should have the comfort of seeing the land all the way along.

After a few minutes Tiny grew less frightened, and ventured to ask a
question about where they were going.

"Oh, I'll take yer to see Dame Peters while Bob unloads the boat," said
Coomber, nodding at her in an approving manner.

"And shall I see the shops?" asked Tiny; for she did not believe what
Dick had told her.

"Shops, shops!" repeated the fisherman, resting on his oars for a minute
to stare at the little girl. "Well, there's a shop," he said, slowly;
"but I don't see what you can want there."

"Do they sell books?" asked Tiny, eagerly.

For answer the fisherman burst into a loud laugh. "What does a little
'un like you know about books?" he said. "But I know of something they
do sell, as 'll suit you a deal better; they sell sweets, and almond
rock, as well as 'bacca and bread, and you shall have some, my deary."

The fisherman expected a joyous outburst in anticipation of these
unwonted dainties, but the little girl said slowly--

"Don't they sell books, too, daddy? I'd rather have a book than almond
rock," she added.

"Why, what do you want with a book, a little 'un like you?" said
Coomber, impatiently.

"We both wants it, Dick and me; we wants to find out whether God loves
boys as well as gals."

The fisherman looked at her serious little face for a minute, and then
burst into a laugh again. "Well, you are a rum 'un as ever I came
across. Did you hear that, Bob?" he asked, appealing to his elder son,
who was steering. Bob turned his sulky face round.

"What's she saying now?" he asked.

"What was, it little 'un--whether God loved boys and gals, wasn't it?"
asked the fisherman, who was highly amused at the question.

"He don't love none of us, I can tell her that," said Bob, sharply. "He
forgot us long ago, if ever He knowed anything about us."

"There, what d'ye think o' that, little 'un?" said the fisherman,
pulling away at the oars.

Tiny looked perplexed for a minute or two, but at length she said: "I
think God knows all about the Point, 'cos He loves me, and He listens
when I say my prayers. But s'pose I tell him," she suddenly added, as
though the thought had just occurred to her; "I can ask Him to bless you
and mammy, and Dick and Bob. But I should like to get a book," she said,
in conclusion.

"Oh, the sweets 'll do as well," said the fisherman, who saw little use
in books. He might have humoured Tiny in what he looked up