e end she consented. Then I talked about little Mary, and how
happy the two would be together, and that it would not be natural for
two children who had been rendered orphans by the same dreadful calamity
to be separated. The poor creature's face was streaming with tears when
she at last consented. 'It's no for the sake o' the money I pairt wi'
the bairn. It's little he costs me, an' my own children will be sore at
heart for many a lang day after he goes!'.. But she recognised that it
would be wrong of her to refuse--and so the matter was fixed up."

"Good old Ted!"

"Well--keep this dark from Lizzie, old man--I gave 'em a cheque for two
hundred and fifty pounds."

Gerrard's clear laugh. "Poor Lizzie! She thinks you gave them fifty
pounds only."

"Just so, just so--you see, old man, Lizzie isn't a bit mean--and she
doesn't know that I am as well in as I am, so I told her a fifth of the
truth. I said that fifty pounds was a great help to a hard-working man
with a large family."

"Cunning beggar!"

"Then, as Coll struck me as being a downright, straightforward man,
who had a pretty stiff pull of it to bring up and educate his children
decently on seven pounds a month--seaman's wages.--I got him a berth as
wharfinger to a steamship company at twelve pounds, and he was made as
happy as a sandboy, I can tell you: Lizzie knows that much, for I told
her. And she lets the youngster write to the Colls now and then."

"Does she?" said Gerrard, dryly. He could not help it. Then he sat up,
and re-filled his pipe.

"Ted, old chap, I like that youngster. Let me have him and take him to
Ocho Rios with me. I want little Mary most, but know you won't part
with her, and even if you would, a cattle station in the Far North is no
place for a girl. But let me have the boy. I'll be good to him."

Westonley made no answer at first. Then he said slowly, "I'll tell you
in the morning, Tom. Good-night."

CHAPTER V

Soon after sunrise, as the two friends were drinking their morning tea
ere they started back for Marumbah, Westonley told Gerrard that he had
decided to let him take Jim away with him to Ocho Rios.

"He is provided for in my will, Tom, but you must never let him know it.
I think it is a mistake to let youngsters know that they will have money
left to them some day."

"Quite so, Ted. And I am sure that you will never regret letting me
have him, and I will bring him up as if he were my own son. There is
no school