of stuffed specimens
ornamented the walls of the room, and nothing pleased Miss Anne better
than to show how the stuffed birds resembled the woodcuts of the
wonderful engraver. After a little time the mistress would question the
lads about the various animals. She would say, "Now, Ralph, you shall
tell me all about the old English mastiff, and if you break down I shall
have to ask Jimmy;" but when the invariable distribution of tarts came,
no difference was made between the boys who failed and those who did
not. At nine o'clock the young people lit their lanterns and went off
over the dark moor.

Thus Miss Anne lived her life from week to week in that remote place.
Her only excitement came when very bad weather broke on us. If vessels
were in danger off our savage rocks, she would stand on the cliffs while
the spray lashed up in her face and drenched her with its bitter
saltness. If a shipwrecked crew were brought ashore she always liked to
take in one or two of the men, and her house was kept in a sad turmoil
until her guests had gone away. There are Italians, Norwegians, Swedes,
and Frenchmen, besides our own countrymen, who remember the exquisite
lady with gratitude. Very few people knew how Miss Anne came to live
unmarried, and in solitude; but there is a sorrowful story that explains
all. The Fisher's Friend had been the greatest beauty in all the north
country, and many men had loved her. One mad young fellow asked her to
marry him. She liked him, but she had always said that she never would
have him for a husband unless he gave up his wild ways. Again and again
they quarrelled, and made friends when he promised to be better. At last
she said something very bitter to him, and ordered him out of her sight.
He tramped in his own woods all night, and in the morning he galloped
his big brown horse down to the sea. He met Miss Anne and straightened
his horse across her path. She spoke sharply to him again, as he dashed
the spurs in, and went away. Next morning Miss Anne heard that he had
hung himself in the barn, and that he had left a note upbraiding her.
She turned very white, and went to her room, where she stayed praying
all day. The young Squire's death really ended her life.

After she had grown old, she failed one morning to rise early, and the
servants, who had been used to hear the quick sound of her feet whenever
the dawn came, grew alarmed. They sent for Big Tom, and Tom broke open
Miss Anne's bedroom door