nxiety and
alarm than she had ever before experienced. "O my dear, dear Michael,
why don't you come back to me? O merciful God, protect him!" She fell
on her knees, hiding her face in her hands, and prayed for the safety of
him who was on the foaming waters.

She thought she heard her granny coming. She rose from the ground and,
going to the door, looked out. No one was there; she heard the roaring
of the breakers on the rocky coast, and the fierce wind howling up the
wild glen, making the surface of the harbour bubble and hiss and foam,
and sending the spray, mingled with the cold night wind, high up, even
to where she stood.

"I must go and learn why he does not come," she exclaimed. "Oh, how I
wish granny would come back! she may suffer harm coming along the rough
path this bleak night in the dark."

Poor Nelly felt in truth forlorn; but hers was a brave heart, which a
fisherman's wife needs must have, or she could not endure the agitating
suspense to which she must day after day throughout her life he exposed,
when the tempest howls and the wild waves roar. She went in and put on
her hood and cloak. In vain she strove to restrain her agitation.
Again she went to the door. She thought she saw through the thick gloom
a figure approaching.

"Is that you, dear granny?" she cried out.

"Ay, Nelly, though I have had a hard battle with the wind," answered
Dame Lanreath, in her usually cheery voice. "But my journey is ended,
and it was well I went to poor Polly Penduck when I did, for she was in
a bad way; the doctor, however, has been with her, and she is all right
now."

Nelly had run forward to lead her grandmother into the house, and she
spoke the latter words on her way.

"Why, my child, what is the matter with you?" exclaimed the dame, as she
saw her pale and agitated countenance.

Before Nelly could answer, footsteps were heard outside. She hurried
back to the door.

"Oh! can it be Michael coming?" exclaimed Nelly. "Michael, Michael, are
you there?"

"No, we be Paul and Joseph Penduck," answered two young voices. "We are
on our way home to mother."

"Your mother is well and sleeping, but do not make a noise, lads, when
you go in," exclaimed Dame Lanreath, who had followed Nelly to the door.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"We needs be to get out of the storm, dame," answered one of the boys.
"Father told us to make haste home; but he has gone off in the `Rescue'
with Uncle Reuben Lanaher