there were deeper reasons.

"You are welcome, George Hamon," she said. "What mischief are you and Phil
plotting now?"

"Aw, then! It's a bad character you give me, Rachel."

"I know he goes to you for advice, and he might do worse. He's been
restless since he came home. What is it?"

"Young blood must have its chance, you know. And change of pasture is good
for young calves, as Jeanne Falla says."

"Hasn't he had change enough?"

"Where is Philip?"

"Down vraicking with Krok in Saignie. A big drift came in this morning, and
we want all we can get for the fields."

"Give them a hand, Phil, and then bring your grandfather along. And I'll
talk to your mother."

My grandfather and Krok had got most of the seaweed drawn up onto the
stones above tide-level, and as soon as we had secured the rest they came
up to the house with me, wet and hungry. I had told my grandfather simply
that George Hamon was there, but said nothing about our business. He
greeted him warmly.

"George, my boy, you should come in oftener."

"Ay, ay! If I came as often as I wanted you'd be for turning me out,"--with
a nod to Krok, who replied with a cheerful smile, and went to the fire.

"You know better. Your welcome always waits you. What's in the wind now?"

"Phil wants to go privateering," said my mother. "And George has come to
help him."

"Ah, I expected it would come to that," said my grandfather quietly. "It's
a risky business, after all, Phil,"--to me, sitting on the green-bed and
feeling rather sheepish.

"I know, grandfather. But there are risks in everything, and--"

"And, to put it plainly, he wants Carette Le Marchant, and he's not the
only one, and that seems the quickest way to her," said George Hamon.

My mother's quiet brown eyes gave a little snap, and he caught it.

"When a lad's heart is set on a girl there is nothing he won't do for her.
I've known a man wait twenty years for a woman--"

She made a quick little gesture with her hand, but he went on stoutly--

"Oh yes, and never give up hoping all that time, though, mon Gyu, it was
little he got for his--"

"And you think it right he should go?" interrupted my mother hastily. And,
taken up as I was with my own concerns, I understood of a sudden that there
was that between my mother and George Hamon which I had never dreamed of.

"I think he will never settle till he has been. And it's lawful business,
and profitable, and your objection to the free-trading do