th nets and tackle."

"He did well when he saved life, Peter."

"Every man should mind his own affairs. Glumm would have done that
thing first."

"Then Glumm would have been little of a man. And thou, Peter Fae,
would have been the first to tell Glumm so. Thou art saying evil, and
dost not mean it."

"Speak no more. It is little a woman understands. Her words are always
like a contrary wind."

Peter was very sulky for some days, and when at last he was ready to
settle with Jan, there was a decided quarrel. Jan believed himself to
be unfairly dealt with, and bitter words were spoken on both sides. In
reality, Peter knew that he had been hard with his son, harder by far
than he had ever intended to be; but in his heart there had sprung up
one of those sudden and unreasonable dislikes which we have all
experienced, and for which no explanation is possible. It was not
altogether the loss of the nets--he did not know what it was--but the
man he liked, and praised, and was proud of one week, he could hardly
endure to see or speak to the next.

"That ends all between thee and me," said Peter, pushing a little pile
of gold toward Jan. It was a third less than Jan expected. He gave it
to Margaret, and bade her "use it carefully, as he might be able to
make little more until the next fishing season."

"But thou wilt work in the store this winter?"

"That I will not. I will work for no man who cheats me of a third of
my hire."

"It is of my father thou art speaking, Jan Vedder; remember that. And
Peter Fae's daughter is thy wife, though little thou deservest her."

"It is like enough that I am unworthy of thee; but if I had chosen a
wife less excellent than thou it had perhaps been better for me."

"And for me also."

That was the beginning of a sad end; for Jan, though right enough at
first, soon put himself in the wrong, as a man who is idle, and has a
grievance, is almost sure to do. He continually talked about it. On
the contrary, Peter held his tongue, and in any quarrel the man who
can be silent in the end has the popular sympathy. Then, in some way
or other, Peter Fae touched nearly every body in Lerwick. He gave them
work, or he bought their produce. They owed him money, or they
expected a favor from him. However much they sympathized with Jan,
they could not afford to quarrel with Peter.

Only Michael Snorro was absolutely and purely true to him; but oh,
what truth there was in Michael! Jan's wrongs were