ll the noise of the steam, I heard somebody shouting my name,
and calling so loudly to me that I ran up to the deck at once. I had
quite forgotten about not having my jacket on, and I believe my face had
got blacked--it was, I know, when we got on shore. Everybody laughed at
me; only mamma was poorly and frightened--she thought I had tumbled
overboard. I suppose I oughtn't to have gone down just then, for that
was the place where we were to go on shore," Aleck added, somewhat
thoughtfully, remembering how very white was the face to which his own
blackened one had been pressed.

By this time we were re-entering the Cove.

"You'll only be just in time for your dinner, young gentlemen," said
George, as we drew in towards the landing-place; "I reckon it won't come
a minute before you're ready for it."

"You'll teach me to row, will you not, as soon as possible?" said my
cousin, as we parted. "I should like to begin at once, please."

"So soon as you like, sir. Master Willie, you mustn't be long in
bringing down your cousin."

Thus saying, Groves took his way to the lodge, and Aleck and I clambered
quickly up the Zig-zag, reaching home in time to appear, with smooth
hair, and rosy cheeks, and keen appetites, at the luncheon-table.

Aleck was in wild spirits, and confided to me that he didn't think he
had ever enjoyed himself so much before.

CHAPTER IV.

THE RIDE TO STAVEMOOR.

A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly
natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the
position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could
scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.

My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on
the Continent. The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than
to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in
my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her
child behind. I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a
spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of
for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.

It was a subject of great thankfulness, to both my uncle and aunt, that
Aleck and I had formed such a friendship for each other. They had
scarcely driven from the door, and Aleck's eyes were still wet with
tears, when he told me that he did not think he could be so happy
anywhere away from his papa and mamma as at Braycombe, w