'Yes, Polly,' said Vea. 'Mrs. Berkley is my aunt.'

"'He's a very kind young gentleman, miss. Is there anything I could do
for him, miss? I should like to do something so much, for he helped me
more than once.'

"Vea naturally looked a little surprised, for Patrick was so often in
trouble, that it was rather astonishing to hear any one praising him.

"'I don't think it could be my brother Patrick,' said Vea.

"'Oh yes, miss, that was his name,' said Polly. 'He told me his name was
Patrick.'

"'And what did Patrick do for you?' said Vea, looking much pleased.

[Illustration: THE ANCHOR.]

"'I was playing with Willie one day at the harbour, and young Dick was
showing me a great anchor some of the men had left on shore for a new
boat they were going to build, when my step-mother called from the
cottage door, and bade me take the ropes and carry home the drift-wood
she had been gathering all the morning. Dick said as how he was sorry he
couldn't go to help me, as he had to go out in his grandfather's boat
that afternoon; and so, after leaving Willie beside old Dick, I took the
ropes and went down on the beach. My step-mother had called after me I
was to drag them in three bundles, but they were so heavy that I had to
separate the first one into two; and for doing this she beat me. I was
going back to the next one, crying a good deal, for I was wishing I
could go to my own mother and to father, when a boy jumped up from
behind a stone, and asked me why I was crying; and so I told him. And
when he heard it, he called my step-mother some hard names; and then
says he, "Are you the little girl young Dick helps when he has any spare
time?" And when I answered "Yes," he says, "Well, then, give me the
ropes and I'll help you, for Dick is away to-day." I couldn't help
saying that dragging drift-wood wasn't fit work for a gentleman; but he
just laughed, and said there were lots of people would be glad to know
Patrick Berkley was so usefully employed.'

"'And did he drag the wood for you?' said Vea, the tears standing in her
eyes.

"'That he did, miss. And whenever he sees me carrying a heavy load along
the beach, he just slips up to me, and, without saying a word, takes it
out of my hand. And then if he sees any of the boys frightening me, he
won't let them. I was so sorry, miss, for the cut he got on his eye;
that was from wild Joe throwing a stone at him when he was carrying my
basket for me round the Bluff Crag.'

"'Yo