w. How can I wait longer? Is there a mail boat in
the harbor?"

"It was Lord Lynne brought me the news and the money. He will carry
thee as far as Wick. The tide serves at five o'clock to-morrow
morning, can thou be ready?"

"Ay, surely. Great joy hath come to me, but I can be ready to meet
it."

"Lean on me in this matter as much as thou likest; what is there I can
do for thee?"

"Wilt thou care for what I have in my house, especially the picture?"

"I will do that."

"Then I have but to see Margaret Vedder and little Jan. I will be on
'The Lapwing,' ere she lift her anchor. God bless thee for all the
good words thou hast said to me!"

"Snorro!"

"What then?"

"When thou sees Jan, say what will make peace between him and
Margaret."

Snorro's brow clouded. "I like not to meddle in the matter. What must
be is sure to happen, whether I speak or speak not."

"But mind this--it will be thy duty to speak well of Margaret Vedder.
The whole town do that now."

"She was ever a good woman some way. There is not now a name too good
for her. It hath become the fashion to praise Jan Vedder's wife, and
also to pity her. If thou heard the talk, thou would think that Jan
was wholly to blame. For all that, I do not think she is worthy of
Jan. Why does she not talk to her son of his father? Who ever saw her
weep at Jan's name? I had liked her better if she had wept more."

"It is little men know of women; their smiles and their tears alike
are seldom what they seem. I think Margaret loves her husband and
mourns his loss sincerely; but she is not a woman to go into the
market-place to weep. Do what is right and just to her, I counsel thee
to do that. Now I will say 'Farewell, brave Snorro.' We may not meet
again, for I am growing old."

"We shall anchor in the same harbor at last. If thou go first,
whatever sea I am on, speak me on thy way, if thou can do so."

"Perhaps so. Who can tell? Farewell, mate."

"Farewell."

Snorro watched him across the moor, and then going to a locked box, he
took out of it a bundle in a spotted blue handkerchief. He untied it,
and for a moment looked over the contents. They were a bracelet set
with sapphires, a ring to match it, a gold brooch, an amber comb and
necklace, a gold locket on a chain of singular beauty, a few ribbons
and lace collars, and a baby coral set with silver bells; the latter
had been in Jan's pocket when he was shipwrecked, and it was bruised
and tarnished. The