er. He's fash'nubble, o' cou'se; but very conformable,
considerin'--very conformable. You bain't sorry us let Kit's House,
eh, Tamsin? Not hankerin'--"

"No, no."

"I doubt, my dear, we'm poor hands to take care of 'ee, Paul an' me.
Us talks et over togither at times, an' agrees 'twas wrong not to ha'
sent 'ee away to school. Us got a whack o' handbills down, wan time,
from different places. You wudn' believe et, my dear," he went on,
with something like a laugh, "but Paul an' me a'most came to words
over they handbills. 'Tes a curious fac', but at the places where
they allowed most holidays, they was most partic'lar about takin'
your own spoon and fork, an' Paul was a stickler agen that. Et grew
to be a matter o' prenciple wi' Paul that wheriver you went you
shudn' take your own spoon and fork. So us niver came to no
understandin'. I doubt 'twas selfish an' us can't understand maidens
an' their ways; but say, my dear, ef there's anything can be set
right, an' us'll try--"

"No, no. Let me sit here beside you, and I shall be better
presently."

She drew a low stool to his side, and sat with her head against his
knee, and her dark eyes watching the fire. Peter laid one hand
gently on her hair, and wound the brown locks around his fingers.

"All right now?" he asked, after several minutes had passed with no
sound but the ticking of the clock.

"All right beside you, brother. It is always all right beside you."

CHAPTER XV.

HOW A LADY AND A YOUTH, BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR COMPANY, VISITED A
SHIP THAT HELD NOTHING BUT WATER.

Mr. Fogo and Paul performed the journey back to Kit's House in
silence; for Paul was yet wondering at his sister's behaviour, and
Mr. Fogo busy with thoughts he could hardly have interpreted.
As they drew near the little quay, they discerned through the
darkness, now fast creeping over the river, a boat pushed off by a
solitary figure that jumped aboard and began to pull towards them.

"Ahoy, there!" It was Caleb's voice.

"Ahoy, Caleb!" shouted Paul in answer; "anything wrong?"

"Have 'ee seen maaster?"

"Iss, an' got un safe an' sound."

Caleb peered through the gloom and descried Mr. Fogo.
Whatever relief this may have been to his feelings, it called forth
no expression beyond a grunt. He turned his boat and pulled back in
time to help his master ashore. Paul was dismissed with some words
of thanks which he declared unnecessary. He would row back in Mr.