in the Islands, being brought up among—among Kanakas—it only made her more unhappy. And of course you can see what a dreadful idea it must be for a refined, lovely woman who adored her lost son;" Kat was enlarging with much pathos; but her hearers seeming unresponsive, she went on again. "For all these years she has brooded over her poor murdered boy and the unfortunate little grandson; and at last she became desperately ill and begged Carter to come here and by some means get possession of the little boy and bring him to her, for her to love and bring up and educate as is befitting for a child of their family." Kat was leaning on the back of Calista's chair now and evidently very much enjoying the narration of her tale.
Nevertheless, her hearers proved uncommonly cold to her artistry, and so she hastened somewhat to the finis. "Well, that is about all. Carter came here upon that errand, and knowing that we were dear friends of his brother, he came and told us the truth of the tragedy and pled with us, in the name of his grief-stricken old mother, to help him to get the child. Of course we knew that it would be useless to approach that dreadful woman, his mother; and besides, we naturally had delicacy, considering—everything—" Kat hesitated, evidently embarrassed. "And so the only way seemed to be to take the child quietly and escape to the Coast with it; and we agreed to help him and to take care of
