'Conquered by a muffin

　　'Conquered by a muffin, by Jove!' called Josie after him, exulting inan opportunity to use the classical exclamation forbidden to her sex.

　　But Ted shot a Parthian arrow as he retired in good order byreplying, with a highly virtuous expression:

　　'Obedience is a soldier's first duty.'

　　Bent on her woman's privilege of having the last word, Josie ranafter him, but never uttered the scathing speech upon her lips, for avery brown young man in a blue suit came leaping up the steps with acheery 'Ahoy! ahoy! where is everybody?'

　　'Emil! Emil!' cried Josie, and in a moment Ted was upon him, and thelate enemies ended their fray in a joyful welcome to the newcomer.

　　Muffins were forgotten, and towing their cousin like two fussy littletugs with a fine merchantman, the children returned to the parlour,where Emil kissed all the women and shook hands with all the menexcept his uncle; him he embraced in the good old German style, tothe great delight of the observers.

　　'Didn't think I could get off today, but found I could, and steeredstraight for old Plum. Not a soul there, so I luffed and bore awayfor Parnassus, and here is every man Jack of you. Bless your hearts,how glad I am to see you all!' exclaimed the sailor boy, beaming atthem, as he stood with his legs apart as if he still felt the rockingdeck under his feet.

　　'You ought to "shiver your timbers", not "bless our hearts", Emil;it's not nautical at all. Oh, how nice and shippy and tarry you dosmell!' said Josie, sniffing at him with great enjoyment of the freshsea odours he brought with him. This was her favourite cousin, andshe was his pet; so she knew that the bulging pockets of the bluejacket contained treasures for her at least.

　　'Avast, my hearty, and let me take soundings before you dive,'

　　laughed Emil, understanding her affectionate caresses, and holdingher off with one hand while with the other he rummaged out sundryforeign little boxes and parcels marked with different names, andhanded them round with appropriate remarks, which caused muchlaughter; for Emil was a wag.

　　'There's a hawser that will hold our little cock-boat still aboutfive minutes,' he said, throwing a necklace of pretty pink coral overJosie's head; 'and here's something the mermaids sent to Undine,' headded, handing Bess a string of pearly shells on a silver chain.

　　I thought Daisy would like a fiddle, and Nat can find her a beau,'

　　continued the sailor, with a laugh, as he undid a dainty filigreebrooch in the shape of a violin.

　　'I know she will, and I'll take it to her,' answered Nat, as hevanished, glad of an errand, and sure that he could find Daisy thoughEmil had missed her.

　　Emil chuckled, and handed out a quaintly carved bear whose headopened, showing a capacious ink-stand. This he presented, with ascrape, to Aunt Jo.

　　'Knowing your fondness for these fine animals, I brought this one toyour pen.'

　　'Very good, Commodore! Try again,' said Mrs Jo, much pleased with hergift, which caused the Professor to prophesy 'works of Shakespeare'