doubt. But I will see Lawyer Tremaine,
and he shall put the sum I got in the St. Penfer _News_, and tell what
I got it for, and none can say I did wrong to take my widow right."

"I be so happy, Denas! I be so happy! My old dear will have his own
boat! My old dear will have his own boat!"

"Now, mother, neither you nor I can buy a boat. Shall we tell father
and let him choose for himself?"

Joan knew this was the most prudent plan, but that love of "surprise
pleasures" which is a dominant passion in children and uneducated
natures would not let Joan admit at once this solution of the
difficulty. How could she forego the delight of all the private
consultations; of the bringing home of the boat; of the wonder of the
villagers; of John's happy amazement? She could not bear to
contemplate the prosaic, commonplace method of sending John to buy his
own boat when it was within the power of Denas and herself to be an
unseen gracious providence to him. So after a moment's thought she
said: "There be Tris Penrose. It will be busy all and happy all for
him to be about such a job."

"I have not seen Tris since I came home. He is the only one who has
not come to say welcome to me."

"Aw, then, 'twas only yesterday he got home himself. He has been away
with Mr. Arundel on his yacht."

"You never told me."

"You never asked. I thought, then, you didn't want Tris to be named."

"But what for shouldn't I name Tris?"

"La! my dear, the love in Tris' heart was a trouble to you. You were
saying that often."

"But Tris knows about fishing-boats?"

"Who knows more?"

"And what kind of a boat father would like best?"

"None can tell that as well."

"And Tris is home again?"

"That be true. Ann Trewillow told me, and she be working at the Abbey
two days in the week."

"Has Mr. Arundel bought the Abbey?"

"He has done that, and it be made a grand place now. And when Tris
lost his boat trying to save your father's life and boat, Mr. Arundel
was with the coast-guard and saw him. And he said: 'A fine young man!
A fine young man!' So the next thing was, he spoke to Tris and hired
him to sail his yacht. And 'tis far off, by the way of Giberaltar,
they have been--yet home at last, thank God!"

"Tris will be sure to come here, I suppose?"

"Ann Trewillow told him you were home--a widow, and all; he will be
here as soon as he can leave the yacht. It is here he comes first of
all as soon as he touches land again."

"Then we