200 DOGGED JACK.

 "Has the sea given up her dead ?" came from his
 trembling lips.
 "0 father, father dear! are you not glad to see
 me ?" cried Jack with a sob in his voice, not under-
 standing what his father's words meant.
 "My son! my boy is it you indeed ?" cried his
 father, opening his arms; and in one moment Jack
 was folded in a long and close embrace. "May God's
 great mercy be praised said Mr. Gilbert at length,
 in that He restores one child to me whilst taking to
 Himself the other !"
 "Father, father, what do you mean?" cried Jack,
as he freed himself enough to look up in Mr. Gilbert's
face.
 "Don't you know, have you not heard, my poor
boy?" asked his father sadly.
 I've heard nothing; what of Polly ? speak, father,
speak," cried Jack in an agony.
 "Polly is dying," said Mr. Gilbert.
 The room seemed suddenly to reel round and
round with Jack, and he felt as if his senses were
leaving him.
 Take me," he said faintly, with a great effort.
 His father knew what he meant, and led him up-
stairs to the door of Polly's nursery.
 "Is that Jack?" asked a calm little voice from
inside.