come in

ing out on the world of waters. Sitting by the smoky fire, watching, as she knitted busily, the iron pot of potatoes boiling for her supper and that of her grandson Ned, was Goody Dempster. Her face, as

know well. Sit ye down on the little stool as ye've set on sin' ye were a tiny toddler. It's kep'

o keep a stool specially for me. Well, you see I've come again to have another talk wi

great take o' mackerrow expected shortly, and the Fletchers they're on the look out; they're always that spry to

tack would be best to take with Ned, when she did get hold of the boy. 'Have you been

elf. Now, my Ned his heart's in the right place; it's his head as is the trouble. He has crammed hisself wi

oks of adventure constantly. Of course I know some folk must go out into the world, and do all the wonderful things; everybody can't be stay-at-homes for life. But the worst thing about it i

rth Pole, He'd ha' showed the way to it, straight as straight, and made it easy as easy. But seein' as time arter time men have giv' up their lives, bein' lost in the ice and snows, and still, to my thinking, if not to others, the North Pole is shrouded from

d only do their duty meantime. I was trying so hard last Sunday, in the class, to make them all understand that God Himself leads a

ttage. The potatoes bubbled gaily in the pot, and

ess, at last, with an effort. 'I've had it on my mind for some weeks back to let 'ee know;

save the sleepy old tortoiseshell cat by the fender, which opened one lazy eye,

urned chalky pale, and her eyes

there, if Ned wasn't ravin' away to hisself, in his sleep, and 'twas all about gettin' away up to the docks at Lunnon, and hidin' in some ship bund for the North, him and Muster Alick. It giv' me a turn, as I see it's done

ble we are in. It's too bad the way we are left to ourselves!' Theo in her excitement lost her self-control, and spoke with a bitterness not b

eved surprise. ''Tain't for me to pint out to one so good and gentle as our Miss Theedory tha

ddenly broke down, as much to her own astonishment as to that of Goody, 'that

It just says "thy father an' thy mother"; and that's all you and I've got to do with it. Let's look to our part, and

I am ashamed of myself. To think I should grumble at my own father, my good father, who was such a br

same's we've but one Father in heaven, who commands us so special to honour our earthly parents. And another thing, deary; them things as seem mountains in your young eyes seems but trifles to the captain's eyes. If the time comes as there's real need for him to i

de and self-sufficiency had earned its well-merited fall. Theo Carnegy's heart was too gentle and single in thought to harbour arrogant pride. Her quick r

cat, uncurling herself, rose up into an arch. There was a rush past the little window, and then Ned bustle

venin', miss! I-I didn't see you before.' Ned's cap was off, and he stood, colouring up, b

vely, 'I want a quiet talk wit

, mi

bird-hunt in Brattlesby Woods. 'We are all going across to the Vicarage to tea to-morrow,' continued the young lady; and Ned's relief changed to dismay. 'By the way, Ned, we shall be so glad

ed to go with Jerry Blunt to the woods on Wednesday, but his tongue was tied for Alick's sake. He could see that Theo was ignorant of her brother Alick's determination to carry o

said the clear v

ontradicted a louder voice. How well the last specious suggestion

arty, then?' said Theo, ris

d in an agony of shame Ned shambled out of the cottage, making belie

successful, and the boat came home heavily laden; though the bay and the encircling cottages were bathed in the cheery red light of a gorgeous sunset, and supper-time was at hand, somehow the spring of happiness had died out of everything. Ned hated deceit with the vigorous hatred of

d voice from within. 'Whatever's ado that 'ee

I be turnin' over th

ense was hearing-detected t

sked anxiously, as she heaped a plate with p

sher-boy, or perhaps Ned's conscience still troubled him, but the boy wa

moon's up,' Ned at length broke silenc

ained with salt water, but a valued heirloom for its warmth, she handed it to the boy. 'See you don't forgit to put it round your throat,' she enjoined. 'Neither don't 'ee forgit the bit o' a prayer, my boy, that I taught ye to say out on the deep by night. Folks is apt to think as pr

he muffler across his shoulders. To do the boy justice, he always did

rnin' of his lessons, that's sure,' thought Ned, with an uneasy recollection of the story of the rebellious outbreak in the schoolroom; for Alick had poured his indignant version of the same into the ears of his humble comrade. 'Happen he've got hold of a fresh travel-book.' Then Ned's thoughts easily slipped off to the subject of other 'travel-books' devoured by Alick and retailed to himself. He pictured vividly, as the 'Roarer' swished through the dark waters, a far different scene to that of the quiet Northbourne bay. A scene made up of dangers by land and dangers by