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"Oh, she's a capital oar," said the Captain with pride. "She'd get her rating on board any Queen's ship." Then putting his two hands to his mouth to form a speaking trumpet, he roared out to Jim

"Sir Stephen wants to know if Miss Hero can take an oar?"

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Ay, ay, sir," answered the man, in the low distinct kind of whisper, so often used by very deaf people. "That she can; I'd back her agen Ann Granville, Jinry Adams, or any o' the Saltashers." "That's a compliment you won't appreciate until you have been to one of the regattas and seen the women row," said Hero; "then you will fully understand the pride I feel in Jim's-flattering opinion of my stroke."

The boat tumbled and tossed in the foam, pretending every minute that it intended to be upset. To get into her it needed the agility of a cat, which Hero seemed to possess; for, seizing her opportunity, she sprang in first. Sir Stephen was not so fortunate, but thought himself lucky in meeting with no worse fate than "breaking his fall" on Jim, and tumbling on Hero.

"Never mind," shouted the Captain, who stood watching their departure from the shore; "you'll shake down all right by the time you get outside. Don't you bother about the ropes, he'll manage them with his hook and his teeth."

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"I hope you can swim," shouted Sir Stephen, as soon as they were fairly off. Jim put his hand to his ear and looked at Hero.

"Sir Stephen hopes that you can swim." Jim shook his head.

"Not I," he answered, "taint lucky, sir; so far as I've a seed, most o' they as puts their trust in swimmin' is pretty near certain to be drowned. Uncle Bill could swim like a fish," he said, turning to Hero, "so could Seth Lavis, and Osee Triggs, and what comed of it? Why, they all three went down like lead, and I by their side was saved. No, no, sir, don't 'ee put no hold by swimmin'; set your trust in One above, who never fails to save they who are to be saved, and if you'm born to be drownded, drownded you'll be; 'taint swimmin' will keep your poor sinful body above water."

am telling Sir Stephen how we amuse ourselves when we go out fishing, Jim,” she said, seeing the old man's bright listening eyes fixed upon her.

“Ah!” — and Jim gave a long sigh of satisfaction. "Them's the times. I haven't heard nothin' nat'ral like, never since the 29th o' last October; that's the day we went to Batten Reach."

"What does he mean?" asked Sir Stephen.

"Well, if you speak to him you have to roar at him, and he says the noise is like thunder, but he can hear singing,at least he says he can hear mine, — and it so delights him to listen to his old sea songs, that I often repeat them over and over again for his amusement."

"You refused the other evening; you told me that you could not sing."

"Nor can Í; but when I was a child papa taught me several of his favourite nautical ballads which are not exactly company music, you know."

"I dare say they are very much prettier."

Hero shook her head. "Let me hear one?"

Oh, no, I could not; they are not in the least what you would care for."

"You cannot tell that. Jim," he called out, “ask Miss Carthew to sing one of your favourite songs."

"Will 'ee, Miss Hero?" said Jim; "'es now, do 'ee like a dear," he added in a coaxing voice.

"Yes, do'ee like a dear," said Sir Stephen, trying to imitate Jim's insinuating voice.

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Hero held up her finger reprovingly, but she nodded assent to Jim's further pleading request that the song should be "The lass who loves a sailor." After a momentary pause she began her voice rose clear and sweet, doing justice to the tuneful melody, which she sang with heartfelt feeling. Her face was turned so that the old man might hear; and he, with his eyes on the sail and his hand to his ear, sat listening with a rapt expression, which made his thin, worn face beam with delight.

Sir Stephen gazed on the pair, and then the beauty of the whole scene seemed to come over him suddenly; the calm "great heaven of blue which re"Comforting!” ejaculated Sir Stephen. flected itself in the water below, the high "Oh! we are safe enough," laughed samphire-patched rocks fantastically jagHero, "though I see yours is only make-ged and broken, the foam dashing and believe fear. In the summer, Jim and I lapping against them, frothy and white go out for whole days together, and he above the sea's borrowed depth of colour. tells me stories and I sing him songs. I Surely," he thought, "my mother's

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prejudice would give way before this wild scenery, which she always admires. I hope I shall succeed in getting her to feel an interest in these people. They have made me somehow take to them wonderfully; they have such simple ways and pleasures, and are so different to the common run of country folks. What a sweet face this girl has, and such a pretty air of coquetry; conscious but not vain of her beauty; a real unspoilt woman, with a heap of weakness to make the man who loves her proud of his strength, and a heap of strength to turn his pride into weakness." And then the vision of another face rose up before him-a face which had once been to him the fairest in all the world, but which now was shadowed by clouds of distrust and bitterness, lived out but not forgotten. "God bless you for that sound to the deaf ear," said old Jim reverently.

Sir Stephen, roused from his reverie, smiled at her, saying-"I can say nothing, but that I am very much obliged to you. It must make you feel very happy, Miss Carthew, to be so beloved and have it in your power to make people so happy."

"If you will but stay here and live among us, I will promise you an equal share of popularity. As long as I can remember, people have been wishing that you lived at Combe, and now we know you, and have seen you, nothing but your doing so will content us."

like, that Jim, who was watching her, chuckled out

"That's Lord Truscott to a T." "There you see," exclaimed Hero significantly, "he was not very likely to gain their confidence."

"True, I see now that things must be managed very differently in future. As I explained to Captain Carthew this morning, I am anything but a rich man; my other estate, Pamphillon, was left to me encumbered with debts, so that instead of deriving any income from it, I have to spend money on it every year. The fact is, when I came of age I ought to have sold that place, but my mother would not hear of it; and I, shrinking, as one naturally does, from giving up what has been in one's family for generations, tried to see if, by any means, it was possible to keep it. Afterwards I went abroad for some years, and gave up attending to business matters, but now I see so plainly what is the right thing to do, that I shall hesitate about it no longer, but put Pamphillon into the market directly I return to town. I daresay I shall find a bidder," he added with a sigh; "it's a fine old place."

"What a pity to have to sell it!" said Hero.

"Yes; better never to have had it at all. My poor uncle, whom I succeeded, was a most eccentric man. He had no need to speculate; he had a good income, and nobody to spend it on, for he ab"I won't promise you to come and live horred the sight of women, and never here altogether, but I shall certainly come married, nor went into society; and yet, and stay some part of each year. Your after his death, it was found that he had father has been showing me that it is not entered into the wildest speculations, and fair to hold land and yet do nothing for completely beggared the property. I was those who live upon it. We decry Irish quite a child, and my mother had to econabsentees, and yet in many instances fol-omize and retrench in every possible way, low their example, and I feel I have been very much to blame."

"But you knew so little about us," said Hero.

in order to try to get things a little straight during my minority. How she managed to keep things from going to the dogs I can never tell; but it com"For the reason, I suppose, that I pletely broke down her health, and peoasked so little; and then, as Mr. Trus-ple all say that she has never been the cott said that they never complained in any way, I tried to hope they were in a very flourishing condition."

Mr. Truscott is a Dockmouth man," said Hero, in a scornful voice, "and does not understand Mallett people; it was not at all probable that he would hear many complaints by riding over when it suited his convenience, and stopping such as he chose with, 'Well, my man, and how does the world serve you?" and Hero's imitation of the hand on the hip, and the wave of an imaginary whip was so life

same since. The strain on her nervous system was too great, she over-estimated her responsibility in the desire to keep Pamphillon for me, and it has ended in her throwing herself into a fever of anxiety at the bare mention of selling it, and yet disliking the place so that she hates to go near it."

Poor thing," said Hero compassionately, "what will you do to avoid paining her." Say as little about it as I can, and induce her to come down here. I think

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you and she would soon be excellent friends; she is very fond of young people's society."

"You have no sisters?"

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No; my cousin always lived with my mother until she got married, and since then she has preferred to be alone.”

"I hope she may come here, then," said Hero, "I should be very glad to try and make her like me."

"That would not be a difficult task," said Sir Stephen, "the difficulty will be to get her to come; she declares Mallett is at the world's edge, and perhaps the journey is a fatiguing one for her."

"But not in the summer?" "Oh, no; I must contrive it somehow; and if I can then manage to interest her in the people, we shall soon set everything straight. I hope," he said, speaking to Jim, "that you will not have so much to complain of another winter. I am very sorry to hear how much many suffered during the past one."

quest that they might carry off Alice, a pretty, shy girl, who looked upon her friend Hero as the standard of perfection; and, only waiting until she was ready to accompany them, they set off on their return to Sharrows.

The wind dropping as the Captain had prognosticated, Hero's services were put into requisition; and Sir Stephen, instead of attending to the tiller, found his eyes straying from the undulating movements of Hero's lithe figure to her sweet face flushed by exercise, her hair a little tossed by the gentle breeze, and her eyes sparkling with fun and enjoyment of his pretended surprise, and his assertion that he was afraid to stir, although as soon as the boat touched he sprang on shore, and insisted upon lifting her out, with a care that made old Jim eye him suspiciously. The boat landed them at the foot of Sharrows, and as Alice wanted to unpack her bag the two girls went off together, leaving Sir Stephen to follow.

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Here, Jim," he said, putting a few shillings into the old boatman's hand, you must drink my health."

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Jim shook his head.

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"Thank 'ee sir," said Jim; "mostly times is a little hard then, but as I says, 'Take heart, mates, the summer 'ill come,' and come it does; and so it will, I reckon, for while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease; and after 'twill all be changed, and there'll be winter no more, but to they that praise the Lord, light and sun-spect as in many others." shine allays."

"He is a local preacher," said Hero, answering Sir Stephen's surprised look, "and a very eloquent one according to Betsy's opinion, which is that preaching is a free gift, and not to be picked up like verses by reading books. Her sayings used to amuse poor old Mr. Despard greatly. You knew him, did you not? I mean the late rector," she added.

"No. My mother gave him the living when I was a boy; he had been, I believe, an old friend of my uncle's, and, through him, she had formed a high opinion of Mr. Despard. I don't fancy they were personally acquainted."

The sudden shift of the sail, as they tacked into Winkle Creek, put an end to the conversation. Their approach had been made known to Captain Joslyn by the signal-man, and by the time the boat reached the shore, a line had been formed by the fine stalwart coast-guard men to run her out of the surf up the beach, where they could step out high and dry, and be welcomed by the whole family, who were standing to receive them. Mrs. Joslyn willingly acceded to Hero's re

"I gived it up years agone, sir. For more than half of my life through love o' drink the devil stuck to me like a limpit, but, bless the Lord, who has overthrown the powers o' Satan in that re

"Well, then," said Sir Stephen, "keep it and do what you like with it."

"Thank'ee, sir; but there's lots in Mallett who has more need for it than me."

"Nonsense; Miss Carthew told me that you had been ill, and not able to do any work for a long time."

"Twas only a touch o' the screws," said the old man, smiling; "the jints is gittin' a little rusty, I reckon, sir; but our Heavenly Father was good to me; and as for Miss Hero," and he took off his cap, seeming to forget Sir Stephen's presence, and said reverently, "May God send her the blessings I asks for heramen," he added, after a moment's pause, turning with the money still in his open palm.

"Keep it for my sake, Jim," said Sir Stephen, patting the old fellow's shoulder; "I hope that you and I will get good friends soon."

Jim smiled his satisfaction.

"I hope so, sir; but," and he gave a knowing shake of his head towards Sharrows, "you mustn't mind us being main hard to please in regard to she."

Sir Stephen nodded. "She?" he

thought, as he walked up the path, "I wonder what the old chap means?" and at something which seemed not distasteful to himself he smiled, and then in- as usual until his return a return which dulged in a quiet laugh, and finally lighted a cigar, and sat down on one of the numerous seats the Captain had placed up the steep ascent, as resting posts to the aged and weary.

When Sir Stephen left England on his lengthened tour, she had obtained a promise from him that all should go on

CHAPTER V.

KATHERINE DOUGLAS.

for years she sighed after; for, excepting a few hurried visits for the express purpose of seeing her, Sir Stephen was always bent on some fresh expedition, and for six or seven years he had been roaming about in all quarters of the globe. When at length Mrs. Prescott received the welcome announcement that now he intended to settle at home altogether, her As Sir Stephen sat dreamily watching joy knew no bounds. She hardly asked the shadowy mists gradually encircling herself, and dare not ask him, the reason the sea-bound hills and rocks, he again of this resolution; whether the exciteasked himself the cause of his present ment of travel had been worn out, or content. He recalled the journeys he whether the cause which had led him to had taken, the money and time he had seek diversion no longer existed. Could spent, and the fatigue he had undergone, it, she asked herself, have anything to do seeking, in the first instance, a remedy with Mr. Labouchere's death, and that against hopeless depression, and after- Katherine was again in England? Kathwards, when his bitter disappointment erine! whose name had never been spokhad ceased, to ward off those fits of un- en between them for years. Katherine! utterable weariness, which threatened to for dread of meeting whom he had bantake the place of an anguish he had finally ished himself, for bitterness of whom he succeeded in mastering. He was neither called all womankind hypocrites. What particularly energetic, nor easily moved had wrought this wondrous change? to fresh action; but he had a wholesome And Mrs. Prescott would sit musing, unhorror of falling into a condition, in which til a softened expression, stealing over there seems nothing left to give attrac- her face, hailed the revived hope that, tion, or afford interest to the end of a use- after all, the dearest wish of her life might less and wasted life. Cramped as he had still be realized. been by his position and inadequate income, he always felt there was but one step by which he could right himself-selling his estate of Pamphillon. But from the only two persons whose opinion affected his actions, he met with determined opposition. His mother declared that such an act would be her death-blow. She entreated her son never to part with an in- When children, the two cousins had heritance which had been theirs for gen- scarcely ever been apart; and, as they erations. She reminded him of the grew up to manhood and womanhood, it struggle which she had made during his gave Mrs. Prescott the greatest satisfacboyhood, to prevent an acre of the land tion to see this early attachment ripen being parted with; and she asked him into a love of a more serious nature. whether now, when by a hundred ways a Many persons (knowing how much Sir man of energy and talent could build up Stephen's fortune stood in need of repair) anew the fortunes of his house, he was wondered that his mother should be congoing tamely to sacrifice it all, and bury tent to see him woo a girl with nothing himself alive at a place, which was out but her good looks to recommend her; of reach of all civilized society, and where but Mrs. Prescott loved her niece dearly, he must sink to the level of the people was proud of her beauty and talents, and, with whom he would be compelled to without either mother or son knowing or mix. Mrs. Prescott was a fragile, del- irksomely feeling it, Katherine entirely cate-looking woman, in all other things ruled both. She possessed her cousin's willing and ready to be guided by what- love so completely, that he willingly gave ever best pleased her son; but whenever in to every wish and plan she formed; mention was made of this subject, she and her aunt leaned so confidently upon seemed to grow obstinate and unreason- her, that the idea of thwarting Katherine never occurred to a mind thoroughly con

able.

There had been a time when any doubt that Katherine Douglas would be Stephen's wife had never entered Mrs. Prescott's mind. Katherine was her favourite brother's daughter, and had been almost entirely brought up by her aunt, who, next to her son, bestowed upon her the greatest share of her affection.

vinced that whatever Katherine did must | into Katherine's schemes, and would rebe right. monstrate with her son on his seeming rashness and selfishness.

"Why does she go?" Sir Stephen would answer, " she is doing this for my sake, she says, but I don't want the sacrifice. I would rather a thousand times never touch a farthing of the money than gain the whole by giving her up for months."

To a formal engagement between herself and Stephen Miss Douglas objected, "Is not Katherine making a sacrifice on the ground that her grandmother Dor- equal to your own?" she would say. mer might raise obstacles. They under-"Can it be pleasure for her to leave you, stood each other, she said, and, as they and shut herself up with a fidgety old could not marry for two years (when Sir woman?" Stephen would get an addition to his income), what was the use of being talked of, and perhaps annoyed about it? Mrs. Prescott thought there was a great deal of truth in what Katherine said, and between them Sir Stephen was overruled. The time of probation was within a few months of being accomplished when Mrs. Dormer summoned Katherine to attend her to Nice, where she had been ordered for change of air, and from which place she lugubriously announced that it was highly improbable she should ever return. What was to be done? Mrs. Dormer must not be offended, or, though Katherine was her favourite grandchild, she would be safe to leave her money elsewhere.

"Well, let her," said Sir Stephen, "I would willingly give up every chance you have of her money, rather than let you go away from me, and we be parted all these

months."

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Stephen!" said Katherine, and she looked at him reproachfully, "how foolishly you talk! You know of what importance money is to us. Without this prospect from grandmamma it would be madness in you to think of marrying me, but I hope that with it we shall be able to set everything right."

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And Mrs. Prescott turning away would sigh, and ask herself if men ever appreciated the heavy burdens borne by women for their sakes.

Before any of these discussions commenced, Katherine had determined to join her grandmother; during the time they were going on she settled her plans and made her necessary arrangements; so that when, after every artifice had been used to soften the matter, an unwilling consent was forced from Sir Stephen, it was but an absurd matter of form, the whole thing having been finally settled several days before, and Mrs. Dormer having heard from her granddaughter the very day and hour she intended joining her. Under the cloak of Mrs. Dormer's continued illness, Katherine's stay was greatly prolonged; her letters grew shorter, with longer intervals between. She gave up answering any questions, and seemed distressed, often cold, and entirely different from herself.

Mrs. Prescott tried to soften down the

"She may live for years,' " he said moodily; "I am sure I don't desire oth- varied moods her son was thrown into erwise. The safest and only sure way through this air of mystery. She attribout of my difficulties is to sell Pamphil- uted it to anxiety, over-exertion, being lon, pay off the mortgages, and live on among strangers, Mrs. Dormer's caprices. what is left. A very fair income it would But all to no purpose; Sir Stephen's susand then if Mrs. Dormer left us any-picions were aroused, his fears increased, thing" but the cloud on Katherine's until he determined to go to Katherine face would stop the indulgence of further and learn from her the meaning of her hopes, and she would say in a voice which strange behaviour; but a stop was unbordered on a sneer expectedly put to his journey by an announcement in the morning paper: "At Carabacel, Nice, Katherine Prescott Douglas, second daughter of the late Stanhope Douglas, Esq., of Pentarn, to John Pitman Labouchere, Esq., of Endor Court and Great Danesfield."

"Have you no ambition, Stephen? for it seems to me that except as an object of barter Pamphillon has small value in your eyes;" and this, or some such misinterpretation, wounding the young man, the two would grow vexed-he angry and sharp of speech, and she stubborn and cold.

Mrs. Prescott quite held with Katherine, that to refuse compliance with Mrs. Dormer's request would be folly. She, too, counted on the expected fortune, entered

CHAPTER VI.

RICH AND FREE!"

LITTLE by little, from friends who knew them and people who had met them, Mrs.

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