knows of," said Mrs Gaff firmly.

"What says the Bible, Tot, about that?" asked Gaff. "Money's the root
o' all evil, an't it?"

"No, daddy, it's _the love_ o' money that's the root of all evil."

"Ah, to be sure. Well, there's a difference there. Hows'ever, we can't
help it, so we must larn to bear it. Come along now, Jess, and let us
have supper."

To supper they sat down, and long they sat over it, and a hearty one
they ate. It was not till they began to think of retiring for the night
that it was remembered that there was no possibility of putting up Billy
in the cottage, for Tottie occupied the closet of the "boodwar." The
Bu'ster relieved his parents from their difficulty, however, by
asserting that he had taken a wild desire to see Mad Haco that night;
so, declining the offer of a shake-down made up under the four-poster,
he started for Wreckumoft, and took up his quarters in the Sailors'
Home.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

THE SAILORS' HOME AND THE NEW SECRETARY.

Great changes had taken place in the Sailors' Home at Wreckumoft since
Billy Gaff last saw it. A new wing had been added to it, and the
original building had been altered and repaired, while every convenience
in the way of ventilating and heating had been introduced, so that the
sailors who frequented this admirable Home found themselves surrounded
by comforts and luxuries such as, in former days, they had never dreamed
of.

Fortunately for this valuable institution, Sir Richard Doles, Bart, had
not been made a director, consequently the business of the Home was not
impeded.

Fortunately, also, the secretary who had been recently appointed to the
Home was a man of ability and energy, being none other than our friend
Kenneth Stuart.

That incorrigible young man had ventured one day to say to his father
that he could not make up his mind to give up the "portionless girl,"
Lizzie Gordon; that he considered her anything but portionless, seeing
that she possessed an earnest, loving, Christian heart, and a wise
thoughtful mind; qualities which wealth could not purchase, and compared
with which a fortune was not worth a straw.

Mr Stuart, senior, thereupon dismissed Mr Stuart, junior, from his
presence for ever, and told him to go and beg his bread where he chose!

Curiously enough, Mr Stuart, senior, happened to dine that day with
Colonel Crusty at the club where the latter put up when in town, and the
valiant colonel told him that he ha