staying still in one
place where we don't see anything, and I hope our Heavenly Father will
let us start away to-morrow."

"Neddie, dear," said his grandmother, "don't forget what a blessing it
has been that we had this safe harbor close at hand when the storm was
coming, so that we could run right into it. If we had been away out
upon the lake our vessel might have been wrecked."

"Yes, grandma, I am glad and thankful for that," he said; "I'm afraid
I was grumbling just now, but I don't intend to do so any more."

"I'll be glad when good weather comes again," remarked Elsie, "but I
have really enjoyed myself right well these days that we have had to
spend in the cabin; Cousin Ronald has made a great deal of fun for
us."

"Yes, indeed!" exclaimed Ned earnestly, and laughing as he spoke; "it
was lots of fun to hear people talking and animals barking and
squealing when they weren't really here at all. Now, what are you all
laughing at?" he asked in conclusion.

"At your animals," said Lucilla. "I understood that all the barking
and squealing you talk about was the doing of a very nice old
gentleman."

"Yes," said Ned a trifle shamefacedly; "but please don't be hurt or
affronted, Cousin Ronald; I didn't know how to say it any better."

"No, sonny, and you meant it all right," the old gentleman answered
pleasantly. "I am very glad to be able to furnish amusement for so
good and lovable a bit of a kinsman as yourself."

"Thank you, sir. I like that word--kinsman," said the little boy,
regarding Mr. Lilburn with sparkling eyes. "It means a relation,
doesn't it?"

"Yes, just that, laddie. Your grandmother and mother are of my kin,
and that makes you so too. I hope you are not ill-pleased to own so
auld a cousin?"

"No, indeed, sir," said Neddie earnestly; "and I'll try to behave so
well that you won't ever feel ashamed to own me for your kin."

"It will be a great surprise to me if ever I do feel my relationship
to you and yours a disgrace, laddie," the old gentleman said with a
smile. Then, turning to Violet, "Could not you give us a bit o' sacred
music, cousin?" he asked. "It strikes me 'twould be a fitting
winding-up of our services."

"So I think," said the captain; and Violet at once took her place at
the instrument.

"Mamma," said Grace, "let us have 'Master, the Tempest is Raging.' We
can all sing it, and it is so sweet."

"Yes," said Violet.

The others gathered around her, and together they sang: