dertook to
bring home the things, and I do not wish anybody else to do my work."

Still Eban persisted in his offers; she as constantly refusing, till
they reached the top of the pathway.

"There," she said, "I have only to go down hill now, so you need not be
afraid the load will break my back. Good-bye, Eban, you will be wanted
at home I dare say."

Eban looked disconcerted; he appeared to have intended to accompany her
down the hill, but he had sense enough to see that she did not wish him
to do so. He stopped short, therefore.

"Good-bye, Eban," said Michael, as he passed him; "Nelly and I must get
home as fast as we can to help granny nurse father."

"That's the work you are most fitted for," muttered Eban, as Michael
went on. "If it was not for Nelly I should soon quarrel with that
fellow. He is always talking about his duty, and fearing God, and such
like things. If he had more spirit he would not hold back as he does
from joining us. However, I will win him over some day when he is
older, and it is not so easy to make a livelihood with his nets and
lines alone as he supposes."

Eban remained on the top of the hill watching his young acquaintances as
they descended the steep path, and then made his way homewards.

When Nelly and Michael arrived at the cottage the dame told them, to
their sorrow, that their father was not better but rather worse. He
still, however, forbad her sending for the doctor.

Day after day he continued much in the same state, though he endeavoured
to encourage them with the hopes that he should get well at last.

The weather continued so bad all this time that Michael could not get
out in the boat to fish with lines or lay down his lobster-pots. He and
Nelly might have lost spirit had not their granny kept up hers and
cheered them.

"We must expect bad times, my children, in this world," she said. "The
sun does not always shine, but when clouds cover the sky we know they
will blow away at last and we shall have fine days again. I have had
many trials in my life, but here I am as well and hardy as ever. We
cannot tell why some are spared and some are taken away. It is God's
will, that's all we know. It was His will to take your parents,
Michael, but He may think fit to let you live to a green old age. I
knew your father and mother, and your grandmother too. Your grandmother
had her trials, and heavy ones they were. I remember her a pretty,
bright young woman as I