Whoever comes in contact with these dear friends of mine thinks exactly
as you do. Now, their health is not nearly as good as it ought to be,
so I want them to have a change of air. You see, the poor little street
in which they live is not the freshest in London."

"Exactly so. They want a trip to Brighton or Broadstairs or Ramsgate,
and a whiff of fresh sea-air, eh?" said the captain with a look of
satisfaction.

"No not to these places," said Ruth; "I thought of Yarmouth."

"Well, Yarmouth--just as good. Any part o' the coast will do to blow
the London cobwebs out o' their brains--say Yarmouth."

"Very good, captain, but my difficulty is, how to manage it."

"Nothing easier, Miss Ruth. I will take an afternoon train, run down,
hire a lodgin', come up to-morrow, an' carry the Miss Seawards off wi'
me."

"But suppose they won't go?"

"But they must go. I'm quite able to take up one under each arm an'
carry 'em off by force if they won't."

"I would highly approve of that method, captain, if it were possible,
but I'm afraid such things are not permitted in this free country. No,
if done at all, the thing must be gone about with a little more care and
delicacy."

"Well then, I'll go down an' take a lodgin', an' write up and ask them
to pay me a visit for the benefit of their health."

Ruth shook her pretty little head and frowned.

"Won't do," she said. "I know them too well. They're so unselfish that
they won't budge a step to benefit themselves."

"H'm! I see, Miss Ruth, we want a little scheming here--eh? Well, I'll
manage it. You leave this little matter in my hands, and see if I don't
get 'em to visit Yarmouth, by hook or by crook. By the way, Miss Ruth,
was it one o' your little schemes, givin' 'em these mitts and comforters
to make?"

"Of course it was," Ruth replied with a laugh and a blush. "You see
these things are really very much wanted by the North sea fishermen, and
a great many benevolent women spend much time in knitting for them--and
not only women, but also boys."

"Boys!" echoed the captain in surprise--"boys knit mitts and
comforters?"

"Yes. I assure you that the telegraph boys of the Notting Hill branch
of the Post-office have actually spent some of their spare time in doing
this work."

"I'll look upon telegraph boys with more respect ever after this," said
the captain with emphasis.

"Well, as I was saying," continued Ruth, "Mamma bought far more worsted
for me