"You have shown me that already, Mr Shank, and I hope you may be spared
to find something worth living for."
"Yes, if I had health and strength I should wish to assist in benefiting
those poor Africans of whom you have so often told me, and putting an
end to the fearful slave trade; but I cannot recall my wasted days, and
I must leave it to you, Mary. If you have the means to try and help
them, you will do so, I know, far better than I can."
"I shall be thankful if I can ever benefit the poor Africans," said
Mary, smiling at what appeared to her so very unlikely. "But I must
stop no longer, or Aunt Sally will fancy that some harm has befallen
me."
Mary wished him good-bye, summoning Mrs Mason as she went out.
On Mary's return to Triton Cottage she found Lieutenant Meadows, who had
come to wish her and her aunt good-bye, his turn of service on the
coast-guard having expired.