im feel the richer for being
there--made him, in fact, glad that he had come.

And yet there was nothing in their reception of him that justified the
feeling.

They nodded, indeed, in answer to his bow, but neither their faces nor
their manner showed any special joy at his coming.

But that made no difference to him. They were there, and the mere sight
of the girl's fine mobile face and large dark blue eyes was a thing to
be grateful for.

"You'll be wanting your supper," said Hamon.

"At your own time, please," said the young man, looking towards Mrs.
Hamon. "I am really not very hungry"--though truth to tell he well might
have been, for the food on the brig had left much to be desired even to
one who had been a sailorman himself.

"It is our usual time," said Mrs. Hamon, "and it is all ready. Will you
please to sit there."

At the sound of the chairs a boy of fourteen came quietly in and slipped
into his seat.

His sister had gone off with a portion on a plate through the open door.

Gard was surprised to find himself hoping it was not her custom to take
her meals in private, and was relieved when she came back presently
without the plate and sat down by her brother.

"Ah, you, Bernel, as soon as you've done your supper run over and tell
Mr. Le Pelley that his white stallion is on our common, and he'd better
send for him."

"I'll ride him home," said the boy exultingly.

"No you won't, Bern," said his sister quickly. "He's not safe. You know
what an awkward beast he is at times, and you could never get him across
the Coupee."

"Pooh! I'd ride him across any day."

"Promise me you won't," she said, with a hand on his arm.

"Oh, well, if you say so," he grumbled. "I could manage him all right
though."

Just then the doorway darkened and two young men entered, and threw
their caps on the green bed, and sat down with an awkward nod of
greeting to the company in general.

"My son Tom," said Mr. Hamon, and Tom jerked another awkward nod towards
the stranger. "And Peter Mauger"--Peter repeated the performance, more
shyly and awkwardly even than Tom, from a variety of reasons.

Tom was at home, and he had not even been invited--except by Tom. And
strangers always made him shy. And then there was Nance, with her great
eyes fixed on him, he knew, though he had not dared to look straight at
her.

And then the stranger had an air about him--it was hard to say of what,
but it made Peter Mauger and Tom con