n's.'

'Oh, well,' said Theo heavily, 'it would not really so very much
signify what the boys' day-dreams of the future were, if they would
only do their duty meantime. I was trying so hard last Sunday, in the
class, to make them all understand that God Himself leads always, and
that until He points the way we have no right to set out upon it. But
it is questionable whether they took in my meaning.'

Goody nodded. There was a little silence in the cottage. The potatoes
bubbled gaily in the pot, and the clock in the corner ticked in
measured dignity.

'There's one thing, deary, that I think you had ought to be telled.'
Goody broke the stillness, at last, with an effort. 'I've had it on my
mind for some weeks back to let 'ee know; but somehow I dursn't. Them
b'ys is plannin' mischief. They've a notion to run away--to sea!'

The old woman spoke the last words in a whisper, though there was
nobody to hear, save the sleepy old tortoiseshell cat by the fender,
which opened one lazy eye, winked as if she, too, were in the secret,
then, shutting it, purred off to sleep.

'Run away!' Theo's fresh face turned chalky pale, and her eyes widened
into a terrified stare.

'True, deary, quite true! Night arter night I could hear Ned a-talkin'
in his sleep in his little bed yonder, same's if somethin' was on his
mind. So, at last, I got out o' my bed one night a-purpose to listen
careful, and there, if Ned wasn't ravin' away to hisself, in his sleep,
and 'twas all about gettin' away up to the docks at Lunnon, and hidin'
in some ship bund for the North, him and Muster Alick. It giv' me a
turn, as I see it's done the same to you this minnit, my dear. So I
thought I'd best tell 'ee private, when I'd the chance; for nobody
knows what a b'y won't dare to do. P'raps you could speak to the
captain, and git him to make a stir. Eh, deary?'

'Father? Oh, it would be no use. He wouldn't care, nor even listen.
He's too busy with his stupid old writings to mind any of us, or what
trouble we are in. It's too bad the way we are left to ourselves!'
Theo in her excitement lost her self-control, and spoke with a
bitterness not belonging to her sweet nature. In truth, the girl was
becoming a great deal harassed by the cares that were pressing upon her
so heavily of late.

'Deary!' A wrinkled brown finger was raised, and Goody looked over her
horn spectacles in grieved surprise. ''Tain't for me to pint out to
one so good and g