knowing it, getting, as Captain Maitland had said, something to steer
by in harder, busier days to come. Godfrey, when he looked back
afterwards, couldn't remember any very big events in his Oakfield
life--just daily lessons and daily games, stories from Betty, twilight
talks with Angel, hours spent by old Kiah's bench at the Place--and yet
those 'slow sweet hours,' more than the stirring days afterwards, were
to influence his whole life and make a man of him.

How surprised his young aunts would have been if any one had told them
on the day when their nephew first came to Oakfield that it would be
Angel who would suggest to Cousin Crayshaw that it was time for him to
leave them. Mr. Crayshaw found her standing by his chair one Sunday
evening when he awoke from a little doze in which he had been indulging
after supper.

'Cousin Crayshaw,' she began hesitatingly, 'have you thought lately
what a big boy Godfrey is getting?'

'Big? Yes, yes, of course, very big,' said Mr. Crayshaw in surprise.
'What's the matter, Angelica? Why shouldn't he grow? He looks strong
enough, I'm sure.'

'Oh, he's as strong as a little pony,' said Angel proudly; 'but, Cousin
Crayshaw, don't you think he's getting rather big for us to teach?'

'Is he troublesome?' asked Mr. Crayshaw doubtfully.

'Oh no, no! Only Betty and I think he is getting old enough to be
taught by a man.'

'Humph! That means school, I suppose,' said Mr. Crayshaw, 'or could we
find him a tutor?'

'I think--at least, don't you think it ought to be school?' said Angel
hesitatingly. 'I mean, if he is going to sea, oughtn't he to knock
about with other boys a little first?'

Her cousin looked up thoughtfully at her.

'You'll miss him a good deal, won't you, my dear?' he said.

'Oh, it doesn't do to think about that,' said Angelica cheerfully.

'And you know, Cousin Crayshaw,' said Betty from her corner, 'you said
when first we had him that we weren't to spoil him.'

'No, no, of course not, of course not,' said Cousin Crayshaw heartily;
'I'll inquire about a school.'

There was a little mischievous twinkle in Betty's eyes as she bent over
her book, and when she and Angel were alone that night she threw her
arms round her sister and burst out laughing. 'Oh, Angel, Angel, isn't
it funny,' she cried, 'to think of you having to make Cousin Crayshaw
send Godfrey to school?'

'I believe he is almost as loth to lose him as we are,' said Angel;
'don't you love