er than all earthly
friends, and Paul Trefusis has acted a father's part in bringing you up
to fear and honour Him."

"I do trust God, for it is He you speak of, granny," said Michael, "and
I will try to love and obey Him as long as I live. He did what He knew
to be best when He took my poor father away, and gave me such a good one
as he who lies sick in there. I wish, granny, that you could have given
me a better account of my grandfather."

"I thought it best that you should know the truth, Michael, and as you
cannot be called to account for what he was, you need not trouble
yourself about that matter. Your grandmother was an excellent woman,
and I have a notion that she was of gentle blood, so it is well you
should remember her name, and you may some day hear of her kith and kin:
not that you are ever likely to gain anything by that; still it's a
set-off against what your grandfather was, though people hereabouts will
never throw that in your face."

"I should care little for what they may say," answered Michael; "all I
wish is to grow into a strong man to be able to work for you and Nelly
and poor father, if he does not gain his strength. I will do my best
now, and when the pilchard season comes on I hope, if I can get David
Treloar or another hand in the boat, to do still better."

CHAPTER FOUR.

Day after day Paul Trefusis lay on his sick-bed. A doctor was sent for,
but his report was unfavourable. Nelly asked him, with trembling lips,
whether he thought her father would ever get well.

"You must not depend too much on that, my little maiden," he answered;
"but I hope your brother, who seems an industrious lad, and that
wonderful old woman, your grandmother, will help you to keep the pot
boiling in the house, and I dare say you will find friends who will
assist you when you require it. Good-bye; I'll come and see your father
again soon; but all I can do is to relieve his pain."

Dame Lanreath and Michael did, indeed, do their best to keep the pot
boiling: early and late Michael was at work, either digging in the
garden, fishing in the harbour, or, when the weather would allow him,
going with the boat outside. Young as he was, he was well able, under
ordinary circumstances, to manage her by himself, though, of course,
single-handed, he could not use the nets.

Though he toiled very hard, he could, however, obtain but a scanty
supply of fish. When he obtained more than were required for home
c