146 Good-bye to Beecham.

to, for it was likely to be the last
time we five should meet for a
long time. Harry, now a young
lieutenant with brass buttons and
fair moustache, was bound on a
long voyage, which would have
some fighting at the end; and
Lottie was to be married in a-
fortnight, and to go off to Australia ;
and Alick, too, was just starting
on a tour with his tutor, after which
he was to go to a great college in
Germany. But there was another
_ reason for our visit which I did not
know till I got there, though, I
fancy, mamma did. Grandmamma
met us with a very tearful welcome,