ll off his wet finery, and put on his own dry
things; and keep that finery somewhere out of his way, that I may put it
back into the chest, where it ought to be lying now. Will you do this,
Ailwin?"

"Why, I'll see. If I was quite sure that he had nothing to do with this
storm, I might manage him as I could any other boy."

"Anybody may manage him to-day, with a little kindness. He is ill and
weak-spirited; and you can touch his heart with a word. If you only
remember how George cried after him, you will be gentle with him, I
know."

"Well, that's true: and I doubt whether a lord would have spoken with
him, if he had been so dangerous as he seems sometimes. Now, as to
dinner to-day, Oliver--I really don't like to give Mildred such food as
the game on the island now is. I am sure it is downright unwholesome.
Bird and beast, they are all dying off faster than we can kill them."

"The fowls are not all done, I hope. I thought we had some meal-fed
fowls left."

"Just two; and that is all: and the truth is, I don't like to part those
two poor things, enjoying the meal-picking together; and then, they are
the last of our wholesome food."

"Then let us have them while they are wholesome. Boil one to-day, and
make the broth as nice as you can for Mildred. We will cook the other
to-morrow."

"And what next day?"

"We will see to that when the day comes. Oh dear! When will these
clouds have emptied themselves? Surely they cannot pour down at this
rate long."

"The thunder and lightning are just over, and that's a comfort," said
Ailwin. "You might stand under any tree, now, Oliver; and you go
wandering about, as if you were a duck in your heart, and loved the
rain."

Ailwin might wonder, for Oliver was indeed very restless. While waiting
the moment when he might again cross to the staircase, he could not even
stand still under a tree. The secret of his having seen the boat was
too heavy a one to be borne when he was no longer busy. He felt that he
should tell, if he remained beside his sister and Ailwin; so he wandered
off, through the wood, to try how far he could see over the waters to
the south, now that the tempest was passing away.

Through the trees he saw some one--a tall person, walking on the grass
by the water-side. He ran--he flew. There was a boat lying against the
bank, and two or three men walking towards the wood. The foremost was
Pastor Dendel. Oliver sprang into his arms, clung r