stance, and then dropped back into the water.

"Convicts--convicts," he thought. "What a place for Lady O'Hara it is
here with these men aboard! Suppose they should rise some night--
suppose they should rise at home where mother is, and the girls--
suppose--"

"Why, how now, my thoughtful young philosopher? What are you thinking
about?"

Lady O'Hara had laid her hand upon his shoulder, and the boy was silent
for a few moments.

"Well, what is it? Not going to turn sea-sick, after behaving so well
all across the bay."

"No," said Nic; "I'm quite well."

"Then what makes you look so glum?"

"I was thinking about the convicts."

"And a very unpleasant subject too, Nic. Don't think about them, boy.
They used to make me ill when I first went out yonder. It seemed so
horrible to have them mixed up so with one's daily life."

"Yes, that's it," cried Nic; "that's what I've been thinking. I suppose
father will have some at his station?"

"Not a doubt about it."

"Well, it seems so shocking, and--and unsafe."

"Not a bit of it, my boy. That's just what I used to think, but I don't
now."

"But I shall never get hardened to it, Lady O'Hara."

"Sure, I hope not, Nic. I don't like hardened people. You think by my
words that I'm hardened to it. There, don't turn red, boy. I can read
what you thought. I'm as soft as you. Sure, I wept all night when that
poor boy died over there, and kept crying out for his mother when he was
delirious; and it was no use to say to myself, he should have thought
more of his mother and her teachings when he grew wasteful and
dissipated and stole his master's money, for I couldn't help thinking
that he was back in the old days and felt in trouble, and called for his
mother; and who should a boy call to but his mother at a time like
that?"

Nic sadly thought of how little he had seen of his, and the governor's
wife went on.

"No, Nic, I'm not a bit hardened; I only look now at things from a
sensible point of view, and say to myself, `Here are these men who have
done wrong, and the law has sent them out for a punishment; those who
are very bad will be unable to do any more mischief, while those who
have any good in them have chances given them to lead a new life.' Why
some of them are getting to be well-to-do bodies, Nic, and married and
have children, who will grow up better people in a new land. Don't you
fret about the convicts, boy; but take them as you find them. W