to say anything against Ben Rudall, my son; but I wish
that you were not such friends with him. He is a smuggler, and may draw
you into mischief, though maybe you'll think it ungrateful in me to say
so, when he has helped you to catch those fish. Remember that you
cannot associate with bad characters without getting some harm and being
looked upon as one of them."

"Ben is a right honest fellow, and true as steel," answered Dick. "I
don't like to hear anything said against him, mother; if he were ever so
bad, he would not lead me astray."

"He is a smuggler, Dick, and though he may be true to his companions, he
is false to his country, or he would not be trying to cheat the revenue,
as the smugglers do."

"I had not thought of that; but don't you trouble yourself about Ben,"
answered Dick. "Now, mother, I am pretty hungry, and should like some
bread and cheese;" and Dick turned round to go to the larder.

"Sit down, my son, and I'll get them for you," said Mrs Hargrave,
taking the fish at the same time. "While you are eating, I'll clean
these, and they'll be ready in the morning if Janet has a fancy for one
of them."

She soon returned, not only with some bread and cheese but some cold
meat, and a mug of home-brewed beer, showing that the good housewife did
not stint her family.

Dick described the arrival of the young lord and his shipmate. "I'd as
leave he had stopped at sea, for, somehow or other, he and I are always
getting foul of each other. But there will be rare doings up at the
hall to welcome him home, especially if there's been a battle, as Ben
thinks, and his ship gained the day."

"Then, Dick, do you keep out of his way, and no harm can come of it,"
said Mrs Hargrave. "I am glad, however, for her ladyship's sake, and
the young ladies, for they will be main pleased to see him. Only this
morning they came here to visit Janet, and when I told my lady what Mr
Gooch says, she promised to speak to the marquis, and that makes me hope
that the matter will be settled better than your father expects."

"Not if that young lord finds out about it. He'll try and set his
father against us. You should have heard him and his shipmate this
afternoon blackguarding Ben and me, because we wouldn't carry their
portmanteaus."

"There would have been no disgrace in so doing. It shows that they
thought you stronger men than themselves," observed Mrs Hargrave.

"I should not have minded doing it, if it hadn