n and find my young mistress
there.

And there presently I found her, and a bright vision it was for me that
dull afternoon. She was a little maid, although she was a month or two
my elder. Her dark brown hair fell wildly on her shoulders, and her
slight figure, as she stood there gazing at me with her big blue eyes,
was full of grace and life. Her lips were pursed into a quaint little
smile as she looked at me, and before I could explain who I was, she
said,--

"So you are Barry Gallagher? How frightened you look! You needn't be
afraid of me, Barry; I don't bite, though you look as if you thought
so."

"'Deed, Miss Kit," said I, "and if you did, I'm thinking there's worse
things could happen."

She laughed, and then bade me get together her boxes and carry them down
to the boat.

Strange! Half-an-hour before I had been groaning over my lot. Now, as
I staggered and sweated down to the wharf under her ladyship's baggage,
I felt quite lighthearted.

In due time I had all aboard, and called on her to come, which she did,
protesting that the water would spoil her new Dublin gown, and that if I
sailed home no quicker than I had come, she supposed it would be morning
before she got her supper.

This put me on my mettle. I even went ashore for a moment to borrow a
tarpaulin to lay over her knees, knowing I should have to make a voyage
all the way back to-morrow to restore it. Then, when I had her tucked
in, and set the ballast trim, I hoisted the sail, and sat beside her,
with the tiller in one hand and the sheet in the other.

She soon robbed me of the former; for with the wind behind us it was
plain sailing, and she could steer, she said, as well as I.

"Keep a look-out ahead, Barry," she said, "and see if I don't get you to
Knockowen in half the time you took to come. I'll give you a lesson in
sailing this evening."

Here she had me on a tender point.

"Begging your pardon, Miss Kit, I think not," said I.

"Are you a seaman, then?" she asked.

"I'd give my soul to be one."

"Your soul! It would be cheap at the price."

"I don't know what that means," said I; "but if your ladyship will put
the helm a wee taste more to port, we will catch the breeze better--so,
so. Keep her at that!"

We slipped merrily through the water for a while; but it made me uneasy
to see the clouds sweeping past us overhead, and feel the sting of a
drop or two on my cheek.

I hitched the sheet a little closer, and c