w fervent were now the morning and
evening prayers; how often during the day did his parents offer up a
petition to heaven for their dear boy's recovery. The weather became
finer every day, and it was almost impossible to keep Tommy quiet: Juno
went out with him and Albert every morning, and kept them with her while
she cooked; and, fortunately, Vixen had some young ones, and when Juno
could no longer amuse them, she brought them two of the puppies to play
with. As for the quiet, meek little Caroline, she would remain during
the whole day holding her mother's hand, and watching her brother, or
working with her needle by the side of his bed.

Ready, who could not be idle, had taken the hammer and cold chisel to
make the salt-pan, at which he worked during those portions of the day
in which his services were not required indoors; and as he sat chipping
away the rock, his thoughts were ever upon William, for he dearly loved
the boy for his amiable disposition and his cleverness; and many a time
during the day would he stop his work, and the tears would run down his
cheeks as he offered up his petition to the Almighty that the boy might
be spared to his afflicted parents. And those prayers were heard, for
on the ninth day William was pronounced by Ready and Mr Seagrave to
have much less fever, and shortly afterwards it left him altogether; but
he was so weak that he could not raise himself in his bed for two or
three days; and it was not till more than a fortnight after the fever
had left him that he could go out of the house. The joy that was
expressed by them all when the change took place may be imagined: nor
were the thanksgivings less fervent than had been the prayers.

During his convalescence, as there was nothing else to do, Mr Seagrave
and Ready, who now went gladly to their work, determined, as the
salt-pan was finished, that they would make a bathing-place. Juno came
to their assistance, and was very useful in assisting to drag the wheels
which brought the rocks and stones; and Tommy was also brought down,
that he might be out of the way while Mrs Seagrave and Caroline watched
the invalid. By the time that William was able to go out of the house,
the bathing-place was finished, and there was no longer any fear of the
sharks. William came down to the beach with his mother, and looked at
the work which had been done; he was much pleased with it, and said,
"Now, Ready, we have finished everything at home for