proper pride about learning to dress herself. She was the youngest child, you see, and, at all events in her mother's eyes, a baby still. So she sat up in bed and pondered a little, and looked at the neatly-arranged pile at the end of the berth with a considerable amount of perplexity.

"Let me see," she said, jerking her brown mane out of her eyes; "I must fancy I've had my bath, and put on my stockings."

That part of her task was soon satisfactorily accomplished; one was inside out, it is true, but who thinks of trifles like that? Then came desperate struggles with tiresome strings and obstinate buttons, which so confused her mind that she put on her white petticoat underneath her flannel one; but all her clothes were huddled on at last, if in a queer fashion; and the little girl managed to scramble down to the cabin-floor without awakening either her mamma or those two stout old Sicilian ladies who were comfortably snoring in the opposite berth, with their heads tied up in silk handkerchiefs, and their chignons dangling on pegs

like Indian war trophies. In another instant she had slipped through the doorway, and was leaning over the side of the steamer, staring with delighted eyes at the new and lovely prospect before her.

The sea was like a huge lake; there was not a cloud in the sky. To the east lay the marvellous little islands she had had a glimpse of through her tiny window, and one of them, the most distant, rose up into a rugged peak, from which a faint thread of smoke was issuing. To the left of the group rosy streaks and gleams were spreading upwards from the horizon into the clear sky. The light grew brighter and brighter; the sea seemed on fire where it met the sky, and swiftly uprose the sun from the illuminated deep. Lina's lips parted with a cry of delight, and she stood looking and laughing for very joy. Children's memories are short, and she did not remember ever having seen the sun rise before.

"What pleases you so much, little meess?" asked a good-natured voice, close behind her, speaking English with a strong Italian accent.

The child started, and quickly turned her bright animated face towards the speaker-a pleasantlooking, sunburnt man, with a big brown beard and a cap with gold lace on it.

"Oh!" she cried, "it is all so beautiful-the sun, the sea, and those darling little islands. I never saw the sun rise before-did you? And please tell me the names of those islands, and where is Mount Etna, and when shall we get to Sicily."

"How many questions!" exclaimed her new acquaintance, laughing; “but I think I can answer them all. Come up here with me." And he led the way towards the steps leading to the captain's bridge. Lina drew back. "But we mustn't go up there," she said. "Mamma told me last night, when

we first came on

board, that no one was allowed to

go there but the officers of the vessel."

"Well! I am an officer of the vessel; so you see

I may take you there."

Lina danced with delight when she found herself upon the platform.

"How nice this is!" she exclaimed; "I did want