would rather give it to Aleck."

Old George chuckled rather provokingly, and seemed to be taken up with
some abstruse calculation. "Well, I won't be against it, Master Aleck,"
he said, "unless--no--I'm not sure--" (the old man seemed to grow quite
composed in his uncertainty), "I think--I may show you." And so saying
he led the way into the work-shop.

I started with surprise--another little schooner-yacht was in course of
construction, precisely similar to the one that had been lost.

"O George, how kind!"

"No; it's not a bit kind," responded George, "for I'm being paid for it.
I meant to have done it without, but your papa, sir, has insisted upon
it being his order, and I've been obliged to cave in."

It was to be a secret from Aleck, however.

How hard it was to keep that secret, when, every time there was a talk
of Aleck's being able to get down to the Cove, I was on the point of
letting out what he was to see there!

I did contrive to keep it, however; and when at last February was
ushered in with a burst of warm weather that tempted all the little buds
to unfold themselves with a perfectly reckless disregard of the cold
that was sure to follow, and primroses and violets to start into blossom
as though they could not lay the bright carpet for spring's advance too
soon, Dr. Wilson decreed that nothing would do his little patient more
good than a couple of hours of the freshest sea breezes, caught and
partaken of on the spot, a mile off from shore;--which meant that Aleck
had leave to go to the Cove once more, and out upon the sea for a sail.

Of course I had a whole holiday for the occasion; and I had satisfaction
in observing that I was not the only one unable to settle down into
quiet occupation. The carriage was nearly ready to drive my parents and
Aleck down to the lodge, when I started off by way of the Zig-zag, to
the Cove.

There was the new yacht, already decked from bow to stern with the tiny
flags which I had been collecting for weeks past. All the sails were
set, but a little anchor--also my addition to the furniture of the new
vessel--kept her safely moored; and as she curtsied upon the water,
every sail and flag reflected as in a mirror, I thought I had never seen
anything so pretty.

Perhaps Aleck thought so too, for when he arrived a few minutes after,
leaning on my father's arm, he seemed as if he could not speak, and had
to sit down quite quietly in the boat whilst he drew the yacht clos