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A Theatrical Boarding-House in Sydney 87war. I watched it sink beneath the horizonwith an anxious heart. It wasn't asthough my family were going to someplace where there was a post-office ortelegraph-station. I was to depend onpassing ships for news of them. As amatter of fact, they were gone sevenmonths and the letters they gave to variousships for me did not reach Sydneytill after the family arrived there.Austin and I left on the Mariposa aweek later on a lovely tropical night.Many friends came to see us off, bringingleis in the island fashion, so that we werealmost hidden in masses of ferns and fragrantflowers as we leaned on the rail ofthe steamer-deck taking our last look atHonolulu. The town, embowered ingreen, lay in a flood of moonlight againsta background of purple mountains toppedby puffs of white clouds. From DiamondHead, that lies like a warrior under ashroud, to the shimmering mauve of distantWaianae the city never looked morebeautiful.The band does not play for the throughsteamers, so I thought regretfully that Iwas to ieave without hearing the Hawaiianfarewell song, "Aloha Oe," but Iwas mistaken. The ship was delayed forsome reason. It grew late; all the shorepeople had left and the wharf was desertedwhen two carriages drove in andstopped at the gang-plank. It was KingKalakaua come to bid us good-by. Hebrought his own band of singers, explainingthat he could not let me leave hisland without a proper farewell.We talked long that night, for I hadlived several years in Hawaii, and theKing had shown me many kindnesses. Ihad been able to bring him a message ata time of political trouble, for which hehad given me the Royal Order of Oceania.He spoke of that, and of my services indesigning the Hawaiian coat of arms andthe star of the Order, and said he lookedupon me as a Hawaiian, and if ever Ineeded help or advice while in Australiato call upon his charge d'affaires to theCourt of Hawaii, who was to be found inthe city of Sydney. With hearty goodwishes for a pleasant voyage he took hisleave. When the great ship slipped awayfrom the dock it was to the music of"Aloha Oe," the little group of garlandedHawaiians singing on till the islands fadedinto the shimmer of the moonlight, andonly the ghost of a melody whisperedacross the water.I found my quiet couple the first dayout. She was a little fair woman withmasses of yellow hair and an hour-glassfigure; he was a drab sort of man, veryquiet and devoted to his wife. I don'tremember their name, but we will callthem " Watson." They had my steamerchairplaced alongside of theirs, and wethree grew to be very friendly.We would sit out in the evenings on theupper deck, looking at the moonlight onthe sea, saying little, for they were a quietcouple; but sometimes Mr. Watsonwould prevail upon his wife to sing, beggingfor his favorite, a particularly drearyballad called "Rosalie, the PrairieFlower," which brought tears to his eyes.I noticed that he was very attentive tohis wife, liking to hold her hand, to touchher hair tenderly, and give her little affectionatepats. To my surprise sheseemed strangely unresponsive. She drewaway from him as far as possible, givinghim only the tips of her fingers to hold,and would dodge aside if he bent over her.Truth to tell, they were a dull couple, butI felt that I was following advice anddoing my duty, so I stuck by them.Fortunately, I am a good sailor, butpoor Austin was a limp rag. I hadbrought a little wicker chair on boardand carried him in it out on the deck inthe morning. One evening as I started tocarry him back to the cabin a young manstepped forward and took him out of myarms."He is too heavy for you," he said.Of course I thanked him and explainedthat Austin was not a very good sailor,but that I was sure he would be all rightin a few days.The young man appeared bright andearly the next morning to ask after " thelittle lad," and carried him out on deckfor me. Then, as Austin grew better, hebrought a checker-board and played withhim."Surely," I thought to myself, "he'sall right. He isn't making up to me."When Austin was able to run about, theman took him into his cabin and taughthim exercises. He made him walk so