of the swarm of 'mackerrow.' But though the take had been
abundantly successful, and the boat came home heavily laden; though the
bay and the encircling cottages were bathed in the cheery red light of
a gorgeous sunset, and supper-time was at hand, somehow the spring of
happiness had died out of everything. Ned hated deceit with the
vigorous hatred of an outspoken, truthful nature. He wriggled
mentally, full of guilty discomfort, as he watched Theo's straight,
slim figure rapidly stepping round to the Bunk, and told himself
ashamedly that he had wilfully deceived the 'young miss' who was always
so kind, so civil-spoken, to himself.

'Ned! Ned, my lad!' called out Goody's cracked voice from within.
'Whatever's ado that 'ee don't come to supper? The taters is coolin'.'

'All right, granny! I be turnin' over the nets, that's all.'

Goody's ears--her sharpest sense was hearing--detected the heaviness in
Ned's voice.

'What's come to 'ee, Ned, so suddent?' she asked anxiously, as she
heaped a plate with potatoes, and poured out a mug of butter-milk.

Perhaps it was the smoking supper that proved too much for the hungry
fisher-boy, or perhaps Ned's conscience still troubled him, but the boy
was unusually silent. Goody, try as she might, could get nothing out
of him.

'I'm off again, granny, soon's ever the moon's up,' Ned at length broke
silence to say, when his supper was finished.

'Are ye, lad? Well, good luck to 'ee! The wind's fair and the water
calm.' Goody stepped to the open door, and peered out at the darkening
bay. 'Ay! There's Fletcher's folk makin' ready in the boat, Ned.'
She returned to the house-place, and reaching down the thick woollen
muffler, stained with salt water, but a valued heirloom for its warmth,
she handed it to the boy. 'See you don't forgit to put it round your
throat,' she enjoined. 'Neither don't 'ee forgit the bit o' a prayer,
my boy, that I taught ye to say out on the deep by night. Folks is apt
to think as prayers belongs to a night spent in a comfortable bed
ashore. But God listens as ready to bits of prayers that goes up to
Him in the black silence o' night, out on the waters, same's He listens
to them as is put up in church o' Sundays, with parson for mouthpiece.
Will 'ee remember, Ned?'

'I'll remember, granny; I do always!' quietly replied Ned, throwing the
muffler across his shoulders. To do the boy justice, he always did
remember the 'bit o' a prayer' Goody