* * * * *
It was in the month of February, a beautiful bright morning; brilliant
sunshine flooded the Rock of Gibraltar, and made the sea of a dazzling
blueness, whilst overhead the sky was unclouded.
A young lady who stood in a little terraced garden in front of a house
perched on the side of the "Rock" was gazing out on the expanse of sea
which lay before her, and seemed for the moment oblivious of two
children who were playing near her, and just then loudly claiming her
attention. She was their governess, and had the charge of them while
their parents were in India.
The house they lived in was the property of Mr. Somerset, who was a
Gibraltarian by birth, and it was the children's home at present. Being
delicate, the climate of Gibraltar was thought better for them than the
mists of England. Major and Mrs. Somerset were shortly expected home for
a time on furlough, and there was great excitement at this prospect.
"Nory, Nory, you don't hear what I am saying! When will mamma come? You
always say 'soon,' but what does 'soon' mean? Nory, you don't hear me,"
and the governess's dress was pulled.
This roused her from her reverie, and like one waking from a dream she
turned round. "What did you say, dear? Oh, yes, about your mother. Well,
I am expecting a letter every mail. I should think she might arrive
almost any time; they were to arrive in Malta last Monday, and now it is
Wednesday.
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