e childer o' them officers
as is killed in action, that is when their folks are left badly off; and
some one must ha' put up your uncle to this, for he took precious good
care to draw it every year you was along o' him."

"Oh, I'm so glad!" I exclaimed, joyfully. "I only wish, though, I had
known it before, so that I could have thrown it back in Aunt Matilda's
teeth when she used to tell me that I was robbing her children of their
bread every meal I took in the house, taunting me with being only a
pauper!"

"Never mind that now," said Sam Pengelly--quite his composed, calm,
genial self again, after the little ebullition he had given way to on my
behalf. "Better let byegones be byegones. It is a good sailin'
direction to go upon in this world; for your cross old aunt will be
sartin to get paid out some time or other for her treatment o' you, I'll
wager! Howsomedevers, I'm glad we've got that letter from your uncle,
though. You see, laddie, it cuts them adrift altogether from any claim
on you; and now, if you be so minded, you can chuck in your lot with old
Sam and his sister--that is, unless you want to sheer off and part
company, and desart us?"

"Oh no, I'll never do that if I can help it," I replied, earnestly.
"Why, I did not know what it was to be happy and cared for till I met
you, and you brought me here to your home. I shall never willingly,
now, leave you here--that is, except you want me to."

"Then, that'll be never," said he, with an emphasis and a kindly smile
that showed his were no empty words.

Nor did they prove to be as time rolled on.

For many months after that casual meeting of ours on the Hoe, which I
little thought was going to lead to such happy consequences, the little
cottage at Stoke was my home in winter and summer alike; when Nature was
gay in her spring dress, and when dreary autumn came; although, it was
never dreary to me, no matter what the season might be.

In the summer months I used generally to accompany Sam in the short
trading trips he made in a little foretopsail schooner--of which he was
the registered owner, and generally took the command--when we would
fetch a compass for Falmouth or Torquay, and other small western ports;
between which places and Plymouth the schooner went to and fro when wind
and weather permitted.

Sometimes, tempted by the inducement that early potatoes and green peas
were plentiful and cheap at Saint Mary's, Sam would venture out as far
as