*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77762 ***

Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.



[Illustration: TOM AND DICK POTTER'S FAVORITE CAVE.]



                             TOM GILLIES;

                        THE KNOTS HE TIED AND

                                UNTIED.


                                  BY

                        MRS. GEORGE GLADSTONE

                              AUTHOR OF

           "NORWEGIAN STORIES," "THE BOY WHO WONDERED," &c.


                             New Edition.


                                LONDON:
                 JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.
                              MDCCCLXXXI.



                               EDINBURGH:
                  PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
                       AND CHANDOS STREET, LONDON



                                  TO

                              MY NIECES,

                     FLO, BESSIE, BELLA, AND MAY,

                           This little Story

                             IS DEDICATED,

                  IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HAPPY HOURS

                           SPENT WITH THEM

                    IN SEEKING OUT THE CHARACTERS

                       ON WHICH IT IS FOUNDED.



                               CONTENTS.

                            [Illustration]

CHAP.

    I. TOM IS INTRODUCED

   II. MOTHER CRAMPTON

  III. MISS PRINGLE AND HER LODGERS

   IV. TOM AND DICK GO FOR A HOLIDAY

    V. HOW TOM SPENT HIS LAST DAY AT HOME

   VI. TOM AT HIS SITUATION

  VII. THE DEAD CAT

 VIII. SUNDAY WITH MISS PRINGLE

   IX. TOM HEARS FROM HOME

    X. THE EXCURSION TO LOCKSTONE

   XI. HOW TOM FARED

  XII. QUITE BLIND

 XIII. TOM'S FIRST WAGES

  XIV. THE ACCIDENT

   XV. TWO YEARS LATER



                             TOM GILLIES.

                            [Illustration]

CHAPTER I.

TOM IS INTRODUCED.

NORTON ISLAND was two miles and a half from the pretty watering-place
of Dixtown; it was a point of interest to visitors to the latter place,
who enjoyed sailing across the bay to picnic there, when the day was
calm and the sun shone brightly. It had lofty cliffs, which terminated
here and there in abrupt points, deep caves, and picturesque coves. The
view from the back of the island commanded a wide expanse of ocean, and
was so wild that the sea-birds built their nests in the crannies of the
rock, choosing such dangerous places that only daring lads like Tom
Gillies and his friend Dick Potter attempted to plunder them of their
eggs.

One large mansion and farm, belonging to Mr. Pender, the proprietor of
the limestone quarries, and the cottages where the people who worked
for him and a few fishermen dwelt, made up the sum of the habitations
on Norton Island, save the schoolhouse, where an old spinster lived
rent-free. She was a fairly-educated woman, who had once served in Mr.
Pender's family, and that gentleman allowed her an annual stipend for
teaching the children of the men he employed.

Norton Island was rather celebrated for its limestone quarries. Many
vessels anchored in the roadstead during the year, waiting for cargo,
whilst it also afforded a harbour in time of storm. It boasted no place
of worship; occasionally divine service was held in the schoolroom on
Sunday afternoon, and in that case a great bell sounded for half an
hour before it commenced, in order to summon the villagers.

The Gillies family, with the exception of the eldest daughter Sally,
turned a deaf ear to the call. Mrs. Gillies contended that Sunday was
designed for poor people to spend in idleness. "We work right away for
six days," she said, "and it's hard if we can't rest on the seventh."
Certainly she was an industrious woman so far as the concerns of this
world were involved; but she had to learn that honouring God was
paramount, and that, if she served Him, she would better fulfil her
duties to her family, and to all mankind.

Mr. Gillies had lived on Norton Island for twenty-five years. He
settled there soon after his marriage, and had worked in the limestone
quarries ever since. He had a hard struggle to live while his children
were young, but, when our story opens, his four eldest sons helped
substantially to maintain the home. They rented the cottage adjoining
their father's; and though the eldest, Harry, was soon to be married,
the other three were doing so well, they intended occupying it as
before.

It was customary for the women to sell prawns in Dixtown. When Sally
Gillies was old enough to cook the dinner, her mother undertook this
business, and rather enjoyed the many journeys to and from Norton
Island it entailed.

One beautiful afternoon in August she returned home after having
disposed of her basket of prawns satisfactorily. She was particularly
happy over her day's work, for two reasons:—The first was, that she had
sold her fish well; and the second, that she had made an arrangement
for one of her sons.

"I've been and gone and done it, Tom," she said, as she entered the
cottage and threw down her basket.

"Done what?" questioned a boy of fourteen, who was standing idly by the
window.

"Got you a situation," answered his mother. "To-morrow-week you go
to Miss Pringle. You'll have to run errands, clean out the shop, and
look after the bakehouse, and, what's more, have done with your idle
vagabond habits. You're no good to your father nor me; we can't do
nothing with you. You won't work regular at any time, and Dick Potter
will be your ruin at last. He does his duty sometimes, but you never
will stick to anything but catching crabs and hunting the rocks."

"What's Miss Pringle going to give Tom, mother?" asked Sally, a girl of
sixteen, who was darning a coarse sock.

"He's to have his board for the first six months, and afterwards she'll
give him a shilling a week besides. And she says, Tom, you may come
home now and then of a Saturday night, and back again of a Sunday
night, when the boys have the boat convenient. I'm sure you ought to be
glad to have another chance; and you may thank Miss Pringle for taking
you, when she knows well enough what a troublesome fellow she'll have
to deal with."

"I'd just as soon be a baker's boy as stay here to be found fault with
by you and father," answered Tom, sullenly. "Nobody thinks I can do
right. I'm sure I'd stick to the prawning or quarrying if you'd let me;
but there's too many at home, and you want to get rid of me."

"That's not true, lad," said Mr. Gillies, a tall, rough-looking man,
who entered the room at this moment. "You know you won't work steadily,
and that it all ends in talk with you. Dick Potter will ruin you, and
you will ruin him; and the sooner you're separated the better. I'm
quite tired of hearing complaints from one and the other; this island
is too small to hold two such boys. I'm glad for you to go away; if any
one can manage you, Miss Pringle can."

"I ain't no worse than others, father," replied Tom. "I'd do better if
you'd be kind to me. I never was a favourite at home, and never shall
be. Sally is the only one who ever speaks civilly to me. Ask her if I'm
a bad brother to her."

Mrs. Gillies glanced at her daughter, but as the latter made no reply,
she continued the conversation.

"Your father speaks as he finds you, Tom," she said. "Even Mr. Pander
has given you up; he thinks you'll behave better among strangers; and
yet he's promised to take Dick Potter on, the first opening that comes."

"And so he may for all I care," muttered the boy. "I'm ready to be off
to Miss Pringle to-morrow if you like. I'm sure, with such a lot of
children about, there isn't much to make me want to stay here."

"You're an ungrateful rascal," said Mr. Gillies; and the lad would
have received a heavy blow, had he not twisted round and made good his
retreat through the open door.

Tom was not far wrong when he said there were too many at home for
comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Gillies had eleven children. Harry and Will, the
two eldest, were fishermen, and owned a boat between them; Ned and
James worked with their father in the limestone quarries; Sally came
next, then Tom, and five young children.

Tom ran as fast as his legs would carry him until he reached the edge
of the cliff, then he scrambled down to a favourite cave, where he
and Dick Potter had concocted their plans for many a day, and plotted
mischievous schemes which gained for these boys so bad a name on the
island. Tom under different training would have been a better boy. He
was extremely generous, very passionate, intensely mischievous, and
easily led. Dick Potter, on the other hand, had no redeeming qualities;
he excited Tom to acts of daring which the latter would not have
thought of, and he always took care to be on the safe side himself.

Tom had so often been in the wrong that his father and mother looked
upon him as the black sheep of the family, and never gave him credit
for doing well. The boy hardened under this treatment, and grew
reckless. To his sister Sally he was rarely rude or unkind; but her
character was scarcely matured enough to guide him, though she did her
best to induce her brother to relinquish any wild scheme that came
to her knowledge, and would, she knew, bring him into punishment if
carried out.

Tom sat in the cave and threw pebbles into the water; the tide was
rising so that he could not search after crabs, and unless Dick came
soon he would have to abandon his position, for the water rolled so
nearly up to him. In fact, he was on the point of retreating, when a
long low whistle announced that his companion was near.

"You're later than usual, Dick," called out Tom.

"You mean you're earlier."

"Well, I suppose I am. There ain't much to tempt me to stay at home.
Now I remember, I came without my tea. But Sally will look after me.
I've got something to tell you, Dick."

"Well, speak up; what is it?"

"First let's get out of our cave to higher ground; the tide's coming
in."

The boys scrambled on to a jutting point of rock—another favourite
place they had—and sat down again.

"What's up?" asked Dick.

"I'm going to live with Miss Pringle. I shall have to help in the
bakehouse, run errands, and sweep out the shop."

Dick whistled.

"What do you think of it?" asked Tom.

"Why, that you won't be there a month. Miss Pringle's a dreadfully
difficult woman to please, I've heard."

"Anything is better than staying at home," said Tom.

"I don't think so," replied Dick.

"It's different with you and me. I'm not wanted here; and though the
bakehouse will be hot after so much fresh air, I'd rather be stewed
than told every minute in the day that I'm a good-for-nothing fellow."

"You'll never stay, I tell you."

"Is that all you have to say, Dick? You ain't a bit sorry I'm going,"
said Tom, as if hurt at his companion's carelessness.

"Of course I'm sorry. I shall lose my best friend," replied Dick; "and
mind, Tom, I shall always be ready to help you. And now we won't talk
any more about your leaving Norton Island, for there's to be a splendid
shooting at the quarry in half an hour. Let's go over and watch it."

The boys started at once, and were in time to see a great blasting of
the rock, which generally took place when most of the men had finished
their day's work.



CHAPTER II.

MOTHER CRAMPTON.

MOTHER CRAMPTON had passed her seventy-seventh birthday, and it
seemed probable she would live to be ninety or more, for her steps
were elastic and her eyes bright. She was a well-known inhabitant of
Dixtown, having rented the same two rooms for more than thirty years.
She kept a small shop, and sold boxes of beautiful shells, which were
collected from the neighbouring sands by a gentleman who had seen
better days, and who earned in this manner a bare subsistence for
himself and daughter.

Mother Crampton was diminutive in stature, but neat and trim in person.
She wore a dress of coarse material, and a dark brown woollen apron.
Sometimes both dress and apron were patched in many places, and not
always with the same-coloured stuff; but the stitches were so small,
and the turnings so even, they but served to show how thrifty she was,
and what her still nimble fingers were able to perform. They moved
quickly, too, when the old dame knitted her black stockings. How she
managed to walk about in her heavy, thick leather boots was a question
that she decided by many ominous shakes of the head, and a long
explanation about the needs-be of women so far advanced in life as she
was trying to keep clear of rheumatism.

Though Mother Crampton's face was wrinkled, and the lines in it
deep-set, she was pleasant-looking and intelligent, with a placid
expression which denoted a mind at rest. She was very peaceful and
contented, because she trusted in God, and had found the joy of
believing in Jesus for many a long year; nor was she ashamed to confess
her Saviour before men.

We have said that Mother Crampton rented two rooms. That on the
ground-floor was her shop and parlour, overhead was her bedroom, which
was somewhat encumbered by a full-sized four-post bed, covered with a
patchwork quilt, sewn by herself.

The lower room had a curious medley of furniture of all sorts in it.
The kitchen fireplace was let into a recess. The three shelves over
it were filled with pans, irons, candlesticks, and a great variety
of cooking utensils. Near to this recess there was a small wooden
cupboard, in which four dozen cups and saucers, six earthenware
teapots, and as many small jugs and sugar-basins, were kept.

Opposite to it stood a chest of drawers, which held the good dame's
Sunday clothes, and all the linen and wearing apparel she possessed,
except her black silk bonnet, which was carefully pinned up in a
pocket-handkerchief and deposited in a square box under her bed. A
great variety of articles were displayed on the top of the chest of
drawers, which was protected from scratches by a green baize cloth.
Among them was an old Bible, full of quaint pictures, and a shell-house
which served for a barometer. It contained two wooden figures fastened
together by catgut. "Let my old woman appear," said Mother Crampton,
"and I'm sure the weather will be fine; and the rain will fall if her
husband shows himself."

A small, round, wooden table was placed next to the drawers. On it
were piled, one above the other, four boxes filled with shells, which
were carefully wrapped in paper to protect them from the dust. By
their side stood a large pair of scales. A corner cupboard, the door
of which always remained open, was fixed close to the window, and
contained a reserve stock of goods and eatables of various sorts. A
second wooden table was placed in the window, which was kept tolerably
clear in the morning, so that the boxes of shells might be displayed
to customers, or the scales stand on it while some article was weighed
out. Every afternoon it was covered with cups and saucers, for many
tired fishwomen had tea ere they returned to their homes, which in
some instances were several miles distant from Dixtown, and involved a
longer row than to Norton Island. Mother Crampton earned many halfpence
by entertaining these prawn-sellers. She provided the crockery, hot
water, and milk, for which they paid one penny per head. Usually each
visitor brought her own tea and sugar.

Three shelves extended across the shop-window. The highest held two
wide-necked bottles, one filled with starch, and the other with pepper.
A paper which covered the centre pane of glass announced that blacking
might be purchased within; while a second notice invited strangers to
inspect the boxes of shells.

The lowest shelf was much wider than the other two; it contained
packets of blacklead, bottles of ink, a cup of oatmeal, onions, pipes,
lumps of salt, lucifers, a few prawns, and sometimes a bunch of
parsley or mint. The walls of the room were adorned with brown paper
bags filled with spearmint, sage, and other dried herbs, while three
portraits, cut out of black paper, and intended to be likenesses of
dear friends, hung over the chest of drawers.

Mother Crampton was very busy about three o'clock on the day after our
story commences. She folded up her work at half-past two, set the cups
and saucers on the wooden table, put the kettle on the fire, and took a
loaf of bread and a small piece of butter out of the corner cupboard.
Whoever ate a thick slice of bread and butter paid an extra halfpenny,
and at the same rate for every additional slice.

The kettle was singing and hissing when Mrs. Gillies entered, looking
very much heated.

"How do you do, mother?" she said. "I'm glad to sit down a bit; it's
been very hot to-day."

"Have you had a good morning's trade?" asked the old dame. "You haven't
many prawns left, I see."

"I've been uncommon lucky, considering I came over later than usual,"
answered Mrs. Gillies; "and, what's better, I've got rid of all my
stale fish. I put a tidy lot at the bottom of my basket, and a young
lady on the terrace bought them all."

"Did you pass them off as fresh?"

Mrs. Gillies laughed. "Of course I did, mother. I said too, 'You may
trust me, Miss.' All's fair in Dixtown; no one takes advantage of the
other."

"And she believed you, and bought your prawns! O neighbour! When will
you learn to do unto others as you would be done by?"

"I've my living to get, and a large family to feed and clothe; it won't
do to be too particular," answered Mrs. Gillies.

"You may prosper, or think you prosper, by falsehood," said the dame;
"but it will never last. Honesty is the best policy, both for this
world and the next."

"Don't preach, mother," replied Mrs. Gillies, good-humouredly. "I've
had a capital day's trade, and I'm very happy; besides, I'm too hot to
listen to a sermon."

"Neighbour, neighbour! I wish you wouldn't talk like that. Remember
that your actions are known to God, and that you will one day have to
render an account to Him of all your false dealings."

"Hush, hush! good mother; you're too much of a saint for me. Now,
listen. I've some news for you. Our Tom's going to live with Miss
Pringle, and I hope you'll give him a kind word now and then."

Dame Crampton was about to answer, when two other women entered the
room, and the conversation became more general. There was a strong
smell of tea very soon, and many confidences were exchanged in the
next quarter of an hour, to which the old mother listened with a grave
face. She could not jest with her customers over what she considered
dishonest dealings. Sometimes she ventured to remonstrate, but her
words were not much heeded; still she persisted in bearing her
testimony to what she believed to be the truth.



CHAPTER III.

MISS PRINGLE AND HER LODGERS.

MISS PRINGLE kept a small baker's shop in Dixtown, and carried on a
brisk trade; in fact, she was rather noted for her home-made bread.
The appearance of her shop from without did not betoken much business,
for the window was small, and had nothing in it but a loaf, a few
stale cakes, and half-a-dozen bottles filled with acidulated drops,
peppermint and ginger lozenges, toffee, barley-sugar sticks, and
bull's-eyes.

Behind the shop was the staircase; then came the kitchen. On the floor
above were two good rooms, and a smaller one which went over part of
the long passage that ran through the house into the garden.

It was a most productive piece of ground. The air of Dixtown was so
mild that all kinds of fruits and vegetables throve, while fuchsias and
myrtles flourished out of doors all the winter, and geraniums needed no
greenhouse to protect them from frost.

Beyond the kitchen was the bakehouse, where Miss Pringle might be seen
every morning at six o'clock kneading her dough, for she was by no
means an idle woman; she managed to conduct her business with the help
of a boy, who attended to the oven, swept out the shop, and carried
bread round to her customers.

Miss Pringle was a tall, thin, spare woman. It was difficult to
determine her age. Some said she was fifty, others sixty; but no one
ventured to ask the question, "How old are you?" And she was never
heard to mention any circumstance which afforded information on the
subject.

She made no friends, and rarely invited any of her customers beyond the
shop. Not a single inhabitant of Dixtown had ever entered her bedroom;
she invariably kept the door locked, and carried the key in her pocket.
This circumstance excited no suspicion in the neighbourhood, for she
was considered very eccentric, and it was looked upon as part of her
eccentricity. The real truth of the matter was this—she was a miser,
and secreted her gold up-stairs. When the house-door was closed to
customers at nine o'clock in summer, and eight in winter, and the
boy sent to his bed under the staircase, Miss Pringle began to enjoy
herself. She retired to her bedroom, and, fearing no intruders, counted
her money ere she fell asleep.

On the day before we make her acquaintance she had realised the sum of
two hundred pounds, which she kept in a stocking within a small wooden
box, secured by a padlock. For a long time she moved this box about her
room, never being satisfied that she had chosen the safest place for
it. During the last few weeks she had adopted a new plan, and placed it
inside a bandbox, which she put on the top shelf of a large cupboard
that faced the bedroom door.

"That bandbox will not excite attention if any misfortune overtakes me,
and I am obliged to let any one in here," she said to herself over and
over again by way of encouragement.

Miss Pringle never laughed heartily; she could smile faintly, but that
was all. It mattered not what conversation was held, nor what jokes
were indulged in, her face ever wore the same unmoved expression. She
was civil, attentive, and anxious to please her customers, but, as we
have said, she made no friends, nor did she wish for any.

She kept a most parsimonious table. Twice a week she dined off fresh
dripping and bread, and three times off bacon and potatoes; while every
Sunday she had a small joint of mutton, which served for Monday too.

No boy ever remained with Miss Pringle beyond six mouths. She promised
Mrs. Gillies that Tom should have one shilling a week if he stayed half
a year in her service, and she was satisfied to make this bargain, for,
judging from past experience, no lad pleased her so much as to involve
the payment of weekly wages.

Before we tell how Tom Gillies arrived at his first situation, and
entered on his new duties, we must speak of the lodger, who, with his
only child, occupied the front room over the shop and smaller one over
the passage, for which Miss Pringle charged three shillings a week.

His name was Newton. He was a widower, and a great invalid. Every one
in Dixtown who knew him treated him with marked respect, even though
clothes were shabby and his coat threadbare. There was no mystery about
his early history; it was just a simple every-day one of a man who
had never been successful, and who had no good friend to advance his
interests.

Mr. Newton lost his wife at the birth of his daughter Annie, and about
the same time his health, which was before so good, declined, and he
had to contend with disease and pain. He was not quite penniless when
he came to Dixtown two years before our story opens, and selected it
as a place of residence because he had a letter of introduction to a
gentleman there, and was ordered by the hospital doctor to live in
a sheltered spot by the sea. He never presented his letter, for his
ailments did not admit of his undertaking regular work.

Soon after Mr. Newton and his daughter, who had just completed her
fourteenth year, were established in their lodgings, an idea struck
him, and one which he hoped, if carried out, would afford him a means
of subsistence. He was a conchologist, and had studied that branch of
natural history for his own amusement. Dixtown at low water was rich in
shells, so he determined to collect the rarest specimens, and name and
arrange them in boxes for sale. In his boyish days, and long before he
felt the pressure of care, he had done this for amusement.

It took him some weeks of hard study to master the names of the
various specimens of shells he found on the shore, and then he fell
seriously ill. Just at this crisis, and when his little hoard of money
was exhausted, his only relative in the world died and left him fifty
pounds. This sum was a great boon to the poor man, who was no longer
haunted by the dread of starvation which must have come but for this
timely aid.

Many days passed before Mr. Newton was well enough to resume his
search after shells. During this time, his little daughter nursed him
tenderly. She was old for her years, and clever too. Her father, who
was no mean scholar, carried on her education, and she eagerly learned
of him.

"You must be a governess, so be diligent, child," he said.

And Annie was diligent; for she loved her father devotedly, and to
please him gave her the purest joy she knew. She was so anxious to
lighten his cares, and be of some use, that she tried to understand
what shells he required for his collections, and during his illness
spent many hours alone in searching after rare specimens.

Mr. Newton was obliged to purchase several expensive books of
reference. "It is not money quite lost," he said to his daughter; "you
may turn them into shillings hereafter, and I must be competent myself
if I am to be an authority for others."

It was a happy day for them when the first box of shells was completed.
It was made of card-board, and had a glass lid. Inside were two
layers of shells, which were tastefully arranged in trays on pink and
white wool. The upper layer contained five trays; in each tray were
twenty-four different kinds of shells. The lower layer held the large
single shells; the tiniest sorts were gummed on black paper. Annie, who
watched her father's operations carefully, so that she might render him
assistance when the second box was arranged, was delighted with the
success of this first attempt.

So soon as the final touches were put, the question—which had many
times been discussed—as to who should sell the boxes, had to be decided.

"Do not ask Miss Pringle," said Annie; "she will be sure to want half
the money we get. I have seen a little shop just off the High Street,
and a tidy old woman standing at the door; her name is Crampton; let us
call on her. It is a good situation for our purpose; the visitors must
pass on their way to the fishmarket, the pier, and the south sands."

Dixtown was by no means a large place, and most of the shops were in
the Nigh Street. But Annie was right in the reasons she gave, when she
suggested that Mother Crampton was the best person to find a market for
the boxes.

Mr. Newton had no difficulty in coming to terms with the old dame.

"It's not a good time for selling, sir," she said, hanging up the paper
he brought with him that invited visitors to inspect the shells. "We've
but few strangers in the town now."

Nevertheless, in four days a purchaser came, who gave the guinea
that Mr. Newton asked; and as Mother Crampton was satisfied with one
shilling commission, and the materials cost but two, he made a handsome
profit on the transaction.

Annie and her father were overjoyed. This success gave them an impetus
to go forward. And when a letter came from London ordering two more
boxes at the same price, their hearts were full of gratitude.

Before the next season, Mr. Newton had a good stock in hand, which sold
so well that he felt satisfied this new business would enable him to
live comfortably, though sparingly, and pay his landlady regularly. To
be sure, Miss Pringle's apartments were not spacious, but they sufficed
for himself and daughter; for Annie occupied the tiny room over the
passage, and her father slept on an old sofa in the front room.

Annie was a busy little maiden, and a careful housekeeper. She cooked
nicely, and could buy to the best advantage. Her knowledge had come
early. Because she was motherless and had an invalid father, she was
obliged to forego the pleasures which children of her age love best.

For some months all went smoothly, and then a fresh calamity threatened
Mr. Newton. He had felt his eyesight failing since his last severe
illness, and had a presentiment he might one day be blind. He could
not help dwelling on this fear sometimes. When he was depressed,
Annie roused him by her cheerful words, and reminded him that God did
not forget them. She and her father were not formal believers, but
recognised the wise Hand that overruled all the events of their lives.

The young girl found a true friend in Mother Crampton. On the morning
after Mrs. Gillies had informed the kind old lady that her son Tom was
going to live with Miss Pringle, she took a large box of shells to her
for sale. Her heart was heavy, for her father had said, "Annie, my eyes
are so weak to-day, I will lie down and rest them, while you carry the
case we finished yesterday to Mother Crampton."

"Do, father," she answered, "and do not be worried. I know most of the
shells by name, and can find some of the sorts quite easily. If you can
see well enough to make the boxes, we shall get along all right."

But, in spite of her words, she felt an inward chill when she thought,
"What will become of us if papa goes blind?"

Annie was a special favourite of Mother Crampton's. "I'm so glad to
see you, dear, for I've just sold my last box, and I've an order for
another from the same gentleman," she said, as the young girl entered
her shop.

"O mother! How pleased I am! My father will be quite happy to hear it.
He is very dull to-day, his eyes seem so weak."

"He must see through you, child. He will miss the beautiful scenes in
God's world at first, but he won't be blind in that other world. The
New Jerusalem will be far grander than this, and yet I'm told by them
that have gone to foreign parts, there isn't often a fairer scene to be
met with than ours."

"Papa says the view from the cliff, which takes in the beautiful bay
and castle-hill, with Norton Island beyond, and dear little St Helen's,
is a perfect picture; and he knows something about other lands, for he
used to travel when he was young, and has visited many grand cities."

"How is Miss Pringle, Annie?" asked Mother Crampton, turning the
conversation abruptly into another channel.

"As well as usual. Why do you ask?"

"Because I hear she is going to have a new boy named Tom Gillies. I've
known his mother a long time. I'm afraid he's not very steady. Try and
do him good, my dear; his mother doesn't love God, and I pity a boy
that hasn't praying parents."

"He will not stay long with Miss Pringle. She has had three boys during
the last month," said Annie.

"How do you manage to lodge with her if she's so particular?"

"We pay our rent regularly, and that is all she requires," answered the
young girl, smiling. "I think, if papa were to become blind, and we
failed in our weekly payments, she would be neither kind nor civil,"
she added, with a sigh.

"Don't anticipate trouble, my child; have faith in God when the rain
falls as well as when the sun shines. He doesn't forget His children.
You're growing older every day, and will soon be able to make the boxes
alone; and if I can sell them, you can keep the wolf from the door even
if your father's eyesight fail. Here's the sovereign I owe you."

Annie left her friend holding the sovereign tightly in one hand.
She had no great distance to go before she reached home, scarcely a
quarter of a mile. She walked by the side of some iron railings which
were placed at the edge of the cliff, and stopped when she came to a
gate that led by a narrow pathway down to the sands. Here a seat was
placed, and she could not resist sitting down to admire the scene.
The beautiful bay lay at her feet; to the north were a range of
thickly-wooded cliffs; in the far distance were sloping hills covered
with well-cultivated fields, and on the right rose the castle-hill.

"It makes a pretty picture," Annie said aloud.

"It does, dearest."

She turned, and found her father had joined her.

"What news do you bring?" he asked.

"Very good indeed. Here is a sovereign. The box I took to-day is sold
too."

"Thank God for that!" answered Mr. Newton. "O Annie! If I could but see
clearly, how happy I should be! But the scene grows so misty. Pray for
me, that I may be patient if what I dread so much comes to pass."



CHAPTER IV.

TOM AND DICK GO FOR A HOLIDAY.

TOM made up his mind he would have one holiday with Dick Potter before
he was "harnessed up," as he called it, to Miss Pringle.

Mrs. Gillies did not encourage her son to do his best at his first
situation; she rather gave him a distaste for it. Every word that
Tom uttered which displeased her made her shake her head, and say
tauntingly, "You'll learn to speak to your elders differently, young
gentleman, when Miss Pringle has you in hand."

So Tom did not try to do better; he made himself, if possible, more
disagreeable: he pulled his little brothers' hair, disturbed them when
at play, teazed the cat, and managed to get into everybody's way, but
never volunteered to help any one. Yet Tom had a better nature, which
needed awakening. Up to this time he did not obey his parents and
endeavour to behave well, nor feel that he had a Father in heaven who
loved and cared for him, and who had given His Son to die on the cross
to save him from sin. Had he realised this, surely he would not have
said to his sister Sally, "No one gives me credit for being good, so I
may as well be naughty."

The proposed holiday was to be spent in catching crabs. Tom started off
by appointment to meet his friend directly after his father had gone to
the quarries.

"We shall have a first-rate day," called out Dick, who was awaiting his
arrival; "but we should do a deal better if we had the little boat that
Harry keeps for running across to Dixtown with. Isn't he gone fishing
with Will? I thought I saw them start early last evening, and I haven't
noticed them come back again."

"They ain't back again; but for all that, I can't take the boat,"
answered Tom. "If Harry comes soon, he's very likely to go over to
Dixtown, and if his boat ain't there, and he finds out I've taken it,
he'll thrash me; for he won't care to row the big boat over, it's so
much harder to pull."

"Oh, do take it!" urged Dick. "I'm going for a holiday to please you,
and now you won't do the very thing that'll make our outing more jolly.
I'll be off to the quarries if you're going to be so ill-natured."

"But I don't want Harry to thrash me; I know he will if he finds his
boat gone."

"He won't want the boat to-day; he's sure to go to bed directly he
lands, for he's been up all night."

"But suppose he's got fish to sell, he must go to Dixtown at once."

"Most likely they'll call at Dixtown on their way home and leave the
fish."

"If I were only sure of that, I'd fetch the boat," said Tom, showing
signs of yielding to Dick's temptation.

"You know they hardly ever come home without calling at Dixtown by the
way."

"But they do sometimes."

"I've never found you a coward before, Tom," sneered Dick, pretending
to leave him. "Good-bye, you Molly."

"Oh, don't go!" called out Tom. "I'll take the boat if you'll come with
me; for we shan't have a day together again for ever so long."

"That's just what I thought, and why I want you to make use of Harry's
boat. We can go to the Lion's Cave; it's a jolly place for crabs. We
shall never lose sight of Norton Island; so, after all, we shall be
close at home."

"The Lion's Cave is too far," said Tom. "I couldn't get home before
Harry if I saw his boat in the distance."

"Then stay where you are," retorted Dick; "I shan't ask you again.
You're the biggest coward I ever saw in my life. You'd better go back
home at once."

Tom winced under Dick's words, and was conquered by them. "I'm no
coward," he said, hastily. "I'll prove it too. Come along!"

The boys stole quietly down the narrow pathway that led to the small
landing stage.

"Take the anchor with you," said Dick, jumping into the boat. "We shall
want it; for we can't land against the rocks in Lion's Cave unless
we've got it; the boat would drift away."

"All right," answered Tom. "I only wish I'd brought something to eat;
we shall be so hungry."

"I've a loaf tied up in my handkerchief," replied Dick; "it's a good
big one, quite enough for us two. I begged it of mother, for I said we
were going to catch crabs, and I shouldn't be home to dinner."

"I told Sally I was off for the day with you, but I never thought about
being hungry," said Tom.

"Don't mind, we shall get on somehow. We can't starve with this."

"And we won't be very late home," added Tom.

Each boy took an oar, and pulled hard. They rounded Norton Island,
then St. Helen's, which communicated with it at low water; from thence
they kept close under the cliffs, passing fantastic crags, abrupt
precipices, and dark caverns.

"There's the old Lion at last," cried Dick. "It's taken us a good three
hours to get here; but hasn't it been a splendid row? Ain't you glad
you came in the boat?"

"Yes, it's been very nice," answered Tom; "but I should have liked it a
deal more if I'd been sure Harry wouldn't find me out."

"Don't worry about Harry, but enjoy your holiday, my boy," said Dick.
"It's a splendid place for crabs. We'll land here first, and go to
the other caves afterwards if we've time; it's just about low water.
Doesn't the old Lion look splendid?"

"He looks ready to spring at us. You wouldn't admire him quite so much
if you didn't know he was a stone," remarked Tom.

"Perhaps not," said Dick, springing out of the boat. "Make haste, Tom,
and throw the rope round that tall boulder; we've two good hours before
the tide will hurt us."

Tom did as he was bid.

"That's right. Now let's go to work."

The boys searched the clefts of the rocks, and turned over heavy
stones, hoping to surprise their victims. Dick took care only to poke
his stick into the holes, but he was always ready to haul Tom up on
his shoulder so that he might thrust his hand in and catch the crabs
by their claws. They soon captured four, which they tied together;
then they chased a large one in a pool. After some time, they managed
to force him on to a rock, but here he stretched out his claws, and
seemed so inclined to fight for his liberty that even Tom could not be
persuaded to handle him. At last, Dick turned him over on his back with
his stick, and then he was easily secured.

The search for crabs was very enticing; the boys wandered far beyond
the Lion's cave in their eagerness, and both the tide and the boat were
forgotten. A great splashing of water reminded them at last that time
was passing quickly, and they discovered that they had rounded a point
against which the waves were breaking.

"Here's a pretty go," said Dick; "we must scale the top of the rock."

"I don't believe we can," answered Tom; "we'd better paddle."

"Nonsense it isn't possible; the sea is too strong, you couldn't stand
in it. I'll go over first and give you a help up."

But in spite of Dick's help, poor Tom's knuckles were badly grazed, and
to make matters worse, when he was nearly handed in a place of safety,
he let go the string which held the crabs, for his companion as usual
made him carry the spoil.

"You must go back for the crabs," shouted Dick; "after all the trouble
we've had in catching them, I ain't going to see them thrown away."

So Tom had to retrace his steps. When, he secured his prey, he found he
could not drag them and himself too on to the ledge where his friend
stood. Finally he threw the crabs up, and Dick caught hold of the end
of the string.

"Now we're up here, I don't see very well how we shall get on," said
Dick.

True enough, as Tom found when he looked down the perpendicular slab,
which must be scaled before the cave was reached. The tide was coming
in so rapidly, there was no time to waste.

"Be quick," called Dick; "I mean to let myself down—you do the same; we
shall fall on the sand."

"I can't and won't carry the crabs," said Tom. "If you want them, you
may take them."

"You shall carry them," answered Dick, angrily.

"I tell you I won't."

Dick saw that Tom was not to be awed by any threats, so he answered
more pleasantly, "Don't be unkind; I'll bear my part. I'll slip down
first and you let the crabs down after me; I'll catch them."

But he found the slab higher than he calculated; he did not fall on the
sand, but on a rock, which bruised him considerably, and made him very
cross. The crabs fell more comfortably, but poor Tom managed to tumble
and hit his forehead on the edge of a sharp stone. He was stunned for a
moment, the pain was so sharp.

"Come along," cried Dick, who had gone forward with the crabs. "Make
haste, or you'll be washed away by the tide. Get past the next point,
and there's the cave."

Tom followed his companion with a very bad grace.

"I've hurt my head," he said, when he and Dick were safe in the cave.

"It's nothing, only a scratch. What a fuss you make about a trifle!
We've no time to lose; we must paddle to the boat. Pull off your boots."

"I wish I'd never come," said Tom, whose eye was smarting, and made
worse by rubbing it with his hand, which was wet with salt water.

"It's too late to be sorry now," laughed Dick. "Be quick, or Harry will
be home before you."

These words had more effect than any he could have chosen. Tom did not
linger again, but pulled well with his oar all the way to Norton Island.

When they passed St Helen's, he looked out anxiously for his brothers.
But he escaped a thrashing; for they were so successful, they put into
Dixtown to sell their fish, and did not arrive home until an hour after
the boys.

"We've had a famous day," said Dick, when they had anchored the boat.
"Now let's divide the crabs. I'm to have the biggest, because I carried
them."

"I had them longest."

Dick did not contest the point, but, as usual, managed to appropriate
the best to himself.

"I'll see you to-morrow," he said to Tom at parting. "Your eye only
wants bathing; it will be all right by the morning."

Tom was very much inclined to slink in at the back, to avoid meeting
his parents. But he was very hungry; so taking up his crabs, he went
boldly up to the front door.

"Bless me, Tom!" cried his mother, as he entered. "What an eye you've
got! Look, father!" she added, speaking to her husband. "What will Miss
Pringle think of him?"

"It's nothing to me what sort of an eye he's got," answered Mr.
Gillies. "He's been with Dick Potter all day, and up to mischief again.
He shall go to his situation to-morrow however bad he may be."

"Go and bathe it directly," said his mother. "Sally, fetch some warm
water."

"Come, Tom, there's a good boy!" called his sister. "Let's go into the
kitchen. What splendid crabs you've got. We'll boil one or two of the
smallest for supper, and Harry will sell the best to-morrow."

Tom was soon sitting by the fire giving Sally an account of the day's
proceedings, but he did not tell her how far he and Dick had been, nor
that he had taken his brother's boat at his friend's suggestion.



CHAPTER V.

HOW TOM SPENT HIS LAST DAY AT HOME.

WHEN Tom awoke, he could scarcely open his eye, it was so stiff and
sore. No one pitied him, and he knew very well he deserved no sympathy,
and that, if the truth were known, he would be severely punished.

One wrong step led to another, and before breakfast was over, he had
told several untruths to hide his fault. First, he said he had walked
across the low ridge of rocks which united St. Helen's to Norton
Island, and had a heavy fall. Then, when one of his brothers asked if
Dick were with him, he answered, "Only part of the time." He felt very
uncomfortable when Sally put this question, "Was your little boat at
home yesterday, Harry? I went down to look if you were coming, and I
didn't see it at the landing stage."

"But I did," answered Tom, hastily, putting his hand up to his eye, as
if it pained him, but really to hide his confusion. "It was there when
I went to St. Helen's."

"Perhaps I overlooked it," said Sally.

And the conversation ended at this point; for Harry seemingly did not
notice the question.

Tom was thankful to escape detection, and he felt no compunction at
having volunteered so many falsehoods.

"Stay at home to-day, and see if you, can't get that eye of yours
better, Tom," said his father, as he left the room to go to his
work. "It makes you look as if you'd been fighting. Mind, no excuses
to-morrow—nothing must hinder you from going with your mother, the
first thing in the morning, to Miss Pringle."

"Your clothes will be all ready," remarked Mrs. Gillies. "You've a
change of shirts, and a good second-hand suit for Sunday. The every-day
one you've got now will serve for some months yet. Never was a boy
better started off. I wish you'd be a bit thankful."

"You don't expect me to be, so I don't disappoint you," answered Tom,
carelessly.

"Was there ever such a boy!" said his mother, angrily. "It's a good
thing you stand alone in the family. Do for once be obedient, and keep
indoors quietly to-day. I'm going to Dixtown. Now, I tell you what I'll
do, Tom," she added, more kindly. "If you stay, and bathe your eye,
I'll sell your crabs, and buy you a pair of boots with the money they
fetch."

"All right, mother!" he replied, going into the kitchen. "Come, Sally,
give me plenty of hot water."

Tom was very quiet for the first hour, then he grew tired of doing
nothing, so he strolled out for a little walk, hoping he should meet
Dick. But as the latter had a day's work at the quarries, there was no
chance of that.

At last, he sat down at the edge of the cliff overlooking the landing
stage, and amused himself, as usual, by throwing stones about in all
directions. He stopped when he saw a very handsome tabby cat creeping
slowly along; she belonged to his grandmother, old Mrs. Gillies, who
lived in a small cottage on the island. Tom disliked his grandmother,
and knew that the cat heralded her approach.

He was right; grandmother followed close behind her favourite. When she
came near to her grandson, she asked, "How did you get that black eye,
Tom?"

"What does it matter to you, grandmother?" answered the boy, rudely.
"But if you want very much to know, I fell on the low rocks over
against St Helen's."

"You didn't, Tom. You were doing what you'd no right to do. I saw you
in Harry's boat yesterday. Did he lend it you?"

"That's no business of yours," retorted Tom, angrily.

"But it is my business, and I mean to know the truth. I shall ask Harry
if he lent his boat to you."

"So you may, grandmother, and he'll say Yes."

"You've told a story, you hardened boy. How glad I am you're going away
from here! I mean to call at your father's this evening. Harry shall
know that you took his boat; you deserve a good whipping. You didn't
go to the low rocks. I saw you and Dick Potter start in the boat, and
I watched your return. I might perhaps have kept your secret if you
hadn't been so pert this morning. I am going over to Dixtown until
evening; but expect to see me on my return."

Tom had no time to answer, for Mrs. Gillies made her way quickly down
the pathway to the landing stage, where an old fisherman and his wife
were awaiting her arrival.

Grandmother's cottage was her own, and she had a pension of four
shillings a week, which just sufficed to keep her, with the help of
sea-birds' eggs, crabs, mussels, and such like food. It was strange
that she should prefer going to Dixtown with her neighbours, rather
than her relations. This arose out of her independence; she did not
care to be under any obligation to her own kindred; for though she
admired her son greatly, her grandchildren did not inspire much love,
and she really disliked Tom.

The cat waited until the boat which contained her mistress was fairly
off, then she came slowly up the sloping pathway.

Tom watched her, and as he watched, wicked, mischievous thought entered
his head.

"I'll be thrashed for something," he said aloud. "Miss Tabby shall
catch it, and grandmother will find that if she tells of me, she'll be
paid back again."

Thus speaking, he seized on an old tin saucepan which had been thrown
out of one of the cottages, and had lain for many a day among the rocks.

"Tabby, Tabby!" he called, and then looked round to see if any one were
near. No one was in sight, so he called again, "Tabby, Tabby!"

As a rule, the cat avoided Tom; but perhaps his voice sounded more
gentle than usual, and poor Tabby felt lonely without her mistress. Be
that as it may, she came and rubbed her nose against him.

Tom felt in his pocket for string. Unfortunately, he found enough for
his purpose. He stroked and petted the cat, and meanwhile made one end
of the string fast to the old saucepan, which had lost its handle, but
had a great hole in the side that served Tom's purpose just as well.
The next thing to be done was to tie the other end to pussy's tail, and
this was rather a more difficult matter, but was managed at last by
means of a slip-knot.

When all was arranged, Tom carried Tabby a little way down the pathway,
and then let her run. So soon as the poor creature heard the noise
behind her, she flew along to escape it. Round and round she went, and
up and down; but the same noise followed her. At last, she bounded down
the cliff, far out of Tom's sight. He pursued her, and was in time to
see her flying backwards and forwards over the rocks. He called her,
but she was too wild with fear to heed his voice, and ere he was near
enough to catch her, she plunged headlong into the sea, which was
rather stormy, and was quickly carried out by the tide.

Tom threw off his socks and boots, and paddled out so far as he dare,
but he was too late to do any good. Tabby and her saucepan were far
away, and the last he saw of the one friend his grandmother prized in
the world, was pussy floating on the waves.

Tom was aghast at his work. He would willingly have endured a thrashing
could he have brought the poor cat back again to life. He watched the
waves until he lost sight of her, and then he walked slowly away. No
one had seen him, but even that comfort did not avail; for he knew
that he had acted a dastardly part. He was conscience-stricken; the
mentor within told him he was a cruel, inhuman boy. He went directly
home, and sat at the cottage door for the rest of the day. He was not
afraid of his grandmother suspecting him until after he had left home,
for the cat sometimes absented herself for hours together; but what if
Pussy and the saucepan should be washed on to the shore when the tide
turned?—That would tell tales of some one.

Mrs. Gillies reached home towards afternoon, and busied herself in
arranging Tom's clothes. She had bought him a strong pair of boots, and
several other articles of dress, at Dixtown.

"I was determined to give you a good start, Tom," she said. "I couldn't
have a son of mine go to his first place without proper things, so I
added a little money to the couple of shillings the crabs fetched."

"Thank you, mother," answered Tom, but in such a subdued voice, Mrs.
Gillies thought he was awed at the prospect of leaving home.

"Cheer up, lad," she said, kindly. "Only be a good boy, and you'll
please your father and me, and we shan't find fault with you any more."

Tom burst into tears at these words, which astonished his mother still
more.

So, by way of changing the conversation, she added, "Have you said
good-bye to your grandmother?"

"I saw her this morning for a minute," replied Tom, drying his eyes
quickly. "She's gone to Dixtown for the day."

"What a stormy passage she'll have home! She oughtn't to go like
this without consulting the boys. But I suppose she will have her own
way."

Every footfall that passed, Tom thought that grandmother was coming,
and when the evening closed without seeing her, the boy felt even more
repentant, for perhaps, after all, she was better disposed towards him
than she had seemed to be in the morning. He had a miserable night, for
he dreamed of Tabby and the saucepan and granny's anger from the time
he fell asleep until he awoke in the morning.

His brothers were so kind to him before he left that he was sorely
inclined to tell Harry how badly he had behaved, and he would have done
so in all probability, had not the latter gone off early, leaving Will
to row him and his mother over to Dixtown.

"Good-bye, Tom," said his father, shaking hands with him. "You must
never expect to come home again for good. Remember this is the
turning-point in your life; and if you don't stay with Miss Pringle,
you must find another situation, or starve, for I can't keep idle
fellows here."

Tom looked anxiously in the direction of his grandmother's cottage as
he went to the boat, but all seemed quiet as usual. "She may never find
me out," he thought; "and if she does, I shall be far enough away to
escape a punishment."

Still the boy was unhappy. Another reason which made him rather out
of spirits was not having seen Dick Potter on the previous day. It so
happened Dick was home very late, and went to bed directly, nor did he
feel inclined to get up earlier than he was obliged, in order to say
"good-bye" to his friend.

His comments to himself, as he worked at the quarries, might have been
summed up in these words: "Tom 'll miss me, but he'll be just as
useful to me at Dixtown as here; in fact, more useful, for I shall have
a day with him in the town when it suits me."



CHAPTER VI.

TOM AT HIS SITUATION.

THE boat reached the landing stage by seven o'clock on Saturday morning.

"Carry your bundle, Tom, and follow me," said his mother. "I'll just
take you to Miss Pringle, and then I'm off to sell my prawns."

As Mrs. Gillies passed up the narrow street where Mother Crampton
lived, she stopped for a moment to speak to the dame, who was standing
at her door.

"Good morning, mother," she said. "This is my son. He's the one I told
you was going to live with Miss Pringle."

The old woman smiled kindly at Tom. She liked the expression of his
face.

"How different she is to grandmother Gillies!" thought the boy. "I'm
sure I shouldn't teaze her cat."

"Is your name Tom?" she asked.

"Yes," answered Mrs. Gillies. "He was christened Thomas, but we
generally call him Tom, sometimes Tommy, it doesn't matter which. He's
on his own account from this day. I'm sure he's old enough to earn his
living."

"I hope I shall hear that you're doing well," said Mother Crampton,
looking at Tom. "You may call and see me whenever you've half an hour
to spare."

"Thank you!" he answered.

"That's kind of you; for he won't be able to come home very often on
Saturday, because of his having to be back on Sunday evening to be
ready for Monday morning's baking," added Mrs. Gillies. "Our being on
that bit of an island makes us obliged to fetch him and send him back.
There isn't a fisherman in Dixtown who'd do the journey one way under a
shilling."

"Couldn't either of your sons help him?" asked Mother Crampton.

"They'll help him when business calls them here, but they work so hard,
poor fellows, I couldn't ask them to come on purpose."

"Then, Tom, I will invite you to spend any Sunday evening that Miss
Pringle spares you with me; but remember, I'm a quiet old body, and
can't bear noise. Will you like to come?" asked Mother Crampton.

"Oh! Yes, please," answered the boy; "and I'm sure I could sit still if
you'd talk to me."

Mrs. Gillies looked surprised. "He's behaving like a gentleman, I
declare," she said. "He's subdued-like, because he's got a black eye.
He went out and fell over the rocks. But come, Tom; I haven't any more
time to spend in gossip."

Tom allowed his mother to go forward a few steps, and then he turned
to Dame Crampton and said, "I don't believe I shall ever want to be
mischievous when I'm with you. Good-bye!"

The mother and son walked briskly through the town, and soon reached
the baker's shop which was to be Tom's home.

Miss Pringle had just finished her breakfast in the kitchen. She had
prepared a second bowl of porridge for her new boy, for she expected
him to arrive early, and felt she could not very well suffer him to
be hungry until dinner-time; and, in fact, there was no economy in so
doing, for he would only eat more then. She came into the shop when she
heard the sound of voices, and Tom met his new mistress for the first
time.

After a few preliminaries were arranged, and Miss Pringle had asked Tom
how he came by his black eye, his mother said, "I shall call for his
clothes every Saturday. Of course, I shall wash and mend them for him,
and I dare say I shall look in now and then to see how he's getting on."

"I never encourage much intercourse with home, Mrs. Gillies," answered
Miss Pringle, stiffly. "I keep my boy fully occupied, and always find
he works better if he doesn't see too much of his relations."

"Oh! Very well; it's the same to me. I'll only come and fetch the
clothes on Saturday." And nodding to her son, Mrs. Gillies left the
shop and walked up the street, crying, "Who'll buy fine prawns?"

She was so fortunate in finding customers that she was ready to return
home at noon; but knowing that Will would be busy in Dixtown until one
o'clock, she went to Mother Crampton's to spend the spare hour.

We must return to Tom.

"Follow me," said Miss Pringle so soon as they were alone.

Tom took up his parcel and walked behind his new mistress into the
kitchen. He stood at the window and watched her while she went to the
fire and set on a saucepan. In a few moments he heard her say, "It's
nice and hot now," and then she poured the contents into a basin of
exactly the same dimensions as one already standing on a round table.

She placed the basin, with an iron spoon, opposite to her own and sat
down, and pointing to a wooden stool, ordered Tom to take his place.
He did so, and found himself face to face with Miss Pringle, who was
unlike any one he had ever seen before. He wondered how he should get
on with her, for he already felt quite subdued in her presence.

"Your name is Thomas, I think," she said, in a grave voice.

"Yes, missus, but I'm most always called Tom."

"Say, 'Yes, Miss Pringle.' I always like my name pronounced by my
boys when they address me. Now hear what I have to say. Don't think
I'm a rich woman, Tom; I'm very poor, and have hard work to earn my
living; therefore, I expect my boy to do his best to save me from all
unnecessary expense. As to your food, you live just the same as I do,
so there can't be any grumbling about not being well fed. Would you
like me to tell you exactly what you have to do all day?"

"Yes, Miss Pringle."

"We rise at five o'clock in summer, six in winter, and on Sundays at
seven all the year round. You will hear the clock strike, and know
when to get up. I expect you to be dressed and waiting for me in the
kitchen by a quarter past seven to-morrow, and on Monday by a quarter
past five; but I do not wish you to unfasten a shutter or undraw a bolt
until I come down-stairs. When we have opened the house, you will have
to heat the oven while I make the bread; then you will sweep out the
shop and dust the bottles of sweets that stand in the window. Mind, I
do not allow you to take a single drop; I shall prosecute you if you
touch one: it's the kindest thing for me to do, and will save you,
perhaps, from being hanged; for great crimes generally come out of
little beginnings.

"You have to scrub the shop floor once a week, but you must wash the
stone steps every morning. Then you have to carry the bread out, attend
to the garden, fetch water, gather the fruit and sell it, and do just
whatever is wanted. I'm quite as particular about the fruit as the
sweets; if I find you eating a bruised apple, I shall stop off part of
your dinner; but if you gather an apple or a peach, I shall give you
into the policeman's hands.

"I've forgotten one thing here in the house, that is the stairs; you
have to sweep them down every morning. My bedroom is always locked,
for I attend to that myself; and the gentleman and his daughter who
lodge with me want nothing from you except civility. Now and then I
shall not mind your going home on Saturday until Sunday evening, but
only as a great treat; for, as I told your mother, I don't encourage
too much visiting of any kind. You'll go to church with me on Sunday
morning, and after dinner, your time is your own until half-past seven
in winter, and half-past eight in summer."

While Miss Pringle was speaking, Tom played with his iron spoon, for he
did not like to begin to eat without receiving her permission. She now
signified to him that he should take his porridge, and she handed him a
thick slice of stale bread.

"It's very good bread, and not too new," she said. "I often wonder how
my customers can do with it so fresh from the oven; it's very bad for
their digestion."

Tom soon dispatched his porridge, but he found it a harder matter to
eat the bread, so he quietly slipped what remained of his slice into
his pocket, when his mistress was making up the kitchen fire.

"Now you've finished, I'll show you where you sleep, and a drawer in
which you may keep your clothes," said Miss Pringle. "Bring your bundle
with you. This is your room," and she pointed to the hole under the
staircase. "You have a comfortable bed here, and I allow you clean
sheets once a month. This top drawer," and she opened one of a chest
that stood in a recess between the kitchen and staircase, "is for your
clothes. You can wash in the kitchen; I allow you a clean towel once a
fortnight. I will show you where you may keep it; and you will always
find soap in the dish by the side of the sink. Unpack your clothes, and
then come to me in the kitchen."

Tom was too much surprised to speak. He had been accustomed to rough
food and a hard bed, but he had never eaten such stale bread before,
nor slept in a blackhole under the staircase.

He soon disposed of his small wardrobe in the one drawer allotted to
him, and then went to Miss Pringle, who was sweeping the shop. "This is
scrubbing day," she called out, when she saw him enter. "Take the pail
to the pump, and fill it with water, and let me see you go to work."

Tom filled the pail, and began to scrub for the first time in his life.
He found it more difficult than he anticipated, for he had a hard
mistress to please. First he held the brush wrongly; then he made the
floor too wet; then he wasted the soap by leaving it in the water; and
at last, he could have cried with mortification.

Miss Pringle watched him for some time before she began to dust the
bottles in the window. "These are the sweets, Tom, I spoke of," she
said, tapping one of them with her knuckles. "Again I tell you that if
you steal a single drop, you will find your way to the police-station."

[Illustration: TOM SCRAPING THE FLOOR OF MISS PRINGLE'S SHOP.]

Tom was a long time before he finished scrubbing the shop. Afterwards,
he was ordered to sweep the stairs.

"They're only scrubbed once a mouth," said his mistress.

The boy found this task as difficult as the scrubbing, for he could not
manage his great broom. He was labouring over the undertaking, when a
door at the top of the staircase opened, and a young girl appeared with
a teapot. It was Annie Newton, who, remembering what Mother Crampton
had said about Tom, and seeing him, broom in hand, move down the stairs
to give her room to pass, said, "How do you do? I hope we shall soon be
good friends."

Tom's heart warmed towards Annie; she looked so pleasant, and spoke to
him as if he were her equal. So he answered, "Thank you, miss. Can I
fill your teapot? The water doesn't quite boil, I know; I'll bring it
up when it's ready."

Miss Pringle came out of the kitchen at this moment to look after Tom,
so Annie thought it was better to fill the teapot herself.

"Oh! It's you, Miss Annie. Come for your hot water, I suppose," said
the spinster. "That's my new boy; he isn't very handy yet, but I hope
he'll turn out well when he's been properly taught. How's your father
this morning?"

"Tolerably well, thank you," replied the young girl. "He seems in much
better spirits about his eyesight."

Having filled her teapot, Annie passed Tom again, and smiled at him, as
he stepped on one side to make way for her.

"I'll do anything for you," thought the boy. "How odd it is that, since
I've been at Dixtown, I've seen two people that I don't think I could
have behaved so badly to as I did to grandmother! I don't believe I
should have taken Harry's boat if they'd been with me instead of Dick."

And then Tom remembered the poor cat and its untimely end, and was so
absorbed that he stood with his chin on the broom, and did not hear
Miss Pringle come softly out of the kitchen to see what he was doing.
She brought him back to himself by laying her hand heavily on his
shoulder, and saying, "This won't do. I can't have an idle boy."

Tom looked very red, and set to work again, nor did he allow his
attention to flag until he had finished Saturday's cleaning.

"What am I to do next?" he asked, appealing to his mistress.

"Carry out the bread," she replied. "That is the basket on the shelf.
There are four families I send to. The people at the great house, they
have six loaves. Then there is Mrs. Richards in High Street has three
loaves; Mr. Johnson the butcher has three, and Mr. Smart the grocer
three. Now mind, I allow no playing on the road; you must not be gone
more than half an hour."

Tom walked away at a quick pace, and soon deposited his six loaves at
the great house. "I won't be behind to-day," he muttered, as he bent
his steps towards the High Street. But Tom, it must be remembered, made
resolutions in his own strength, and was infirm of purpose. He had not
gone very far before he stopped to look at some boys playing marbles;
and then at a sailor who was carrying home a toy sailing-boat, so that,
though he hurried the rest of the way, he lost five minutes, which he
could not make up.

Miss Pringle did not comment on his length of absence, and Tom hoped he
had escaped reproof; but when dinner-time came, he was informed that
he would have dry bread and water, and no bacon, which Miss Pringle
ate alone. She generally punished her boys for minor offences by
stopping off part of their food, because it answered a twofold purpose;
saved her provisions, and taught them that they could not disobey her
commands without reaping bitter consequences.

The boy felt very indignant. He would have promised to do better had
she given him a kind word of remonstrance, but to be deprived of half
his dinner made him rebellious.

"Take the basket and fill it with fallen apples," said his mistress
later in the day.

Tom was no longer bright and happy, or inclined to be obedient. "The
disagreeable old thing!" he murmured, as he walked down the garden.
"I'll eat some, that I will."

He picked up the apples, which were scattered about in every direction,
and ate as fast as he could meanwhile.

Opposite the apple-tree was a well-filled peach-tree. "How good they
look! I'm sure she hasn't behaved so well at starting that I need be
careful about taking just one," thought Tom. So he made a long step
across the border and gathered the largest he could see. He put it
hastily into his pocket, and was about to demolish it behind a shrub,
when he heard his mistress call "Tom."

"She's seen me from the window," he exclaimed. "No, she's not," he
added, for Miss Pringle was talking to a lady.

It was Mrs. Wyvil from the great house, who came to buy fruit. She
looked into Tom's basket, and offered Miss Pringle two shillings for
its contents. The offer was accepted, and Tom was ordered to carry them
across at once; which he did after secreting the peach in his drawer as
he passed the staircase.

The remainder of the day was spent in digging up potatoes and weeding
the gravel walk. Tom was glad to pause for a quarter of an hour and
sit down to his tea in the kitchen when the clock struck five, for he
had never worked so hard before in his life. His allowance was a bowl
of very weak tea, with a slice of the same stale bread, and a thin
scraping of butter on it.

"Now, Tom, get to work again," called the spinster from the shop when
the clock chimed the quarter. "At ten minutes to eight you may put away
your tools and come to supper."

When the evening meal was concluded, Miss Pringle said, "I want you to
read a chapter out of the Bible to me, Tom; but before you begin, tell
me, on your honour, did you eat any apples?"

"No, Miss Pringle."

"I believe you. Now read the twentieth chapter of the book of Exodus."

Tom felt a twinge. After, all Miss Pringle was better than he believed
her to be; for she supposed that he told the truth. He had a second
twinge when he read the commandments through, for had he not stolen?
Was not the peach in a corner of his drawer?

"I allow you ten minutes to get into bed, Tom," said his mistress.
"Don't be longer."

The boy took care to put the peach under his pillow, lest Miss Pringle
should look into his drawer when she came to take away his candle. So
soon as he was alone, he ate it, but he did not enjoy it in the least,
for he could not forget the words he had been reading. "Thou shalt
not steal," came to him again and again; and, somehow, the peach and
grandmother's cat were strangely mixed up in his dreams; so, though
he slept soundly, he felt very tired and miserable when he awoke next
morning.



CHAPTER VII.

THE DEAD CAT.

GRANDMOTHER GILLIES did not carry out her intention of calling on her
son to complain of Tom, because she was so late home from Dixtown. She
made up her mind she never would trust to her neighbours again, for
she had to sit on the harbour wall for two hours, waiting until the
fisherman and his wife were ready to return. She had appointed to meet
them at a given time, and they had failed to keep the appointment. She
was afraid to leave her post lest they should come in her absence, and
yet she wanted a cup of tea to warm her so much; for though it was
August, there was a brisk wind, and Grandmother Gillies did not bear
the chilly evening air at seventy as she had done at twenty years old.

The trio did not leave the harbour until after sunset, and when they
were half way to Norton Island it blew such a gale that the boat
advanced very slowly, for the fisherman was an old man, and unable to
pull the oars so vigorously as Harry or Will Gillies.

Grandmother was thankful to reach home. She found her cottage window
half open, as she had left it, to admit Tabby, if the cat chose to take
shelter there in her absence. She busied herself in making a fire and
boiling her kettle of water; and when she had disposed of a large cup
of tea and a good slice of bread and butter, she felt better, and the
world smiled on her again.

"I wonder where Tabby is?" she said aloud; for she had a habit of
talking to herself. "I mustn't let her go without her milk. Tabby,
Tabby!" she called from the window.

As the cat did not appear, grandmother set aside the saucer of milk,
and, having washed up her tea things, and put them back into the
cupboard, settled into her arm-chair by the fire.

"I'm just tired out," she muttered. "I've had a good warning not to
trust to other people again. Harry and Will know how to pull, and
wouldn't keep me waiting for a couple of hours."

Before grandmother retired to her bedroom, she went to the window and
opened it just wide enough for Tabby to squeeze through if she came
later, and then she discovered that large drops of rain were falling.

"Why, it's just beginning to rain!" she exclaimed. "Tabby hates rain;
she'll be sure to come now. I'll wait another ten minutes and close the
window, for the wet beats in. Tabby will take good care to knock, and I
shall hear her."

So Grandmother again took refuge in her arm-chair, and this time she
fell fast asleep.

When she awoke, the fire was out and the clock struck eleven. She
roused herself up and found the lucifers to light a candle; she then
opened the window, expecting to find Tabby without, and very cross at
being unable to get in. She was a little surprised that the cat was not
there, but no thought of an accident having happened to her favourite
crossed her mind.

"She'll be here before morning. I'll leave the window as I generally do
when she's out," said the old woman.

Grandmother Gillies was up betimes, and her first thought was of Tabby.
When she discovered no trace of her, she began to wonder where she was.

"I certainly saw her close to the landing stage when the boat started.
Ah! And Tom was there too; but he wouldn't touch her, I know."

She was still debating in her own mind as to Tabby's whereabouts, when
the door was opened, and her granddaughter Sally entered.

"Good morning, granny," she said. "I came to see how you were after
the storm. Mother has taken Tom over to Dixtown, and she couldn't come
herself. She was afraid you'd have a tossing yesterday."

"So I did, Sally. Was Tom's eye better?"

"Oh, yes; much better, granny. But how are you?"

"What did Tom do yesterday? I saw him on the cliffs opposite the
landing stage when I started," asked the old woman, without heeding
Sally's question.

"He said he saw you. He was at home nigh upon all day. He didn't seem
in good spirits."

Grandmother was relieved. She did not really imagine that Tom would
injure her cat, and yet she was glad to know that he was at home
for the greater part of the day, and never suspected that he had
accomplished his cruel work so immediately after she left him.

"How are you, granny?" asked Sally again. "You don't seem quite
yourself. Mother was afraid the storm would upset you."

"No, it hasn't, child; but the fact is, Tabby's never been home all
night, and I'm a little uneasy about her."

"But she often serves you so."

"Not if it rains; she never stays out in the wet."

"I daresay she won't be long. She'll be wanting her breakfast. Shall I
walk round the island and see if I can find any trace of her?"

"Do, there's a good girl; and come back to me before you go home."

Sally went off at once, asking the few people she met by the way if
they had seen the cat, for Tabby was just as well-known as any other
inhabitant of the island. She was on the point of returning to her
grandmother, to inform her that her errand had been a fruitless one,
when she thought she would go down to the shore. The tide was running
out fast, and Tabby might be in one of the caves catching small crabs.

It did not take her many minutes to reach the landing stage; she walked
along the sands, peering into every corner, and calling "Tabby! Tabby!"
As she was passing a small nook, where several high stones were firmly
fixed in the sand, and covered with thick brown sea-weed, something
darker than the weed attracted her attention. Sally walked up to it to
gratify her curiosity, and not because she expected to find Tabby. And
then she discovered it was the body of the once petted cat, which had
evidently been preyed upon by some creature, for she had a large hole
in her side, and half her tail was gone. As Sally gazed in wonderment
and horror, a great crab sidled away, as if it had been disturbed, and
sought to hide from detection. It was quite evident that poor pussy had
fallen a victim to its voracious propensities, but how she came to be
reduced to such a condition as to afford food for a crab was more than
the young girl could tell.

"What will grandmother say? Who will carry the poor cat home to her? I
dare not," she exclaimed. "Oh! What shall I do?"

She sat down near the dead creature, but shrank from touching her,
and kept repeating to herself, in a monotonous voice, "What will
grandmother say?"

She was aroused by a sound of whistling. It was Dick Potter, who was on
his way to the quarries.

"O Dick! Do come here," called Sally. "Tabby's dead; it's so dreadful."

The boy scrambled, and jumped, and slid, until he reached her side.
"What's up?" he asked.

"Look! Look!" cried Sally, pointing with her finger.

"It's a dead cat, that's all. It ain't a very uncommon thing to find
one, and I suppose the crabs have been at it."

"But it's Tabby," almost screamed Sally, "grandmother's cat; and I
can't touch her, she looks so horrible. I don't know what granny will
say when she sees her. She'll be quite ill."

"I'll carry it up to the old woman if you like, but you must go on
first and say I'm coming."

"I'd rather you went with me to help tell her."

"Nonsense! What's a cat?" said Dick, scornfully.

"A great deal to grandmother," answered Sally, indignantly. "But I'll
be obliged to you if you'll carry Tabby home," she added, more gently.

Dick touched the cat with a short stick he carried, and finally held
her by the small bit that yet remained of her once beautiful tail.


Grandmother stood at her open door watching for Sally to come. She did
not notice that Dick was behind her granddaughter, and asked, "Have you
found her?"

"Yes, grandmother," replied Sally, hesitating.

"Where is she?" said the old woman, walking forward a few steps; and
then she caught sight of Dick carrying her dead Tabby.

"You wicked, wicked boy!" she screamed. "How dare you kill my cat? I'll
have you punished."

"A nice way to thank a fellow!" exclaimed Dick, throwing down his
burden. "You may bury her yourself; I won't help you."

And he was turning away, but Sally called out—

"It wasn't Dick, grandmother; Tabby's fallen over the cliffs into the
sea. I found her on the shore, and the crabs have had her."

"Tabby fallen, indeed she was too sure-footed for that. Oh, my poor,
poor cat!" And grandmother burst into tears.

Bad and hardened as Dick was, he felt a momentary sorrow for old Mrs.
Gillies. "I ain't worth much," he said, "but I wouldn't kill your Tabby
for fun."

"You must believe him," cried Sally; "depend on it, I'm right. Tabby
fell over the cliffs."

"I wish I hadn't gone out yesterday; everything went wrong," sobbed
poor granny. "I suppose Tabby must have tumbled. I'd have locked her
up if I'd thought she'd have got into mischief. She always has walked
on the most dangerous places. O dear! I don't know how I shall get on
without her."

Sally tried to comfort the old woman, but Dick's sympathy was soon
exhausted. "I'm off to work now," he said.

"I thought you'd help bury her, and now you're going away. Won't you
stay and dig a hole?" asked grandmother.

"If you've done making a fuss, and are ready for business, I'll stay,"
answered Dick, rudely. "Where's a spade?"

"I'll get one," replied Sally.

"I can't bear to part with her," sighed grandmother, stroking the
mangled remains of her poor favourite, while Dick was busy digging.

"We must find another pussy for you," answered Sally, kindly; "there
are plenty of kittens to be had for asking."

"But none will ever be so faithful as my poor dear Tabby."

The grave was made in the small garden behind the cottage. Grandmother
watched Dick until he had finished, and a little mound was raised over
Tabby's remains.

"Here's twopence for you," she said, "and thank you."

Dick was not generous enough to refuse payment; he put the coppers into
his pocket, and went away to find work.

"You can go home now, Sally," said grandmother; "I'd rather be alone."

It was a long day for the old woman, who shed many tears over poor
Tabby's untimely end. Could Tom have witnessed her grief, he would have
been doubly punished.

Mr. Gillies and his son Harry called in the evening, and heard the sad
history a second time; for Sally had already told them every particular.

"I shall soon find you a new pet, granny," said Harry, when he bade her
good-bye. "Don't fret."

"I'd rather not have another just yet," she replied.

"You'd best leave your grandmother to herself," remarked Mr. Gillies to
his son, as they walked home. "It's no use trying to mend matters while
the trouble's so fresh. She's better without a cat for a time."

"I shall ornament Tabby's grave to-morrow" was grandmother's last
thought ere she fell asleep. And here we may as well add that before
many days passed, the little mound was studded with whelks and oyster
shells, and in the centre a fuchsia was planted which cost a shilling;
but granny did not grudge the money, nor the sacrifice it entailed to
purchase it.



CHAPTER VIII.

SUNDAY WITH MISS PRINGLE.

TOM thought seven o'clock never would come on Sunday morning. He was
up and dressed soon after five, but he dare not open the house, having
received orders to wait in the kitchen.

Miss Pringle was down-stairs punctually, and after wishing Tom good
morning, told him to unfasten the shutters and unbolt the doors. This
was soon done. Then he received instructions to carry a pail to the
well in the garden, and fill it with water.

"I'm very lucky," said his mistress. "While all the people in Dixtown
are short of water, and have to go to the public spring, my well is
supplied."

This announcement did not particularly interest Tom, moreover he was
impatient to get into the garden. "I don't believe I can stay here
long," he muttered, as he walked along swinging his pail. "I must have
fresh air, and there's little to be got in my present quarters."

Tom had a sensation of enjoyment he had never experienced before as he
looked at the flowers and felt the warm sunlight. "How beautiful Norton
Island will be to-day! How I shall like to peep at it this afternoon!"
he thought. And then he sighed, and said aloud, "I've been silly, very
silly, not to find steady work nearer home. I declare I shall miss them
all. I wonder if I really am much worse than other boys?"

"Make haste, Tom," called out Miss Pringle, in a sharp, shrill voice.

The boy began to pump, and the water came at first, though slowly; but
before his pail was full, it ceased altogether.

Tom pumped on for some minutes, but not another drop could he get.
"It's no use trying any more," he said. "I must just go and tell her
what's happened."

On his way back, he picked up an apple that lay in his path, and began
eating it.

"What did you throw away just now?" asked his mistress, coming out to
meet him.

"A bit of an apple, Miss Pringle," said Tom.

"How dare you touch my fruit?"

"It was a very bad one, and only fit for the pigs, Miss Pringle."

"Bad or not bad, you shall obey me. I shall punish you for it. Why have
you not filled the pail?"

"There isn't any more water in the well," answered Tom, rudely.

"I don't believe it. You haven't pumped properly."

"But I know I have. You'd better go and try the pump yourself."

"Speak respectfully, Tom. After you have filled the kettle, follow me,
for I intend you to pump while I look on."

Tom did as he was told, but not pleasantly. As they passed the
peach-tree, Miss Pringle stopped to count her peaches.

"One gone," she said angrily. "You've taken it, Tom."

"Suppose I haven't, Miss Pringle."

"Did you, or did you not take it, sir?"

"No, Miss Pringle," replied Tom positively, and moved toward the pump.

"I wish I'd never taken him; he seems worse than other boys, and more
difficult to manage," thought the spinster. "Now, Tom, pump," she said
aloud.

The boy pumped again, but with the same result. And at length, his
mistress was obliged to confess, though very reluctantly, that she must
do as others had done for some weeks, make use of the public spring.

"It's most provoking, Tom," she said; "you must be very careful of the
water we've got, for I don't intend you to fetch any to-day. I'm not
going to have the neighbour's giggling at my expense on Sunday. You can
only wash your hands once more to-day, and Miss Newton must do with a
short allowance. Now come to breakfast."

Miss Pringle had prepared the porridge when Annie came into the
kitchen. She wished Tom and her landlady good morning, and made some
remark about the fine day.

"I'm in great trouble," whined Miss Pringle, without returning her
greeting.

"What is the matter?"

"My pump has gone dry, Miss Annie."

"But, with such a beautiful spring so near, that need not trouble you,"
answered the young girl, cheerfully.

"You're just like all other children, Miss Newton; as if any public
spring could be as good as a private well. You will find out I'm
right before the day is out, for you must do with what water you have
up-stairs for washing. I've only just enough for the teapots."

"I'm afraid I cannot do without a small jugful in addition; papa needs
some warm water to bathe his eyes with."

"He can't have any, Miss Annie. To-morrow there will be plenty."

"You can beg a little from next door, Miss Pringle. Mrs. Wilkins fills
her large tub every Saturday for Sunday's use."

"I'm surprised at you, miss. Do you think I mean to sink so low as to
ask my neighbour to give me water?"

"There is nothing to be ashamed of," answered Annie, with some spirit;
"but at any rate, if you dislike asking Mrs. Wilkins, I can do so; poor
papa cannot go without warm water for his eyes."

"May I fetch you a jugful from the spring?" asked Tom, eagerly.

"Thomas, you forget yourself," said Miss Pringle, angrily. "It is not
my habit to send my boy out to fetch water on Sunday."

"Thank you all the same for your kind offer, Tom," replied Annie; "I
shall manage somehow," she added, as she left the kitchen. She was half
way up-stairs when the thought occurred to her that he might be without
books, so she returned once more, and said, "If you come up-stairs and
tap at the door after you have had your dinner, Tom, I will give you a
book, and introduce you to papa."

"Thank you, miss," he answered.

Miss Pringle was in the habit of attending the village church at
Annerly, which was about a mile and a half distant. The way through
the fields to it was a charming one, so pretty that Tom could scarcely
restrain himself and walk steadily, he wanted so much to gather
wild-flowers, and chase the bees and butterflies.

His attention wandered in many directions as he sat in the free seats
by the side of his mistress, until these words caught his ear:

"Thou shalt not steal."

They made the blood rush into his cheeks. After this, his old
grandmother and her lost cat occupied his thoughts. He wondered how
the poor old lady would spend her Sunday without her favourite? He
could not shake off the remembrance of his wicked act, and grew so
uncomfortable at last that he moved about and shuffled his feet, until
he received a warning look and pinch from Miss Pringle.

He forgot his discomfort as he walked home; but then the warm sun and
fresh air were so pleasant after sitting still so long, and he was to
call on Mr. Newton directly after dinner, and could amuse himself in
his own way until evening. One thing he decided upon, which was, to
climb the castle-hill and look over to Norton Island. He could not have
put his feelings into words had he tried to express them, but he had
a strange yearning for his own people that he had never felt before.
He wanted so much to see them, for though he had only slept one night
away, it seemed as if many days had passed.

Miss Pringle had roasted a shoulder of mutton on the previous afternoon
to be cold for Sunday. Tom was very hungry, and glad to think the
dinner would be so substantial. He helped his mistress to set the
table, and took his place, wondering why she placed a morsel of dry
bacon opposite to him. He soon learnt why it was there.

After Miss Pringle had cut a large plate of mutton for herself, she
said, in a grave, stern voice, "You took my apples, Thomas, when I
expressly ordered you not to touch one, therefore you will have no
mutton to-day. Eat that bacon. Another time you will only have bread
and water."

The boy was about to answer rudely, when conscience whispered, "You
deserve the punishment; remember, you stole a peach and denied the
theft;" so he kept silence.

"Your time is your own until half-past eight o'clock, Tom," said the
spinster when dinner was over. "I wish you to go out at once."

"May I see Miss Annie first?" he asked.

"I suppose she will expect you; but do not be long, or you will keep me
waiting."

"I can shut the door when I go out," suggested Tom.

"Indeed, you will do no such thing. I never allow my boy to be idling
about the house when I am in my room. Go up-stairs at once, and don't
stay more than five minutes."

Tom tapped at Mr. Newton's door.

It was opened by Annie. "Come in," she said. "Papa would like to see
you."

They entered into conversation together, and Tom was enjoying his visit
very much, when Miss Pringle knocked loudly, and asked, "How much
longer do you mean to keep me waiting, Tom?"

"I mustn't stay," said the boy, rising as he spoke.

"How will you spend the afternoon?" questioned Annie.

"I hardly know, miss, except that I mean to go to the castle-hill, and
look at Norton Island."

"Here's a little book for you. Will you promise to read it?"

"Yes, miss, that I will."

"It's called 'Come to Jesus.' Take your Bible, and look out the texts
which are referred to, and some day you shall tell me if you have
accepted the invitation which Christ gives to all to come."

Tom had no Bible of his own, but did not like to confess this to his
new friend; so he took the book she held out to him hastily, and said,
"Good afternoon."

"You've been chattering up there too long. I hate gossiping," were the
words he heard from his mistress as he entered the kitchen. "It's quite
four minutes since I knocked for you to come down."

"I'm quite ready to go now," said Tom, fetching his cap.

Miss Pringle followed him to the front door, and locked it; she then
retired to her bedroom, for she knew that the next two hours would be
undisturbed. No visitor ever came on Sunday afternoon, and her lodgers
never stirred between three and five o'clock.

But she did not read, nor did she pray, nor sleep—she spent the time in
counting her sovereigns. She touched them softly, lest Mr. Newton or
his daughter should hear them chink; but she touched them with a thrill
of joy, for the possession of them had mastered every other feeling.
She only lived to store up her money, and seemed to forget that God
might one day say to her, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be
required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast
provided?"

Tom walked quietly along, sometimes peeping through the iron railing to
get a better view of the bay. When he came to the gate which led to the
pathway down the cliff, he sat down on the seat for a few minutes, and
took out his book. As he opened it, these words arrested his attention,—

   "If you come not to Jesus when young, it is not likely you will come
at all. Habit will fasten strong chains around you, which will be
harder to burst asunder every day. While you wait, Satan works. He is
busy tying knots. You are his prisoner, and he is making more and more
secure the cords which bind you. Whenever you sin he ties another knot."

Tom could read well, and was by no means a dull boy. "I suppose Satan
tied a knot when I stole the peach, and another when I ate the apples,
and I can't tell how many when I killed grandmother's cat," he said to
himself.

Then he read the heading of the chapter—it was this, "Ye who are young,
come."

"It seems easy enough to come in a book," murmured Tom; "but it ain't
easy. I'll read the chapter over again when I get on the hill. I really
wish I'd a Bible of my own. I think I'll save up, and buy one."

He walked on until he reached Mother Crampton's house, and here he was
stopped, for she was taking in some milk as he passed, and asked him
where he was going to.

"The castle-hill," he replied.

"Would you like to take tea with me first, and go to the castle-hill
later?" she asked.

Tom's face expressed the pleasure he felt, though he only answered,
"Thank you."

The old woman and young boy became fast friends at that first tea
drinking. Tom told her what a character he had earned on the island;
how unkind he was to his brothers; how often he vexed and annoyed his
parents; and he showed her his little book, and pointed to the chapter
he had just read; but he did not tell her of the wrong-doing which was
weighing more heavily on his conscience than all his other misdeeds.

Mother Crampton spoke very unreservedly to him, and Tom heard her with
deep interest. She made it plain to him that unless he cried for mercy,
the chains of sin would bind round him so tightly that he would find
them hard indeed to unfasten. But he learned, too, that One was at hand
to help him—One was waiting to give His Spirit in answer to prayer—One
was listening to catch the first faint echo of the cry,—

   "Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee."

"Good-bye, my dear boy," said Mother Crampton at parting. "Come to me
next Sunday, and instead of lounging on the castle-hill, you shall
accompany me to God's house. Don't let Satan tie any more knots this
week; try and unfasten the old knots, which he has been tying for so
many years, by prayer. Ask in faith, and the answer will come."

"I wish—how I do wish!—I had courage to tell her all," thought Tom,
as he threw himself on the turf when he reached the castle-hill. "I
know I should have been a deal happier, and now I'm really right-down
miserable."



CHAPTER IX.

TOM HEARS FROM HOME.

"TOM, you must be off and fetch some water," said Miss Pringle the next
morning. "It's very annoying, to be sure, that I should come to this.
Take two pails with you."

The lad was ready to go at once, for he was anxious that the water
should boil by the time Mr. Newton required it. The street was thronged
as usual with water-carriers; the beautiful spring which supplied
one side of Dixtown had never failed in any time of drought, and bid
fair to yield so long as there was a demand. It bubbled up out of the
ground, and was conducted, by means of a pipe, through a tap which was
placed by the side of a fine sycamore, one of a group of six trees.

Tom had about three minutes' walk to reach the spring. Just as he
turned out of the house-door, he saw his mother coming up the street.
After she had heard that Miss Pringle's well had failed, and where he
was going to, she said, "Tell me how you're getting on."

The lad gave a detailed account of his life since he had entered on
his situation, but all the time he was longing to know if his mother
would mention grandmother's cat. They walked towards the spring as they
chatted, and found, when they reached it, at least twelve women and
children awaiting their turn to draw water.

"You must be patient, Tom," said Mrs. Gillies. "I can't stay any
longer, or I shall lose the chance I have of selling my prawns by being
first to cry them. I shan't be over here until Saturday, for the boys
are going to have a long turn, and I've a deal of setting to rights to
do at home. I don't think I've any news to tell you. Oh, yes! I have.
I declare, I quite forgot it in seeing you, and hearing about Miss
Pringle. Grandmother's lost her cat."

"Lost her cat, mother! What do you mean?" asked Tom, trying to keep his
colour down, and stooping to pick up one of the pails, which he kicked
over because he felt he must do something.

"Why, I mean that Tabby's dead; and how the poor creature came to run
into the sea nobody can tell. Sally thinks she fell over the cliff, and
that the crabs attacked her, for she had a great hole in one side, and
Sally saw a big crab scuttling away."

"How came Sally to see the cat?"

"She went to look after grandmother, who was out in that terrible
storm the day before you left, as you know; and she found her very low
because Tabby hadn't come home. So Sally went after the cat, and saw
her lying dead on the shore, and Dick carried her home, and helped
bury her in the garden; and grandmother says she'll never have another
favourite. But I mustn't stay any longer. Good-bye, Tom."

The boy gave a great sigh of relief as his mother left him, because his
secret was safe. Then he thought of the knots. It wasn't the way to get
rid of sin to try and hide it; and with all his efforts, he couldn't
hide it from God. He was so occupied with his thoughts he did not
notice that he was alone at the spring. He filled his pails quickly,
and made such haste home that the water was boiling before Annie came
down-stairs to fill her teapot.

In the afternoon Miss Pringle ordered him to take a basket and gather
some blackberries from the hedges in Windmill Lane, where she heard
they were hanging in thick, ripe bunches. "You may pick a good few,
Tom," she said, "for the apples are falling, but will do very well for
jam, mixed with blackberries."

Tom liked the idea of a run in the lanes, but was barely out of sight
of the house before he was stopped by hearing the whistle he knew so
well, and turning round, found that Dick Potter was close behind him.

"What have you come to Dixtown for?" asked Tom.

"Because I've got no one to go out with on Norton Island, now you've
gone, and I've nothing to do at the quarries, for I've quarrelled with
the foreman," answered Dick; "and father was so angry, he sent me off
to find work at the harbour. I've been waiting about here since one
o'clock for you to come out. Where are you going to?"

Tom told his errand.

"I'll go with you, and help you," said his friend.

As the boys walked to Windmill Lane, Dick enlarged on the untimely end
of grandmother's cat. Tom winced several times when he alluded to the
poor old woman's sorrow; but he made no confidant of his companion,
and right glad was he to reach the blackberries, in order to turn the
conversation into another channel.

"Here we are," he said, interrupting Dick in the middle of a sentence.
"How splendid they are! Now let's go to work."

The basket was soon filled, and then the boys feasted themselves.

"What are you going to do?" asked Tom, as they came almost within sight
of Miss Pringle's house.

"I shall lounge about until dark, and share your bed to-night,"
answered Dick.

"But you can't. Miss Pringle will never let you."

"I don't mean to ask her. I'm coming at your invitation."

"But I can't give you one. Why don't you ask some of your friends at
the harbour?"

"After to-night I will. Do, Tom, there's a good fellow, let me sleep
with you just for once. I'll go away before daylight. I'm promised work
to-morrow, so it's only to-night."

"But I can't let you in, Dick. Miss Pringle locks as well as bolts the
doors, and carries the keys in her pocket."

"You're a stupid, Tom. Can't a fellow come in other ways besides
through a door? There's a window at the back, I suppose."

"Yes, in the kitchen."

"Where do you sleep?"

"Under the staircase. There's only just room for me. I'm sure you
couldn't get in as well," said Tom, in a dolorous voice.

"I shall try, at any rate. Now, Tom, don't be disagreeable. I know
you'll put yourself out for an old chum. I'd do as much for you. I
shall be taken on to-morrow; and the fisherman says he'll pay me every
day just at first. So I only want your help for this one night."

When Dick coaxed, Tom was sure to yield. As we have said, his was not a
strong character, nor had he strong principles, so he finally yielded
to his friend's evil influence.

"As it's only one night, Dick," he said, "I don't so much mind. But you
must come in very carefully, for there are lodgers in the house, and
Miss Pringle sleeps over the kitchen. If she finds me out, she'll give
me over to a policeman."

"Don't be frightened, Tom, but trust me to take care of myself and you
too. I'll tap at the kitchen window when the clock begins to strike
ten."

Dick had invented a tissue of falsehoods. He had not quarrelled with
Mr. Pender's foreman, nor had he a situation in prospect. The truth
was he had no work at the quarries for two days, and thought he might
as well go over to Dixtown to see how Tom fared, and he intended
returning to Norton Island on the following morning. Mr. Potter never
troubled himself about his son, and Dick had no mother. His stepmother
was a kind-hearted woman, but had a large family to care for, and she
was rather relieved than otherwise when her stepson absented himself
from home, for she disliked his idle habits, and feared that his evil
influence would be hurtful to her children.

Miss Pringle was satisfied with her basket of blackberries, but Tom
was not satisfied with himself. As he peeled the apples, he thought
of Mother Crampton's advice, "Don't let Satan tie any more knots this
week."

"I know I'm going to tie a big one to-night," he said aloud, forgetting
how near Miss Pringle was to him.

"I didn't hear you, Tom," called his mistress. "I'd just gone out of
the garden door for a moment. What did you say?"

Tom started, and felt very foolish. Fortunately Annie Newton came in
from a walk at this moment, and hearing voices in the kitchen, looked
in to ask him how he liked his book.

"Pretty well, thank you," he stammered out, but seemed so uncomfortable
that she did not venture to ask a second question.

Every half hour that passed made Tom more miserable. He wished that he
could break his rash promise, but he dare not, for he knew that Dick
would be noisy if so treated. When the clock chimed a quarter to ten,
he left his bed, and made his way into the kitchen.

He was not a coward by nature, but the sense of wrong-doing sometimes
makes the stoutest heart fail. A mouse nibbled in the wainscot as
he passed, and frightened him so much that he broke out into a cold
perspiration. The moonlight streamed in over the top of the shutters,
and reflected his own shadow on the wall, and he trembled. Still he
went forward, and unfastened the shutter gently, just in time to see
Dick glide up the garden, under the shelter of the wall. He had entered
through the fields, which extended for some distance, and were only
separated from the garden by a low hedge.

The window was soon unbolted, and in a few moments Dick was standing in
the kitchen.

"I'm so glad to be here," he said, "so very glad! You're a good fellow,
Tom. Let me go to bed at once, and mind you wake me early to-morrow.
I'm sure to sleep on, for I am so tired."

"I don't know how you're to get into my bed; it's scarcely big enough
for one," whispered Tom.

"Let me stay here. The floor will do me. Show me where you sleep."

"Follow me," replied Tom. "But come very gently."

The two boys groped their way to the staircase. Dick had a box of
lucifers with him, and a candle, which he lighted, for Miss Pringle
took good care that Tom should not be supplied with either article.

"I see there's only just room for one," said Dick, after he had looked
into the hole which Miss Pringle called a bedroom. "I'd just as soon
be in the kitchen. You go to bed now, and I'll come to you if I wake
first; but I daresay I shall sleep latest."

Tom returned to his bed somewhat comforted. Dick behaved so well that
he was almost glad he had let him in, and perhaps no harm would come of
it. He listened for a few minutes, to assure himself that all was still
ere he fell asleep.

Dick could hardly have explained the reason why he was so anxious to
make his way into Miss Pringle's house, beyond it being a cheap mode of
getting a roof over his head for the night; and he liked the fun and
excitement of it. He was about to settle himself for the night, when he
heard a great noise overhead, which startled Miss Pringle as much as
Dick, so fearful was she of exciting suspicion; in her passage to the
cupboard, she had tumbled over a chair.

"What can the old maid be after?" he thought. "I'll go and see."

He soon slipped off his boots, and crept up the stairs. He looked
through the keyhole, and was astonished at the sight it revealed.
Miss Pringle was sitting on chair facing the door, so that he could
see every movement. Having assured herself that no alarm was raised,
she turned a number of sovereigns out of a stocking into her lap,
and having counted them carefully, returned them one by one into the
stocking, and deposited the stocking in a wooden box. She managed to
do this so quietly that he scarcely heard the chink of money. There
was no sound in the house, save the regular breathing of one asleep
in the lodger's room, so Dick kept his post until he had mastered the
spinster's secret, and learned that the bandbox in her cupboard did not
contain her best bonnet.

He returned to the kitchen as quietly as he had left it, and lay down
on the hard floor. It was a long time before he could forget himself in
sleep. At last it came, but there was little refreshment in it, for he
dreamed of gold, gold, nothing but gold. He was reaching out his hand
to grasp the coveted treasure when Tom shook him.

"Get up, Dick," he said; "you must be off, or she'll see you. You've
been moaning so, I was afraid you'd be heard. You've been dreaming
hard."

"I think I have," answered Dick, rubbing his eyes, and gradually
awaking to a sense of passing events.

"Be quick and go. I don't want to get into a scrape," urged Tom.

Dick was soon ready, and Tom was extremely relieved when he lost sight
of him.



CHAPTER X.

THE EXCURSION TO LOCKSTONE.

DICK returned to Norton Island that afternoon, and went to work at the
quarries on the following morning. He thought of nothing all day but
the bright sovereigns he had seen Miss Pringle handle so carefully. If
he had so many, how he would enjoy himself; money commanded everything,
and it was hard that so much should lie idle at the top of an old
woman's cupboard. At last, he envied Tom his situation, for if he had
lived with Miss Pringle, he might have had some chance of getting at
her hoard. Yet Dick knew there was only one way of possessing it, and
that was to steal. He did not want to risk imprisonment, but if sure
of escaping detection, he would have been glad enough to get the money
into his hands.

When Saturday came, he resolved to go to Dixtown. Tom would shelter him
again. He could be persuaded to do anything.

"And if," said Dick to himself, "if I see my way clear to turn him out,
and turn myself in, I'll do it."

As his plans were uncertain, he told his stepmother that there was no
chance of work at the quarries for a week, so he meant to try after a
job at Dixtown harbour, and might be absent several days.

It was late in the afternoon before Dick was able to get a lift over
to Dixtown. Just as he reached the High Street, he spied Tom in the
distance, who had been to the grocer's for his mistress.

"How lucky I am to come across you so soon," said Dick, tapping his
friend on the shoulder. "I'm here on purpose to see you."

Tom did not appear very glad to meet Dick. "I thought you'd got a
situation," he said.

"It ended in smoke. I've been home, but felt so dull without you,
I've come back. We'll have an afternoon together to-morrow, and go to
Lockstone to fish. The tide will just suit for us to walk there and
back on the sands. I'll sleep in the kitchen to-night as I did before."

Tom's face fell. "I can't let you in again, Dick," he said, but in a
hesitating tone of voice. "I really can't, it's so risky; and I daren't
go out with you to-morrow, for if we were to be late home, Miss Pringle
would send me away."

"Stuff, Tom, as if a boy like you, who knows every turn of the tide,
is likely to be late. They say Lockstone is splendid, and it's quite a
short walk by the sands; and it's a new place for both of us. You will
enjoy a run after being shut up all the week."

Dick could act the part of tempter to perfection, and Tom was not
proof against his wiles. "If I was sure we should get home in time, I
shouldn't mind going," he answered.

"Of course you will; I'll take good care of that."

"But I can't let you sleep in the kitchen, Dick, even if I do go to
Lockstone."

"What nonsense, Tom, I think you're turning quite silly. Expect me at
ten o'clock," and Dick walked quickly away in an opposite direction.

The above conversation gave him food for thought. It was evident that
Tom was afraid of forfeiting his place if he were after time on Sunday
evening. Why could he not devise some means to keep him out so late
that Miss Pringle would dismiss him, and then he might apply for the
situation?


Tom admitted him as before, but this time they were in fear of
detection, for Dick stumbled and fell, and the noise he made must have
been heard by Miss Pringle, had she not at that moment been standing
on a high stool inside the cupboard. Tom shook in every limb, and even
his companion was frightened. They listened for some minutes, but all
was perfectly still, so Tom went to his bed, and Dick pretended to lie
down. The latter made several attempts to go up-stairs, but every time
he came near to Tom, he heard him moving, so he dare not; and when he
felt that he might venture because Tom was snoring, all was dark and
still in Miss Pringle's room.

Tom breathed a sigh of relief when Dick was out of the house next
morning; but he no longer had misgivings about the excursion to
Lockstone, for his friend had dilated on their prospective enjoyment
until he fully entered into the plan. He was well pleased, too, that
Dick did not ask him if he might sleep there a second night; he had
said at parting, "I shan't come again Tom, for I see it worries you. I
think I know a fellow who will give me a bed, just for once."

Tom accompanied his mistress to church, but his thoughts were at
Lockstone, and occupied in making arrangements which had reference
to his afternoon outing. He was a little puzzled to make up his mind
whether he had better tell Mother Crampton he was engaged to Dick and
could not stay tea with her, or make an excuse when he saw her. He
decided on the latter course.

So soon as dinner was over, he went to his room and put on his
every-day suit quietly. Then taking his cap, he walked down the passage
to the front door without going into the kitchen again.

Miss Pringle heard him, and called out, "Mind you're home punctually,
Tom."

To which he replied, "I'll be here."

"You're very exact to time," said Dick, who was waiting just out of
sight. "I've brought a net with me, for we may as well catch some fish,
and I begged a loaf in case we should be hungry, from a fisherman I
know."

The day was warm and fine, and when the boys were fairly on the way
their spirits rose, and they laughed and talked gaily. Though the tide
was running out, they had to climb over high boulders, and scale deep
pools in order to get along. Lockstone Point was about two miles from
Dixtown; it ran out for some distance into the sea, and was formed of
rocks of all shapes and sizes, tilted up on edge. Some of them made
little islands, round which the waves splashed and foamed, and all of
them were thickly covered with mussels, while the deep pools were rich
in corallines, anemones, sea-weed, and crustacea of every description.

Tom forgot it was Sunday, forgot his conversation with Mother Crampton,
forgot that he was tying, and not untying, knots, forgot all but a
sense of intense enjoyment at once more returning to his old life.

It was five o'clock before they reached the Point, for they loitered by
the way, trying to catch shrimps and turning over the great jelly fish
that were strewn about the sands. At Lockstone, they found full grown
crabs, and netted so many prawns in the pools that they each had enough
tied up in their pocket-handkerchiefs to furnish a large dish.

"We mustn't stay here too long," said Tom. "I think we'd really better
be off now. We shall have nice time to get up the cliffs by the pathway
yonder, and home by the lanes, without hurrying ourselves."

"We've lots of time to walk by the shore," replied Dick.

"I tell you I'd rather not venture," answered Tom.

"And I tell you it's nonsense. I hate the lanes; there's nothing to do;
and there's no end of amusement by the sea. Come along, I'll lead the
way."

Tom thought it looked very tempting.

"Be quick," shouted Dick. "There's plenty of time if you come directly.
The tide isn't nearly up."

Still Tom hesitated, but finally allowed himself, as usual, to be led
as his companion willed.

"All right," he said, "but mind I'm going ahead. I'm not going to stop
and dawdle about."

Dick allowed him to have his way until he had passed one or two
difficulties in the shape of jutting points of rock, which were covered
by the waves at high water; and then he began to call Tom's attention
to one object after another. At length, they reached a cave with a deep
pool in it, and a narrow ledge of rock on either side.

"Let's go along here," said Dick; "we shall find plenty of crabs in the
crevices of the rock."

Tom had not noticed the cave on the way to Lockstone, and it offered
great attractions to him, so he walked along the narrow ledge, followed
by his friend. When they had penetrated so far in as was prudent, and
were turning round to go back again, Dick, apparently by accident,
but really intentionally, tripped him up and sent him sprawling into
the water. He had some difficulty in scrambling out again, and was
thoroughly wet through.

Dick pretended to be very sorry, and helped him to take off his coat
and waistcoat. The tide was coming in faster than either of them knew.
Dick only discovered it just in time to warn Tom, and drag him, coat
and waistcoat in hand, on to a place of safety, when a great wave
dashed in, and covered the ledge on which they had been standing five
minutes before.

"We're well out of that," exclaimed Dick. "I don't know where it would
have swept us to."

The boys were now on a rock out of reach of the water; it was a point
rarely covered, except in time of storm, and it stood at the base of a
perpendicular cliff.

"Here's a pretty go," called out Tom, who had been looking anxiously,
first on one side, and then on the other. "I believe we're tide-bound."

"That we are," answered his companion. "We certainly can't pass the
next point. I don't care about myself, but I'm sorry for you, because
of Miss Pringle." And Dick really looked quite vexed, though he was
secretly rejoicing over the great success of his plan.

Tom's face expressed his disappointment. "How stupid I was not to go
straight up from Lockstone," he said. "It's your fault, Dick, for
persuading me to come back by the shore."

"It's yours, Tom, for you fell into the pool, and hindered our getting
on."

Nothing was to be gained by quarrelling, for it was impossible to pass
the points on either side, and there was no way up the cliff between
Lockstone and a fishing village close to Dixtown, so Tom was obliged to
wait.

"Don't put on your coat, old fellow," said Dick. "Dry it now. I
declare, here's a tiny cave just below; let's creep into it, and sleep
here."

"No, that I won't," answered Tom, resolutely. "I'm sure it isn't eight
o'clock; by ten the tide may have turned enough for us to get on again."

"Miss Pringle will never let you in. Fancy her sitting up for you."

"I'll try at any rate, whatever you may say," replied Tom, angrily.

"Don't put yourself into a temper," retorted Dick. "You shall have your
own way; but I say she won't let you in."

It was after midnight when they reached Dixtown. They were far out in
their calculations of the tide, for they really knew nothing of the
state of the shore on that side of the bay.

Dick accompanied Tom to Miss Pringle's house, and waited to see if he
could gain admission. He knocked once, twice, and thrice, before Mr.
Newton opened his window, and said, "I'm sorry I can't let you in, but
Miss Pringle has forbidden it."

"Come along, we shall find an empty boat by the harbour, Tom. It's no
use attempting to get in anywhere. It won't be the first time in your
life that you've slept in the open air."

And Dick led the way, followed by his crest-fallen companion.



CHAPTER XI.

HOW TOM FARED.

TOM was very miserable when he awoke. Dick was not by his side, and he
had evidently slept until a late hour. He tried to rouse himself and
stand up, but he felt very weak and ill. He was sitting with his head
between his hands, thinking of the last night's catastrophe, when Dick
appeared, carrying a bundle. The boys had not slept in a boat, but
under an archway in the cliff.

"Tom, old boy," said his friend, "I've been doing my best for you. I
woke up early, and as you were still asleep, I thought I'd do you a
good turn with Miss Pringle, so I went to her and said I was to blame
for taking you out, and I asked her to forgive you this once. Then I
told her how sorry you were, and how the state of the tide deceived us
both."

"Well, what did she say?" asked Tom.

"She won't take you back on no account. She made me wait while she
packed your clothes, and told me to tell you that you'd better go home."

"I'll never do that," replied Tom, angrily; "but I wish, Dick, you'd
minded your own business, and left me to manage mine."

"I do call that unkind. It's not like you, Tom; but it never answers to
help a fellow out of a scrape."

"I think I'll go and beg her pardon, at any rate. Don't you be vexed,
Dick; I suppose you meant to be kind. Give me a helping hand."

When Tom stood up, he was so giddy that he was glad to lie down again.

"I can't go," he said, piteously, "I feel so ill. Mother is going to
Miss Pringle this morning with my clothes; ask her to come here."

Dick was very glad to be thus dismissed in order to escape further
questioning from Tom.

And now we must inform our readers of the substance of the conversation
which took place between him and the spinster, when he went, as he
said, to do his friend a good turn.

He had waited until the harbour clock struck six, and, rejoicing that
Tom still slept, he ran to Miss Pringle's house. She was sweeping her
shop, and grumbling meanwhile at having to do it herself.

Dick rang the outside bell.

She went hastily to the door, her face wearing its most severe
expression; and, to her astonishment, she saw a strange boy. Miss
Pringle had resolved to keep Tom for the six months. In many respects
he suited her, and she had even once or twice entertained the idea
of giving him a shilling a week at the end of half a year, for he
appeared, on the whole, to fit in better than any boy she had had
before; but Tom must show signs of repentance, and be severely punished
for his disobedience. She considered turning him adrift into the
streets for the night would be wholesome discipline; and hence she told
Annie not to admit him if he knocked and rang twenty times, for he
should never enter her house again.

"Who are you?" Miss Pringle asked, when she saw the strange boy at her
door.

"I'm Tom Gillies' friend," said Dick. "I've called for his clothes; he
ain't coming back again; he don't take to the baking business."

"Impertinent boy!" exclaimed the spinster, angrily. "How dare he treat
me so rudely! I'll complain to his mother."

"They can't do nothing with him at home," said Dick, in a plausible
tone. "He didn't ought to behave so to you. I'm sure other boys would
be glad to live here."

"Certainly," replied Miss Pringle. "I really cannot understand Tom; he
mentioned nothing to me about leaving yesterday."

"He was so angry because you didn't let him in last night, and made
him sleep under the archway; he says it was barbarous of you, and you
oughtn't to have treated him so badly."

"Oh, that's the way he talks about his wicked behaviour; he wishes to
turn the tables on me, I suppose. You may take his clothes away; but
it's very annoying to be left without a boy."

"I suppose I shouldn't do?" said Dick, looking very humble. "I should
like to live with you."

"What's your name?"

"Dick Potter. I come from Norton Island."

"If I take you, I must learn something about your parents. I have known
Mrs. Gillies for many years, but I do not know your mother."

"I haven't got a mother of my own," said Dick, rubbing his eyes with
the back of his hand. "Mother died years ago, and father's married
again, and there's a lot of children at home."

"When could you come to me?"

"To-day; for I'm sure Mr. Pender would let me off at once. I only get
odd jobs to do at the quarries, and I do want reg'lar work."

"If you live with me, you will have to work hard; I cannot have lazy
people here. Tom did his work well if he liked. Are you certain he sent
you for his clothes?"

"Quite certain, Miss Pringle. If you'd heard what shameful language he
used about you, I'm sure you'd have sent them away, even if I hadn't
come after them."

"I thought you were his friend," said the spinster, sharply.

"So I am, for we've been brought up together, I might almost say; but,
for all that, I like justice to be done to people who's as kind to 'em
as you've been to Tom."

Time was fast slipping away, and Miss Pringle had to bake her bread;
she had hoped Tom would return in time to light the fire.

"Wait a moment while I fetch the clothes," she said, "for I must make
my bread at once, or I shall be behind all day."

She went to the drawers, and then discovered that Tom had worn his
every-day suit.

"Deceitful boy!" she muttered. "He must have been bent on mischief or
he would not have changed his clothes secretly. I'm sure he's no loss."

"There is the bundle," she said, giving it to Dick; "if you like to
take it to Tom, and return to me, I will see how you can work."

"I shan't be long," replied Dick.

Soon after the bundle of clothes was despatched, Mrs. Gillies called
to see her son, and heard an exaggerated account of his behaviour from
Miss Pringle. She scarcely heeded her last words, "I've got another
boy in his place," but started away to find Tom, for the spinster
could give her no information as to his whereabouts. She met Dick, who
directed her, but he did not tell her whither he was going, and she was
so full of seeking for Tom, she did not remark on the strangeness of
meeting him in the town at that early hour.

"A pretty state of things!" she said, angrily, when she found her son.
"You'll ruin yourself, Tom, and your father will be terribly vexed. I
don't know what to do with you. I suppose you must go back home with
me. Will is coming over in his boat at two o'clock, so get up and don't
lie idly there. I'll ask Mother Crampton to let you sit in her chimney
corner until I'm ready, and the boat's here."

Tom tried to rise, but could not steady himself without his mother's
help, he was so stiff and giddy.

"Here's a bad boy come to sit in your kitchen, Mother Crampton," said
Mrs. Gillies, dragging her son in. "He's been up to some of his old
games, and Miss Pringle's sent him off."

Tom looked so miserable that the Dame made no remark. She had imagined
something was amiss when he did not keep his appointment on the
previous afternoon.

"He's welcome to stay here," she replied.

"Then I'm off," said Mrs. Gillies. "I shall be back long before two
o'clock. Sit by the fire, Tom, and don't stand shivering there."

Mother Crampton had no time to ask any questions for the first hour;
but when her bed was made, and her room tidied, she put the breakfast
things on a round table near the fire, with a loaf and butter.

Tom sat with his head in his hands, and took no notice; he felt very
much ashamed, and fancied he was very ill.

"Come, my boy, cheer up," said Mother Crampton; "drink a cup of tea,
eat the thin slice of bread and butter I'm cutting for you, and then
tell me all about yesterday."

By degrees she drew from Tom the history of his Sunday excursion with
Dick, and why he had not come to see her.

"I'm very sorry to hear all this," she remarked, when he ceased
speaking. "Oh, Tom, you've been tying and not untying knots all the
week. I did so hope you were going to turn over a new leaf. I really am
very very much grieved and disappointed."

Tom's tears began to fall fast. If Mother Crampton had scolded, he
could have borne it better than her kind, earnest words.

"But it really was all Dick's fault," he sobbed. "I shouldn't have
thought about going to Lockstone if he hadn't asked me."

"But not his fault that you yielded to the temptation. If you succumb
to every unholy influence that you meet with in this world, you will
heap up sorrow here and hereafter."

"I never have been so wretched in all my life, except—" and Tom
stopped, for he thought of grandmother's cat, and this made him
remember that he was going home, and would see her. "I can't, I really
can't," he added aloud, "I can't go home, Mother Crampton, for she—I
mean, they'll all be so angry with me."

"You must bear it as part of the punishment you have brought on
yourself. You are not well enough to take another situation directly;
but I will promise you, that if at the end of a week, I hear a good
character of you, and your cold is gone, you shall come and stay here
until I find you something to do."

Tom's eyes brightened. "That'll make them kinder to me," he said.
"Father told me never to show my face there again if I didn't stay with
Miss Pringle; but perhaps he won't be so angry if I tell him what you
say."

"Deeds, not words, my boy," said Mother Crampton, drinking her last cup
of tea. "I'll step over the way, for I fancy neighbour Driver may want
a boy to help in his bakehouse."

Tom's face fell. "I'd rather be anything than a baker's boy," he
exclaimed.

Then checking himself, he added, "I'll do my best to be good. If only
Dick Potter will keep clear of me, I shan't mind. Miss Pringle will
tell you that I tried hard to please her, though once or twice I was
very wicked," for Tom remembered the peach and apples.

"You must try and be good, Tom, because you serve a great King. It's
no use for you to think that you'll be different if away from Dick's
influence; you must pray that strength may come to enable you to endure
temptation, as a good soldier of Christ."

Mother Crampton had put away her last tea-cup when a tap came at her
door; the latch was lifted up, and a fresh-coloured woman with a
good-natured face looked in.

"Good morning, Mother," she said, in a friendly, cheery voice. "I've
just stepped over to tell you that my Jack has given us up, for he's
had an offer to better himself in a gentleman's family; so if you hear
of a steady boy who'll ride our horses, and take out the vegetables, I
shall be glad. I'd rather not have a Dixtown boy, for I don't want him
to be running off home at all hours. He must sleep under the counter,
and do any odd jobs that are wanted. He's treated like one of the
family if he behaves himself. I can't stay, for there's nobody to mind
the shop." And, without adding another word, Mrs. Jones closed the door.

Tom had risen in his excitement, and he looked very wistful. "Oh,
Mother Crampton, do you think she'd have me? I will try so hard to
please her, she's so different from Miss Pringle," he said.

"It really does seem a lucky thing, and, yet there's no such thing as
luck, Tom," replied the old woman, thoughtfully. "I believe, my dear,
it's God helping you. I'll go and say a word for you at once."

The boy sat in great anxiety, and thought Mother Crampton would never
come back. She and her opposite neighbour were on very friendly terms.
Mrs. Jones was a young married woman with two children. Her husband
kept a greengrocer's shop, and had six bathing machines besides.
She superintended the shop in the morning when the bathing season
commenced, while Mr. Jones and his boy were attending to the bathers.
They had a good vegetable and fruit garden one mile out of Dixtown,
but they lived over the shop. They were kind-hearted, honest, and
hard-working people, who highly appreciated good Mother Crampton.

The dame did not find it very difficult to induce Mrs. Jones to give
Tom a trial, though she told her much of his past history.

"I'd take him to please you," said the greengrocer's wife; "send him
over here at one o'clock, husband will be at home then."

Tom almost forgot his illness and misery when Mother Crampton returned
with such good news. He brushed his hair, and washed his hands, and
waited anxiously for one o'clock to strike.

Mr. Jones was pleased with him, he appeared so desirous of finding a
situation, and answered the questions he was asked in a straightforward
manner; so he was engaged to come for a month on trial, at the rate of
three shillings a week, and his food and lodging.

It seemed like a fortune to Tom.

"Mind, boy," said Mr. Jones as he was leaving, "I won't have
yesterday's behaviour repeated. Mother Crampton has told my missus all
about it. If you play truant, I'll turn you out neck and crop—no Sunday
gadding here. We treat our boy well, and expect him to attend church,
and walk out with us and the children on fine afternoons. You may go
over and see Mother Crampton sometimes; and I'll give you a holiday
home from Saturday until Monday once in six months."

Tom could only keep reiterating, "Thank you, sir," and pulling the
front lock of big hair, until it was a wonder he did not pull it out.

"When shall I be wanted?" he asked.

"Let's see—Jack goes on Monday. Come a week to-morrow," answered Mr.
Jones.

"O Mother Crampton! How can I thank you enough?" said Tom, rushing into
the room. "I'm engaged, and I'm going to get three shillings a week.
Oh, how jolly! How jolly!"

"You seem wonderful better," said Mrs. Gillies, whom Tom had not
perceived in his excitement.

[Illustration: TOM RUNNING INTO OLD MOTHER CRAMPTON'S SHOP.]

"Yes, I am, mother, for I'm so happy. Only think—I'm to have three
shillings a week. Father won't be angry to see me." And he clapped his
hands and danced about with pleasure.

Mother Crampton found an opportunity of whispering in his ear before he
left, "My boy, if you wish to show your gratitude to me, you will begin
to pray."

"I promise you I will," replied Tom; and so they parted.


"Hallo! How is it you're back, like a bad penny?" Will, who was waiting
at the harbour, asked his brother.

"I'm only come for a holiday," said Tom, looking very red.

"Has Miss Pringle been so handsome as to let you off so soon?"

"Tom isn't going back to Miss Pringle," answered Mrs. Gillies. "He's
going to a place where he'll get good victuals and three shillings a
week."

Mother Crampton had entreated her not to scold Tom.

"Make the best of it," she said. "The boy has had a bad companion in
Dick Potter; let us see what we can do by treating him as if he were
not worse than others. I like him with all his faults, and I mean to be
his friend."

Tom's appearance at home caused some excitement; but after his father
had heard his wife's version of the story, and his three elder brothers
had put their questions, he was allowed to remain in peace, and
thoroughly enjoyed the tea and fish, of which the whole family partook.
He was telling them about his life with Miss Pringle, when three taps
came at the door which made his blood run cold, for they told him that
grandmother was there.

She looked annoyed to see him. "Just as I expected," she said,
contemptuously. "You'll never stay anywhere. You're a bad, worthless
boy."

"Gently, gently, granny," said Mrs. Gillies. "Tom has come home for a
holiday. He's bettered himself, and is going to live with Mr. Jones,
the green-grocer, now."

"Oh, that's it, is it? Well, it doesn't matter to me where he goes, so
that he isn't idling about the island with Dick Potter. I called to see
if one of the boys would come over to-morrow morning. I've had a willow
given to me for poor Tabby's grave—" and here the old woman's voice
trembled a little—"and I want it planted, and the fuchsia that's there
now put in the garden."

"I'll come in the evening," said Will, "but I shan't have time in the
morning. We go away fishing first thing."

"I daresay the evening will do just as well," replied granny, "for
the tree has a good root; it won't die if it's left out of the ground
another day."

"May I come to you in the morning?" Tom ventured to say. "I can dig as
well as the boys."

"'You!'" exclaimed old Mrs. Gillies, in a voice that stung Tom. "As
if I should ask you to do anything for me. Will, do not forget your
promise. Good-bye all."

"Granny will never like you, Tom, that's quite certain," remarked
Harry, rising from the table as he spoke. "Come, Will, we must see to
our nets, and get ready for to-morrow."

Tom was miserable again. He followed his mother into the kitchen, and
said, "I'll go to bed, for I feel as if I were beginning to shiver
again."

"I would if I were you," she answered, kindly. "A long night will do
you a deal of good."

Tom prayed his first earnest prayer before he undressed. The words he
said were somewhat rambling, but they came from his heart. Then he
crept into his corner of the room, and was soon so fast asleep, that he
did not hear his little brothers come to bed.

The next morning he felt much better, and could not resist a great
desire that possessed him to see Tabby's grave; yet he did not wish to
meet his grandmother.

He walked along the shore so as not to be seen approaching by her,
and clambered up the cliff close to the door of the cottage; but his
precautions availed nothing, for granny caught sight of him, and called
out, "What are you prowling about here for, Tom? You never do any one
credit. It shows how bad you are, for Miss Pringle to send you away and
take Dick in your place."

"What do you mean?" asked Tom in astonishment. "Who told you Dick was
going to live with Miss Pringle?"

"He told me so himself last night. I met him on my way home after I'd
seen you. He came over to fetch his clothes. I heard a few things about
you from him."

"I'll fight him for telling lies. I know he's played me false," said
Tom; and, without waiting to think, he ran off to find his former
friend.

Mrs. Potter was busy washing when Tom entered her cottage, and asked,
in a very unceremonious manner, "Where's Dick?"

"Gone to his new situation. How was it you didn't suit Miss Pringle,
Tom?"

"I did suit her until Dick interfered," replied the lad, more quietly,
for Mrs. Potter had asked the question very kindly.

"I hope you will soon find another place."

"I've got one already," replied Tom, and his face cleared. "I'm glad
not to go back and live with Miss Pringle; but I hate to be so badly
treated as Dick's treated me."

Mrs. Potter would have probably encouraged Tom to give his version of
the story had she not been very busy and really intensely relieved to
think that her stepson had gone to live a little distance off.

Tom had so much food for thought, he forgot all about his desire to see
Tabby's grave, and sat on a rock wondering how ever Dick managed to
ingratiate himself into Miss Pringle's good graces.

"If I find he's played me false, I'll fight him, that I will," he said,
aloud.

"And tie another knot," Tom seemed to hear.

"No, I won't do that," he said, as if answering some one who spoke.
"I'll pray instead. After all, I've got the best of the bargain, and
I know I don't deserve it. How I wish I was good, like Miss Annie and
Mother Crampton."

When Tom returned home, he found his sister alone, for the little ones
were at school, and his mother gone to Dixtown. They had a long talk
together, and Sally was deeply interested in all that he told her about
his new friends; he read to her the chapter from "Come to Jesus,"
entitled, "Ye who are Young, Come," and she said she should remember
the words about tying fresh knots.

"I'll buy you a book like mine, Sally," said Tom, "as soon as I get my
first wages, and I mean to buy myself a Bible. Have you got one?"

"Yes, of course I have; don't you remember I had it for a prize from
Mr. Pender while I was at school."

Mrs. Gillies returned from Dixtown late in the afternoon, and found
Tom sitting quietly at home, telling his little brothers and sisters a
story.

"What do you say to Dick having gone to live with Miss Pringle?" she
asked him.

"He's played me false, mother; but, after all, he's done me good. Have
you spoken to him?"

"Certainly I have. He looks very meek indeed; and Miss Pringle says she
never had such a boy; but new brooms sweep clean. Dick has only been
tried for a few hours. He sent his love to you."

"I'd rather not have it. Did you tell him, mother, I'd got another
situation?"

"Yes; I couldn't help it."

"What did he say?"

"Not much; but I thought he looked rather vexed when he heard you were
to have three shillings a week."

"I'm off to grandmother, Tom," said Will, looking in at the door. "You
may as well come and help me."

Tom was glad to accompany his brother, though granny scowled when she
saw him.

"I want his help," explained Will.

"Oh, very well," she replied, "then I've nothing more to say. I know
it seems nonsense to you for me to make all this fuss about a cat's
grave," she continued, when Will began removing the shells; "but I
loved Tabby so much. I declare I looked for her to meet me just as your
mother looks out for you. A lone woman takes to dumb animals. I never
returned home without wondering if she was watching for me to come."

"Why don't you get another, granny?" asked Will.

"I'd rather not. I don't want to love another as I loved poor Tabby."

Tom felt very guilty, and was thoroughly glad when all was in order
again. He applied himself to place the shells with such exactness that
he won thanks from grandmother on leaving.

"I can't have the big knot I tied when I killed Tabby for ever on my
shoulders," he thought, when he was alone. "I'll make up my mind to
buy grandmother a handsome kitten with my first wages, and it shall
have a red collar. I'll tell Mother Crampton, that I will, and ask her
opinion. Perhaps she'll advise me to confess to granny how wicked I
have been; but I don't know how I ever shall, for she downright hates
me now."



CHAPTER XII.

QUITE BLIND.

WHILE the events we have narrated in the last two chapters occurred,
Annie Newton was passing through deep waters. Her father's health, as
we know, had been declining for some time, and his eyesight was sorely
affected. She would have entered into the question of Tom's dismissal
with more earnestness, had she been differently situated; but on the
very Monday when Dick acted so falsely, Mr. Newton awoke to blindness.

"Annie, child," he called from his bed, "I can't see this morning."

The young girl was quickly at his side. "What is the matter, papa?" she
asked, for she only heard the accents of pain, but did not distinguish
the words.

"I'm blind—I can't see you, darling."

"Perhaps you will be better presently, papa," she replied. "I will get
breakfast ready, and fetch you some warm water, and you shall bathe
your eyes."

She was soon on her way down-stairs, but found, to her discomfort, that
the kitchen fire was only just lighted, and that Miss Pringle was very
cross.

"You must wait for your water, miss," she said. "It's too bad of Tom
Gillies to treat me like this. He's sent for his clothes, and won't
come back again."

Annie was so pre-occupied that she scarcely noticed Miss Pringle's
remark about Tom, but answered, "Papa is so ill this morning that I
want to get him some breakfast at once."

"The water will boil in five minutes. You must be patient, Miss Annie."

"I suppose I must; but I am really very much troubled, Miss Pringle. I
shall return to papa, and come back again for my water."

"She's only a child in behaviour, and ought to know better than be
so full of her own affairs, and never think of my worries," said the
spinster to herself. "I wonder if that new boy will suit me. It's
intensely vexing, to be sure, to be left in this manner by Tom. I
really began to like him."

And Miss Pringle vented her spleen on the chairs and tables, and
knocked and thumped her furniture, and banged the doors, and poked the
fire noisily. She was glad to see Dick; and he set to work so heartily
that he soon made up for lost time.

When Annie came down the second time, he was receiving orders from
his mistress. She could not help noticing his face—it struck her as
so opposite to Tom's; but she asked no questions then, for her father
appeared so prostrate, she scarcely liked to leave him for a few
minutes.

He seemed better able to talk after he had taken a cup of tea, and
called her to his side.

"I'm quite blind, Annie, darling," he murmured. "Quite blind; it's come
at last. God help you!" And he sobbed, as only a man can sob when hope
dies out for the moment, and he thinks of those whose lives depend on
his exertions for support.

Annie came to her father's side. "Papa, dear, God will help us—we shall
not be left," she said.

"I'm so disappointed, child. I felt so much better yesterday, and yet I
knew it must come at last. How I shall miss the blue sky and the fields
and trees. But I must not forget; there is a land beyond, where I shall
see again."

"Yes, dear father, try and think of that land, and then you will have
strength to bear anything that comes."

"Draw nearer to me, Annie; put your face between my hands; let me know
your features by feeling them. I did so love to look at you."

"I will try very hard to be eyes to you, papa. I will take you out, and
tell you about everything I see. I can pick up the shells we require
quite well now."

"Ah! That is another trouble, dearest. We have only two more boxes to
sell."

"But I can arrange others, papa. I know how to find all the shells, and
I can make the boxes. I shall always keep one as a pattern. We will go
to Mother Crampton presently, and take her a finished box."

"Not to-day, dearest. I am too ill to leave the house."

"Then I shall have time to complete a second this afternoon."

The invalid sighed deeply, and his daughter left him for awhile to put
the rooms in order. Then she sat down by his side and arranged the
shells, chatting about indifferent things, and trying her best to cheer
him. At the same time, she felt a dull pain oppressing her, when she
pictured to herself her father depending on her efforts for support.

When she was shut into her tiny room at night, she wept bitterly. So
soon as her tears were spent, she kneeled in prayer, and told out all
her fears and hopes to her Father in Heaven, until she was quite calm
and trustful again.

"Why should I doubt God?" she asked herself. "He fed His people in the
wilderness, and He has fed us many times."


Mr. Newton was less depressed next morning. "I am not so weak in body,
Annie," he said, when she asked him how he had passed the night, "and
my faith in God burns more brightly."

"I am so very, very glad, papa!"

"I wish you to carry two boxes to Mother Crampton this morning. Did you
finish a third yesterday?"

"Not quite, but very nearly; it is far enough advanced to serve as a
pattern."

Annie left the house just as Dick entered with his bundle.

"That's my new boy, Miss," called the spinster from the shop.

The young girl bent her head to Dick, but did not speak. She walked
quickly to Mother Crampton's, for she longed to tell her best friend
about her father.

She met with the heartfelt sympathy she so much needed; and, at the
same time, she was braced up to endure her trouble.

"It is good thing you are old enough to help your father," said the
dame; "there is mercy in that. Cheer up, deary; your invalid will grow
reconciled to his blindness as time goes on. God gives more of Himself
when He takes away outside props. He's been thinking of you already.
I sold a box of shells last evening, and I have an order for one more
at ten shillings, and two more at a guinea each. The gentleman who
requires them wants you to have them ready in a month, as they are for
birthday presents."

Annie felt greatly comforted, and at last grew cheerful, for she was
encouraged to depend on her own exertions, and to have faith in God;
added to this, the order for the three boxes would bring in enough
money for several weeks' food and lodging. By degrees, she and Mother
Crampton conversed on other topics, and Tom was not forgotten among
them.

"I know that I shall find he's been more sinned against than sinning,"
remarked the dame. "I don't mean that he ought to have broken God's
day, but I'm sure Dick Potter has been his worst enemy, and led him
into evil."

"Miss Pringle has a new boy," said Annie; "I saw him just now; but he
has not a pleasant face."

"She has soon found a successor to Tom, then. I am very partial to that
lad, and am glad that he is going to live opposite, and with such good
people as Mr. and Mrs. Jones."

"I suppose you managed to secure the situation for him? You are always
lending a helping hand, Mother Crampton. I am not the only one who has
to thank you for kindnesses. Now, I am going back to persuade papa to
take a walk with me, and I intend to be very bright, and not allow
myself to think how desolate I shall feel when I have to pick up shells
alone, and realise that papa will never accompany me again."

"Be a brave little maiden, even if sad thoughts force themselves on
you. Should Tom Gillies turn out as well as I expect he will, I'm sure
he will be glad to help you; and I'm quite sure Mr. Jones will grant
him an occasional half-holiday for the purpose."

"That is a famous idea," said Annie. "Mrs. Jones has always been very
kind to me, and I shall not mind asking a favour of her."

In five minutes, Annie was home and standing by the invalid's side.
"Capital news, Papa," she said; then, noticing the traces of tears, she
continued, in an anxious tone, "you have been crying, father; oh do
not, please, do not fret. I have an order for three more boxes. Now,
come out for a walk—the air will refresh you." And she put his hat on
and led him gently to the door and down the stairs.

Miss Pringle brushed past them in the passage.

Mr. Newton drew back. "Did I hurt you," he asked. "I am quite blind
now."

"No—nothing to speak of," she replied, hastily.

They walked slowly down the narrow pathway from the top of the cliff to
the sands, Annie going first and holding her father's hand.

"How nicely you manage, papa," she said, "and how beautiful the air is;
already you are better. We will sit down, while I tell you how every
point looks, and which part is in shadow." She prattled on until Mr.
Newton was beguiled into asking questions, and forgot himself and his
sorrow for awhile.

They remained out for more than an hour before he expressed a wish
to return. Their simple dinner over, Annie arranged her shells. She
was thus employed when a step was heard on the stairs, and Miss
Pringle tapped at the door. A visit from her never boded any good, but
generally heralded some unpleasantness.

"I came to say, I'm sorry you've gone blind, Mr. Newton," she began.
"I'm sorry for two reasons—one for yourself, and the other because I'm
obliged to give you notice, that if my rent isn't paid regularly, I
can't keep you. I don't know how you'll live now, and I'm too poor to
let my rooms for nothing. I thought it was better to speak plainly and
come to some understanding."

Mr. Newton looked very much pained. "If I fail in paying my rent, you
may complain," he said; "but I think it would have been better for you
to have waited until such was the case. My daughter can fit up the
boxes of shells almost as well as I can, and we have several orders to
execute. More I cannot say."

Annie's face flushed crimson, and she felt inclined to answer, "You
cruel, unkind woman, how dare you behave thus?" But she restrained
herself, and only replied, "I shall manage the rent, Miss Pringle; you
may trust me."

"Very well, miss, that's enough; but I must be just to myself and look
after my own interests, for I'm a lone woman," and the spinster left
the room.

"Never mind her, papa!" exclaimed Annie. "We shall be as well off as
before; and I know God will take care of us. I only wish we could
change our lodging."

"Better not, child; we know all the disagreeables we have to put up
with here."

"Miss Pringle is not a happy woman, and she is really very hard by
nature, I do believe. How unkindly she behaves to her boys! I wonder if
the new one she has now is the Dick Potter that Mother Crampton says
has done so much harm, and been such a bad friend to Tom Gillies."

"As if there were not two boys of the same name at Dixtown."

"Still, papa, it is odd that he happens to be called Dick," persisted
Annie.

Mr. Newton smiled at his daughter, and the conversation ended here.



CHAPTER XIII.

TOM'S FIRST WAGES.

AT the close of Dick's first week with Miss Pringle, he had won a high
place in her opinion; but not so with Annie or her father, who were
duly informed by Mother Crampton of the cowardly part he had acted
towards Tom.

Mr. Newton ventured to tell Miss Pringle she had done wrong when she
engaged Dick, which made her extremely angry, and very insolent to her
lodger, so sure was she that she had found a treasure.

Dick had to gain an end, and was resolved to get possession of the
money he had seen counted almost every night since he came to live with
Miss Pringle; but his chance of appropriating it seemed very remote,
for the spinster kept her door so carefully locked. He heard her
enlarge on her poverty, and knew her words were false; and he began to
class her with himself, and to think he had a right to deceive her, as
she in her turn was deceiving others; so he stole her fruit and sweets,
and managed to thieve them so cleverly that she was not aware of the
fact. If he exceeded his usual number of drops, he put more flour
into the bottles, and gave short measure to the children who came to
the shop to spend their halfpennies; and he never carried apples out
without taking several of the best, nor sold peaches without adding
something to the price his mistress asked.

It was on the first Sunday afternoon which Tom spent in Mr. Jones'
service that he met Dick; but before we describe the interview, we must
tell how Tom prospered.

His holiday was a happy one, and he entered on his new situation with
a light and glad heart. Mr. Jones received him kindly, and so did his
wife. He passed his days thus:—He rose before five o'clock, and so soon
as he was dressed, he groomed and harnessed the old horse Tippler; then
he accompanied his master to the garden and helped him to cut fresh
vegetables and gather fruit. By half-past six they were back again, in
order to be ready to drive the machines down to the sea. Later on, Tom
returned to the shop, which he cleaned out, or carried the vegetables
round.

In the evening, he took the children on the sands. Willy, the eldest,
was five, and he and Tom soon became fast friends. He was carrying
him when he met Dick; his master and mistress were sitting on a rock
with the baby a little distance off. Tom did not see his former friend
approaching, but when he heard the voice he knew so well, he turned
abruptly away.

Dick was not to be shaken off easily. "Don't turn away, Tom, like
that," he whined; "think how many years we've been friends."

"But we ain't friends now, and some day I mean to tell Miss Pringle the
whole truth."

Dick would have liked to have knocked Tom down, but such behaviour
would, he knew, damage his cause, so he only whimpered, "Don't be hard
on me; I'm sure you've nothing to complain of; and getting a something
every week, and I nothing; why I really did you a good turn."

"But you didn't mean to. If Mother Crampton hadn't helped me, I might
have gone my own way to the bad."

"Well, anyhow, you've tumbled on your legs, Tom, so do be friends.
You'll come and see me sometimes, and I'll try to run in and look at
you. I'm very lonely, and we used to be so fond of one another."

"Master allows no visitors, and I know Miss Pringle doesn't; and I'm
very busy from morning till night; there's plenty for me to do,"
replied Tom; "we shall meet out sometimes."

"You're a lucky fellow to fall in with such nice people," replied Dick,
"and yet, on the whole, Miss Pringle doesn't behave badly to me. I went
to church with her this morning. I suppose she's not a rich woman, Tom?"

"No, she can't be, or she wouldn't be always saying she was poor; but
she does a fair business, and, I'm sure, allows nothing to be wasted. I
suppose her profits ain't large."

"Tom!" called his master at this moment. "We're moving."

The lad responded to the call with a hasty "good-bye," to his former
companion.

"I hate him," snarled Dick, walking slowly away in the opposite
direction.

That evening, Tom went to see Mother Crampton, who was unwell. He heard
from her about Mr. Newton's blindness, and determined to try and help
Annie, with his master's permission, to find the shells she needed for
her boxes. They spoke of Dick, and the old lady warned him against
keeping up any acquaintance with his former companion.

"I never mean to again," said Tom, with great self-assurance. "I'm not
to be caught so easily as I used to be."

"Don't be too positive," answered the dame; and then she added so many
kind and loving words about God being the only refuge from temptation,
and the need of getting daily strength for daily need, by prayer,
that Tom's self-assurance vanished, and he told her about killing
grandmother's cat, and that he intended to buy a new kitten for her,
which was to have a red collar.

"But you must tell your grandmother why you give her the present."

"That's just what I expected you would say; but it will be hard work."

"Not so hard as losing a cat. I'm indeed grieved for your poor
grandmother; lone people can't help loving dumb creatures very much."

"But I did not mean to kill Tabby."

"Perhaps not; but you meant to do something to pay off old scores
according to your own confession. What else have you done wrong in,
Tom?"

"I stole a peach from Miss Pringle, and a good many apples, and let
Dick in two nights. I do so wish I'd never done any of these wicked
things; for now I know better, I seem to have tied knots in all
directions, and I can't tell whenever they'll be untied. If I hadn't
them to weigh me down, how thankful I should be."

"It's not too late to mend. You may untie the most difficult knots if
you will, by casting all your care on God, and asking that His Spirit
may teach you: tell grandmother the whole truth when you give her a new
pet, and wait for an opportunity of helping Miss Pringle, and then say
boldly to her why you wish to render her some service."

"Even tell her about Dick Potter."

"Yes, even that when the right time comes."

Tom thought for a few moments ere he answered. "I really will conquer
myself in the way you've advised, Mother Crampton. I'll go on praying."

"Then in the end, you will conquer, so I'm not afraid. But I should be
very sad if I felt you were going to try and reform yourself in your
own strength."

"Thank you for all you've said," remarked Tom, when they had talked in
the same strain for another half hour. "You look tired, so I'll be off.
I shall run up to the Castle and then home."

Tom found two friends on the castle-hill—Mr. Newton and his daughter.
As they were sitting on one of the wooden benches, he ventured to
approach them.

"Here is Tom Gillies," said Annie to her father.

"Ask him to come and tell me how he is getting on."

Tom took the seat next to Mr. Newton, and related the history
of himself in his bluff, honest way; he also ventured to ask in
conclusion, "May I do anything for you, sir? I ain't got much time
to spare; but while the mornings are so light, I can be up first
thing—three o'clock isn't too soon for me."

Mr. Newton was touched. "I thank you, Tom," he answered. "If my
daughter goes to pick up shells, you will be very useful; but I think I
must ask your master to grant you a half-holiday."

"I'm sure he will!" exclaimed the boy. "I shall be proud to help Miss
Annie. I'll work off hours for master, to make up."

"You're a kind-hearted lad," said Mr. Newton, adding, with a deep sigh,
"I am quite blind now, and that makes me so helpless about the shells.
It's hard work, but there is a good God over us all: He will care for
me and my child."

Annie's eyes filled. "Don't think of me, father," she said, with an
effort to be cheerful; "remember I am very clever, and Mother Crampton
manages to sell the boxes as quickly as I fill them."

"Bless you, my little daughter," said her father, tenderly. "Tom," he
added, earnestly, "serve God while you are young, and while you have
life and health. If I had not found rest in believing, I do not know
how I should have endured my affliction. Now, Annie, let us be moving."

Tom accompanied his friends down the castle-hill, and then went
directly home.


The days passed smoothly along, until the end of the first month, when
Mr. Jones paid Tom his wages. The boy felt very rich—twelve shillings
seemed an inexhaustable mine of wealth. He had laid it out many times
before he actually spent it. First, he agreed to give two shillings for
a kitten which had one of the finest tails ever seen, and two shillings
for a new red collar for Pussy. Then he had to purchase presents for
Sally and his younger brothers and sisters.

"I wish I could manage to get a holiday from Saturday until Sunday
night, or Monday morning first thing," thought Tom. "I'd sooner pay a
shilling to get back, if Harry or Will ain't coming over. It's a deal
of money, but I want to settle up with grandmother, besides the kitten
and collar will be waiting. I'll ask master if I may go, and tell him
I shan't want a holiday in six months' time, if I may have one on
Saturday."

On Wednesday morning Tom preferred his request, as he and Mr. Jones
drove to the market garden. He had carried his wages over to Mother
Crampton on the previous evening, and asked her to keep his money until
he knew whether he could be spared on Saturday.

"Please, sir, I'm going to ask you a great favour. May I go home on
Saturday until Sunday night or Monday morning?"

"What! Home-sick, Tom?"

"No, master—not exactly."

"Then I suppose you want to take your first earnings to your mother?
But no, it can't be that either, when Mrs. Gillies is so often over
here. Well, what is it?"

"It's a great secret, sir, between me and Mother Crampton; but I'll
tell you if you promise to keep it."

"Yes, I will promise."

"I've seen a beautiful cat that I've said I'll buy for grandmother, and
I've ordered a red collar, and I want to take it to her."

"Right, boy. You're good to remember the aged. Yes, you may go."

Tom thought for the first moment that he would not undeceive his
master; then he felt that if he left Mr. Jones in ignorance of the
truth, he would be more troubled than if he told him everything—why
he bought the kitten, and why he wished to see his grandmother. His
anxiety to untie old knots and to tie no new ones made him stammer out,
"I don't deserve to be praised, sir, for I wronged grandmother; only I
didn't mean to do what I did."

And here he stopped and looked so uncomfortable, that Mr. Jones said,
by way of encouragement—

"I should like to hear your story, Tom, if you can trust me. I've had
troubles and temptations in my time, so perhaps I can help you."

Mr. Jones was as simple and true in his religions beliefs as in his
dealings with men. He tried to be a Christian at all times; therefore
he was in a position to be a wise and efficient help to Tom at this
stage of his life's history. So the lad spoke openly to his master
about the past, nor did he conceal the struggle he had with himself
before he resolved to confess his wrong-doing to grandmother when he
gave her the kitten.

"You'd but half do your work if you left your grandmother in ignorance
of the reason why you gave her a new cat. You shall have a holiday,
and I'll lend you that nice covered basket of mine to carry pussy in.
I say, go on and prosper. You shall leave on Saturday afternoon and
return on Monday; and if your brother's boat isn't coming, why, I'll go
shares in hiring one to bring you back."

"Oh, thank you—thank you, sir. Now I am indeed happy. If only
grandmother isn't very angry and will forgive me, I shall be the
jolliest fellow living."

"You must bear the old lady's anger, my boy; remember you deserve it.
You took her child when you killed her Tabby, and it's to be expected
that she'll feel indignant when she learns the truth. However, there's
one cure—that is in prayer. Pray without ceasing that all may be well,
and that her heart may be softened toward you."

Tom was busy that week making his purchases. A third of this month's
wages were consumed by grandmother's present. The Bible he bought for
himself cost one shilling and sixpence; a yard of ribbon for Sally,
and the promised copy of "Come to Jesus," took another shilling and
penny; two shillings he reserved for his mother, who undertook to wash
and mend ins clothes at the rate of sixpence a week; ten pennies were
devoted to five boxes of toys for his younger brothers and sisters; and
the balance that remained, he handed back to Mother Crampton.

Tom saw his brother Will on Friday, who said he would be in Dixtown
on the morrow, and expected to leave the pier at four o'clock in the
afternoon for Norton Island, and that he was obliged to come in again
on Monday at six o'clock; so Tom's difficulties in this respect were
removed, and, in fact, all seemed to prosper for his proposed excursion.


Mrs. Gillies crossed with her sons on Saturday. The basket and parcel
Tom carried gave rise to many questions, and he had to acknowledge that
he had been laying out some of his month's wages in presents.

"I hope you've not been spending your money foolishly," said his mother.

"No, not foolishly," answered Tom. "I wanted to buy these things; and
from this time I mean to save."

Mrs. Gillies did not reprove Tom further. She had received a good
character of him from Mr. Jones; and as he handed her two shillings,
she merely added a few general remarks on the duty of being economical.

Tom, as may be supposed, had a hearty welcome at home. His young
brothers and sisters crowded round him, and were so delighted with
their presents that he felt quite a hero among them. Of course, they
wanted to know what the basket contained; and when Tom showed the
kitten, the young ones clapped their hands with delight. Pussy seemed
in no wise frightened at so many eyes peeping into her basket; she
shook herself, and stepped from it quite quietly, to lap some milk out
of a saucer.

"Is it to stay here, Tom?" questioned one of his little sisters.

"No; it's for grandmother," he answered.

"Shall I go with you when you take it to her?" asked Sally.

"I'd rather go alone," he replied.

Directly after tea Tom started off, basket in hand. It was nearly seven
o'clock when he reached grandmother's cottage; and as September was far
advanced, the evenings were beginning to draw in. Still there was light
enough to see pussy, and Tom thought it was better to get over his
interview at once rather than wait until the following day.

He tapped softly at the door. Grandmother opened it, and started back.

"You, Tom!" she said. "Ay, I remember they told me you were coming. I'm
glad to hear a better account of you. Step in."

Grandmother had only once before spoken as civilly to Tom, and he felt
very thankful that she was so inclined to be pleasant. He had carried
out his master's and Mother Crampton's advice, and there seemed an
answer to his prayers at first starting.

"I'm getting on nicely," he answered, sitting on a wooden stool close
to grandmother, and clearing his throat, which felt very husky. "And,
you know, I have wages now; so I've spent part of my first month's
money in buying you a present."

"Bought me a present! It's something quite new for me to have one;
they're rare things, Tom." And again granny spoke kindly.

The boy opened his basket, and, lifting the kitten out, placed her
gently in the old woman's lap. Pussy, as if she knew what would please
her new mistress best, curled herself round, and lay still, purring and
moving her tail gently up and down.

"What a beauty!" exclaimed grandmother. "Is this for me, Tom? It's
handsomer than Tabby, I declare. Oh, how happy you've made me! And I
don't deserve it, for I've been so unkind to you."

"Don't say that, grandmother; it's I who have been unkind to you. But I
didn't mean it; I really didn't mean to kill your old Tabby."

"Then you killed her after all?"

"Yes, grandmother; but this is how it was. You must listen while I tell
you everything."

And Tom gave a full description of how it all happened, that he was
very angry when his grandmother declared she would tell tales of him
and get him punished, and that seeing Tabby suggested the wicked
thought, that if he were thrashed, he would be thrashed for something.

"And yet I hardly know what I wanted, grandmother," he added, "for
I'm sure I didn't want Tabby to go mad or be killed, but I think I
hoped something would come about that would pain you, because you were
so cross with me. I've been so miserable ever since. Oh, do say you
forgive me; please do."

"Forgive you, Tom! Yes, that I will; but I need your forgiveness as
much as you need mine. It was cruel of you to treat Tabby as you did,
but I'd no business to be so hard upon you. I know I'm a cross-grained
old woman, but I'll try and turn over a new leaf. To think of your
spending your money on a new cat, and buying such a smart collar too.
I'm so pleased; and, what's more, I hope I've learnt a lesson from you
that will do me good as long as I live."

Tom did not leave his grandmother until after eight. He told her many
things connected with his new life, and a great deal about Mr. Newton
and his daughter. When they parted, she kissed him, and said, "Never
let us speak of the past again, and let no one know who killed Tabby.
Tell your father that we mean to be good friends for the future.

"Come and see me to-morrow, and hear how my new Tabby—for she shall
have the same name as my old pet—likes her quarters."

"I'll come," answered Tom. "I'm going to the service in the afternoon,
for, notice was given to the children at school this morning that a
friend of Mr. Pender's would preach. Will you come too, grandmother?"

"I've never been yet."

"The more reason you should begin. Mr. Jones is very particular how I
spend my Sunday, and Mother Crampton says we ought to keep God's day
holy. I like going to church twice now; I've only missed one evening
since I've been at my new situation; and that was when Mother Crampton
was ill."

"I tell you what I'll do. If you come and fetch me, I'll go with you to
the schoolroom to-morrow. I must lock Tabby in, as she's strange here,"
said granny.

"I'll come in good time for the service," answered Tom, as he left the
cottage.

Sunday morning rose without a cloud. Tom was up early, and bathed.
Afterwards he took the little ones for a walk, and read to them out
of his new Bible. Dinner was at twelve, and at half-past two the bell
began to ring for the afternoon service.

Most of the cottagers went to the schoolroom, for Mr. Pender told his
men he hoped they would all attend. So some went out of curiosity,
others to please their master, and a few because they loved to hear
about their Saviour.

"Tom, I shan't forget what I've heard in a hurry," said grandmother,
as they walked home after the service. "It's an easy text to
remember—'Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?' And he looks close on
death himself. What a deal I've got to learn, according to him. I'm
wrong altogether."

"The gentleman said in grander words just what Mother Crampton told
me," answered Tom, "that every one who won't come to Christ will die in
their sins. Oh, grandmother, I've been trying so hard to believe and
learn of Jesus in the last few weeks."

"And I'll try too, Tom. You must know there was a time in my life when
my heart was softer, but it's grown hard with years and living alone;
and for a long time I've given up praying to God to make it soft again;
but now I'll begin to pray."

Tom accompanied his grandmother home, to see how pussy had conducted
herself ill their absence, and she asked him to stay tea.

"I'd like to," he replied, "only Sally will be disappointed if I don't
go home."

"Let her come here; I shall like to have her."

Tom went to fetch his sister. Sally was greatly surprised when he gave
his invitation, but very glad to accept it.

After a cosy tea drinking, grandmother asked Tom to read her a chapter
from the Bible. He complied with her request, and, later on, read to
her from "Come to Jesus;" first about tying and untying knots, and then
the words addressed to the aged. When he ended, granny was weeping.

"It means me," she sobbed. "I've not heeded the warnings God has given
me. I've got white hair and wrinkled features, and I've not a moment to
lose, for I'm an old woman; but, Tom, I'll come to Jesus at once, for
He alone can save."

"I've untied a big knot since yesterday," thought Tom, ere he fell into
a sound sleep and dreamed sweet dreams.

But no sleep and no bright dreams came to Miss Pringle on that Sunday
night, nor to Mr. Newton nor his daughter Annie. The reason why we must
reserve for another chapter.



CHAPTER XIV.

THE ACCIDENT.

DICK was no nearer the wished-for money on that Saturday afternoon when
Tom went home, nor did he see any chance of clutching the prize. He was
growing weary of controlling himself, and vexed and annoyed that his
former friend avoided him; for when they met, Tom passed on with a few
civil words of greeting, but refused to make an appointment to walk out.

Miss Pringle had not been feeling quite so well of late—not that much
ailed her—but she was very tired after her day's work and extremely
cross. She was sensible, too, that it cost her a greater effort than
was usual to lift her gold up and down from the cupboard shelf; and
determined to change some of her hardly-earned sovereigns into crisp
bank-notes.

On the Sunday night which brought such pleasant dreams to Tom, she
retired to her room at the usual hour. Dick did not watch his mistress
count her money quite so regularly as in the first fortnight, for he
knew the process so well. He was falling asleep without having first
looked through the keyhole, and was startled by hearing a loud crash
overhead. He jumped up and listened, for he fancied it was followed by
a low moan.

Mr. Newton and his daughter Annie, who were about to separate for the
night, heard the noise too, and Annie rushed to the door and opened it,
when she heard the words, "Help me."

"Can you let me in?" she asked.

"No; I'm too much hurt," groaned Miss Pringle, with great difficulty.

"We must force the door," said Mr. Newton. "Can you see through the
keyhole, Annie?"

"Yes, quite well. Miss Pringle is lying on the floor half in her
cupboard. She must have fallen."

"You had better call Dick."

Just at this moment the boy joined them. But the united efforts of the
three made no impression on the door, and Dick was sent to fetch a
locksmith.

At last, admittance was gained. A stool with a broken leg revealed how
the accident had happened.

Miss Pringle was quite unconscious. With the help of the locksmith,
they plead her on her bed; for Mr. Newton's blindness prevented him
from taking an active part.

"Now run for a doctor, Dick," said Annie. "The one who lives in the
first house on the terrace is the nearest."

It was quite half an hour before the doctor came, during which time the
young girl sat still and waited, not knowing what she ought to do.

Though Dick's face expressed great sorrow, he was secretly rejoicing
over Miss Pringle's fall, hoping that it might in some way facilitate
his wishes, and that he would gain possession of her gold.

"This is a sad business," said the doctor, after he had examined his
patient. "I can scarcely tell the extent of the mischief, nor whether
her arm and leg are broken or only sprained. I can do nothing until
to-morrow morning, the limbs are swelling so rapidly. Has she a friend
who can sit up with her? She must not be left."

"I do not think she has a single friend or relation in the world,"
replied Annie.

"Poor thing! She is to be pitied. I have heard she is very eccentric;
but having lived so short a time in this neighbourhood, I am but little
acquainted with its inhabitants."

"I will remain with her," said Annie. "I hope in the morning she will
be well enough to say what she wishes to be done; and her boy is here
to take any message that is necessary."

"That is sufficient. You had better not attempt to move her without
help. Give her some drops that I will send you at once. Her
consciousness will soon return, I hope."

When the doctor left, he was accompanied by Dick.

Then Annie took counsel of her father as to whether she should call in
assistance from any of the neighbours.

"Better not, my dear," answered Mr. Newton. "Miss Pringle may turn on
us, and say we must pay, as she gave no orders. You can manage with
Dick to-night, and to-morrow morning the doctor must arrange, if she be
too ill to be consulted."

So soon as Dick returned with the medicine, Annie persuaded her father
to go to bed, knowing that any excitement or want of rest would be
attended with bad after-consequences.

"Call me, Dick," she said, "if you notice any change. I shall not be
long. I am going to see after papa."

"Now is my time," thought the boy. "If I can once get the box out of
the cupboard and down-stairs, I am safe. When missus comes to herself,
it will be too late. Now or never. I shall have time to get away from
Dixtown, for she'll never say she's got money unless she's obliged;
only I must be quick."

He assured himself that Miss Pringle was still unconscious ere he
carried a chair into the cupboard, and lifted the bandbox on to the
ground. He took out the wooden box, replaced the bandbox, and carried
the chair back, leaving the cupboard door exactly as it was before.

"All right so far," he said to himself. "Three minutes more will finish
my business."

Two candles were burning, so that there was light enough to see his way
clearly. He took hold of the box with a firm grip, and was moving off
with it, when Annie opened the door softly, and entered the room, while
at the same moment Miss Pringle unclosed her eyes, gave a loud shriek,
and moaned, "Oh dear, oh dear, what shall I do!"

Annie could not have explained why she appeared at this juncture,
except that she had an uneasy feeling at leaving Dick alone with the
spinster. Seeing him box in hand, she screamed out, "Papa, papa, Dick's
stealing. Call out of the window for help."

Her sudden coming and appeal to her father, coupled with Miss Pringle's
scream, made Dick loosen his hold of the box, which fell heavily; while
the would-be thief pushed rudely past, rushed down-stairs, and out of
the back door, as Mr. Newton called "Help, help."

"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Wilkins, who was smoking his pipe in
front of his house. He and his wife had only just returned home from
spending the day with friends, otherwise they would have known that
something unusual had occurred next door.

"We want you and your wife here. Annie will open the door for you,"
said Mr. Newton.

Annie could not come at that moment, for she was by Miss Pringle's
side. The sudden start she had made when she screamed, had brought on
intense pain, and she lay with closed eyes again.

"Papa, I must have help," cried Annie.

"Wilkins is waiting below," answered her father, sadly.

He felt so much and almost bitterly his infirmity just then; it seemed
to come before him in an appalling form; he was so helpless to render
his child any assistance in her sore need.

In a few minutes, Annie unfastened the front door, and admitted the
good couple.

Mrs. Wilkins had often rendered her assistance, and was ready to help
any who were in distress. Her story was soon told.

"You go up and see what you can do," said Mr. Wilkins to his wife, when
he had heard a few facts; "I'll search after Dick; if he's clean gone,
he may go, as you've saved the property, Miss Annie. There is no fear
of his ever troubling Miss Pringle again."

So soon as Mrs. Wilkins entered the spinster's room, her first care
was to put the box and its contents into a place of safety. The sides
were somewhat damaged by the fall, the weight of the sovereigns having
loosened the nails.

"This explains much to me," she said to Annie. "See, miss, the stocking
is full of money. Miss Pringle has always spoken of her poverty, and
now I understand the secret of her life. The love of getting gold has
mastered her. It's very, very sad."

By the time that the wooden box was deposited in the cupboard, and the
broken stool removed, Mr. Wilkins tapped at the door, and said, "I
find no trace of Dick. He must have run away through the fields. I've
fastened the kitchen door; and I'll go home. The boy is no loss; I've
known him for many years, and I warned the missus here to beware when
she engaged him, and told her plainly she'd made a mistake. Good night.
You can call me if you want me."

Annie and Mrs. Wilkins conversed in whispers until Miss Pringle was
so far restored as to be able to take the medicine prescribed by the
doctor.

"Now try and sleep," they said.

"Where am I? And what has happened?" asked Miss Pringle.

Annie answered in as few words as possible, and promised to be more
explicit in the morning.

The spinster closed her eyes wearily, and her nurses had the great
satisfaction of seeing her fall into a quiet sleep.

The injuries which she had received were very severe. One leg was
broken, and the right arm badly sprained. It would be many weeks, even
months, before she would be able to knead her bread. She would have to
lie still, and be waited upon.

By degrees Miss Pringle received a full account of what had transpired.
When Annie told her how nearly Dick had stolen her gold, she literally
shivered with terror, and could not be quieted until her treasure
was counted out before her, and she had assured herself that not one
sovereign was missing.

She had many long hours of pain in the first days after her accident,
but pain of mind as well as body. She was humbled and mortified
when she realised that her secret was known, and that her lodgers
and neighbours were aware she was a false woman, and her pretended
poverty a lie invented to deceive them. Her precautions had miserably
failed; her future was dark and gloomy; her dearly cherished gold must
decrease; and what was more terrible was that she might be unable to
work again; and what then? Had she befriended Mr. Newton in his sore
need? Had she ever helped any one who was sick or in trouble? She
moaned many times, as if in severe pain, when it was mental anguish
that called forth the expression, and not the aching of hurt limbs.

Mrs. Wilkins was engaged for part of every day. She had no children to
occupy her time, and was able to attend to her husband's wants and see
to the invalid; but she could not undertake more. Miss Pringle felt her
business must be left for the present—until she was well; but what if
she were a cripple for life?


It was a week after the accident that Tom called to see the spinster.
He did not come before, because he had been passing through a sharp
conflict with himself. He had heard every particular of the trouble
that had befallen her, and Dick's conduct, from Mother Crampton; for
Annie had minutely described the circumstances to her old friend, and
also added her own judgment in the matter.

It was this:—When the young girl had time to think and wonder how Dick
came to discover that Miss Pringle had a hoard of money, she remembered
how easily she had seen through the keyhole. He must have arrived at
the knowledge of her secret in the same manner. She ventured at last to
ask Miss Pringle if she had any particular time for counting her money,
and the spinster confessed she had, and stated when it was.

"Now I understand all," said Annie to her. "Dick has watched you
through the keyhole when you thought he was in bed."

This was by no means a pleasant conclusion to arrive at, so far as
Miss Pringle was concerned; nevertheless, as we know, it was a correct
one. When Annie told Mother Crampton, she agreed with her; and when
Mother Crampton, in her turn, told Tom, it flashed into his mind that
it was his fault in the first instance, for had he not housed Dick for
two nights? Certainly he must have mastered the secret then, hence his
behaviour to himself, and his eagerness to serve Miss Pringle. Tom saw
it all so plainly that he wondered he had been blind before.

First, he felt very angry that Dick had gained his end so ignobly;
then, his anger turned into thankfulness that Dick had been prevented
from taking the money; and in the end one idea fixed itself, which
was, that he ought to offer his services to his former mistress. This
decision brought on the sharp battle with himself, for he was very
happy in his new situation, and dreaded leaving his very kind master.

First, he consulted Mother Crampton, who encouraged him to go forward.
She heartily pitied Miss Pringle, in spite of her many faults, and
thought that even if Tom sacrificed his present position, his character
would be matured by the voluntary surrender of his own wishes, because
of his anxiety to be of service to one whom he thought he had wronged.
She bade him speak to Mr. Jones, and come to no decision hastily.

Mr. Jones refused to settle the question by expressing a strong opinion
either way. He advised Tom to ask God to help him to do right, and
added, "So far as I am concerned, I shall be sorry to lose you, but I
do not feel it right to throw any obstacle in the way of your carrying
out what you believe to be the best."

So Tom paused for one week before he called on Miss Pringle, who was
greatly surprised to hear from Mrs. Wilkins that Tom Gillies desired
to see her. She had never quite forgiven his sending for his clothes,
and was inclined not to receive him, for she could not be persuaded to
believe, all at once, that Dick was such a wicked boy, even though she,
had such good reasons for doubting anything that the latter had either
said or done. Mrs. Wilkins liked Tom, and urged the spinster to allow
him to have his way.

"He seems so anxious for a quiet chat with you, that I think you
mustn't refuse him," she pleaded.

So he was invited to walk up.

When Tom found himself alone with his old mistress, he inquired after
her health, and expressed his sorrow that so sad an accident had
befallen her, but with such evident sympathy that Miss Pringle was
softened towards him; and she opened the subject of the conversation
which was uppermost in Tom's mind, by asking him why he left her
without giving any notice.

Tom asked her to listen to his story, which she did without once
interrupting him.

"And now," he said, in conclusion, "I've a good character from Mr.
Jones, and I've come to say that if you'll take me back, I am ready
to serve you again. I don't think you'll have cause to be sorry, for
I really mean to help you; and though I'm very happy with Mr. Jones,
and getting a salary, yet, if you'll give me only half what I get
now, I think I could manage. I mustn't expect them at home to buy me
clothes after having had three shillings a week, for then mother would
blame me. I owe you something, Miss Pringle, for behaving to you as
I did, and for letting Dick into your house. Probably he could never
have known that you'd money, but for me, nor have tempted me to go to
Lockstone, and behave as he did. Please forgive me; and to show you
forgive me, let me be your boy again. There's another change come over
me, which makes me think I shall do better than before: I tell God all
my troubles and pleasures, and ask, in Christ's name, that His Spirit
may teach me what is right, and I've found a deal of difference. I just
try to untie as many knots of sin as I can, and I try to tie no fresh
ones; but not in my own strength, I pray."

Tom did not know how thoroughly he conquered Miss Pringle by the
simple straightforward way in which he told his story, and detailed
his difficulties, and shortcomings, for she merely replied, "I forgive
you, Tom, and thank you for your offer; let me have until to-morrow to
decide."

Tom rose to go, but still lingered; for he had a few more words to add,
which he found rather difficult to bring out. "Please, Miss Pringle,
you won't be offended if I speak to you about something else," he
summoned up courage to stammer out at last.

"No, Tom, you may say what you have to say freely."

"It's only this: When I was with you, I didn't feel your religion was
quite real. Don't, please, be offended. You said a great deal, and you
made me read the commandments to you, and you went to church, and all
that; but at home you were hard, and had no kind words for me; and when
I talked to Mother Crampton, I felt there was something so real in all
she said, and it was just the same with my new master, Mr. Jones. I
found him a Christian from morning until night; and I'm trying hard to
learn that sort of religion, and I'm happier for it; and I want you to
do the same. I've brought you a little book that's helped me; it has
the words about tying and untying knots in it that first made me think,
and I've turned down the page for you. I hope you ain't offended at my
speaking."

"No, Tom," Miss Pringle answered again.

The boy stepped forward, and put the book into her hand, and saying,
"Good-bye; I shall call to-morrow for your answer," left the room, but
not the house, for Annie called him in to see her father.

And when he had told them what he had done, they hoped very much that
Miss Pringle would accept his offer.

"She is softened already by her misfortune," said Annie. "She even told
me yesterday that she had sinned in loving her money so much. Why, Tom,
she has more than two hundred sovereigns! I counted them out before
her. I wish she would send them to the bank."

"Do not be so impatient, Annie," answered Mr. Newton. "Miss Pringle has
much to learn. I had rather that she acted after mature thought, than
in such a great hurry."

When Tom closed the door on his old mistress, she fell into a long
reverie. She glanced back over many years of her life, and felt the
retrospect was not a pleasant one. She had lived to make money, and cut
herself off from all that brings true joy in life, merely to accumulate
gold. Her one thought had been to gather and to keep. And now she was
lying helpless, and that which had been her idol must go to keep her
from starving. Tom's words about her professions of religion came with
startling truth. She had kept up a sort of sham piety all her life; she
had served God formally, but had not given her heart to Him, but to her
money.

She grew so restless and uneasy at last, that Annie, who came in, as
was her wont, several times during the day, noticed how flushed she
was, and asked, "Are you suffering much pain?"

"No, Miss Annie," she replied; "I am not suffering bodily pain, but my
heart aches so. I've made a great mistake. I've lived for money, and I
can't bear to think of it."

Annie left the room, and returned in a few minutes, bringing her Bible
with her. She chose several passages from the Gospels, which she
thought best suited to Miss Pringle's state of mind, and she read on
until she found that the sacred word brought some degree of peace and
rest.

Before she went back to her shells, she ventured to say, "Pray, Miss
Pringle; God will hear the prayer of the penitent. There is joy in
heaven over the repentant sinner."

The spinster could not sleep that night; so busy was she with herself.
The next morning she sent for Mr. Newton, and told him she had made up
her mind to take Tom Gillies back to carry on her business. She also
asked him if he would be good enough to go to the bank and deposit
her money, and concluded by begging him to forgive her unkindness and
selfishness.

"I did not know what it was to be helpless when I spoke so cruelly to
you," she said; "but God is teaching me. I believe being laid by will
do me good, but it's early days yet for me to say this."

Tom came at noon, and was with Miss Pringle for more than one hour. The
result of the interview was that he engaged to take up his quarters
under the staircase on the following day, at the same salary he
received from Mr. Jones. Neither Miss Pringle nor he ever spoke of that
conversation to a third party, but it was quite evident that Tom and
his mistress had been deeply moved, for there were traces of tears in
their eyes, and from this time quite another tie existed between them.
Tom was treated more like a son than an errand-boy.



CHAPTER XV.

TWO YEARS LATER.

TWO years later Dixtown appeared just the same to a casual observer
as on the day when we closed our last chapter. The sun shone as
brightly, the birds sang as gaily, the myrtles, fuchsias, and fig-trees
flourished as luxuriantly, and the bay looked as placid. Nevertheless,
some changes had taken place: one old-established shop had ceased to
be; one new shop had been opened; and some of the inhabitants had been
laid in their last resting-place in the pretty cemetery on the hill
side.

Mother Crampton was one of these; she had finished her course with joy,
and had passed up quietly and trustfully, depending on no righteousness
of her own, but on the finished work of her Saviour, to the home
prepared for her, among the mansions of the blest. She had no long
illness; she worked to within a week of her decease, when she was
compelled to take to her bed. She was tended by loving ones to whom she
had so often ministered—Annie, Tom, Mrs. Jones, ay, even Miss Pringle
on her crutches, were with her, each vying with the other in giving her
some token of their respect and love.

After her death, her home passed into the hands of a respectable
fisherman, but the shop was abandoned, for his wife had too large
a family of children to be able to attend to it. This necessitated
Annie's finding another means of disposing of her boxes, and in her
distress, Miss Pringle helped her.

The spinster's recovery had been tedious, and no perfect cure was
effected: she would never be able to walk again without her crutches.
The illness had borne ripe fruit; it had softened the hard lines in her
character. The change came very gradually, there was so much leaven to
purge out; but the heart of stone can be turned to flesh when under
the sanctifying influence of true religion; and Miss Pringle's formal
service of God had merged into vital Christianity.

Tom soon mastered the baking business in all its details; he lost
no old customers, but gained many new ones, for the Dixtown people
said that his bread was, if anything, superior to Miss Pringle's; and
as the story of her affliction, and her generous behaviour spread,
several came to the shop by way of encouragement. When Tom became so
essential to the spinster, she offered to give notice to her lodgers
to find new apartments, as the only way of procuring him a more
comfortable bedroom. The lad refused to accept a change on these terms,
for he enjoyed spending part of every evening with Mr. Newton and
his daughter; they were too good friends of his to be thus summarily
dismissed.

But after Mother Crampton died, and Annie's difficulties about
disposing of her boxes arose, Tom went to his mistress and suggested
that she should rent the adjoining cottage, and instal her lodgers in
it.

Miss Pringle offered no objection; Annie had been so good to her that
she was glad to have it in her power to make some return. She not
only took the cottage, but spent a little money in making necessary
alterations, which is the best proof we can urge of the great change
that had taken place in her character.

The first year of Annie's attempt at shop-keeping had just closed.
It had been a profitable one; in addition to her boxes, she sold
anemones, sea-weed, fossils, shells, and ferns. She and Tom had studied
natural history with Mr. Newton, until they learned to search after,
and distinguish the rare specimens which abounded everywhere on the
beautiful coast.

Mr. Newton was in much better health, and with renewed strength, his
eyesight was partially restored; he was able to serve customers,
prepare boxes, and even read a few pages of a large-printed book.

So soon as Annie and her father were established in their new quarters,
Tom exchanged his hole under the staircase for the large room they had
occupied, so that he, too, was materially benefited, but yet retained
his best friends near at hand.

"Any prawns wanted. Prawns to sell," cried Mrs. Gillies, walking up the
street one bright October morning, and entering Miss Pringle's shop.
"Good day!" she said, on perceiving the spinster busily dusting her
shelves. "Is Tom too busy to speak to me for a few moments?"

"Oh, no!" answered Miss Pringle, in a cheerful tone, for she could be
bright now, could smile, and sometimes laugh heartily. "He's just taken
the bread out of the oven."

Tom entered the shop at this moment. He was now in his seventeenth
year, and had grown into a tall, handsome lad.

"I've a message from granny," said Mrs. Gillies. "She want to see you
if you can come over on Tuesday. She's not been well the last few days.
I wish she'd give up her cottage and live with us. She's too old to be
left, and there's room now that Harry and Will are gone, and Sally's so
soon to be married. Persuade her to come."

"Yes, I will, mother. Isn't she a happy old woman now? I like to think
of her."

"Yes, that she is, and it's your doing, Tom," answered his mother.
"You've done a deal, my boy, for many of us," she added, emphatically.

"It was Miss Annie's book that made me think first," said Tom; "but
after all, we must thank God."

"Yes," replied Mrs. Gillies. "I, for my part, am glad things have
changed with us. I do thank God for it, and I'm sure your father does.
I hope I shall live to see all my children Christians before I die. I
feel plenty on my conscience sometimes, Miss Pringle, when I think of
my past wickedness, and how often I've been a bad mother. I wish—oh how
I do wish—I'd loved God all my life."

"So do I; we've all a deal to grieve over," added the spinster.

"We're more ready to tie than untie knots," remarked Tom.

"But how blessed it is for us all to know God forgives us in Christ,
and accepts our feeble efforts to live nobler and better lives," said
Miss Pringle.

The conversation was interrupted here by the postman entering with a
letter, which he gave to Tom.

The boy started when he read it, and turned very pale.

"It's from Dick, mother; he's sentenced to be transported for ten
years, with hard labour."

"He's young enough to have such a sentence!" exclaimed Mrs. Gillies.
"He's not nineteen, Tom."

"No, mother."

"It's very, very sad," remarked Miss Pringle. "Dick is associated with
a great deal of sorrow and much joy. I feel something like Jacob must
have felt when the angel left him. 'Contented now upon my thigh to halt
till life's short journey end.'"

"I wish—how I do wish—I could see him," said Tom. "It's too far to
go—he's in London. Good-bye, mother, I must be off to my work."


But before Tom returned to the day's duties, he retired to his room
to think. He was appalled at the news he had just received. Though he
knew that his former friend was running a downward course, this was too
dreadful to realise.

From the moment that Dick fled through the fields on that night when
Annie surprised him with Miss Pringle's wooden box, he had thrown
off the mask he had assumed, and became thoroughly reckless. He was
several times confined in the county prison for petty thefts; and
when his father at last refused to admit him at home, he joined a
strolling party, and ultimately united himself to a band of desperate
house-breakers, who made him their tool. Now that he was quitting his
native land for so many years as a common felon, his thoughts reverted
to his former companion, and he could not leave England without sending
him a few words of farewell.

Tom read his letter again, and then fell on his knees and wept and
prayed—not because he was better than Dick, but because, through the
mercy of God, he had been awakened to a sense of sin. He went about
his work with a heavy heart, for he was haunted by the remembrance
of Dick. He could neither read with, nor be taught by, Mr. Newton
that evening—he could only speak of the contents of the letter he had
received in the morning.

After he bade farewell for the night to Mr. Newton, he turned to Annie,
and said, in a broken voice, "Miss Annie, Dick's letter has brought
back all my past life, and how much I owe to you for giving me a
helping hand. I never shall forget the Sunday when you gave me 'Come to
Jesus,' and I read,—

  "'Habit will fasten strong chains around you, which will be harder to
burst asunder every day. While you wait, Satan works. He is busy tying
knots. You are his prisoner, and he is making more and more secure the
cords which bind you. Whenever you sin, he ties another knot.'"




*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77762 ***