen eyes fixed upon him. the question seemed half to amuse and half to surprise the gentleman, who hesitated a moment before he said—
"don't you think that is what is our business to do, since he belongs to us, eh, little man?"
"i—i suppose so, sir," answered pat sorrowfully, "only we shall so miss him when he is gone!"
"well, well, we will see, we will see," said the gentleman kindly, and then he stooped over the child, and said in a voice which shook just a very little in spite of the playful ring in it—
"well, rupert, my little boy, haven't you got one word or look for papa?—or have you forgotten him altogether?"
"i haven't forgot—torse i haven't—but mamma frottles me so!" answered the little fellow, who was by this time trying to wriggle himself free from the embrace of his agitated mother, which had become too close for comfort. he seemed better pleased when his father took him up in his strong arms, and he laughed and kicked with pleasure, as he did when nat took and tossed him high in the air.
the lady rose from her knees, wiping from her eyes the tears which still seemed inclined to start, and putting out her soft hand to pat, she said very gently and sweetly—
"and so you are the little boy who has been playing the part of brother to our dear little rupert. have you got a kiss to spare for me, my little man?"
and pat felt hot all over with surprise and pleasure, as the gentle, beautiful lady bent her head and kissed him, and he hardly dared to kiss her back, lest it should be taking a liberty; but he remembered that queens had their hands kissed when they sat in state, and so he raised the white hand that held his to his lips, and kissed it reverently.
"shall i take you to my mother, madam?" he asked. "she has taken care of prince rupert. i only played with him and helped her."
"prince rupert!" repeated the lady, smiling. "who taught you to call him that?"
"he said rupert was his name," answered pat, looking up, "and we all know he must be a little prince—he looks so like one."
the lady smiled again, her tears were drying now. eileen had come forward by this time, and had heard the last words. the lady stepped forward, and held out her hands to the lighthouse-keeper's wife.
"i have heard of your goodness to my boy," she said, in a quivering voice, "how can i thank you for it?"
"i do not want any thanks, my lady," answered eileen, with her soft shy pride. "i would have done the same for any blessed baby cast up on our shores; and the darling has won his way to all our hearts—and it's a real prince of princes that he is—the bonny boy!"
"no, no—not a prince at all—only a very spoiled little boy, i am afraid," said the mother, with something between a sob and a laugh. "a little boy who badly wants his father and mother's care and training. but we had to leave him with my sisters when we were sent out to india in haste two years ago; and we have been there ever since. he was brought out to meet us as we came home; he came in my husband's yacht, which met us at malta, and we were to come home to england in her. the child had hardly more than learned to know us well before that fearful night, when we thought we must go to the bottom before we reached port. oh, how can i tell you the agony we suffered when we heard that the mast to which the child had been lashed for protection had been snapped clean off, and had gone overboard, and we running before the gale as our only chance, and expecting almost moment by moment to be sucked beneath the cruel waves! it only seemed then as though he had been the first. there was water below, and above the waves swept the deck every moment. i was lashed to another mast; but i was almost insensible from cold and exposure. i think i saw the light of the lighthouse above us as we passed half a mile off from it. i had just heard then that the child had gone, and nothing seemed to matter then, whether we lived or died. and then somehow we got round the headland, in the wake of a big steamer also in distress, and they helped us, though in need of help themselves, and at last we both weathered the storm together. but, oh! what days of misery those were when we thought we had lost for ever in this world the little son we had just received back after those long years of absence!"
tears of sympathy were in eileen's eyes; but she began to understand many things that had puzzled her before.
"oh, my lady, i am so thankful to hear you speak so. i was grieved that the little boy spoke so little of you, and seemed to care so little whether his own father and mother came for him or not. glad was i for sure that he was happy with us; but it didn't seem natural-like for him never to pine a bit for his mother. it made me afraid (you'll forgive me speaking so plain) that his parents had not cared for him as a child should be cared for, and that went to my heart; but now——"
"ah, yes, you understand how it was—we had only had him with us for a bare ten days—and part of that time he was sea-sick and fretful, and could scarce be made to look at us. it was only the last few days that he was his bonny bright self, learning to love us and know us. no wonder he forgot us quickly after that fearful night. i cannot think how he lived in those boiling waves. oh, i must see the brave man who saved him! the doctor who came over with us in our boat has told me how he injured himself in plunging after our darling. oh, you must tell us what we can do for him—what we can do for you all—to show our gratitude. i did not know how to believe it when mr. deering told us that our little boy was alive and well, and very happy on lone rock in the care of the keeper of the lighthouse!"
"bless him! he has been as happy as the day is long, and he and my pat have played like brothers, if you will pardon my boldness in saying so."
"nay, what is there to pardon; are they not brothers in the sight of our god?" said the lady, with a sparkle of tears in her eyes. "if you only knew what it was to me to hear how he had been cared for—my little boy, whom we were mourning as dead! ah, you must let us be friends after this," she added, turning her sweet quivering face full on eileen. "i cannot and i will not talk of 'rewards' to those who have shown themselves the best and truest of friends to my child, when only devotion such as he received could have saved his precious life. it would be a wrong to you and to me; but you must let us be your friends from this time forth. you must let us see what may be best done for your happiness and his. you saved his life by your skill and promptitude when he was brought ashore, as much as the brave sailor did who plunged into the waves to bring him out of the water. you must never think that i could forget that."
"oh, my lady, i only did what any other mother would have done——"
"ah, but you did more than some could have done, because you had skill and knowledge beyond what many have. the doctor said so himself. but let me see the sailor who saved my child. i must thank him, too. and he must never suffer for his devotion in risking his life for our boy. you must tell me what i can do for him. mr. deering says he fears he will never be strong again."
"oh, i don't know, my lady. he is getting on; but he hasn't tried to do aught but sit by the fire yet. but he's up to-day, and you can see him by stepping indoors. may i just tell him you are here? but i do not know by what name to call you?"
"i am lady st. john," was the answer. "my husband is sir arthur st. john, who—but you will hardly know that. and rupert is our only child. let me go and see the man who saved his life."
eileen was sadly afraid that jim would be very rough and gruff when the visitor came and stood beside him; but somehow—whether it was that illness had softened him, or that the influence of the children had had an effect upon him, or that the inherent sweetness of the lady took effect in an unexpected manner—anyhow, he was wonderfully gentle in his manner to both the strangers, and though he said almost nothing, his rugged face looked smiling and peaceful, and there was no rough turning away from the kindness that was proffered. not much was said that first visit; but a great many questions were asked both of the careys and of jim. the visitors sat down to partake of the simple fare provided for them, and whilst they ate they talked and asked questions. eileen, intent on hospitable cares, scarcely noted all that was passing, and nat was too straightforward and unsuspecting to see the drift of much that was said, and spoke freely enough in reply to sir arthur's various inquiries as to his past life, his qualifications, tastes, and pursuits. pat's health was also mentioned, for it had been for his sake that his father had ever consented to become an inmate of lone rock lighthouse. and whilst the elders thus talked, pat and rupert sat close together, and sometimes pat had to brush away the tears from his eyes, for he knew the parents would take their little boy home with them, and it was dreadful to him to think of seeing his little prince no more. rupert, too, was very much divided in mind as to whether or not he would "let himself be took away;" but pat loyally told him in eager whispers that he must "do as his own mother wished," and the tie of blood was beginning to assert itself when once the little fellow had felt his parents' arms around him.
but when the moment for parting came, and lady st. john saw the tears in the eyes of eileen, and the manful struggles on pat's part to keep back his sobs, her own eyes looked very dewy, and she turned and spoke quickly in a foreign tongue for several moments with her husband. then turning to the expectant group on the rocks, she said, smiling sweetly—
"you will see us all again very soon. i promise to bring rupert back to see you in about a week's time from this—at least if we get a fine day. so cheer up, my brave little pat, and do not cry, mrs. carey. you shall see your nursling again very soon; and i hope we may have pleasant news for you by that time."
then the lady stepped into the boat, nat took the boy from his wife's arms and handed him to his mother, half eager and half reluctant to go, sir arthur followed, and the men pushed off, whilst pat watched through a mist of tears the disappearance of his fairy prince, who seemed for the moment to have vanished out of his life for ever.
