t, I am sure she would," Elsie went on low and tenderly.

Mrs. Ross shook her head, tears trembling in her eyes.

"How can I? I have not found him myself yet. Ah, Elsie, I wish I'd begun
as you did. You have some comfort in your children; I've none in mine.

"That is," she added, hastily correcting herself, "not as much as I ought
to have, except in Phil; he's doing well; yet even he's not half so
thoughtful and affectionate toward his father and mother as your boys are.
But then of course he's of a different disposition."

"Your younger boys seem fine lads," Elsie said; "and Sophie has a winning
way."

Lucy looked pleased, then sighed, "They _are_ nice children, but so
wilful; and the boys so venturesome. I've no peace when they are out of my
sight, lest they should be in some danger."

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTH.

"Oh, Lord! methought what pain it was to drown!"
--SHAKESPEARE.

Cousin Ronald was a great favorite with his young relatives. Harold and
Herbert had long since voted him quite equal, if not superior to Captain
Brice as a story-teller; his narratives were fully as interesting, and
beside always contained a moral or some useful information.

There were tales of the sea, wild tales of the Highlands and of the
Scottish Border; stories of William Wallace, of the Bruce and the Black
Douglass, in all of which the children greatly delighted.

Mr. Lilburn's ventriloquial powers were used for their amusement also, and
altogether they found him a very entertaining companion.

Rosie holding a shell to her ear one day, was sent into ecstasies of
delight, by hearing low, sweet strains of music, apparently coming from
the inside of it.

At another time, as she stooped to pick up a dead crab while wandering
along the beach, she started back in dismay at hearing it scream out in a
shrill, tiny voice, "Don't touch me! I'll pinch you, if you do."

The merry laugh of the boys told her that it was "only Cousin Ronald," but
she let the crab alone, keeping at a respectful distance from its claws.

This was on the evening spoken of in our last chapter, and while her mamma
and Aunt Lucy were chatting together in the veranda, waiting for the call
to tea.

It sounded presently, and Cousin Ronald and the children started on a run
for the house, trying who could get there first.

Harold showed himself the fleetest of foot, Herbert and Frank Daly were
close at his heels, while M