u have no idea how happy you have made me, Polly,' said Vea. 'Aunt
Mary always says there is a great deal of good in Patrick, only his love
of mischief sometimes chokes the good seed. It is very strange he never
lets us see him doing a kind or a generous action.'

[Illustration: BY THE BEACH.]

"At this moment Natilie opened the cottage door and called to her young
mistress to come up. I waited by the beach, and taking off my shoes and
stockings, waded into the cool water. The girls were much amused at my
delight, and I may say terror also, as, looking down into the clear blue
water, I saw various small fishes darting in and out among the stones;
and even Polly forgot her angry step-mother at home, and screamed with
laughter at my sudden fright when a small crab seized hold of my great
toe, and hung tenaciously to it, even when I was far up on the sandy
beach.

"Then Natilie came and called to me to come up also; and there I found
Patrick lying very quiet and still on the bed, and Vea sitting by the
side of it holding his hand. It was arranged that I should return to the
house with Natilie and Alfred, while Vea remained with her brother till
Natilie returned; but just as we were setting out, my Uncle John came
down to see after the patient, and I was told I might amuse myself for
an hour outside till the maid returned with the articles required by the
doctor. I would have liked to have stayed with Vea, but both the doctor
and my uncle thought that as the cottage was so small, the fewer there
were in it the better for Patrick.

"'I would like to get home,' said poor Patrick in a faint voice.
'Couldn't I be carried home, sir?' he pleaded, turning to the doctor.

[Illustration: DOWN AT THE COVE.]

"'Not for some days, my boy,' replied the doctor kindly. 'If you lie
very still, and attend to orders, we shall see what can be done for you
then.'

"But when the doctor had gone, Vea came slipping out, and bidding me
follow her, went round to where some boats lay moored. A ladder was
placed against the side of one of these, and up this Vea mounted before
I knew what she was going to do. 'I feel sure,' she said, looking over
the side of the boat to me, as I stood on the beach below, 'if we could
only get Patrick hoisted up here, we might get him taken home quite
safely.'

"'Ah, but I don't think the doctor will allow you to do that,' I
replied; 'I fear he must remain here for some weeks.'

"'He seems very anxious to ge