he was married.
Leastwise I never thought of it or heerd on it, not havin' bin
acquainted with her at that time."

With a short laugh Ruth said, "Well, never mind; but perhaps you can
tell me, Billy, if your mother ever had a brother connected with the
sea--a sailor, I mean."

"Stumped again!" exclaimed the boy; "who'd have thought I was so
ignorant about my own mother? If she ever had sich a brother, he must
have bin drownded, for I never heerd tell of 'im."

"Then you never heard either your father or mother mention any other
name than Bright--I mean in connection with yourselves?" said Ruth in a
disappointed tone.

"Never, Miss, as I can reck'lect on. I would willin'ly say yes, to
please you, but I'd raither not tell no lies."

"That's right my good boy," said Mrs Dotropy, with a stately but
approving nod, "for you know where all liars go to."

"Yes, ma'am, an' I knows where liars _don't_ go to," returned Billy,
looking up with pious resignation, whereat the Miss Seawards and Ruth
burst into a laugh.

It must not be supposed that Billy meant to be profane, but he had taken
a dislike to Mrs Dotropy, and did not choose to be patronised by her.

As poor Ruth found that it was useless to pursue her investigations in
this direction further, she changed the subject to the North Sea
fishery, with the details of which her little friend was of course quite
conversant. Then she proposed to accompany Billy home.

"I want to make the acquaintance of your father," she said.

"Ah! he's a true blue _now_, he is," said Billy.

"Was your father not always a true blue?" asked Ruth, as they went along
the street together.

"Well, it ain't right for me to say ought agin my father--but--he's true
blue _now_, anyhow."

And Ruth found that the reformed drunkard was indeed "true blue," and
very glad to see her; nevertheless she obtained no information from him
on the subject she was so anxious about--not because he was
uncommunicative, but because Ruth, being very timid, had not courage to
open her lips upon it.

The shades of evening were beginning to descend when she rose to leave.
Both father and son offered to escort her home, but she declined the
offer with many thanks, and went off alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

DETAILS TWO ROBBERIES AND AN AWFUL SITUATION.

The attainment of Felicity is said to be the aim of all mankind. In
order to this end, men in all ages have voluntarily submitted themselves
to prolonged