her lessons in class, she
was, as the governess who taught her said, "Hopelessly muddled."

Vain were her efforts to get through her repetition of Cowper's lines
on his mother's picture. She sat with a sum before her on a slate, and
blurred it with tears; and finally had a long array of bad marks, and
was sent by the assistant governess to Miss Bayliff to receive a
lecture, and to be given a long column of the Dictionary to write out
and learn by heart in addition to her usual lessons.

It did not strike Miss Bayliff that sorrow for Joy was the cause of
Bet's woe-begone face. Miss Bayliff herself was really distressed at
the news which had circulated through the school of Joy's accident, but
she did not think Bet could feel as she did for little Miss Joy.

The moment school was over, Bet seized her hat from the peg in the
passage, and set off to the row to learn the worst.

To her great relief she saw Mrs. Harrison coming from her own door to
Uncle Bobo's. She clutched her arm pretty much as she had clutched her
schoolfellow's; but she was not thrust away this time. Patience
Harrison said kindly,

"My dear, our little Joy seems a trifle better. She has opened her
eyes and smiled at Uncle Bobo."

"Will she get well? May I see her?"

"You must not see her; she has to be kept very quiet."

"Oh! what shall I do? what shall I do?" Bet exclaimed.

"Pray for her," was the reply, "and trust in God's love whichever way
it goes with her." And then, moved to deep pity for poor Bet, Mrs.
Harrison stooped and kissed her, and went into the little shop.

CHAPTER VIII.

_IN PERIL OF THE SEA._

The _Galatea_ was a good sailing vessel, loaded with goods, and was
bound for Constantinople. She was a trading vessel, with a few
passengers who paid a moderate sum for their berths, and were provided
with very fair accommodation on board.

Jack certainly proved himself a good sailor. As soon as the first
misery of sea-sickness was over, he made himself very useful to the
crew generally, and to Dick Colley in particular.

"He is worth his biscuit, captain," Colley said one day. "A sharp lad,
eh?"

"Yes, and a handy one too. It's well for you that you have had that
boy to help you, with your lame leg; and you are trying to make him one
of your sort, I see."

"One of my sort! No. I hope a long sight better than my sort,
captain. I am but a beginner, learning the alphabet late in life; but,
please God, I'll