He continued presently -
"Once before I died, it was all I wanted. Just to have heard her
speak, to have seen my little girl grown into a woman, and the sea
was always there, and Oom Sam would always come with that cursed
rum. Then one day came Trent and talked of money and spoke of
England, and when he went away it rang for ever in my ears, and at
night I heard her calling for me across the sea. So I stole out,
and the great steamer was lying there with red fires at her funnel,
and I was mad. She was crying for me across the sea, so I took
the money!"
She patted his hand gently. There was a lump in her throat, and
her eyes were wet.
"Was it your daughter you wanted so much to see?" she asked softly.
"My daughter! My little girl," he answered! "And I heard her
calling to me with her mother's voice across the sea. So I took
the money."
"No one would blame you very much for that, I am sure," she said
cheerfully. "You are frightening yourself needlessly. I will
speak to Father, and he shall help you."
He held up his hand.
"He is hiding me," he whispered. "It is through him I knew that
they were after me. I don't mind for myself, but she might get
to know, and I have brought disgrace enough upon her. Listen!"
There were footsteps upon the stairs.
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