d.

"Rouse up there with that spout!" shouted out Mr McCarthy, who had at
once turned back to tackle the roof as soon as the alarm caused by the
earthquake had passed away. "Bedad, if you don't look pretty sharp,
there'll be no ruff to put it on, at all at all!"

"That's right!" said Mr Meldrum. "In the fear of a greater calamity, I
had forgotten the lesser danger! Do you think the roof will bear the
pressure on it?"

"Sure, sorr," replied the other. "It has borne it all this toime, and
the ould house has stood the airthquake; so, there's hopes that it'll
last out yit! It is more frightened of the flood coming up and swaping
it away I am, than that the wather'll do it any harm."

"Then we're safe, thank God!" said Mr Meldrum. "The river has not
swelled any more since I last marked it. It seems to have worn a
channel deep enough to carry off all the overflow from the valley,
without spreading further and threatening the house. I think we are out
of danger now."

"We've much to be thankful for, papa," observed Kate thoughtfully.

Frank had joined her within, after the last shock of earthquake, having
been engaged before in helping Mr McCarthy on the roof; so his prayers
had ascended to heaven along with hers, the two kneeling side by side in
silent worship and praise to Him who had watched over them.

Coming out of the house together, they had approached the spot where Mr
Meldrum was standing.

"Yes, my child, we have much to be thankful for," said he in answer to
Kate's observation. "You need not fear now, my dear," he added.

"I was not frightened, even when the earth trembled, papa."

"No!" said he inquiringly.

"No, not a bit," she answered quietly; "although, I confess, I thought
we should all be killed. I can't tell what sort of feeling seemed to
possess me; but I felt quite peaceful and happy, as if I were prepared
to die!"

"Ah!" said her father, "you had that peace which the world cannot give!
I--I--"

"I felt happy, papa," continued Kate, as if uttering her thoughts aloud,
"because I thought we would see mamma again--you, and I, and Florry."

"And didn't you think of me too, Kate; and wish me to be with you?"
asked Frank eagerly.

"Yes, you too," said she. "Don't you belong to me now?" Mr Meldrum
did not hear Frank's answer; for his attention was at that moment called
away by Ben Boltrope, who had come up to report that the roof had been
made snug, the water from the cliff now arch