This, as we knew,
had led Fritz to make his search, the end of which had brought as much
joy to us as to the young friend who now sat in our midst.
When Fritz had told us this, and much more, we came in sight of Safe
Bay. He then took Ernest with him in his small boat, and left us to go
up the stream as fast as he could to Rock House, so as to make the
place look neat by the time we brought home our guest. The two
boys--for to us they were still boys--met us on the beach. Fritz, with
a look of pride, gave his hand to Jane, and I could see a slight blush
rise to her cheek as she gave him hers. He then led her up the path, on
each side of which grew a row of young trees, and took her to a seat in
our grounds. There he and Ernest had spread out a feast of our best
food--fish, fowls, and fruit, and some of my wife's choice jam--whilst
our burnt clay plate made a great show on the board, for it was set out
with some taste. We had a wish to show Jane that, though the coast was
a wild kind of place, still there were means to make life a joy to
those who dwelt on it, if they chose to use them. As for Jane, the
sight of our home, the style of our feast, and the kind words of the
boys, were things so new to her, that she knew not what to say.
"I shall tell no more than the truth," she said, "when I say that what
you have shown me is of far more worth than all the wealth I have seen
in the East, and that I feel more joy this day than I have felt in all
the days of my life.
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