ll we do if nobody will take us in?" she asked papa
dolefully. "Shall we have to sit in the wagon all night?"

"Guess 't won't come to that," said the cheery driver. "Downs'll take
you. I'll bet a cookie he will." When he came to "Downs's," he jumped
out and ran in. "They're real clever folks," he told Mrs. Downs; "and
the little gal is so tired, it's a pity to see."

So Mrs. Downs consented to lodge them; and their troubles were over
for that day. Half blind with sleep and fatigue, Eyebright ate her
bread and milk, fried eggs, and doughnuts, fell asleep while she
undressed, gave her head a knock against the bedpost, laughed, hurried
into bed, and in three minutes was lost in dreamless slumber. The wind
blew softly up the bay, the waves sang their droning lullaby, a
half-grown moon came out, twinkled, and flashed in the flashing water,
and sent one long beam in to peep at the little sleeper in bed. The
new life was begun, and begun pleasantly.

CHAPTER VIII.

CAUSEY ISLAND.

When Eyebright awoke next morning, she ran straight to the window,
with the hope that she might see Causey Island. But the window did not
look toward the sea. Only a barn, a bit of winding road, and a green
hill with a rocky top, were to be seen; and she dropped the paper
shade with a sense of disappointment.

Dressing herself as fast as she could, she ran downstairs. Mrs. Downs,
who was frying fish in the kitchen, pointed with a spoon in answer to
her question, and said,--

"It's up that way the island is, but 'taint much to look at. It's too
fur for you to see the house."

Eyebright didn't particularly care about seeing the house. She was
satisfied with seeing the island. There it lay, long and green, raised
high out of the blue sea like a wall, with the water washing its stony
shore. There seemed to be a good many trees and bushes on top, and
altogether she thought it a beautiful place, and one where a little
girl might be happy to live.

"You ain't the folks that's coming to live up to the island, be you?"
said Mrs. Downs. "Do tell if you are? We heard there was some one.
There hain't been nobody there for quite a spell back, not since the
Lotts went away last year. Job Lott, he farmed it for a while; but
Miss Lott's father, he was took sick over to Machias, and they moved
up to look after him, and nobody's been there since, unless the boys
for blueberries. I guess your Pa'll find plenty to do to get things
straightened out,