ThroughouttheeveningJeremywasmoreandmorelonely。Hehadneverbeforefeltsodeepanaffectionforthefamilyandneverbeensoutterlyunabletoexpressit。Itwasasthough，duringthewholeyearhehad，byhisownwill，beenslippingawayfromthem，andnowtheyhadgonetoofarforhimtocallthemback。
Hesatonthefloorathismother’sfeetwhilstsheread“MidshipmanEasy。“Itwasallsocosy，theroomwassocomfortablewithallthefamiliarpicturesandphotographsandbooks，andHelenandMarydiligentlysewing，andHamletstretchedoutinfrontofthefire，hisnoseonhispaws——sixmonthsagoJeremywouldhavefeltutterlyandabsolutelypartofit。Nowhewasoutsideitand，atthesametime，wasinsidenothingelse。Itmightbethatinaweek’stimehewouldbesofamiliarwithhisnewworldthathewouldbeashappyasacricket——hedidnotknow。Heonlyknewthatatthismomenthewouldhavegivenallthathehadtoflinghisarmsroundhismother’sneck，tobehuggedandkissedandnursedbyher，andthat，atthesametime，hewouldhavediedratherthandosuchathing。
Theeveningcametoanend。Thegirlsgotupandsaidgood-night。
Hismotherkissedhim，holdinghimperhapsforamomentlongerthanusual，butatthatsameinstantshesaid：
“Oh，ImustremindEllaaboutthehalf-pastsevenbreakfastagain，shealwayshastobetoldeverythingtwice。“