^[SSBiDDY FrOBISHER 
 A Salt "Water S toky 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 Mary Powell 
 
OF THE 
 
 U N I ITY 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 823 
 
 oakstjsdsf 
 
MISS BIDDY FROBISHER. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher 
 
 A SALT-WATER STORY 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF 'MARY POWELL.' 
 
 ' Full fathom five thy father lies ; 
 
 Of his bones are corals made ; 
 Those are pearls that were his eyes : 
 
 Nothing of him that doth fade 
 But doth suffer a sea change, 
 Into something rich and strange.' 
 
 ' Come unto these yellow sands, 
 And then take hands : . . . 
 Foot it featly here and there ; 
 And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear.' 
 
 The Tempest. 
 
 LONDON 
 SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND MARSTON 
 
 MILTON HOUSE, LUDOATE 1H1,L 
 I 866. 
 
 I The 7-ig;lit of Translation i<i resoT'cd. J 
 
EDINBURGH : T. CONSTABLE, 
 PRINTER TO THE QUEEN, AND TO THE UNIVERSITY 
 
CHAPTER L 
 
 BRIGHT, sparkling afternoon, 
 with a fine, fresh breeze such as 
 sailors love, brought the ' Lively 
 Peggy' briskly into the little 
 harbour of Hardsand. Two men and a boy 
 ^ appeared to be all the crew. On deck, with 
 CO a spy-glass in her hand, stood a buxom, 
 omiddle-ag^d female, attired in a close-fitting 
 tQblue cloth coat with large white buttons. A 
 snow-white collar of stitched linen contrasted 
 well with the black silk handkerchief round 
 ^her throat; a round black hat, with ample 
 >but not immoderate brim, was tied firmly on 
 ^hy broad black strings. Laced leather boots 
 and beaver gloves completed her equipment, 
 ^ which was excellently adapted for a small 
 ^merchant vessel. 
 
 As for her face, it was somewhat too 
 massive to be handsome, and her healthy 
 
 A 
 
2 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 complexion was too tanned and freckled to 
 be fair ; but there was a bright rose-tint on 
 her cheeks, that deepened into carmine on 
 her lips. Furthermore, her mouth, which 
 boasted white even teeth, was beautified 
 when she smiled by a dimple. Her dark 
 chestnut hair was cropped short, almost like 
 a boy's, but played in curls over her forehead, 
 which her hat had protected from sunburn. 
 Her dark grey eye had wonderful and vary- 
 ing expression, and could be soft, kindly, 
 and humorous ; but it usually bespoke great 
 determination. 
 
 Such was Miss Biddy Frobisher, who now, 
 in a quick, peremptory voice, cried, — 
 
 ^Luff, sir, luff!' 
 
 The eldest seaman made some alteration 
 in the tackling, and presently approached 
 Miss Biddy, respectfully raising his hat. 
 
 ^ Well, Beale, what is it ?' 
 
 ' If I might make so bold. Miss — ' 
 
 ' Well, out with it—' 
 
 ' Instead of saying Luff, sir, luff — " ' 
 
 ' I ought to have said, Will you be so 
 good as to move the ship's head a little more 
 to the left-hand side, if you please!" Stuff 
 and nonsense. Don't be so fond of preach- 
 ing, Beale.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 3 
 
 ' No, Miss ; only—' 
 
 ' I don't want any onlys. You under- 
 stood what I wanted well enough, or you 
 wouldn't have done it. And Til tell you 
 what, Beale, I Ve something to say to you 
 too before we get into port. Come close 
 to me, there's no need for Coles and Bob 
 to hear every word I say. That will do ; 
 now I need not shout. Beale, you sailed 
 with my father a good many years. If 
 you don't want to sail with me, I can get 
 some one else.' 
 
 ' Goodness gracious, Miss Biddy, what 
 ever should make you go for to say such a 
 thing? Have I been swearing? Have I 
 been spitting ? Have I been disobedient ? 
 Many and many 's the time I 've carried you 
 in these arms — ' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, I know all that — ' 
 
 ' And just because I said you didn't ought 
 to say luff — ' 
 
 ' Tell me in one word, Beale, would you 
 have told my father he didn't ought to do 
 anything ?' 
 
 ' Well, no ; because, you see, he didn't 
 need to be told — ' 
 
 ' No, that was not the reason. It was 
 because he was your master, and you were 
 
4 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 his servant ; and now you are my servant, 
 or you are nothing to me/ 
 
 ' I 'm sure, Miss, I 'm quite agreeable/ 
 'No, that's the very thing you are not. 
 You are not and cannot be agreeable to me 
 if you don't do what I wish. Now, if I say 
 luff, when I mean something else, just you 
 do it ! and don't go exposing any little in- 
 advertence — ' 
 
 ' Exposing of you ? Why, I 'd sooner — ' 
 ' Hush, don't speak so loud, nor throw 
 your arm about so. People have eyes as 
 well as ears. If there are words that I use 
 in a sense of my own that isn't your sense, 
 just make a list of them, and put your 
 words against them, and I '11 use yours 
 instead.' 
 
 ' Bless your heart. Miss — ^ 
 ' Give it me privately, I say, and don't 
 go blabbing to Coles.' 
 
 ' If I ever did such a mean thing, may I — ' 
 ' No swearing, or you are paid off to-night! 
 I use expressions that you don't like some- 
 times, and you use expressions that I don't 
 like very often. This shall be a God-fearing 
 vessel, Beale. There was many a wrong 
 word spoken on board the ''Betsy;" and 
 the '' Betsy" went down.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 5 
 
 * Well, the old cap'n did rap out an oath 
 pretty oft — ' 
 
 ' Don't speak ill of the dead. My father 
 is gone to his account ; and oh that I may 
 square for him the account he left behind 
 him in this world !' 
 
 'YouVe a dutiful daughter, Miss Biddy, 
 that we all know ; and if you don't carry 
 your point, which I 'm afeard you never will, 
 why, it's not to be expectivated ; and you're 
 no ways answerable for your father's debts.' 
 
 ' That 's my affair. What I say is, that 
 this is to be a God-fearing vessel, otherwise 
 I cannot expect a blessing on my deed. See 
 what a prosperous trip we have made ! That 
 French brig was lost on the very spot we 
 sailed over. Let us bear our mercies in 
 mind.' 
 
 Beale touched his hat and went aft, while 
 Miss Biddy thoughtfully paced the little 
 deck, with her hands in her coat pockets, 
 and her spy-glass tucked under her arm. 
 
 'There are the girls!' she presently ex- 
 claimed joyfully. 
 
 ' Ay, ay, sir,' responded Beale. 
 
 ' He calls me sir,' thought she, 'but I'll 
 let it pass. With all his queer ways he 's a 
 true heart.' 
 
6 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 They ran alongside the quay, and a cus- 
 tom-house officer came on board. After a 
 short dialogue with him, Miss Biddy stepped 
 on shore, carrying a roll of ships' papers. 
 Two young girls hastily ran up to her and 
 kissed her. Many persons were standing 
 about, who had watched the ' Lively Peggy' 
 come in, and as Miss Biddy walked briskly 
 along the pier, with a sister on each side, 
 she exchanged many a cheerful greeting. 
 
 'Safe home, you see!' she cried to one. 
 ' A prosperous trip !' to another. ' How do 
 you do, Tom ? Are you better ? How are 
 you. Captain Spinks ? I must have a talk 
 with you shortly/ ' Mrs. Graves, Bob has 
 been a very good boy : he will soon be with 
 you.' 
 
 ' I am so glad you are come home, Biddy,' 
 said her dark-eyed sister Bell. ' How freckled 
 you are !' 
 
 ' Take care you don't get freckled. Bell. 
 It is of more importance at your age than 
 mine. How is Mrs. Bertie.^ Have you 
 seen much of her ?' 
 
 ' O yes ; I have been there every day, 
 hearing Perry his lessons. Charles is come 
 home from Steephollow.' 
 
 At this instant a middle-aged maid-servant, 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 7 
 
 with her cap half blown off, came rushing 
 down the quay, to give her mistress a 
 breathless welcome, having done which, and 
 received a cordial greeting, she fell into the 
 rear. Having delivered her papers to the 
 authorities, Miss Biddy rejoined her sisters ; 
 and the little group proceeded to a white 
 wooden house with red-tiled roof and bright 
 green shutters, which stood a little apart 
 from the street, with a steep narrow garden 
 before it. They passed through the white 
 gate and up the pebbled walk flanked by 
 gay flower-beds, to the wide-open door of 
 the house, which had been deserted by all 
 but the cat. 
 
 'Well, old Malkin, how are you?' said 
 Miss Biddy, as the cat rose and rubbed itself 
 against her dress by way of greeting. Then 
 taking it up in her arms, she looked about 
 her with great satisfaction. The parlour 
 into which the door opened was low and 
 square. The wainscot and raftered ceiling 
 were painted white ; the window-seat was 
 full of scarlet geraniums. There was an old 
 bureau, an old mahogany sideboard, an oval 
 table covered with green baize, a large 
 chintz-covered easy-chair, several mahogany 
 ones with horsehair seats, and, against the 
 
8 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 wall, a grim old portrait of a hard-featured 
 naval commander. 
 
 Soon they were sitting down to a soci- 
 able tea ; and the cabin-boy brought up 
 Miss Biddy's bag and a large basket of 
 fruit. 
 
 ' See what pears and apples Guernsey 
 boasts!' said Miss Biddy. 'Shouldn't you 
 like to go there ? ' 
 
 ' Not to live there/ said Hetty. ' So much 
 as you are away from us, we are better 
 among our friends/ 
 
 ' Well, I think so too, Hetty.' 
 
 'Take me with you next trip, Biddy!' 
 said Bell. 
 
 ' No ; it wouldn't do for you. You couldn't 
 rough it as I do. I should amazingly like 
 to go to Lisbon.' 
 
 ' To Lisbon V exclaimed they both. ' O 
 don't!' 
 
 Miss Biddy laughed merrily, and said, 
 'Why not?' 
 
 ' You '11 be out of your soundings. Father 
 never went to Lisbon.' 
 
 ' That 's no reason/ 
 
 ' But Beale never went to Lisbon,' said 
 Hetty, earnestly, ' and that is a reason. Oh, 
 Biddy, if you should be lost, where are we T 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 9 
 
 'Fiddlesticks! It will do Beale good to 
 be out of his soundings, and take the conceit 
 out of him/ 
 
 'Of course you would have a pilot,' said 
 Bell. ' But you don 't understand Portu- 
 guese. I don't like to think of it, Biddy.' 
 
 ' Don't,. then. Perhaps it may not come 
 to anything.' 
 
 ' And this has really been a good trip ? ' 
 
 ' Famous ; the cargo was so well chosen. 
 Madame Roland was a capital adviser. She 
 knew what was wanted in the market. I 
 have returned with a cargo of fruit.' 
 
 ' What shall you do with it ?' 
 
 ' Run up to London to-morrow.' 
 
 ' Going again so soon ?' 
 
 ' Fruit won't bear delay. No more tea, 
 thank you. Bell. I want to settle my ac- 
 counts.' 
 
 ' Oh, well, if you want a quiet room, I sup- 
 pose I may as well water the garden.' 
 
 * Yes, do ; and I will look out at you 
 from time to time. How goes on music, 
 Bell?' 
 
 ' Oh, pretty well. I practise every day on 
 Mrs. Bertie's piano; only it is a disadvantage 
 not to have one to practise on at home.' 
 
 ' Instead of saying that, think what an ad- 
 
lO 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 vantage it is to have one to practise on at 
 Mrs. Bertie s. And French ?' 
 
 ' I read some French every day. You 
 know that is all I can do.' 
 
 ' You would soon learn to patter away at 
 it in Guernsey.' 
 
 And then followed Guernsey anecdotes, 
 which amused them till Miss Biddy sat 
 down to her desk, and Bell went to water 
 her flowers. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 iss Biddy was not destined to 
 settle her accounts without inter- 
 ruption ; for scarcely had she 
 addressed herself to her task, 
 when she was diverted from it by the en- 
 trance of her friend Mrs. Bertie, a widow 
 lady of pleasing demeanour, whose mourn- 
 ing bore the air of faded gentility. 
 
 * I am so much obliged to you,' said Miss 
 Biddy cordially, ' for keeping your eye on 
 the girls in my absence. I did not expect 
 any harm to befall them, but did not like to 
 leave them without some one to look to in 
 case of need.' 
 
 ' My charge was quite a sinecure,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie. ' Bell came daily to practise 
 and to hear Perry say his lessons, but I saw 
 very little of Hetty, who had generally fruit 
 to gather, or a pudding to make, or some little 
 
12 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobishei^ 
 
 employment that amused her. I was always 
 glad to see her, but let her come or stay 
 away as she liked. They often brought 
 their work in the evening, and sometimes we 
 read a little, but oftener talked. The more 
 I see of Bell the more I like her. And how 
 pretty she grows !' 
 
 ' Hush, she will hear you — she is just out- 
 side, tying up the pinks. There's your 
 Charles helping her. Why did he not come 
 in?' 
 
 ' Charles is rather shy, and cannot bear 
 paying a visit, even to you.' 
 
 * Charles looks anything but shy at this 
 moment,' said Miss Biddy, gazing keenly at 
 the unconscious youth. ' Do look at him 
 and Bell!' 
 
 ' He is making his first attempt at easy 
 compliment, I should think,' said Mrs. Bertie, 
 laughing quietly. 
 
 ' Pretty well for a first attempt. See, he 
 wants to put flowers in her hair, and she 
 draws back her head. Oh, you rogue !' 
 shaking her head at him, as he happened to 
 look towards the house. Very sheepishly 
 he sauntered with his hands in his pockets 
 towards a square bed of onions, which he 
 attentively contemplated. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 13 
 
 ' Charles, you Ve doing nothing/ cried Miss 
 Biddy to him in her clear, full-toned voice. 
 ' Can't you look after the slugs ?' 
 
 He made a wry face, but pretended to do 
 so for a minute or two, while she was watch- 
 ing him. 
 
 ' I go to London to-morrow,' said Miss 
 Biddy. ' I want to settle my business mat- 
 ters ; and I have brought over a cargo of 
 fruit, which is perishable.' 
 
 ' What a woman of business you are !' 
 
 ' Ah, no,' said she ruefully. ' I was just 
 reviewing my profits and losses as you came 
 in, and though I have had some very encour- 
 aging successes, I have also had some very 
 heavy losses. Men are so hard upon women, 
 and take such advantage of them ! They 
 know we are naturally quick-witted, and they 
 keep us in the dark as much as they can. 
 However, I was not overreached by Monsieur 
 Guillot, though within an inch of it. I had 
 a fit of sneezing just as I was going to close 
 with him, and in that moment a third person 
 came in and said, ' Why, how is it, Mons. 
 Guillot, that you are doing so and so ?' 
 While they were talking I walked out, made 
 inquiries, returned to make a fresh bargain 
 with him, and got him to thank me too ! 
 
1 4 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 Instead of holding me cheap, he respected 
 me as a woman of the world. Perhaps I 
 shall become one at last, but it is against the 
 grain/ 
 
 ' How long shall you remain in London 
 * Not more than twenty-four hours, I 
 hope/ 
 
 'Where shall you sleep ?' 
 
 ' Well, my father used to put up at a very 
 respectable place somewhere near St. Paul's, 
 and I want to go to Covent Garden.' 
 
 ' St. Paul's is a good way from Covent 
 Garden,' said Mrs. Bertie ; ' and I don't 
 think it would be a very nice place for 
 you.' 
 
 'St. Paul's, Covent Garden!' said Miss 
 Biddy emphatically ; as much as to say, ' I 
 know something of London !' 
 
 'Ah, that's another St. Paul's!' said Mrs. 
 Bertie ; ' there are many St. Pauls' in Lon- 
 don. But I can direct you to some very 
 nice quiet people, where I went once with 
 poor Mr Bertie — ' 
 
 Here the doorway was darkened by the 
 heavy square-built form of an elderly man 
 in a blue coat with metal buttons. He had 
 a wooden leg. 
 
 'Oh, Captain Spinks, how do you do?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 15 
 
 said Miss Biddy, rising to meet him. ' Well, 
 I have not gone to the bottom, you see/ 
 
 Captain Spinks, who was a retired smuggler, 
 placed himself deliberately in the arm-chair 
 that she set for him, and said oracularly, 
 
 ' "There 's a sweet little cherub sits perch' d up aloft, 
 To keep watch for the life of poor Jack." 
 
 — So it was in my day, mum, and so it is 
 in yours. Many a time have I gone out of 
 harbour in an old tub that wasn't sea-worthy, 
 and many a time have I got back. There 's 
 many a sailor that don't go to the bottom ; 
 and if so, why not a sailoress 1 I watched 
 you when you put to sea, and I remarked 
 to a friend, " That woman will come back. 
 There 's that about her that . . . that woman 
 will come back.'' So, when I say so again, 
 perhaps you'll believe me.' 
 
 'Ay; or if I don't come back, you won't 
 know whether I believed in you or not. I 
 believe in Providence, Captain Spinks.' 
 
 ' That 's what I said in the words of the 
 poet,' said Captain Spinks, ' who clothed the 
 idea in expressions superior to mine. Well, 
 and how did my old friend Jack Beale 
 get on? He s a brick, if ever there was 
 one.' 
 
 * Beale got on very well, as he always 
 
i6 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 does, in spite of one or two inveterate 
 faults — ' 
 
 ' Ay, ay, mum, what may they be 
 
 ' Oh, I 'm not going to complain of him to 
 others ; but he has a nasty habit of using 
 improper expressions, and spitting in im- 
 proper places/ 
 
 ' Oh, oh, if it 's nothin agin his seaman- 
 ship, we must excuse him, mum ; we must 
 excuse him! I don't. hold him up for a 
 lady's man — ' 
 
 ' No, I should think not,' said Miss Biddy, 
 laughing. 
 
 * But for a man as knows how to handle 
 a vessel ; why, brush my wig ! (and I hope 
 that's not swearing) he's — Hem! talk of a 
 person and he appears.' 
 
 For there was Beale, demurely looking 
 in at the door, with a box under his arm. 
 
 ' I knew this held summat for the young 
 ladies. Miss,' said he, touching his hat, ' so 
 I thought I 'd just step up with it myself.' 
 
 * Thank you kindly, Beale. Wait to have 
 a glass of something. What would you 
 like ? a glass of wine or some toddy ?' 
 
 ' Thank 'ee. Miss, since you 're so obliging, 
 I '11 be tasting the wine while the young 
 ladies mixes the toddy.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 17 
 
 'Who's left on board, Beale, with the 
 custom-house officer ?' 
 
 ' Coles, Miss ; he came back half-an-hour 
 ago, and brought a newspaper on board to 
 read/ 
 
 ' Here 's your wine, Beale. We are going 
 to have prayers presently, and if you like to 
 wait, you shall have a glass of toddy after- 
 wards/ 
 
 Here Captain Spinks, who had rather 
 been hoping the toddy would come round, 
 suddenly became afraid that the evening air 
 would increase his asthma ; and, producing 
 a large Bandana handkerchief, began to fold 
 and tie it round his neck. Mrs. Bertie 
 remembered it was time for her to send 
 Perry to bed, and only outstayed Captain 
 Spinks to give Miss Biddy the direction to 
 the quiet lodging. Charles was summoned 
 from his flirtation among the pinks to ac- 
 company his mother home, and Miss Biddy 
 called her little household together half an 
 hour earlier than usual, partly on Beale's 
 account, and partly because she was very 
 tired. 
 
 Said Beale to his shipmate afterwards — 
 ' — And, Coles, there were two candlesticks 
 as bright as gold on the table. And Miss 
 
 B 
 
i8 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 Biddy opened the biggest Bible I ever seen 
 out of church, and read beautiful about a 
 storm at sea, and the Saviour asleep on a 
 pillow : and her voice was so loud and so 
 clear and so grand, that it made my flesh 
 creep And we all down on our knees, and 
 she prayed beautiful, and gave wonderful 
 thanks. After that, Miss Bell mixed the 
 toddy ; and. Coles, you may say what you 
 like, but 'twas the stiffest glass I ever had 
 in all my born days. Shouldn't I like 
 another!' 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 T was universally known in Hard- 
 sand that Miss Biddy had returned 
 from a prosperous trip, and there- 
 fore she met on every hand with 
 smiles and gratulations ; ' for so long as thou 
 doest good unto thyself, men will speak w^ell 
 of thee/ 
 
 Time had been, when her chartering a 
 vessel and sailing in it herself had been 
 spoken of with contemptuous pity or open 
 ridicule. Her first trip had been a failure, 
 and the remarks that were made on it reached 
 her ears and filled her heart with bitterness. 
 
 Her father had been a sailor of the old 
 school — hard-headed, hard-fisted, and some- 
 what hard-hearted. His early life had been 
 hard ; and when he came into a little money 
 he bought a share in a trader, then got on to 
 two shares, then to three. His partner died, 
 
20 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 and he married his partner's widow, who 
 became the mother of Biddy. They used 
 to have altercations sometimes, and Biddy, 
 who loved them both, was not always happy. 
 At length her mother died, leaving h^r little 
 property settled on Biddy. After several 
 years, Mr. Frobisher married again. This 
 was a trial to his daughter, who had supposed 
 she should be his housekeeper for life ; but 
 her excellent nature was never more fully 
 shown than in the friendliness with which 
 she welcomed her step-mother to the home 
 in which she was thenceforth to take a second 
 place. Her young step-sisters found a 
 second mother in her when they lost their 
 own. 
 
 Before Miss Biddy started for London, 
 she went down to the quay to take a fare- 
 well look at the ' Lively Peggy,' and give 
 some parting directions. Captain Spinks 
 and Coles were standing beside it with their 
 backs to her in such deep confabulation that 
 when she spoke Coles started as if he had 
 been shot. However, Captain Spinks was 
 not such a novice as to appear startled at 
 anything ; and, therefore^ while Coles fell 
 back several paces, and appeared intently 
 engaged in doing something to a rope, the 
 
Miss Biddy Frobishei\ 
 
 old smuggler, just as if he had had Biddy in 
 his eye ever since she set foot on the quay, 
 went on with — 
 
 ' And so, as I was saying, Miss Biddy, 
 whom, by-the-by, I wish a good morning, 
 which there 's no need to wish you, for there 
 never was finer weather, with a fine, stiff 
 breeze coming right from the north. You '11 
 have no rain, mum, between this and Lon'on, 
 or my name ^s not Spinks/ 
 
 ' But what were you saying to Coles ?' 
 
 ' About the brig, in course. Admiring of 
 her, mum, as I always do whenever I see 
 her, as well as the lady that^s her sailing- 
 master — I was saying to your ship's car- 
 penter — ' 
 
 ' Coles is no ship's carpenter, though he 
 can use a hammer and nail : you must not 
 give him such fine names, Captain Spinks, 
 for he 's too heady already ; and what be- 
 tween Beale and him, it's as much as I can 
 do, sometimes, to hold my own.' 
 
 ' 'Tis the nature of the masculine creation, 
 mum. Adam, you see, came aboard the 
 earth afore Madam, and so his sons have 
 always done their best or worst to keep 
 the upper hand. I dare say, mum, you Ve 
 realized a pretty sum by this trip ?' 
 
22 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 'That^s as may be. I haven't sold my 
 cargo yet ; and if my leather purse were 
 stuffed with gold, it would only go a little 
 way towards what I v/ant — ^ 
 
 ' But this vessel, mum, is now in such first- 
 rate condition that, with common care and 
 luck, you 11 have all profit and no loss from 
 this time forth — ' 
 
 ' I hope with all my heart it m.ay be so ; 
 but it is in wiser hands than mine/ 
 
 ' Where are those hands, mum, if I may 
 be so bold ?' 
 
 ' Fie, Captain Spinks, do you never read 
 your Bible ?' 
 
 At this instant a little warm fat hand was 
 slipped into her own, familiarly closing on 
 her fingers ; and looking downward she saw 
 without much surprise, and certainly with 
 anything but dissatisfaction, a very engag- 
 ing-looking little boy of seven years old, 
 whose dress was neither of the upper nor 
 lower rank, but ingeniously and economi- 
 cally contrived, with very little regard to the 
 fashion. His looks owed nothing to liis 
 apparel, nor did they need any adjunct, for 
 his lovely golden-brown hair, speaking blue 
 eyes, and radiant face, would have made him 
 a cherub even in rags. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' May I go on board with you ?' said he, 
 coaxingly. 
 
 ' Yes, Perry, you may,' and she smihngly 
 stooped down and kissed him. ' Have you 
 been a good boy while I was away ? ' 
 
 ' Yes — no- -not very good, mamma says. 
 My lessons were such a plague. I wish I 
 needn't learn any.' 
 
 ' Oh, but everybody must learn lessons !' 
 
 ' Not sailors ?' 
 
 ' Yes, sailors.' And though she had no 
 more time to bestow in talking to him, she 
 held fast by his hand while she gave her 
 directions to Beale, and took him with her 
 wherever she went. The little boy, whose 
 name was Peregrine, though he was called 
 Perry, was in a silent rapture of happiness. 
 He was very fond of the sea, of ships, and 
 of sailors ; the greatest object of his desires 
 was to go a voyage, but he had never yet 
 been out of sight of land. He picked up 
 and hoarded, however, every scrap of nauti- 
 cal phraseology and information that was 
 within his reach, and being a very coaxing 
 little fellow, he made friends with almost 
 every sailor and fisherman in the place. To 
 them his tongue would run nineteen to the 
 dozen, and his frequent 'What's that .'^^ 
 
24 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobishe7\ 
 
 ' what is it for ?' ' how do you do it ?' ' why 
 do you do it ?' ' could / do it ?' procured 
 him many a smiHng explanation. Know- 
 ledge of the sort he loved he could accumu- 
 late and store away with curious aptitude, 
 but for ordinary book-learning Master Pere- 
 grine Bertie had a lamentable disrelish. 
 Many were the tears that smeared the dogs- 
 eared leaves of his grammar, which was 
 copiously illustrated with original designs of 
 brigs, schooners, and sailors. In his pockets 
 were always to be found samples of small 
 cordage, tied with sailor's knots, or profes- 
 sionally coiled, along with marine specimens 
 (often alive), and a toy compass which he 
 knew how to box. In fact, the boy was born 
 for a sailor, though his mother did not know 
 of it, nor intend him to be one. 
 
 When Miss Biddy quitted the brig, this 
 endearing little fellow trotted beside her all 
 up the quay, having added to his possessions 
 sundry little treasures which Beale, knowing 
 his tastes, and secretly doating on him, had 
 stored away for him on purpose, in the 
 pockets of his capacious trousers. 
 
 ' Wasn't it good of Mr. Beale to give me 
 this — and these— and this ?' said he, exhibit- 
 ing his spoils to Miss Biddy with delight. 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 25 
 
 * Why, what can you do with them ?' said 
 she, amused ; ' I call it a lot of rubbish/ 
 
 ' Rubbish V said Peregrine, amazed ; ' why, 
 they 're the very things I want for my brig. 
 Only look at these blocks !' 
 
 ' Oh, so you 're going to put to sea, are 
 you ?^ 
 
 ' I wish I were. Oh, Miss Biddy, do take 
 me with you next time ! Do ask mamma/ 
 
 ' I ^m afraid it would be of no use. Perry/ 
 
 ' O yes, she^d mind yozi, Nov/ do. Miss 
 Biddy ! I won't be the least trouble. Should 
 you mind having me ?' 
 
 ' No, I should like it very much ; but Fm 
 certain your mamma would say no.' 
 
 ' Oh, just try her ! just try !' 
 
 To change the subject, she said, ' Here 
 comes Mr. Craikie.' 
 
 ' I don't like Mr. Craikie,' said Peregrine, 
 ' he always looks so like a wolf 
 
 ' Hush-/ 
 
 ' Well, but doesn't he ? Do you like him ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, to be sure \ which was not the truth. 
 Peregrine looked at her, in amaze that any 
 one could make such an assertion ; but, re- 
 turning to the charge, said, — 
 
 ' If I am very good indeed, and don't get 
 one black mark, will you take me ?' 
 
26 
 
 Miss Biddy F^^'obisher, 
 
 ' Perhaps I may/ said she absently, and 
 little thinking how her words would be 
 bottled up. In fact, her mind was occupied 
 by Mr. Craikie, whom she at once disliked, 
 distrusted, and yet wished to conciliate. Mr. 
 Craikie was a wine and spirit merchant, a 
 monied man, and a notable character in the 
 little borough. He was a low-party man, 
 and most of the burghers were opposed to 
 Government ; he was suspected of secret 
 dealings with the smugglers, but nothing 
 had ever been proved against him ; nobody 
 had much opinion of his moral character, 
 and it was certain that he had a hard, selfish 
 nature. Unfortunately, he was one of the 
 late Mr. Frobishers creditors, and Biddy 
 longed to pay off scores with him sooner 
 than with any other, because he seemed to 
 hold a power over her. True, she was not 
 bound to reimburse him, but she knew that 
 he knew she was trying to do so, and that 
 he scoffed at what he held to be the futile 
 attempt. Outwardly, and to her face, how- 
 ever, he was all politeness, for he admired, 
 her handsome sister Bell. Bell would sooner 
 keep a day-school like Mrs. Bertie than marry 
 Mr. Craikie; but he had given her no oppor- 
 tunity as yet of telling him so, and Biddy 
 
Miss Biddy Rrobisher. 
 
 27 
 
 had begged her with some anxiety not to 
 precipitate an explanation and estrangement. 
 
 He now approached Miss Biddy with an 
 unpleasant smile upon his face, while little 
 Peregrine held her hand tight, and thought 
 he looked more wolfish than ever. 
 
 ' His teeth are just like tusks,' said he, as 
 they pursued their way up the quay after 
 parting from him ; ' and I think he is a little 
 humpbacked/ 
 
 'Nonsense, Perry; you must not be 
 satirical.' 
 
 ' What is satirical ?' 
 
 ' Making unpleasant remarks.' 
 
 ' Oh, then I won't.' For Peregrine was 
 aiming just now at universal perfection ; 
 thinking, in his simplicity, that his reward 
 was to be a trip in the ' Lively Peggy.' 
 
 ' If Charles, now, were as fond of the sea 
 as you are, Perry,' said Miss Biddy, ' there 
 would be something to say for it.' 
 
 ' Oh, Charles can't bear the sea,' said 
 Peregrine ; ' he says it ahvays makes him 
 sick ; and I think he's a little afraid.' 
 
 ' Afraid ! pooh, he wouldn't be such a 
 coward.' 
 
 * He oughtn't to be ; but I think he is. 
 Charley 's not fond of the sea, but I know 
 
28 
 
 Miss Biddy FrobisJie7\ 
 
 what he 's fond of (confidentially lowering 
 his voice) — 
 
 ' Of what ? Let me hear/ 
 
 ' Two things. Books, for one/ 
 
 ' Yes, he sets you a good example in that. 
 What is the other 
 
 ' Bell. Miss Bell.^ 
 
 ^My sister Bell?' 
 
 ' Yes ; I think he likes her very much. I 
 hope they '11 marry some day.' 
 
 ' Marrying is not a thing to be talked 
 about,' said Miss Biddy with decision. ' Re- 
 collect that. Peregrine/ 
 
 He looked rather alarmed, and said, ' Yes, 
 I will. So, please don't call me so again/ 
 
 ' Call you what ?' 
 
 ' Peregrine. Mamma never does so except 
 when she's angry. She says my name's 
 too fine for use.' 
 
 ' It is a grand and noble name, and you 
 must try to act up to it/ 
 
 It may be thought that Miss Biddy was 
 frittering away her time this busy morning ; 
 but it was not yet eight o'clock, the hour at 
 which the Plardsand coach started. Bell 
 and Hetty, Charles and Perry, saw her off; 
 and she found her travelling companions 
 were a farmer and his wife, with whom she 
 soon entered into conversation. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FINE set of blooming young 
 people, madam/ said the far- 
 mers wife to Miss Biddy. 
 ' You 're proud of 'em, I dare 
 say/ 
 
 ' Well,' said she, smiling, ' I Ve no right 
 to be proud of the boys, for they 're no rela- 
 tions of mine ; but I 'm fond, if not proud, of 
 my sisters/ 
 
 ' A handsome lass the tallest, madam,' 
 struck in the farmer, ' that will some day 
 make some honest man's heart ache, I '11 
 warrant.' 
 
 In fact. Bell was doing something like it 
 as he spoke. When they turned home- 
 wards, after seeing the coach off, she said, 
 ' Now, Perry, a race for lessons,' and began 
 running. 
 
30 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Ah, I 'd rather race for anything else/ 
 said Peregrine ; ' but never mind/ and he 
 began running too ; till they were both 
 brought to a pause by Charles calling after 
 them. 
 
 ' What 's the matter ? ' said Bell, looking 
 back. 
 
 He made no answer till he had come up 
 with her, without quickening his pace, and 
 then said, ' What 's the good of being in 
 such a monstrous hurry to get in-doors ? 
 We 're very well here, and Perry does not 
 want to be at his tasks.' 
 
 'That's just it, Charley. Hurra!' cried 
 Peregrine, throwing up his cap. 
 
 * If I 'd known that was all you had to 
 say, I certainly should not have stopped,' 
 said Bell. ' Come along, Perry ; we know 
 our duty, if Charles doesn't.' 
 
 ' But stay, I 've something to say,' per- 
 sisted Charles. ' What was that Miss Biddy 
 said to you about visits, just before she went 
 off?' 
 
 ' Why, you must have ears as long as a 
 donkey's to have overheard that ! She said 
 that while she was away we were not to 
 receive gentlemen's visits.' 
 
 ' Oh, well, but I 'm not a gentleman.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 3 1 
 
 ' I thought you particularly valued your- 
 self on being one/ 
 
 ' Decayed gentility ours is. What I 
 meant was, I 'm one of the family/ 
 
 ' Not of ours — ' 
 
 ' But a friend of the family ; I 've the 
 privilege of the entry/ 
 
 ' Who gave it you ?' 
 
 ' Haven't I always walked in and out ?' 
 
 ' You certainly have/ said Bell, laughing, 
 ' but now you must not do so any more ; at 
 least while Biddy is away/ 
 
 'What am I to do, then?' said Charles, 
 looking blank. 
 
 ' Stick to your books like Perry and me ; 
 study navigation.' 
 
 ' Ay, do, Charley,' put in Perry, ' and then 
 you can teach me.' 
 
 ' Bother navigation !' said Charles. ' I 'm 
 not going to be a sailor/ 
 
 ' What are you going to be, then said 
 Bell. ' You 've no other opening.' 
 
 ' Oh, I only wish uncle Peregrine Vv^ould 
 offer me a berth in his ship !' cried Perry. 
 
 ' Nonsense, boy, you Ve too young/ 
 
 ' And you '11 soon be too old,' retorted his 
 younger brother. 
 
 Charles, without minding him, went on. 
 
32 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' What would you like me to be, Bell ?' 
 
 ' Not an idler/ said she quickly. 
 
 ' Would you like me to adopt a profession 
 for which I Ve no vocation ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, pray don't use such long words.' 
 
 ' I can't make out what 's come to you 
 this morning,' said he, rather sharply. ' You 
 never talked like this before.' 
 
 Bell, however, only laughed at him ; and 
 catching Peregrine's hand, they raced off 
 together, and were soon shut inside the door 
 which at present was to be closed against 
 Charles. As Miss Biddy was only gone 
 away for a day or two, the separation did 
 not threaten to be of heart-breaking " dura- 
 tion ; but she would soon put to sea again, 
 and then, it seemed, he was no more to 
 have the privilege of bestowing his leisure 
 on her sisters ; and this made him feel out 
 of humour with Miss Biddy. Besides-, Bell, 
 who was always very downright, had taken 
 quite a new tone, and said very unpalatable 
 things to him. He had fancied she would 
 like his being a clergyman, and would even 
 like being a young clergyman's wife, some 
 day or other, though she was older than he 
 was ; and he had been building castles in the 
 air that were wonderfully like rose-covered 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 parsonages, with himself for the incumbent. 
 He sighed, and wished his uncle, Captain 
 Bertie, had not offered to take him on his 
 next voyage. 
 
 Meanwhile Peregrine, who, to his great 
 joy, had leave to take his lessons at Miss 
 Frobisher s cottage during her absence, was 
 seated at the little oval table, so close to 
 Bell that she accused him of intending to 
 get into her pocket ; and was staring at the 
 portrait of the hard-favoured, black-a-vised 
 commander in Elizabethan costume, with 
 ruff and doublet, confronting him from the 
 opposite wall. 
 
 ' Who 's that man ?' said he. 
 
 ' Now, Perry, you know, as well as I do, 
 that it 's Sir Martin Frobisher,' said Bell. 
 ' You only ask that to gain time.' 
 
 ' Was Sir Martin Frobisher your grand- 
 father ? ' 
 
 ' No ; he lived in the sixteenth century, 
 and died years and years before my grand- 
 father was born. He was wounded off 
 Brest.' 
 
 ' Is Brest in England ?' 
 
 ' O Perry, Perry, where 's your geography ? 
 Brest is in France. Look it out on the map.' 
 
 ' O yes, I 'm very fond of maps and charts; 
 c 
 
34 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 I like geography a deal better than grammar. 
 Here 's Brest; how I should like to go there !' 
 
 ' Well, now, you must leave off talking, 
 and attend to your lesson/ 
 
 ' O yes ; because I Ve something in view.' 
 
 ' Something in view .-^^ said she, amused. 
 ' What is it ? ' 
 
 But Perry suddenly became very myste- 
 rious, and confined himself to very knowing 
 smiles and nods. At length he said, — 
 
 ' I want to get ever so many good marks, 
 and no bad ones.' 
 
 ' That is excellent,' said Bell. . ' I believe 
 you are going to turn out a very good boy 
 at last.' 
 
 Encouraged by this opinion, he did his 
 best to deserve it, and actually said his 
 lessons without a mistake, and wrote a copy 
 without a blot. Moreover, he wasted so 
 much less time than usual in irrelevant re- 
 marks, that when all the usual routine had 
 been gone through, they found they had a 
 quarter of an hour to spare, which Bell pro- 
 posed he should fill up with an extra column 
 or two of spelling. But he exclaimed, — 
 
 ' O no, no! that wouldn't be fair ! Now, 
 wotdd it ? That would be punishing me 
 for being a good boy. Now, wouldiit 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 35 
 
 it ?' and to strengthen his arguments, he 
 threw his arms round her neck and gave her 
 so many kisses, that Bell, who could never 
 be very hard upon him, capitulated, and 
 asked what would be fair. 
 
 ' Why, to reward me by telling me a 
 story/ 
 
 ' O what a boy you are for stories ! I 
 believe you think I Ve a bagful of stories, 
 and have nothing to do but to pull one 
 out/ 
 
 'Yes, just that very thing. Now let's 
 settle ourselves nicely.' And, with one of 
 his arms as far round her as it would extend, 
 and his eyes fixed on her face, he awaited 
 the expected treat. Bell looked very self- 
 contained for a minute or two, and then 
 began : 
 
 ' Suppose we have a story about Sir Mar- 
 tin Frobisher. Here beginneth the chronicle 
 of the life, death, and stirring adventures of 
 Sir Martin Frobisher ; volume one, chapter 
 one/ 
 
 'Oh, jolly, jolly!' softly murmured Pere- 
 grine. 
 
 ' There was a little boy, you must know, 
 once on a time, in Yorkshire, whose name 
 was Martin. He had blue eyes, light hair. 
 
36 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 fat, rosy cheeks, a dimpled chin, and warm, 
 fat Httle white hands with taper fingers, that 
 were not so much hands as puds/ 
 
 ' Why, that's a great deal more like me 
 than that picture !' 
 
 ' You think so, do you, Mr. Conceit ? This 
 little boy was always grubbing in the sands 
 for shrimps and crabs and sea-snails, and 
 blubbers, and anemones, and all manner of 
 nasty live things ; and before he could well 
 walk he would crawl about, dragging after 
 him a cart made of a great crab-shell. He 
 was always talking to fishers, and dredgers, 
 and smugglers, and pilots, and boat-builders, 
 and begging things of them.' 
 
 ' No, I don t/ 
 
 ' Who said you did ? I 'm talking of Mar- 
 tin Frobisher. But as soon as he grew to 
 be a big boy, say of seven or eight years old, 
 he took a wonderful turn for the better, and 
 always kept his hands clean, and his hair 
 combed, and never tore his clothes, and sel- 
 dom had little lobsters and crabs crawling 
 out of his pocket ; and as to his lessons, he 
 did them wonderfully, without one word of 
 mistake, and wrote his copies without a 
 single blot.' 
 
 ' This story is growing a little bit stupid,' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobishe^^ 
 
 37 
 
 said Perry, ' though it began so well. I sup- 
 pose he had something in view ?^ 
 
 ' In view ? I should think so ! He had it 
 in view to get to the very top of his profes- 
 sion/ 
 
 ' Ah, so should I, if I was to be a sailor/ 
 ' He had it in view to discover a North- 
 West passage, and during many years he 
 made fruitless attempts to get some of the 
 merchants to charter a vessel or two for that 
 purpose/ 
 
 ' I suppose there 's nothing discoverable 
 left now, is there ?' asked Peregrine. ' Isn't 
 everything discovered ? ' 
 
 ' Well, I don't know what to say about 
 that/ said Bell. ^ No, I should think not.' 
 
 ' Go on, go on.' 
 
 ^ You put me out so. At length, by con- 
 tinually urging Queen Elizabeth's courtiers 
 to help him, he was enabled to fit out a 
 private adventure, consisting only of two 
 barks of twenty-five tons, and a pinnace of 
 ten tons.' 
 
 ' Stop, stop, stop, stop,' cried Perry, very 
 rapidly. ' Two barks of twenty-five tons to 
 go to the West Indies } why, the Lively 
 Peggy" is sixty tons ! How very small they 
 must have been !' 
 
38 Miss Biddy Fi'obishei\ 
 
 ' Ship-building was not then what it is 
 now/ said Bell ; ' and besides, they wanted 
 faith in him, and did not like to risk their 
 money. In these vessels — ' 
 
 ' Cockle-shells,' muttered Perry. 
 
 ' They put to sea and went to Greenland, 
 where they entered a strait, to which Fro- 
 bisher gave his own name.' 
 
 ' Ah, shouldn't I like to do that !' said 
 Peregrine, with a deep breath. 
 
 ' Perry's Straits would sound very poor,' 
 said Bell. 
 
 ' Peregrine s Straits wouldn't, though ! 
 Well ?' 
 
 ' He sailed up it, about sixty leagues, 
 landed, and took possession of the country 
 in the Queen's name. The natives came 
 forward and did him obeisance. He looked 
 about him to see what were the productions 
 of the country, and brought home with him 
 a piece of black stone, seemingly veined with 
 gold. Now, there 's nothing people won't do 
 for gold ; they '11 slave in every possible way 
 for it, and undertake all sorts of risks. There- 
 fore, directly it seemed likely that Frobisher 
 had found a gold coast. Queen Elizabeth 
 gave him one of her royal ships of two hun- 
 dred tons.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 39 
 
 ' More than three times as big as the 
 Lively Peggy." ' 
 
 ' And a hundred and twenty noble volun- 
 teers accompanied him. So they sailed here 
 and they sailed there, and they saw all 
 manner of wonderful things, and they got a 
 cargo of the black and gold stone, and they 
 came home and went out again with ever 
 so many miners, refiners, and soldiers to 
 guard the treasure. But oh, and alas ! it 
 turned out to be no great treasure after all, 
 and the adventure was considered to have 
 failed, and they all came back again. So 
 here ends adventure the first ; but you are 
 not to suppose that Frobisher s time and 
 trouble had all been spent in vain : he had 
 extended the knowledge of geography, and 
 become inured to hardships, and accustomed 
 to command, and he became one of the 
 Queen's tried and valued Admirals. And 
 now the quarter of an hour is ended.' 
 
 ' I say, Bell, if you were to tell me about 
 grammar and everything this way, I should 
 soon know it. Wouldn't it be jolly for you 
 and me and Miss Biddy — no, only you and 
 me — to fit out an adventure and go and look 
 for black and gold stones !' 
 
 'What, without any crew ?' 
 
40 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 'No, we'd have Beale ; but not Coles, I 
 don't like him, I think he 's treacherous—' 
 ' Nonsense, Perry/ 
 
 ' Well, I hope he isn't ; but wouldn't it 
 be nice for you and me to fit out an adven- 
 ture ?' 
 
 ' O yes, charming. And now, away with 
 you ; for your time is up, and I have other 
 things to do.' 
 
 Perry, without needing a second bidding, 
 took up his satchel, and in the first place 
 trotted down to the quay, where, as ill- 
 fortune would have it, not a sino-le blue 
 jacket was to be seen. After looking wist- 
 fully, one way and another, he went along- 
 side the ' Lively Peggy,' where Coles was 
 the only living being in sight, and, in modest 
 hope of an invitation on board, said, — 
 
 ' Is Mr. Beale on board. Coles ?' 
 
 Coles pretended not to hear him, but 
 when, after a short pause, he said, — 
 
 ' Is Beale onboard, Mr. Coles ?' he replied, 
 
 ' No, sir.' 
 
 And Perry, seeing he was not going to be 
 patronized by the unsociable sailor, looked 
 about him a little, and then rather reluctantly 
 sauntered home. Here he paid a visit to 
 the study of his brother Charles, who, with 
 
Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 41 
 
 a frown on his face, was working some 
 problem in navigation, for which Perry much 
 respected him ; and being afraid of directly 
 interrupting, he did so indirectly, by looking 
 into and examining one thing after another, 
 and muttering, ' I wish I knew the use of 
 this ; I wonder what 's the use of that ? 
 perhaps I shall know when I 'm a man ; I 
 suppose I might know now, if anybody 
 would tell me — ' till Charles, unable to help 
 hearing these hints, roughly told him to go 
 about his business. 
 
 ' But I haven't any,' said Peregrine. ' I 've 
 done mine, ever so long, and done it very 
 well too, Bell said. Don't you wish you 'd 
 done yours ?' 
 
 ' You might as well say Miss Bell, Perry.' 
 
 ' Why, you don't.' 
 
 ' That's nothing to the purpose, and I do 
 sometimes. Come, off with you, and don't 
 meddle any more with my things.' 
 
 ' Yes, I only want to look at this fine 
 sextant. Do you know how to use it yet, 
 Charley .^' 
 
 ' You be off, sir.' 
 
 ' Can you box the compass, Charley / 
 can.' 
 
 ' You want to get this book at your head, 
 
42 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 I believe, Perry/ said Charles, looking very 
 fierce, and making believe to be in the act 
 of taking aim at him ; on which Perry took 
 to his heels and clattered down stairs, while 
 Charles, smiling a little, looked vacantly on 
 the open page before him, without seeing 
 a word that it contained. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 RS. Bertie (who kept a day- 
 school) had dismissed her scholars, 
 and was arranging her linen-closet, 
 when, hearing words passing be- 
 tween her sons, she looked into Charles's 
 room to see what was the matter. 
 
 ' What were you and Perry falling out 
 about ?' said she. 
 
 ' Oh, nothing,' said Charles, ' only he will 
 come in here and plague so.' 
 
 ' Plague is a strong expression. You 
 must have patience with him ; he is a very 
 little boy.' 
 
 ' Old enough to be very tiresome some- 
 times, and I really can't do anything if I am 
 to be continually interrupted — ' shutting the 
 book before him with a clap. ' Oh, how 
 sick I am of this !' 
 
 ' Sick of what, my dear boy ?' 
 
44 
 
 Miss Biddy F7^obisher. 
 
 ' Of everything, I think, mother. I 'm 
 doing no good at the present time, and I 
 have nothing to encourage me in the future:' 
 
 ' I think you are too desponding,' said she, 
 sitting down beside him, ' and a Httle too 
 inclined to be discontented. I remember, 
 when I lost your dear papa, your telling me 
 you did not mind what you were, if you 
 could but be a comfort to me.' 
 
 ' And I meant it, mother,' said Charles, 
 softened. ' I am sure I am very sorry to 
 have been anything but a comfort to you.' 
 
 ' You have not been otherwise, Charley. 
 Your uncle Hugh was very kind in under- 
 taking your education, and always sent me 
 good reports of you.' 
 
 ' Uncle Hugh was indeed very kind. I 
 should like to be just like himV 
 
 ' And your uncle Peregrine has been very 
 kind too. Both your uncles have been kind 
 to you in their several ways, though they 
 have not prevailed on your grandfather to 
 take any notice of you. Your clergyman 
 uncle has brought you forward in your studies, 
 and your sailor uncle offers you a berth in 
 his ship.' 
 
 ' Mother, my studies will be all a dead 
 letter there.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 45 
 
 ' O no ! Whatever we learn well is 
 useful to us, soon or late/ 
 
 ' Not the sort of learning mine has been. 
 It has fitted me for the church, not for the sea/ 
 
 ' But the church, Charley, has no opening 
 for you — ' 
 
 ' O yes, mother ! it has an opening for 
 every zealous, devoted man/ 
 
 ' Well, I think not, my dear. There is 
 only one living in the family ; and your 
 uncle holds it, and — ' 
 
 ' Long may he hold it ! I 'm not speculat- 
 ing on his living — ' 
 
 ' But then, my dear, how would you live V 
 
 ' Let us leave that to Him who feeds the 
 sparrows, mother ! I own I should like to 
 have this matter considered in a more spiri- 
 tual light. Had the twelve apostles livings ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, now you are talking nonsense,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie, rising. ' I thought we were 
 going to discuss it reasonably — ' 
 
 ' That 's what I want to do. Please, mother, 
 don't go ! Why should the church be only 
 spoken of as a mere matter of living ?' 
 
 ' Why, that s the very thing in question/ 
 said Mrs. Bertie. ' I asked you how you 
 were to get your living if you did not go to 
 sea, and you immediately named the church.' 
 
46 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Well, I did so ; but as a profession, a 
 calling — not as a mere matter of lucre. And 
 such a living as I want, and could be con- 
 tent with, the church will always supply/ 
 
 ' As how ?' said Mrs. Bertie. 
 
 ' If I distinguish myself as a scholar,' said 
 Charles stoutly, ' I may get a fellowship.'' 
 
 ' But not marry upon it, though,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie, thinking she had now hit the right 
 nail on the head. ' You must give up all 
 thoughts of Bell Frobisher.' 
 
 Charles coloured very much, and said, 
 ' Who said I had any ? That isn't fair of 
 you, mother ! My thoughts are my own ; 
 and I must be two years on board before I 
 could be rated as a midshipman. I could 
 no more marry as a poor sailor than as a 
 poor scholar.' 
 
 ' Well — no ; but you would be sure to 
 get a ship.' 
 
 ' Did my father ? He died a poor lieu- 
 tenant.' 
 
 ' Because your grandfather was displeased 
 wath him for marrying me, and would not 
 push him. He would push you.' 
 
 ' Ah, that 's as may be ; and, at any rate, 
 I could not bear to be pushed.' 
 
 ' Nonsense, my dear ; he would ask a 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 47 
 
 favour downright, and it would be granted. 
 However, I see you are resolved not to be 
 dutiful or obliging/ 
 
 'Indeed, mother, you mistake me;' and 
 there were tears in his eyes. 
 
 But she said, ' No, no ; you will not do as 
 I wish. I believe Perry says truly, that you 
 are afraid.' 
 
 ' If Perry said that, he deserves a good 
 licking,' cried Charles, ' and shall get it.' 
 
 ' Charles, Charles ! is that the spirit of a 
 clergyman 
 
 ' But indeed, mother, it would provoke a 
 saint. That young whelp really must be 
 thrashed.^ 
 
 ' If you raise a finger against him, Charles, 
 I '11 have no more to do with you. Am I 
 your mother ? Am I mistress of my own 
 house ?' 
 
 There was an uncomfortable pause ; a red 
 spot had risen on her cheek, and Charles 
 was sorry for what he had said. 
 
 ' If I only knew how to please you — ' 
 began he. 
 
 ' You may do it well enough,' said his 
 mother. ' At present you have nothing to 
 do but to remain quiet. Nothing can be 
 done till your uncle returns ; he may not 
 
48 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 come home these six months. Meanwhile, 
 read divinity if you will, at odd hours, it can 
 do you no harm if it does no good ; but de- 
 vote the business part of the day to the 
 studies your uncle Perry recommended. 
 And it would be a very good thing, Charles, 
 if you made a trip with Miss Biddy the next 
 voyage she makes ; it would prove to Perry 
 that you are not afraid/ 
 
 ' As to that, hes beneath my notice,' said 
 Charles. ' I don't care what he thinks ; but 
 as for going with Miss Frobisher, I don't 
 know that I should mind it, if she likes to 
 take me ; especially as she talks of going to 
 Portugal. I am fond of languages, and might 
 pick up a little Portuguese.' 
 
 ' Yes, to be sure, and Avith the proper 
 accent,' said Mrs. Bertie ; ' and now come to 
 dinner.' 
 
 The next time Charles met his brother, 
 he said authoritatively, ' Come here, you, sir.' 
 
 Peregrine ran up to him with his innocent, 
 smiling face, and received a pretty hard fillip 
 on the side of his head. 
 
 ' Charles, you hurt me ! ' said he, drawing 
 back. 
 
 ' I meant to hurt you,' said Charles gruffly. 
 ' What's that for ?' said Perry. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 49 
 
 ' For telling stories, sirrah/ 
 ' I never tell stories ! What story have I 
 told ?^ 
 
 ' That I was afraid to go to sea/ 
 
 ' Why, I sure I thought you were ! Are 
 not you ? Then I 'm very glad !^ 
 
 And he looked so truthful as he said it 
 that Charles could not help laughing. 
 
 ' Oh, you absurd chap !' said he. ' There! 
 be off with you, and don't be such a chat- 
 terer.' 
 
 ' Shall I go and tell Bell you are not 
 afraid V 
 
 ' No,' roared Charles ; ' do keep your 
 tongue within your teeth ; and mind your 
 own affairs, if you have any.' 
 
 So Perry, placing his chest on the ban- 
 ister of the staircase, up with his heels, and 
 slid all the way down it ; then espying a rope 
 in the lumber-closet, he uncoiled it, made a 
 slip-knot, and threw it over a high beam that 
 crossed the upper part of the kitchen. Hav- 
 ing tightened it, he proceeded to swarm up 
 it, fancying himself a sailor, and had nearly 
 reached the beam, when, oh sad fate, un- 
 lucky chance ! the knot suddenly untied it- 
 self, and down he came on the flagstones, 
 where he sat for some time in a meditative 
 
 D 
 
50 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 posture, wondering" how in the world that 
 knot could have untied itself. 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher came back on Satur- 
 day afternoon, having satisfactorily accom- 
 plished the object of her journey, and 
 acquired a great deal of miscellaneous and 
 practical information. Though her absence 
 had been so short, her return was a source 
 of lively interest to her family, who received 
 her where they had parted, at the door of 
 the little inn where the coach put up. 
 
 ' Well, here you all are again, and here am 
 I,' said she cheerily; ' glad to get a whiff once 
 more of salt water and sea-weed. That 
 London is the vilest place — ' and here kisses 
 and embraces passed between them. 
 
 ' Let me carry your bag. Miss Biddy,' 
 said Peregrine, officiously inserting himself 
 between the sisters, and looking lovingly up 
 at her. 
 
 ' With all my heart. Perry, if you like it. 
 Run home with it, my man.' 
 
 Off he ran, pleased to have a mission, 
 while she followed with a sister on each arm. 
 
 ' Well, Biddy, have you done well 
 
 ' Mighty well, and I Ve learnt many things 
 I wanted to understand about. I Ve made 
 money, girls ! and I 've put it in the Bank of 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 51 
 
 England. I don't want Mr. Craikie to know 
 to a shilling what my profits and losses are.' 
 
 ' No, certainly ; and oh, Biddy, what do 
 you think he's done? He's our landlord 
 now, — he has bought our house over our 
 head !' 
 
 Miss Biddy looked taken aback. 
 
 'No!' said she, with mortification in her 
 tone. ' That comes of his having ready 
 money and my having none. I don't like 
 his getting us under his thumb.' 
 
 ' But he can't turn us out, can he, as long 
 as we pay our rent } ' 
 
 ^No.' 
 
 * Might not you have bought the house, 
 sister, with the money you put into the 
 Bank of England ?' 
 
 * No, dear, it wasn't nearly enough. It 
 will all go right enough, I dare say. All 
 things will work together for our good, if 
 we but fear God and keep His command- 
 ments. Run you home, girls, and get tea, 
 while I step down to the quay to speak to 
 Beale. It will not take me five minutes.' 
 
 They nodded, smiled, and obeyed ; and 
 she turned towards where the sea was 
 coming in gently over the many-coloured 
 pebbles and yellow sands with a pleasant 
 
52 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 murmur, quite different from the hoarse, 
 raking sound with which it ran off the 
 shingle in stormy weather. Now, all was 
 calm, with a few white horses on the dis- 
 tant green expanse. One or two sails were 
 visible in the offing ; and near at hand 
 sundry black, clumsy hulls, with masts and 
 rigging denuded of sails, among which, con- 
 spicuous for beauty in Miss Biddy s partial 
 eyes, lay the ' Lively Peggy.' 
 
 Beale spied her out, and immediately came 
 forward with a smile of welcome, while Coles 
 raised his ungainly length from where it had 
 lain almost out of sight. At the same time 
 Perry, who had raced after her, came up and 
 slipped his hand into hers. 
 
 ' How do you do, Beale ? Has all gone 
 well?^ . 
 
 ' Ay, ay. Miss Biddy.' 
 
 ' Have you kept on board, as I bade you, 
 during my absence ?' 
 
 ' Ay, ay, mum.' 
 
 ' Why, how can you say so, Beale ?' put in 
 little Peregrine. ' You weren't on board 
 yesterday when I came down.' 
 
 Beale looked amused rather than affronted, 
 and said, 'How do you make out that, 
 master ?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frodisker, 
 
 53 
 
 ' Why, I came down and asked Coles if 
 you were aboard, and he said no/ 
 
 ' How could you go and tell a child such 
 lies?^ said Beale, turning to Coles. 'See 
 how you Ve found out/ 
 
 Coles grumbled something about his sup- 
 posing he didn't want the young gentleman 
 aboard, which Perry heard with silent but 
 palpable amaze and disgust. He refrained, 
 however, from saying, ' O you dreadful story- 
 
 teller !' 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ELL, Beale/ said Miss Biddy, 
 ' we shall begin clearing on 
 Monday ; and when the cargo 
 is discharged, you may go ashore 
 when you like. I don't think a fiery dragon 
 will fly away with the " Lively Peggy'' now 
 I 'm come back ; but I never feel quite 
 secure of it unless one of us is in the way.' 
 
 ' Quite right, mum ; though I never did 
 hear of a fiery dragon flying away with a 
 sixty-ton brig ; but you can't be too cautious. 
 Thank 'ee kindly, Miss Biddy, for licensing 
 of me to go ashore ; but I do declare to you 
 I don't set no value on the shore, now my 
 old woman's gone. However, not to be 
 behindhand, mum, since you are so pressing, 
 I '11 look you up about your grog-time, and 
 just drink your health and happiness in a 
 tumbler mixed by the handsome young lady. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 55 
 
 Somehow, she does hit off the right thing 
 exactly/ 
 
 'You don't drink grog, do you?' said 
 Perry doubtfully, as they walked up the quay. 
 
 'No,' said she, smiling; 'that was only 
 Beale's figurative way of expressing supper- 
 time/ 
 
 ' He likes grog/ 
 
 ' Most old sailors do. They are used to 
 it ; just as you are to small beer.' 
 
 ' Miss Biddy, would you very much mind 
 asking mamma to let me have a tarpaulin 
 hat when I go to sea V 
 
 ' When that time comes, I daresay you 
 will have everything complete ; but I don't 
 think it is coming just yet. Perry.' 
 
 ' Shall xiot you go to sea soon ?' 
 
 ' Well, I can't say. I am not going to 
 publish my plans just yet. When they're 
 fixed, I '11 let you know ; which will be about 
 the same as telling the town-crier/ 
 
 ' All right,' thought Perry. 
 
 When the sisters sat at tea. Miss Biddy 
 was questioned with lively interest concern- 
 ing her doings in London. 
 
 ' Well,' said she, ' I 've formed a business 
 connexion that promises to save me a great 
 deal of trouble and risk. Moreover, I 'm 
 
56 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 going to have the Lively Peggy^^ entered 
 in Lloyd's register. The fee is but small, 
 and when her character is known, I can get 
 her insured. You know I always regretted 
 that my father didn't insure the Betsy." 
 After my business was settled, I had still a 
 little time on hand, so I went to see the 
 playhouse — ' 
 
 'The playhouse!' exclaimed they both. 
 ' O Biddy, what play did you see ?' 
 
 ^ I said playhouse, not play,' returned she, 
 laughing ; the old Brunswick Theatre that 
 was — worth all the theatres in the world, now 
 it's turned into what it is — a Sailor's Home.' 
 
 ' Dear me,' said they with interest. 
 
 ' The theatre fell to the ground, you 
 know, the very day it was to have been 
 opened. Somehow, playhouses are always 
 coming to grief. It happened some years 
 ago ; and two good men — Captain Gambler 
 and Captain Elliot — bought the ruins and 
 the ground they stood on, and founded a 
 home for sailors, that they might not be 
 driven to low lodging-houses and taverns, 
 and fall into bad company and get robbed. 
 The Home holds a hundred men. You 
 can't think how well everything is managed, 
 and how comfortable they are. The greatest 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker, 
 
 57 
 
 cleanliness and order prevails ; the rations 
 are excellent ; there are prayers morning 
 and evening ; good beds and good fires, 
 round which the men may sit reading and 
 talking. It was quite delightful to see them, 
 some spinning yarns, some reading the Bible, 
 one with a newspaper, another with Robin- 
 son Crusoe. I had a long talk with them, 
 and they seemed highly satisfied and very 
 thankful/ 
 
 ' That is very nice, Biddy. What a good 
 thought it was of Captain Gambler's !' 
 
 ' Indeed it was ; and of Captain Elliot's. 
 He gave up his money and time ; he gave 
 up his comfortable home, to live on the spot 
 and watch the progress of his work while 
 the Home was building, though he could only 
 get a poor lodging, all among the gin-shops.' 
 
 ' I call those two noble captains bene- 
 factors,' said Bell with energy.^ 
 
 ^ The reader needs hardly to be told that the Home has since 
 been enlarged to accommodate some hmidreds of men, and that 
 other Homes have arisen in various places, all needing the sup- 
 port of 
 
 * The gentlemen of England, 
 Who live at home in ease.' 
 
 The statistics are something astonishing. The wages which the 
 sailors remit to the safe keeping of the Homes amount to tens of 
 thousands of pounds ; but these sums, rescued from waste and 
 pillage, in fact but feebly represent the blessings to the men of 
 which the Home has been the medium. 
 
58 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 It would have done any benevolent heart 
 good to see Miss Biddy that evening, as she 
 sat at the open window settling her accounts, 
 and gazing complacently and thankfully at 
 the first entry she had been able to make as 
 a set-off against her father s debt. It con- 
 sisted only of two numerals, it is true, and 
 the debt was represented by three ; but it 
 was a beginning to which she might reason- 
 ably hope, by patience, prudence, and the 
 blessing of God, to make continual additions ; 
 and she wrote in very small text at the foot 
 of the page, Laus Deo, Where she picked 
 up those two Latin words, and how she 
 came to understand them, I am not able to 
 say ; but they were certainly inscribed with 
 an intelligent sense of their meaning. 
 
 Looking out as she turned the key in her 
 desk, she saw Mrs. Bertie coming up the 
 garden accompanied by Charles, who, how- 
 ever, speedily dropped off to proffer his ser- 
 vices to Bell in watering the flowers. She 
 could not help smiling at his so promptly 
 resuming ' the privilege of the entree', and, 
 as she greeted her friend, she said, — 
 
 ' Charles is at his old amusement again, 
 I see.' 
 
 ' Ah, poor Charles/ said Mrs. Bertie, shak- 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 59 
 
 ing her head, ' he is giving me a good deal 
 of anxiety at present, and I want to speak to 
 you about him/ 
 
 ' Pray do,' said Miss Biddy. ' What can 
 he have been doing ? I should never have 
 suspected your having any trouble with one 
 so good and gentle/ 
 
 ' With all his seeming gentleness, Charley 
 has a will of his own — ' 
 
 ' Yes, I daresay ; boys will be boys, you 
 know — ' 
 
 ' Boy as he is, he fancies himself man 
 enough to fall in love with your sister Bell/ 
 
 ' Oh, that 's all nonsense,' said Miss Biddy, 
 laughing. ' As much nonsense as it would be 
 for Perry to declare himself in love with me.' 
 
 ' Charles will have it, though, to be no 
 nonsense,' returned Mrs. Bertie very seriously ; 
 ' and he 's as old as his poor father was when 
 he first began to think of me ; and one im- 
 prudent match is enough in a family ; so that 
 I really don't know what to do, for his grand- 
 father, you know, would never hear of it — ' 
 
 ' I don't suppose his grandfather ever will 
 hear of it,' said Miss Biddy with a little 
 umbrage. ' Why should he ? for there is 
 nothing to hear. Bell does not give him 
 any encouragement ; I left word that he was 
 
6o Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 not to be received here in my absence, and 
 you know she has not been to you. So, 
 what's the matter ? Do you wish me to 
 speak to him ?' 
 
 ' O no, that would not be at all a good 
 plan, I think,' said Mrs. Bertie. ' If we could 
 only separate them a little — ' 
 
 ' How separate them more than I have 
 done already ? You brought him here this 
 evening — ' 
 
 ' Because he would come, so I came with 
 him.' 
 
 ' Oh, then he hrought you ? Well, I can't 
 see what's to be done; I can't send Bell 
 anywhere. Your best plan would be to send 
 him away.' 
 
 ' That 's just what I was wishing ; only 
 where ? He must remain in expectation of 
 his uncle Perry's return, and I 've nowhere 
 to send him but to the Rev. Mr. Bertie's.' 
 
 ' Where can you better send him ?' 
 
 ' You see, he 's so inclined for the church 
 already, that if he goes there his predilection 
 will only be strengthened, for Mr. Bertie is 
 such a very good apostolic man — quite an- 
 other Bernard Gilpin.' 
 
 ' Let him go there by all means,' said Miss 
 Biddy. ' What can you wish better for 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 6 1 
 
 Charles than that he should be another 
 Bernard Gilpin ?' 
 
 But Mrs. Bertie shook her head : it did 
 not fall in with her views that Charles should 
 be a clergyman. Charles was her eldest 
 son ; the only living in the family gift be- 
 longed to his uncle, and would pass from 
 him to his son. Charley could hope for no 
 church patronage, but if he went on board 
 his uncle's ship. Captain Bertie would cer- 
 tainly provide for him. 
 
 ' Well,' said Miss Biddy after a pause, ' I 
 never knew any good myself come of 
 violently forcing one's bent ; and if Charles 
 is cut out for a clergyman, I don't suppose 
 he'll ever make a good sailor. He is get- 
 ting rather old, too.' 
 
 ' Yes, but Captain Bertie will probably 
 return before he counts another year ; and as 
 for his being cut out for a clergyman, how 
 do we know what he is cut out for till he 
 has tried ? I think we must just rub on till 
 Captain^ Bertie comes back, only he must 
 not go to Mr. Bertie meanwhile.' 
 
 ' Well, you know best about that,' said 
 Miss Biddy. ' A young lad with no regular 
 supervision in a place like this is very likely 
 to get into mischief.' 
 
62 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobishe7\ 
 
 ' I do wish you would take him with you, 
 the next trip you make/ 
 
 ' Who ? I ?' cried Miss Biddy in surprise. 
 ' I take a man-of-war's man on board the 
 Lively Peggy?''' 
 
 'He's not a man-of-war's man yet, nor a 
 man in any sense, I think ; and it would do 
 him a world of good — get him out of harm's 
 way, as you say, and teach him what the sea 
 is. Why, he lias hardly ever been out of 
 sight of land, and when he did go out, he 
 lay on deck all the time sea-sick. Perry 
 says he knows he 's afraid.' 
 
 ' A precious sailor he '11 make then,' said 
 Miss Biddy, laughing. ' A coward and sea- 
 sick!' 
 
 ' No, I don't say he 's a coward,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie, ' but — in short, he hardly knows what 
 blue water is, and I wish you would show 
 him. It might bring things to a crisis.' 
 
 ' Charles is perfectly welcome to a trip, the 
 next time I go to sea,' said Miss Biddy, ' and 
 he will be out of Bell's way, as you say.' 
 (Mrs. Bertie winced a little at this.) ' Let 
 him come then, by all means — he can at 
 least learn something of splicing and reefing, 
 and how to go aloft and take in a topsail' 
 (which she pronounced torsel). 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 63 
 
 ' My dear friend, I am very much obliged 
 to you ; I cannot express how grateful you 
 make me/ 
 
 ' No need. It is nothing. Pray say no- 
 thing about it.' 
 
 And when Charles, seeing their eyes 
 directed towards him, came in-doors, she 
 frankly and cordially asked him whether he 
 would accompany her on her next trip. 
 Charles, to whom the thought was not al- 
 together new, accepted it very thankfully ; 
 and they were all very well pleased with 
 one another. 
 
 At the short day's close, though the hour 
 was still early, Mrs. Bertie went away, for 
 it was Saturday evening ; and Perry's wash- 
 ing and brushing was a duty she performed 
 herself Charles lingered behind as long as 
 he could, and then reluctantly followed. 
 Miss Biddy stood in pleased reverie, listen- 
 ing to the confused murmurs of the little 
 town, and to the gentle ripple of the waves 
 on the beach, each wave as it came in 
 flashing with phosphoric light. 
 
 Just as she closed the little green shutters 
 that opened outwards, Beale, true to his 
 appointment, arrived at grog-time. His 
 approval of Bell's mixing was now an estab- 
 
64 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 lished joke ; and so anxious was Bell not to 
 lose her place in his estimation, that I fear 
 his tumbler was stronger than half-and-half; 
 but, as he observed, the sweetness took a 
 good deal of the strength out of it ; and it 
 had no more effect on his head than if it had 
 been toast-and-water. 
 
 ' Beale, how should you like to go to 
 Lisbon ?' said Miss Biddy abruptly. 
 
 ' Lisbon ?' exclaimed he in evident dismay. 
 ' What ever makes you think of going there. 
 Miss Biddy ?^ 
 
 ' I hope to do a good stroke of business.^ 
 
 ' Haven't you done a good stroke of busi- 
 ness, this v'yage, Miss ?' 
 
 ' Indeed I have, and I am very thankful.' 
 
 ' Then for goodness' sake don't go and do 
 a bad stroke of business. Miss, and be spiling 
 it all' 
 
 ' I don't mean to spoil it all, I assure you. 
 I suppose you think you shall be out of your 
 soundings ?' 
 
 * As to out of my soundings,' said Beale, 
 after draining his tumbler to the last drop, 
 ' I'd undertake to handle that there craft 
 from here to Calcutta ; but then, look you, 
 it must be under conditions.' 
 
 ' What are those conditions ?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 65 
 
 ' Perhaps, Miss, you mightn't like to hear 
 'em/ 
 
 ' O yes, I should/ 
 
 ' Well, mum, then the first condition would 
 be, I must have a proper crew ; second, I 
 must have a proper liftenant ; and, third, I 
 must have a proper cap'n/ 
 
 ' Much obliged to you for the compliment, 
 I 'm sure, Beale ! I see I must look out for 
 a more efficient sailing-master/ 
 
 ' Begging of your pardon. Miss, most hum- 
 bly, I 'm sure, wouldn't it be better to — ' 
 
 ' To what ?' 
 
 ' To give up the v'yage to Lisbon ?' 
 
 ' No, Beale, it would not ; and I know all 
 about it, and have quite made up my mind 
 to it ; so it only remains for you to decide 
 whether you will go with me or not/ 
 
 ' Oh, there 's no question about that,' said 
 Beale. ' Where you go I go, and there will 
 I be buried — or drownded, as is more likely. 
 Only, if you '11 be pleased to tell me jest this 
 one thing. Miss — ' 
 
 ' Well, what is it ?' 
 
 ' When you gets there, can you speak 
 Portugee ?' 
 
 ' No, I cannot ; but I am going to take Mr. 
 Charles Bertie with me, who is a great 
 
 E 
 
66 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 scholar, and understands all manner of lan- 
 guages. Besides, I Ve engaged a pilot who 
 is returning to Lisbon/ 
 
 Beale said it made all the difference, if they 
 were going to the Portugeese with a Portu- 
 goose ; and when Miss Biddy proceeded to 
 unfold to him in confidence all that she had 
 gleaned in London, and all that she intended 
 to do at Lisbon, she gradually overcame the 
 old man's reluctance, the more so that there 
 was hardly anything he would not do to 
 please Miss Biddy, though he did not like to 
 own himself ruled by a woman. 
 
 ' Now,' said she in conclusion, ' you are 
 not to go and repeat all this to Coles, nor 
 yet to Captain Spinks or Mr. Craikie/ 
 
 ' Just as if I should,' said Beale. ' Why, 
 if I were to tell Coles, I might just as well 
 tell the other two, for he 'd do it if I didn't. 
 He's a great deal too thick with them old — 
 well, I won't call no names, but w^e know 
 what they've been in times past, Miss, and if 
 we don't know we do guess. Why, did you 
 hear how many tubs was captivated last 
 week by the Alert ?" They were precious 
 sly, them chaps, as thought to run 'em that 
 cloudy night, but the cutter came round 
 the corner just as the moon shone out, and 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 67 
 
 down she was upon the boats afore they 
 could heave the tubs over and place a buoy. 
 Took 'em every one, Miss, and the men like- 
 ways, who are now in prison, and their boat 
 sawn in two/ 
 
 Beale told this with great glee, and had 
 evidently no sympathy with the smugglers. 
 
 ' Laws is laws,' said he ; ' I don't set up to 
 say w^hether they're good or bad ones, but 
 while they're laws, they're laws ; and are we 
 to go and help the foreigners to make money 
 of us ? In a fair way of business I grant ye, 
 but not against the Excise. But la! if 
 you'd seen Cap'n Spinkss face and Mr. 
 Craikie's ! If they'd no finger in the pie, 
 leastways they 'd a fellow-feeling with them 
 that had ; and it was as good as a pantomime 
 to see their grimaces. I laughed in my 
 sleeve, but I could only laugh to myself, for 
 Coles is as fond of 'em as if he was in their 
 
 pay-' 
 
 ' Do you think he is ?' said Miss Biddy, 
 with a sudden misgiving. 
 
 ' No, Miss, no ; I think you may trust 
 him.' 
 
 * But, Beale, you must take care he never 
 smuggles over things in my brig without my 
 knowledge/ 
 
68 Miss Biddy Fr obis her. 
 
 ' Trust me for that/ said he, winking hard 
 at her ; ' Coles knows I would peach/ 
 
 ' No/ continued he, after a moment's pause, 
 ' I ^m an old man now, and it may be thought 
 there ^s not much work left in me ; no more 
 there isn't — in my hands : but I Ve a head 
 that can work a ship, and a heart that'll 
 never see my cap'n wronged, or have dust 
 thrown in his eyes ; and that's you, Miss ; so 
 here 's wishing you and the young ladies the 
 best of good-nights/ 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A V I N G dismissed Beale, Miss 
 Biddy now produced a crumpled 
 newspaper from her pocket, and 
 proceeded to con the report of 
 the Commissioners of Customs for the year, 
 and occasionally to expound it to her sisters, 
 to whom it was less interesting than to her- 
 self. 
 
 ' On the whole/ observed she, ' the com- 
 mercial prosperity of this country during the 
 past twelvemonth, notwithstanding draw- 
 backs, has been something remarkable ; and 
 I don't see how we can excuse it to ourselves 
 that we don't return public thanks for it. 
 To begin, for instance, with the return of 
 the declared values of British and Irish ex- 
 ports — ' 
 
 'O Biddy!' interrupted Hetty implor- 
 
70 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ingly, ' I am sure we shall not understand 
 that/ 
 
 ' You ought to try to do so, my dear ; it 
 would enlarge your mind. Everything prac- 
 tical is useful, and everything useful is good 
 for us one way or another/ 
 
 However, she spared them the figures, 
 and only went on murmuring from time 
 to time, ' Depressing influences of war — 
 stimulus to home manufactures — hum, hum, 
 hum— visible falling off in our exports — 
 rise in the value of haberdashery — of hard- 
 ware and cutlery — all this is vastly interest- 
 ing to people that will give their minds to 
 it — comparison of demand and supply. This 
 is highly important to me, or I may bring 
 over what there is no market for.' 
 
 ' Half-past ten,' said Bell, glancing at the 
 clock. ' Have you any stockings, Biddy, 
 that want mending ?' 
 
 'Not at this time of night,' said she, 
 smiling. ' Come, I 'm ready now to shut 
 up/ 
 
 On Sunday morning, as she dressed her- 
 self, vshe could see through her window, 
 without the aid of a glass. Coles swabbing 
 the deck, and Beale quietly poring over his 
 Bible. He was not much of a scholar, and 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 71 
 
 it was only by dint of considerable effort 
 that he could make out a text here and 
 there. 
 
 Miss Biddy had an eye for gay colours, 
 and had brought her sisters a bandbox full 
 of finery from Jersey. So it was in a flutter 
 of ribbons — pink, blue, and green — that the 
 three started together for church, whither 
 the whole population of the little town 
 seemed streaming. At the white gate of 
 the churchyard stood a row of young men, 
 mostly sailors, who made it a rule not to 
 turn in till the bell ceased ringing, and who 
 formed the select Areopagus of the congre- 
 gation, passing their judgment on all comers, 
 to the secret annoyance of many. Among 
 these might be seen the tall frame of Coles, 
 who had made himself as smart as a sailor 
 well could, from his polished low-crowned 
 hat and clean blue shirt to the flower in his 
 button-hole and smart bows to his w^ell- 
 blacked shoes. Beside him stood a hand- 
 some young sailor-boy, named Joel Sprent, 
 noted for his good conduct as much as his 
 good looks, and the sole support of his 
 widowed mother. Both these touched their 
 hats respectfully as Miss Biddy passed, she 
 nodding cheerfully in return ; and as soon 
 
72 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 as she passed out of sight and the bell 
 stopped, most of them turned lazily towards 
 the church porch, but Coles took a different 
 direction, 
 
 ' What, a n't you going to church, Coles ? ' 
 said Sprent. 
 
 ' No,' said Coles, ' I 'm not so much of a 
 story-teller as to say I 'm a miserable sinner 
 when I a n't. If I 'm the one, I know I 'm 
 not the other.' He laughed as he turned 
 off, and there were one or two so weak- 
 minded and low-toned as to laugh too, and 
 even to lounge after him ; but Joel Sprent was 
 not one of them, for'he entered the church. 
 
 It was a very hot Sunday, and the little 
 church was very close, though the door was 
 left open, so that, at every pause, the distant 
 roll of the waves, and the nearer chirping of 
 the birds in the tall old elms, could be dis- 
 tinctly heard inside. When the service was 
 ended, and people streamed homewards, 
 salutations were exchanged in the church- 
 yard, and then families and friends fell into 
 their usual little knots. As a matter of 
 course, the Berties and Frobishers walked 
 together, and Peregrine began to tell how 
 many persons he had counted who had gone 
 fast asleep. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 73 
 
 ' Fie, Peregrine ! you should have been 
 better employed/ said his mother. 
 
 ' Then I should have dropped asleep too, 
 mamma,' said he. 
 
 ' It was very difficult to keep awake, I 
 think/ said Bell. ' The church was so hot, 
 and the sermon so dull.' 
 
 ' The very worst I ever heard/ said 
 Charles. ' Men have no right to preach 
 such sermons.' 
 
 ' Hush, Charles ; I 'm ashamed of you.' 
 
 ' Why, now, what can you recollect of it, 
 mother, that made the least impression on 
 you ? Did not it all go 'in at one ear and 
 out at the other ?' 
 
 Mrs. Bertie was dignified and silent. 
 
 ' He didn't once mention our Saviour's 
 name in it/ pursued Charles. 
 
 'As for that/ said Bell, ' Matthew Henry 
 has observed that the name of God does 
 not once occur in the book of Esther, but 
 that the finger of God is traceable in it 
 throughout.' 
 
 ' Yes, and His finger is traceable in our 
 daily affairs, and yet His name seldom passes 
 our lips.' 
 
 ' Well said, Charles,' said Miss Biddy 
 approvingly. He thanked her with a look. 
 
74 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Such a text !' resumed he presently : 
 ' So long as thou doest good unto thyself, 
 men will speak well of thee It required 
 such consummate handling!' 
 
 ' Mr. Foxey pricked up his ears at that/ 
 said Perry, laughing. 
 
 ' Well, Perry, what text should you like 
 better said Bell, taking his hand. ' Now, 
 mind what you say.' 
 
 ' I know !' cried he : ' " There go the 
 ships !"'i 
 
 ' Oh ! fie for shame !' 
 
 ' Something might be made out of it, 
 though,' said Charles. 
 'What?' 
 
 ' I can't tell you off-hand ; but I 'm sure a 
 good sermon, an influential sermon, might 
 be preached on those words.' 
 
 ' Perry, will you come and say your cate- 
 chism to me this afternoon ? ' said Bell aside 
 to him. 
 
 ' Yes, if you '11 come and sit with me in 
 the old boat.' 
 
 This was an old wrecked hull, stranded on 
 the beach. 
 
 ' Very well, I will.' 
 
 Afterwards, when Perry had eaten his two 
 
 ^ Ps. civ. 26. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 75 
 
 helpings of damson pudding, he ranged all 
 the stones round the edge of his plate, and 
 tried a kind of Sortes, saying — ' To go, 
 not to go; to go, not to go,' etc., ending 
 with ' To go — O be joyful !' and clapped 
 his hands. 
 
 ' Fie, Perry ! that 's not a Sunday amuse- 
 ment,' said his mother. 
 
 He prattled in his disjointed way till the 
 clock struck two, when he snatched up his 
 cap, and darted down to the old boat, where 
 Bell was comfortably seated already ; and 
 here, after helping him through his catechism, 
 and hearing him repeat sundry hymns, she 
 read to him the narrative of St. Paul's 
 shipwreck. 
 
 On Sunday evenings. Captain Spinks was 
 wont to take possession of a certain white 
 garden-seat, placed just outside Miss Biddy's 
 garden-railings, where he smoked, and used 
 his spy-glass, and bestowed his conversation 
 on any one that would oblige him by listen- 
 ing. Many a queer story, with half-shut eye 
 and knowing leer, did the old smuggler 
 retail on these occasions ; and though it was 
 an understood thing that he had now retired 
 from business, there were some who thought 
 he would not be sorry to be at it again. 
 
76 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 Miss Biddy generally had a little chat with 
 him for auld lang syne, and because he had 
 been a chum of her father's ; and many was 
 the sly poke he had at her seamanship, 
 though pretending a profound respect for her 
 all the while. He was often joined here 
 either by Mr. Craikie, or Mr. Foxey, a 
 pettifogging lawyer, whom Perry called ' fox 
 by name and fox by nature.' 
 
 ' So those misfortunate fellows have been 
 tried and cast, mum,' said he, 'that were 
 taken by the ''Alert.'" 
 
 ' Why do you call them misfortunate 
 fellows ?' said she. ' They were caught 
 defrauding the revenue.' 
 
 ' Revenue here, revenue there, you '11 never 
 persuade me it would have done Gov'nment 
 any harm to wink at the escape of those 
 poor fellows, two of them fathers of young 
 families.' 
 
 ' A father of a young family has no right 
 to infringe the laws.' 
 
 ' Do you mean to say, now, that if I was 
 to ask you as a friend, just to bring me over 
 a little pig of tobacco — ' 
 
 ' I would not do it, unless the duty was 
 paid.' 
 
 ' What ! not to your father's friend ?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker. 
 
 77 
 
 ' No ; nothing should tempt me to cheat 
 the revenue/ 
 
 ' O my stars and garters !' Here he ex- 
 changed a wink with Mr. Craikie, unseen 
 by Miss Biddy. 
 
 ' The free-trade isn't what it was/ presently 
 observed Mr. Craikie soberly. 
 
 ' No, pretty nigh done up. Tell me now, 
 Mr. Craikie, the rights of that seizure at 
 Jersey, in which Nat Bowline was impli- 
 cated.' 
 
 ' Oh, it was a bad job for him. Four 
 thousand five hundred pound weight of 
 tobacco stalks was seized on board his ves- 
 sel at Jersey, ready for taking to Ireland. 
 The vessel and stalks were forfeited, and 
 the parties concerned prosecuted and con- 
 victed.' 
 
 ' There now, that v/as a fine kettle of 
 fish ! That would go nigh to ruin poor 
 Nat' 
 
 ' Served him right, I think,' said Miss 
 Biddy. ' Don't yoit think so, Mr. Craikie ?' 
 
 He exchanged a covert look with Cap- 
 tain Spinks, and said, ' Oh, of course.'' 
 
 ' And so you 11 soon be off again. Miss 
 Biddy?' said the Captain. 
 
 ' Who told you so ?' 
 
78 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 ' Coles said he thought you would/ 
 
 ' Coles knows nothing about it/ 
 
 ' Dear heart ; I should have thought you 
 took your tried hands into your counsels ?^ 
 
 ' Never sooner than I need/ 
 
 ' You made a pretty penny by this last 
 voyage, I daresay ?' 
 
 ' Oh, pretty fair, as times go. — There 's a 
 sail in the offing, with three masts/ 
 
 ' Where ?' said they, both ; and up went 
 the glass. 
 
 ' If the French were to come over,' said 
 Captain Spinks, ' it 's my notion they 'd land 
 hereabouts.' 
 
 ' We couldn't do much to hinder them,' 
 said Mr. Craikie. 
 
 ' Very little in-decd' 
 
 ' Well, I hope we should show a little 
 fight,' said Miss Biddy. ' Even the women 
 should do their best in an emergency like 
 that/ 
 
 ' Bless you, ^Aey could do nothing/ 
 ' I don't know that. I should certainly do 
 my best, for one/ 
 
 ' Can you fire a musket ?' 
 ' O yes.' 
 
 ' Come, I respect a woman who can do 
 that,' said Captain Spinks. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 79 
 
 ' I can't make out that sail exactly.' 
 
 ' Give me the glass.' 
 
 ' Can you make anything out ?' 
 
 ^ Yes; it's the Hornet."' 
 
 ' I don't think it can be.' 
 
 ' Yes, it is. I can count her guns.' 
 
 * Give me the glass. I 'm growing blind, 
 I think. I ought to know the Hornet." 
 Yes, it is. Yes, it's the Hornet." ' 
 
 Next morning, just after the breakfast- 
 table was cleared. Perry burst in, with a face 
 the colour of scarlet, and, laying his hand on 
 Miss Biddy's arm, said, ^ Didn't I tell you I 
 hadn't had a single bad mark ?' 
 
 ' Yes, you did,' said she, ' and I was very 
 glad of it.' 
 
 ' Then, a n't you going to take me with 
 you your next voyage ?' 
 
 ' TskcyoUy dear ? No.' 
 
 The scarlet became crimson, and the 
 tears crowded into his eyes. Almost chok- 
 ing, he said, — 
 
 ' Why, you said you would !' 
 
 * O no, no. Perry dear ! You make a 
 strange mistake. I have said I would take 
 your brother Charles.' 
 
 He burst into a flood of tears, and said, — 
 ' You did ; you did, indeed ; down on 
 
8o 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 the quay, the day after you came back, just 
 as we met Mr. Craikie/ 
 
 ' What did I say ?^ said she in great con- 
 cern, and racking her head to remember 
 what she could have promised. 
 
 ' I asked you,^ sobbed Perry, ' whether, if 
 I was a very good boy, and didn't get a single 
 bad mark, you would take me next time ; 
 and you said you would. And I haven't had 
 one bad mark since ; have I, Bell ?' 
 
 ' No, you have not, poor Perry,' said she, 
 pitying him with all her heart. 
 
 ' My dear little boy,' said Miss Biddy, 
 drawing him to her, and kissing his hot, 
 smeared cheeks, ' I had not the least idea 
 you had so misunderstood me. I suppose I 
 said something at random, while I was think- 
 ing of something else, which you mistook for 
 a promise. I am very sorry, my poor little 
 boy ; but it cannot be helped now. Charles 
 is going with me at your mamma's desire, 
 and I am quite sure she would not spare you 
 both. Only suppose if we were drowned !' 
 
 ' Why, drowning isn't a worse death than 
 any other, is it ?' said Perry, drying his eyes ; 
 ' I 've heard.it was less painful.' 
 
 ' Has anybody come back to tell us so ?' 
 said she. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 8i 
 
 ' Why, no/ said he, ' but people that were 
 thought to be drowned have been re-susti- 
 cated/ 
 
 Here Miss Biddy and Bell burst out laugh- 
 ing at his losing himself in such a long word, 
 but he looked reproachfully at them and very 
 piteously. 
 
 ' My boy,' said Miss Biddy, still with her 
 arm round him, ' you must not go with me 
 this time, for many reasons ; but I promise 
 you. Perry, and this promise shall not be 
 broken, that if your mamma will intrust you 
 to me the next voyage after this, I will take 
 you/ 
 
 ' Thank you,' said he, with an April smile, 
 and putting up his mouth to be kissed ; 
 ' that 's better than nothing ; and it will be 
 something to keep in view. Only, it's a 
 long while to be trying for none but good 
 marks/ 
 
 ' Oh, we won't be too hard about the 
 marks. I have made my promise this time 
 without conditions.' 
 
 This seemed to relieve him a good deal. 
 
 ' Of course, you '11 try, in a general way, 
 to be a good boy/ 
 
 ' O yes, I always do.' 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 His eyes again filled with tears, and his 
 voice was very subdued. 
 
 ' Perry/ said Bell, in her resolute, en- 
 couraging voice, ' this is just like one of the 
 trials that Sir Martin Frobisher had at your 
 age/ 
 
 ' Is\tV 
 
 ' It is quite likely ; and if you please, I am 
 ready to tell you the second chapter of his 
 surprising and remarkable adventures/ 
 
 ' Oh, do, do/ And she made room for 
 him beside her in the great arm-chair, he 
 squeezing himself into an incredibly small 
 space, and laying his tear-stained cheek close 
 to hers. 
 
 ' If you fit out a very good adventure this 
 time,' said he in a low voice, ' I think it may 
 make me a little more happy/ 
 
 ' Ahem. Here beginneth part the 
 second of Sir Martin Frobisher s very re- 
 markable adventures, never before published; 
 showing how, at the age of seven, he had a 
 very trying disappointment in consequence 
 of his elder brother s being taken instead of 
 himself on a cruise by one of Queen Eliza- 
 beth's maids of honour, and how they all had 
 a dead calm and no adventures, and were 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker. 
 
 83 
 
 very sea-sick ; and showing how Martin 
 Frobisher received them with sympathy and 
 condolence on their return, and prepared for 
 them a banquet of lobsters, crabs, prawns, 
 shrimps, winkles, and whelks. And how 
 the maid of honour soon afterwards fitted 
 out another adventure, and took Martin 
 with her to the Fortunate Isles, where they 
 saw dolphins and flying fish, and mermaids 
 playing on dulcimers ; and how Martin fell 
 asleep on a bed of golden sand in a grotto 
 of glittering crystals, and dreamed that he 
 was destined to find a North- West passage, 
 and bring home a shipload of black and gold 
 stones/ 
 
 It may be suspected that Bell had full as 
 much pleasure in spinning these rigmaroles 
 as Perry had in listening to them. By the 
 time their ' happy hour' was ended his chest 
 had ceased to heave, his eyes had ceased to 
 be watery, and he wanted nothing to refit 
 him for general society but to do what the 
 patriarch Joseph did when overwhelmed at 
 the sight of his brethren — to wash his face. 
 
 Charles met him on the stairs before he 
 could perform this needful operation, on his 
 return home, and said lightly — 
 
84 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' What 's been the matter with you, young- 
 ster, this morning ? In disgrace about les- 
 sons, hey ?' 
 
 ' Charles, I Ve had a good deal to try me,' 
 said Perry, ' but never mind. I Ve some- 
 thing in view ; so it doesn't signify/ 
 
 ' You Ve a precious dirty face on view at 
 all events/ 
 
 ' Bell didn't mind kissing it,' said Perry. 
 
 ' Humph !' muttered Charles ; ' I wouldn't 
 mind having a dirty face myself, on that 
 condition/ 
 
 And now the ' Lively Peggy,' having dis- 
 charged her cargo, is once more going to put 
 to sea. All the necessary forms have been 
 gone through, a small but well-assorted cargo 
 taken on board, the few necessary repairs 
 effected, water and stores taken in, the pilot 
 is on board, and nothing remains but to say 
 Goodbye, walk on board, heave anchor, and 
 set sail. 
 
 Charles has made his preparations for the 
 trip with no small self-importance : his dress 
 has assumed a touch of the smart young 
 sailor ; his knotted handkerchief is decidedly 
 anti-clerical ; his face has assumed a look of 
 deep deliberation, while selecting, cleaning, 
 and packing several nautical instruments ; 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 85 
 
 which, with a small case of books, secured 
 by a leather strap, have been viewed vv^ith 
 respect by Beale, Coles, and Bob, when 
 brought on board ; he is heard to whistle 
 ' Rule Britannia and, for the moment, the 
 ' Lively Peggy ' has decided ascendency over 
 the black-eyed Bell. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ERRY squeezed Bell's hand hard as 
 the 'Lively Peggy' slowly obeyed 
 the helm and gradually went out 
 of harbour ; but Bell said cheer- 
 fully, 'Wave your cap, Perry!' which he 
 instantly did, though his lip quivered. Miss 
 Biddy answered the salute with her hand- 
 kerchief, and Charles with his hat, while his 
 brown curls streamed in the wind. 
 
 ' How nice he looks!' said Perry; 'just 
 like a real sailor. I wonder if he '11 be sick 
 — it blows rather fresh. There 's a pitch ! — 
 / should have liked it, but perhaps Charley 
 is a little bit afraid. They '11 make Portugal 
 in about four days if the wind is fair. I 
 wonder which way the wind will blow to- 
 morrow. I think I shall pray for a fair 
 wind.' 
 
 ' And now, we '11 try how many good marks 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 87 
 
 we can get/ said Bell. ' But we 11 have a 
 good race first/ 
 
 * Yes, only let us first watch the Lively 
 Peggy'' out of sight/ 
 
 ' She may not be quite out of sight for an 
 hour/ 
 
 ' If anything were to happen to her, we 
 should be sorry we had lost sight of her 
 sooner than w^e need,' observed Perry. 
 
 ' So we should,' said Bell, immediately 
 sitting down on some wood-work. They 
 quietly watched the vessel till it was lost in 
 a light haze. 
 
 ' Charley and I parted quite friends/ said 
 Perry softly. 
 
 That day he did his lessons remarkably 
 well, though he seemed subdued. Once or 
 twice he complained of headache. Directly 
 he had finished his lessons he set off home- 
 wards, and established himself in Charles's 
 little study, which Charles had given him 
 charge of in his absence. He looked with 
 leisurely interest at everything, without 
 disturbing anything he thought Charles 
 would not like touched. He put a few 
 things in their places ; dusted a few others, 
 and sat down thoughtfully in Charles's chair. 
 Suddenly he started up, ran off for a small 
 
88 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobishcr. 
 
 parchment - covered volume with several 
 leaves torn out, with a good deal of blank 
 paper remaining, which his mother had 
 given him. Placing this on Charles's writ- 
 ing-table and dipping his pen in the ink, 
 he began with great zeal to inscribe the title- 
 page with ' The Life, Death, and Remark- 
 able Adventures of Sir Martin Frobisher, 
 Book the First, Chapter the First/ And 
 then, in his very smallest text, he proceeded 
 to set down Bell's long yarn, as closely as 
 his memory would supply it. Having thus 
 found a resource in authorship, I need not 
 say that Perry was happy. 
 
 Next morning he presented himself to 
 Bell with a bright face. 
 
 ' The wind continues fair,' cried he. 
 
 ' Did you pray for it ?' said she, rather 
 too lightly. 
 
 jrte gave her a little nod. 
 
 ' Come, you are a good boy,' said she, 
 kissing him. ' I see we shall get plenty of 
 good marks to-day.' 
 
 They set to work ; and while he was bend- 
 ing his head over his copy, she suddenly said : 
 
 ' Perry, what is the matter with you ? 
 What is this red all under the roots of your 
 hair?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobishe7\ 
 
 89 
 
 'Red!' repeated he, looking up in sur- 
 prise. 
 
 ' Yes, and about your eyes. Let me look 
 at your wrists. You have a rash under your 
 skin. You Ve caught something ! ' 
 
 He looked rather alarmed. 
 
 ' Don't be frightened,' said Bell, running 
 to the door. ' Here ! Hetty, I want you.' 
 
 ' I can't come,^ returns Hetty; ' I 'm making 
 the pudding.' 
 
 ' But you must,' rejoined Bell. Then, 
 running into the kitchen, she said to her 
 sister in a low voice — 
 
 ' Perry is going to be very ill, I believe, 
 with measles or scarlet fever, or something. 
 He has a rash under his skin.' 
 
 ' Dear me,' said Hetty, ' shall we catch 
 it ? You had better send him home directly.' 
 
 ' He might get chilled ; the rash might 
 strike in. Besides, there are Mrs. Bertie's 
 little scholars. One of us had better go and 
 bring her up.' 
 
 'Do you go, then,' said Hetty, 'for my 
 hands are all over flour.' 
 
 So Bell went back to Perry, who had 
 heard every word, and was sitting like a 
 little martyr, and said — 
 
 ' I 'm going to fetch your mamma, Perry 
 
90 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisker. 
 
 dear, and she will see all about it. Never 
 mind : I don't suppose it 's anything parti- 
 cular/ 
 
 ' And if it is/ said Perry, ' you '11 find my 
 will at the end of my log, in the toy cup- 
 board ; you Ve my executor/ 
 
 This almost upset Bell, but the next 
 minute she was rushing down to Mrs. 
 Bertie's, running against Mr. Craikie by the 
 way, with a hurried ' I beg your pardon.' 
 He looked after her with a little umbrage. 
 
 Directly Mrs. Bertie heard the tidings, 
 she exclaimed, ' Oh, I knew he was too good 
 to live ! My darling Perry! And what shall 
 I do with my school ? I will dismiss the 
 children directly, and bring Mr. Heath with 
 me.'' 
 
 ' Pray be careful what you say to the little 
 girls,' said Bell ; ' it will be best not to spread 
 the alarm.' 
 
 ' Certainly, certainly,' said Mrs. Bertie, 
 struggling against tears. ' It would shut up 
 my school ; and then, where should we be ?' 
 
 So she went and discharged her little 
 scholars, who looked surprised, but by no 
 means disappointed at the unexpected holi- 
 day, and then went to the doctor, Mr. Heath, 
 who fortunately had not started on his 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 91 
 
 round, and who accompanied her to Miss 
 Frobisher s house, talking of things in gene- 
 ral, while she answered him at random. So 
 they soon became silent. 
 
 Now, Mr. Heath's little girl was one of Mrs. 
 Bertie's scholars, and Mr. Heath's little girl 
 had never had measles or scarlet fever ; con- 
 sequently he had already decided in his own 
 mind that if Perry proved to have either, he 
 must remain where he was, or his little girl 
 must be taken from school ; and the former 
 plan was preferable to himself. After a very 
 brief examination of the little boy, who had 
 wound himself up to a state of mind similar 
 in kind, if not in degree, to that of Regulus 
 in the cask full of nails, he pronounced de- 
 cisively the single word — ' Measles.' 
 
 Bell gave a sigh of relief. She had no 
 fears for herself ; for she and Hetty had had 
 the measles, and they had not had scarlet 
 fever. And when Mr. Heath said Perry 
 ought to go to bed at once, but not have 
 too many bedclothes heaped on him, she 
 said — 
 
 ' He shall have my room, and Hetty and 
 I will sleep in Biddy's bed.' 
 
 'Surely he may come home?' said Mrs. 
 Bertie hastily. 
 
92 
 
 Miss Biddy Fi'obishei^ 
 
 ' Death to your school, ma am/ said Mr. 
 Heath with brevity. ' Your Httle boy may 
 take it hghtly, but that is no security that 
 those who catch it of him will.' 
 
 ' Oh, then, don't run any risk, mamma,' 
 said Perry. ' I shall have everything very 
 comfortable here, and I love Bell almost as 
 much as you.' 
 
 ' You good boy !' said Bell. 
 
 In short, after Mrs. Bertie's pleading very 
 hard to take him home, wrapped up in 
 blankets, she was led to admit it a great 
 privilege that he could remain where he was, 
 she having access to him as much as she 
 liked. So Mr. Heath took leave, after 
 arranging everything his own way ; and Mrs. 
 Bertie then undressed Perry and put him to 
 bed, where he thought it very funny to be 
 in broad daylight ; but the novelty of the 
 situation, combined with a certain feeling of 
 minor martyrdom, and, in addition to that, a 
 bad headache, made bed no such bad place 
 after all. Bell quietly moved her belongings 
 into the adjoining room, while Mrs. Bertie 
 silently turned in her head the various 
 exigencies of the case ; and the result of 
 her reflections was, that, she had better go 
 round to the parents of her seven little pupils, 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 93 
 
 lay the matter before them, and propose to 
 them that the children should have a holi- 
 day till Perry began to get well. By this 
 means she would have leisure to nurse him. 
 
 So, as soon as Bell returned and offered 
 to sit with Perry, Mrs. Bertie thankfully 
 went away to make arrangements. She had 
 once been a very pretty, and was still a very 
 interesting-looking woman ; her manners 
 were ladylike, and her education was much 
 superior to what her neighbours had enjoyed 
 any opportunity of acquiring. Her widow's 
 dress too, and her meritorious devotion of 
 her time and abilities to the maintenance of 
 her family, always paying her way with 
 exactitude, and keeping up appearances so 
 nicely, yet without the least finery, combined 
 to obtain for her a very favourable opinion 
 in the little borough. Therefore her round 
 of visits procured for her many gratifying 
 tokens of respect and esteem ; and in most 
 instances, on her own account as well as 
 theirs, the parents decided that it would be 
 much better for their children to consider 
 their Michaelmas holiday put forward a little. 
 But there were three instances of a different 
 opinion. Mrs. Heath, Mrs. Foxey, and 
 Mrs. Jones preferred that the schooling 
 
94 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 should be persisted in, and though Mrs. 
 Bertie need not have referred it to their 
 decision, yet, having done so, she felt obliged 
 to abide by it. Mrs. Foxey's and Mrs. 
 Jones s children had already had measles, 
 so they were in no fear; and when Mrs. 
 Bertie ventured to hint the danger of infec- 
 tion to Mrs. Heath, that lady smiled sweetly, 
 and said — 
 
 ' Why should your clothes communicate 
 infection any more than Mr. Heath's ? If 
 medical men carried infection from house to 
 house, they would be walking pests.' 
 
 So it was carried against her, and then 
 poor Mrs. Bertie thought it necessary to 
 repeat the visits previously made, and to 
 say that since Mesdames Heath, Jones, and 
 Foxey would not let her off, she could as 
 well give her time to seven pupils as three. 
 But no ; the other parties had meanwhile 
 made up their minds to the holiday, and 
 could not now be disappointed of it ; they 
 openly called Mrs. Heath and Co. selfish 
 and inconsiderate, and expressed their own 
 sense of danger ; so Mrs. Bertie had to re- 
 sign herself to this very unsatisfactory con- 
 clusion, with something of the mortification 
 at wasted labour that the worker on the 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 95 
 
 tread-wheel feels when it grinds no corn. 
 Maternal solicitude soon got the better of 
 vexation. She made her arrangements at 
 home, and hastened back to Perry, who had 
 long been impatient for her, and had so often 
 asked Bell to see whether mamma were 
 coming, that at length she placed herself at 
 the window and promised to tell him directly 
 Mrs. Bertie appeared in sight. 
 
 Thus, Mrs. Bertie no sooner approached 
 the cottage than she saw Bell watching for 
 her at the window, not with perturbation, as 
 if in immediate want of her, but fixedly, with 
 that look of depth and earnestness her coun- 
 tenance often wore ; and she could not help 
 thinking how attractive was that face which 
 filled Charles's daily thoughts. There was 
 a Spanish beauty about Bell's finely moulded 
 brow and pear-shaped face ; her large, dark 
 eyes, which Charles compared to black vel- 
 vet, were beautifully set under her eye- 
 brows ; her nose was nearly straight, her 
 lips full, deep red, her skin not olive, but 
 very brown, yet clear and smooth as satin. 
 She was quite unconcerned about her looks, 
 and took very little pains to set them off, 
 having, indeed, no one she cared to please 
 but those she pleased already ; none of them 
 
96 
 
 Miss Biddy Frohisher, 
 
 caring a straw whether she wore pink, blue, 
 green, or homely russet-brown. 
 
 Hester, of whom too little has been said, 
 was of quite another mould. She was very 
 matter-of-fact, undemonstrative, and prac- 
 tical. She made excellent puddings. She 
 did not care much for flowers. She would 
 rather have liked to be admired, but did not 
 see any chance of being so. She was con- 
 tented with a little, but would have been 
 pleased to have more. She was willing to 
 rnake nice things for Perry, if he might have 
 them, but had no notion of losing a night's 
 rest for him. He was welcome to her share 
 of the bedroom, but she thought it would 
 have done him no harm to be carried home 
 in a blanket. 
 
 She was almost as pretty in her way as 
 Bell, but with less expression. She had a 
 clear, fair complexion, blush - rose colour, 
 small, pretty features, deep blue eyes and 
 nut-brown hair, which she dressed with 
 remarkable neatness. 
 
 Mrs. Bertie spent the night with Pere- 
 grine, and continued to do so through his 
 illness, only leaving him at school-hours. 
 Bell and Hetty were very much struck with 
 her self-devotion, and Bell sympathized with 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 97 
 
 her with all the warmth of her fine, generous 
 nature. Perry went on pretty well for a day 
 or two, but then became very ill indeed, and 
 was pronounced in danger. In his delirium 
 he dwelt much on Charleses going in the 
 ' Lively Peggy,' and fancied Miss Biddy 
 had again forgotten her promise. He asked 
 his mamma to repeat his prayers for him 
 because he could not, and added, ' Mind 
 you pray for a fair wind.' 
 
 Once he said he thought drowning could 
 not be near as bad as measles — 'just a 
 gurgle, and all over.' 
 
 It made Mrs. Bertie very low to hear him 
 ramble in this way, and she scarcely felt 
 equal to her daily teaching. Bell offered to 
 undertake it for her to the best of her ability, 
 but she feared it might not be liked. ' If I 
 take their money,' she said, ' I must do their 
 work.' 
 
 One day Perry begged so hard to have 
 his brig in the room with him, that Bell 
 undertook to fetch it from the toy cupboard. 
 The brig, it may be premised, was about the 
 size of a writing-desk. When at the toy 
 cupboard. Bell could not resist the oppor- 
 tunity of looking into his will, especially as 
 she was to be his executor. She began at 
 
 (x 
 
98 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 the wrong end of the parchment-book, and 
 was amused and touched at his having been 
 at the pains of writing out the fabulous his- 
 tory of Martin Frobisher. Then she turned 
 to the other end and read as follows : — 
 
 ' This is my will and testament, but I 
 don't know that it will be my last. I beg 
 mamma to accept my best Prayer-book back 
 again, and also the small Bible she gave me. 
 I am sorry for the dog s-ears. I am very 
 sorry I ever did anything she did not like, 
 especially about going down to the quay. I 
 didn't tell a story about the jam ; I never 
 touched it. 
 
 ' I leave my two-bladed knife to Charles ; 
 one of the blades is very good : and also my 
 penwiper that Bell made me, like a Union 
 Jack. I am rather sorry I ever meddled 
 with his sextant. 
 
 * I am not at all sorry I gave John Foxey 
 a black eye, because he deserved it ; he 
 knows why. However, he may have my 
 small boat. 
 
 ' My large brig, The Bell," is to go to 
 Bob, of the Lively Peggy,'' if he will accept 
 it from a friend, though he will see many 
 faults. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 99 
 
 * Jane may have my old hymn-book, and 
 all my copy-books. 
 
 * I have nothing to leave Bell except my 
 love, but I do love her very much indeed, so 
 I make her my executioner. — Your affection- 
 ate friend, ' Peregrine Bertie. 
 
 * I believe there ought to be witnesses, 
 but you need not let Mr. Foxey know that 
 there are none ; I may give away what 's 
 my own. If I leave any money, put it in the 
 poor-box, please. That 's my last will and 
 codicil.' 
 
 ' And a very good one too, Perry,' thought 
 Bell, as she took the brig in her arms after 
 replacing the log-book. 
 
 ' How's the wind ?' said he, when she 
 returned. 
 
 ' There is hardly any,' said she ; ' but Biddy 
 must have reached Portugal by this time.' 
 
 ' Then I hope she '11 have a fair wind to 
 bring her back.' 
 
 And he pleased himself with imagining 
 all sorts of adventures for Charles, till his 
 mother told him he would make himself 
 feverish. 
 
 From this time Perry steadily progressed, 
 but he was yet a long way from recovery. 
 
lOO Miss Biddy JFr obis her. 
 
 Their anxiety about him ceased, however. 
 By this time a fortnight had passed, and 
 they began to look for Miss Biddy. Another 
 week passed, and still no tidings. Mean- 
 w^hile the weather changed. 
 
 There had been a great lull, and then the 
 wind shifted. It was now the latter end of 
 September. 
 
 One night Bell was roused from dreamless 
 sleep, by Peregrine's crying — 
 
 ' Bell, Bell, it 's blowing great guns !* 
 
 And sure enough the casements were 
 rattling, and the wind howling in the chim- 
 ney, and the sea coming in with a roaring 
 noise. 
 
 ' Oh!' said he in great distress, ' suppose 
 they should be wrecked!' 
 
 ' O no. Perry dear, there 's no danger ; 
 the windows always rattle in this way when 
 the wind blows. Our house is more exposed 
 to it than yours, and so we hear it more ; 
 but we are used to it' 
 
 ' I 'm not used to it, though,' said he, in a 
 doleful voice, ' and it makes me miserable.' 
 
 ' Say your prayers, Perry dear. Say a 
 hymn.' 
 
 ' I can't remember one. I can think of 
 nothing but the gale.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. loi 
 
 ' I will come then, and say one to you.' 
 And she left her bed, and went in to him, 
 and repeated — 
 
 * God moves in a mysterious way 
 
 His wonders to perform ; 
 He plants His footsteps in the sea, 
 And rides upon the storm. 
 
 * Ye fearful souls, fresh courage take, 
 
 The clouds ye so much dread 
 Are full of mercy, and will break 
 In blessings on your head.' 
 
 ' That 's heavenly,^ said he thankfully. 
 ' Good-night ; I can sleep now.' 
 
 And he slept before she left him. 
 
 Next morning the shore was strewn with 
 fragments, and the sullen sea was retreating 
 with an angry, growling noise. Old mariners 
 were wistfully sweeping the horizon with 
 their glasses, and wishing they could make 
 out the ' Lively Peggy.' 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 fiT now behoves us to look after the 
 
 ' Lively Peggy/ 
 
 As when a housewife, prudent 
 in affairs, takes a general inspec- 
 tion of her premises, applies her various 
 senses of seeing, smelling, touching, and 
 tasting, to every mysterious liquid and solid 
 hid under covers and in dark corners, drags 
 forth unexpected hoards, and brings hidden 
 things to light, so did Miss Biddy, before 
 she heaved anchor, always make a point of 
 investigating every corner and cranny in her 
 brig, that it might conceal neither combus- 
 tibles nor contraband. Once satisfied on 
 this point, she cast care to the winds, and 
 rejoiced in a wet sheet and flowing sail. 
 
 On the present occasion she would, if she 
 had followed her own inclinations, have so 
 far outraged all nautical precedents as to sail 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her. 103 
 
 on a Friday, because, as she said, they should 
 then be well to sea on the Sabbath ; but 
 Beale looked so utterly blank at the idea of 
 it, that she saw at once where the shoe 
 pinched ; and asked him, with a little scorn, 
 on what day it would please him to sail. 
 
 ' Why, of a Sunday, to be sure, if if s left 
 to my choice,' said he ; ' the best day of 
 all the week ; whereas we all know what 
 happened of a Good Friday ; and that has 
 made every Friday since a bad one/ 
 
 ' No, no, Beale, I can't have the Sabbath 
 desecrated by putting to sea : I '11 meet you 
 half-way, and sail on Saturday.' 
 
 ' Anything to please you, mum, it so being 
 as we don't sail of a Friday.' 
 
 So on a Saturday they sailed, and it would 
 be hard to say which person on board felt 
 most satisfaction in seeing the distance in- 
 crease between the brig and the little quay, 
 with Bell, Hetty, and Peregrine waving their 
 adieu. 
 
 Charles's predilections were so little for 
 the sea, that he had seldom made his appear- 
 ance on the beach, and was scarcely known 
 by sight to the crew of the ' Lively Peggy.' 
 His character, education, and predilections 
 were still less known to them, so that he 
 
1 04 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 made his appearance on board with almost 
 the prestige of a stranger ; and certainly his 
 personal appearance was a letter of recom- 
 mendation. He looked older than he was, 
 and very sedate ; was tall and well-grown ; 
 with fresh complexion, dark blue eyes, and 
 curling, nut-brown hair. There was a kind 
 of composure and self-assurance about him 
 that made others think he felt master of the 
 situation, whatever it was, — which indeed 
 he generally thought himself, till it proved 
 the reverse. As a youth who had had a 
 thoroughly Christian training, he was at once 
 humble-minded and high-minded ; but send 
 poor Charles afloat and he would be likely 
 to find himself as much out of his element as 
 a fish would be on dry land. 
 
 Beale took kindly to him at first sight, and 
 responded to his first salutation with — 
 
 ' Sarvant, sir. Them 's pretty things as I 
 ever set eyes on that you Ve in your hands. 
 A rare good glass, I '11 warrant, and quite a 
 toy sextant.' 
 
 ' This pocket-sextant was my father's,' said 
 Charles complacently ; ' he took the sun's 
 altitude with it many a time.' 
 
 ' And you know how to do so yourself, sir, 
 I '11 be bound.' 
 
Miss Biddy FrobisIm\ 105 
 
 ' Pretty well,' said Charles ; ' you shall see 
 me take a meridian observation by and by. 
 Can you show me where to fix my baro- 
 meter?' 
 
 ' Ay, ay, sir ; step this way ; allow me to 
 carry it for you, sir. You should have been a 
 sailor, sir, aboard a man-o'-war.' 
 
 Charles did not quite like his patronizing 
 tone, but yet he was pleased with him and 
 desirous of his good opinion ; so, as they 
 placed the barometer, he dropped a scientific 
 expression or two, just to let Beale see what 
 was in him. Beale, however, said he was 
 wanted aft; and Charles followed him, stum- 
 bling along, for he had not got his sea-legs. 
 Miss Biddy had just been looking into Coles's 
 chest, which Coles didn't like, as she had 
 immediately espied a dirty pack of cards in 
 it, and expressed her regret that she had 
 not forbidden them as well as spirits and 
 swearing. 
 
 ' Well, Charles,' said she cheerfully, ' how 
 are you getting on ? You have brought 
 some nice-looking instruments on board, I 
 see. I should like to be taught the use of 
 the sextant. My professional education has 
 been too much neglected ; or rather, I have 
 myself to reproach for neglect of my oppor- 
 
io6 Miss Biddy Frobisker, 
 
 tunities ; my father would gladly have taught 
 me all he knew himself, poor man/ 
 
 ' I shall be most happy, I 'm sure,' said 
 Charles, ' when we get into rather smoother 
 water. At present it's rather rough/ 
 
 ' Rough ! we don't call this rough,' said 
 she, laughing. ' What will you say when we 
 get into the Bay of Biscay ?' 
 
 ' I suppose you know the Bay of Bis- 
 cay as well as I know the coach -road to 
 London ?' 
 
 ' On the contrary, I know very little of 
 it, and nothing of the coast we shall run 
 along.' 
 
 ' Indeed !' said Charles, rather alarmed. 
 ' Then I should think you had better keep 
 very close in-shore.' 
 
 ' The very worst thing we could do. We 
 are safe enough as long as we keep well 
 out to sea. When we get into port, you 
 must rub up your Portuguese, Mr. Charles.' 
 
 ' My Portuguese !' said he, looking rather 
 discomfited. ' I 'm afraid that won't go very 
 far.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! I am sorry to hear it, for I had 
 reckoned on you as our interpreter. / don't 
 know a word of the language, nor do either 
 of my men.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker. 107 
 
 * Dear me!' cried Charles. 'Then really 
 I think you had better go back/ 
 
 ' Not to be thought of/ said she, laughing 
 heartily. ' What should I do with my 
 cargo ? We shall manage somehow, you 11 
 see.' 
 
 Charles thought the prospect somewhat 
 disconcerting, but no improvement of it 
 occurred to him. 
 
 Coles now came up, and demurely asked 
 Miss Biddy for a piece of liquorice, saying 
 he had a sore throat. She seemed very 
 much inclined to look down it, seeing which, 
 he hastily added that it was very low down, 
 quite out of sight. On this she took from 
 her pocket a tortoise-shell bonbonniere of 
 ample dimensions, and produced from it a 
 goodly lump. Seeing him look as if he 
 thought he was to bite a piece off and return 
 it to her, she said — 
 
 ' You may have it all — we are going to 
 the land of Spanish juice adding to Charles, 
 as he moved off, 'It's surprising how fond 
 that man is of Spanish liquorice/ 
 
 Coles no sooner got out of sight, how- 
 ever, than he substituted tobacco for the 
 liquorice. 
 
 They were now running swiftly before 
 
io8 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 the wind, in a very pleasant manner ; and 
 after a desultory chat with Miss Biddy, 
 Charles strolled towards Beale, and began 
 to ask him the names of the ropes; observing, 
 as he felt one of them — 
 
 ' They must excoriate your hands a good 
 deal.' 
 
 Beale replied that he was such a younker 
 when his hands were first ex-scored, that 
 they were all over scores now, and past 
 feeling. He continued to talk about the 
 ropes and their uses in a leisurely way, while 
 Charles listened to him at first with pleasure, 
 but soon with only feigned attention ; for 
 they were now getting among long rolling 
 swells, that gradually carried them high up, 
 or what he thought high, and then very sud- 
 denly down again ; and this rather amused 
 Charles with its novelty, till it produced very 
 unexpected and undesired results, and — not 
 to put too fine a point on it — made him 
 extremely sea-sick. 
 
 ' Dear me,' said he apologetically to Beale, 
 ' I 'd no idea of being subject to anything of 
 this sort ; I 'm quite ashamed. I — ^ 
 
 'It's a purwision of natur', sir,' said Beale 
 stolidly, ' to relieve our systems, and show 
 us what poor weak creatures the best on us 
 
Miss Biddy F7^obisher, 109 
 
 are, — crowned heads, and heads without 
 e'er a crown to their hats, all alike/ 
 
 ' I shall soon be better, I dare say,' said 
 Charles. ' I — . Dear, dear/ 
 
 Instead of getting better, poor Charles 
 got a good deal worse ; and was so com- 
 pletely laid on the shelf by the inexorable 
 demon, that he never held up his head again 
 till they were in port. Miss Biddy could 
 not help being a little amused, but yet she 
 pitied him too ; especially as he did not like 
 succumbing at all, and was continually apo- 
 logizing for what he could not possibly help. 
 At times he thought he was really going to 
 die, and rather wished it than otherwise ; 
 only he hinted that, in case of such an even- 
 tuality, he hoped his remains would not be 
 thrown overboard. 
 
 ' You really must rouse yourself and get 
 well, then,' said she, laughing, ' for I 'm sure 
 Coles would not sail with a dead man on 
 board.' 
 
 He thought her very unfeeling to laugh, 
 but directly they cast anchor he found him- 
 self all right, forgot all his late sensations, 
 and was greatly excited and delighted at the 
 novelty of the scene around him. 
 
 Miss Biddy soon found he knew almost 
 
I lo Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 as little Portuguese as she did ; or, if he did 
 know any, it never came ready to hand, but, 
 as she said, was stowed away at the very 
 bottom of the hold. The chief use she 
 made of him was as a live walking-stick. It 
 was better for her to have a young man to 
 go about with, than to play the part of 
 unprotected female in a country of foreigners ; 
 though the helpless way in which he turned 
 his blue eyes on her blithe resolute face 
 whenever they got into a fix, amused, and 
 sometimes almost provoked her. 
 
 After a little pushing and shoving about, 
 they stumbled on an English skipper, whom 
 Miss Biddy made friends with directly ; and 
 he readily pioneered her to the counting- 
 house she wanted. There was an English 
 partner, and an English clerk, about Charles's 
 age ; and while the English partner was 
 very civil to Miss Biddy, and put her quite 
 an cotirant, the young clerk gladly obeyed 
 orders, and was civil and helpful to Charles. 
 Soon Charles was planning with him an 
 expedition to Cintra, and the young man 
 told him how he might meanwhile best 
 amuse himself, and offered to take him to 
 the theatre, which, to his surprise, Charles 
 declined. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 His motive for doing so was twofold : 
 first, on account of a scruple with regard 
 to theatrical performances, and, second, be- 
 cause of res angttsta domi, which possessed 
 him of little to expend on amusement. 
 There were pleasures to be had without 
 cost on every side — lovely and romantic 
 scenery, picturesque costumes, mingled with 
 indescribable dirt and squalor. Being really 
 clever in his way, though that way was not 
 in the seafaring direction, he picked up a 
 smattering of the language with surpris- 
 ing quickness, and carefully entered every 
 thing that struck him with interest in his 
 journal. 
 
 One day he showed Miss Biddy, with a 
 complacent smile, a small stiletto, on which 
 he had spent almost his last penny. 
 
 'O Charles, you must not have that!' 
 cried she quickly. 
 
 * Why not?' cried Charles in surprise. 
 
 ' The next thing to having it will be 
 using it.' 
 
 ' You don't think me such a child as that, 
 I hope?' 
 
 ' No, but — . Do let me have it, Charles. 
 I '11 buy it of you ; I don't like you having it. 
 It isn't an English weapon.' 
 
1 1 2 Miss Biddy Frobishei\ 
 
 ' That true,' said Charles, ' but I bought 
 it chiefly as a curiosity, and it might be 
 useful in self-defence, for the fellows here 
 out with them at a moment's warning, and 
 without giving any/ 
 
 * Never mind their nasty ways; you Ve 
 two weapons of self-defence provided by 
 Mother Nature — a pair of good English fists/ 
 
 He laughed, and said — 
 
 ' You may have the dagger, if you are so 
 set on it. Miss Frobisher ; I don't care 
 much about it ; but you must accept it as 
 a present/ 
 
 ' No, no, you may see something else you 
 like and that I shall not dislike/ 
 
 Coles contrived to be on shore whenever 
 Miss Biddy's back was turned, and picked 
 up some English acquaintance who intro- 
 duced him to more than one low posada ; 
 but Beale never left the ' Lively Peggy' 
 while she lay in harbour, and he insisted 
 on Bob's remaining on board with him, 
 doing his best to scare him with stories of 
 Portuguese assassinations and kidnappings. 
 Twice, however. Bob, under the influence 
 of Coles, slipped on shore ; for which Beale 
 rewarded him with a rope's-end when he 
 came back, which turned him sulky. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 1 1 3 
 
 They remained in port longer than Miss 
 Biddy had counted on, though not very 
 long after all, but it seemed longer to all par- 
 ties than it was. At length her cargo was 
 shipped, and the ' Lively Peggy' set her 
 face homeward. 
 
 ' Well,' said Miss Biddy, as she watched 
 the receding Lusitanian shore, ' I 'm glad 
 that I Ve been, and I 'm glad I 'm on my 
 way back again. I don't think I shall care 
 to see Lisbon any more.' 
 
 ' And I 'm glad to hear you deliver that 
 opinion, mum,' said Beale, ' for it 's exactly 
 the same as my own.' 
 
 ' Why, Beale, you can hardly be said to 
 have seen it at all, never once having been 
 ashore.' 
 
 ' Oh, didn't I though, ma'am, begging of 
 your pardon for contradicting you. / see 
 their nasty manners and customs through 
 the glass, and without it too, and their nasty 
 priests, and the people flopping down on 
 their knees in the nasty mud to them, when 
 they went along in broad daylight with 
 lighted candles. And as for their handling 
 of a ship's rope, why, I wouldn't trust them 
 with the rope's-end I keep to polish off Bob 
 with.' 
 
 H 
 
1 1 4 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 Charles, to his surprise and satisfaction, 
 felt no qualms now, and was able to keep 
 his legs pretty steadily. As soon as they 
 were fairly to sea. Miss Biddy found leisure 
 for that strict investigation of holes and 
 corners which even Beale did not like, and 
 which Coles detested. After having con- 
 ducted her search very satisfactorily over 
 the brig without detecting any contraband, 
 she retired to her cabin ; whence she pre- 
 sently came forth, flaming with wrath, and 
 holding a small package at arm's length. 
 
 'Come here, you men !^ cried she, 'and 
 you too, boy ! — I don't ask who had the 
 impudence to put this parcel of tobacco 
 under my pillow — I don't ask who has had 
 the audacity to go into my cabin at all, 
 contrary to strict orders — I don't want to 
 know — I'd rather not know!— for we must 
 sail in company to Hardsand, and I do not 
 wish to fix it on any one with whom I am 
 obliged to associate.' 
 
 'Well, I never!' exclaimed Beale. 'The 
 awdacioust thing that I did ever hear tell of ! 
 To go and put a parcel of tobacco under a 
 lady's pillow 1 That must have been yon, 
 Bob!' 
 
 ' No, it worn't,' said Bob, surlily ; ' where 
 
Miss Biddy F^vbisher. 1 1 5 
 
 was I to get the money to buy it ? A likely 
 thing !' 
 
 ' If you'd a been a good boy, as it was 
 your duty to be/ rejoined Beale, ' and never 
 set your foot on that blessed quay, you 
 couldn't have been suspectivated/ 
 
 * Why, who 's to be suspectivated ?' growled 
 forth Coles, ' when we none of us knows 
 nothing on it ? You might be suspectivated 
 yourself, Beale/ 
 
 ' If you'd say that, you^d say anything, 
 Coles,' retorted Beale. ' Maybe you 'd sus- 
 pect Miss Biddy!' with a sardonic laugh. 
 
 * Silence, men,' said Miss Biddy. ' It would 
 be no pleasure to me to convict any one of 
 you of a capital offence — a double offence, 
 against me and the revenue. You 've heard 
 me say once already, that I 'm glad I don't 
 know who the culprit is. It shall be enough 
 punishment for him, this time, to lose his 
 property ; but the next time such a crime is 
 committed, I will either trace it home, or 
 part with every man that receives my wages.' 
 
 Saying which, she went to the ship's side 
 and launched the tobacco into the deep. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HARLES here approached Miss Biddy 
 with an apprehensive face, and 
 said, — 
 
 * Miss Frobisher, I think we 
 are going to have a change of weather/ 
 
 ' A change of weather, Charles ?' said she, 
 scarcely attending to him, and giving a pre- 
 occupied glance around, ' O no, nothing of 
 the sort. There are no tokens of it/ 
 
 She moved away from him as she spoke, 
 and re-entered her cabin ; feeling rather too 
 much ruffled just then for any companion- 
 ship. 
 
 Cut short in this quarter, Charles presently 
 applied to Beale, who was moodily busying 
 himself with some cordage, and said, — 
 
 ' I ^m afraid, Mr. Beale, we shall have a 
 squall shortly.' 
 
 ' Why so, sir ?' said Beale, without even 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her, 1 1 7 
 
 troubling himself to look up ; ' I 'm an old- 
 fashioned sort o' hand myself, and don't 
 know nothing of the last improvements. 
 Maybe you, being a young gent of eddica- 
 tion, can tell me a new weather-sign or two.' 
 
 This was said with scarcely disguised 
 contempt. 
 
 ' Well/ said Charles, ' I can only say, and 
 I believe there 's only need to say, that the 
 barometer has fallen very suddenly/ 
 
 ' Has it though, sir ?' said Beale, looking 
 up quickly, ' and what do you take that to 
 portend ?' 
 
 * It is generally found to portend a squall ; 
 but perhaps you won't believe a land- 
 lubber/ 
 
 ' Well, sir, I take it that, whether that 
 name fits you or no, you Ve a gentleman of 
 truth, and have read what you say in some 
 of our prints, which maybe came from the 
 pen of some clever navigator. Do you sup- 
 pose, sir, you've good authority for what 
 you say ? ' 
 
 ' Indeed I do,' said Charles ; and he gave 
 him chapter and verse for it so clearly and 
 undogmatically, that Beale, after turning it 
 in his mind a little, thought proper to alter 
 the brig's course and shorten sail. 
 
1 1 8 Miss Biddy F^^obisher, 
 
 Coles, who could not see the good of this, 
 obeyed orders unwillingly, but they were 
 given none too soon ; for just as the changes 
 were effected, Beale, looking to leeward, 
 suddenly exclaimed, 'Here it comes!' and 
 at the same instant the wind, rushing from 
 an opposite direction, and cresting the waves 
 with foam as it swept- over them, caused the 
 little vessel to reel for an instant and then 
 spring forward on a new tack. 
 
 The sudden lurch of the brig brought Miss 
 Biddy from her cabin to see what was the 
 matter ; and noticing the alterations that had 
 taken place, she asked Beale the reason, 
 
 ' Well, ma'am,' said he, with some em- 
 phasis, * Mr. Bertie here out with his learn- 
 ing, and told us a squall Avas coming, and as 
 his weather-glass is by one of the best makers, 
 he tells me, I thought we might as well try 
 if 'twere to be believed. And lucky for us 
 we did, for we 'd no sooner tacked and taken 
 in sail, than the wind veered.' 
 
 Charles looked pleased without being over- 
 elated at the verification of his prediction, so 
 that all sympathized with him as Miss Biddy 
 thanked and praised him for bringing his 
 knowledge to bear on the events of the 
 moment. The wind was still so fitful as to 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 119 
 
 keep every one on the alert, and harmony 
 and animation took the place of the late un- 
 pleasantness among the little community, 
 which was already forgotten. 
 
 Towards dark it began to rain heavily, 
 and between eleven and twelve it blew hard ; 
 but the little brig was under very snug sail, 
 and weathered it well. . Nobody closed their 
 eyes in sleep that night, unless Charles and 
 the boy at intervals, for sailor-boys are the 
 same now that they were in Shakspeare\s 
 time ; and though Charles had a solemniz- 
 ing sense of danger, he was too little inured 
 to watching to avoid occasional snatches 
 of slumber. A tremendous lurch, however, 
 towards daybreak, awoke him for once and 
 altogether, and when, in the dim, uncertain 
 light that seemed to come from the sea itself, 
 he beheld Miss Biddy motionless as a figure- 
 head, holding firmly by the mast, and facing 
 the storm, he cautiously made his way to 
 her side, and said, — 
 
 * I conclude we are in considerable danger.' 
 
 ' Charles, my boy, I wish I had not brought 
 you,' said she quickly. 
 
 ' Why so ? I 'm very glad I came,'' said he, 
 ' since I was able to warn you of this gale.' 
 
 ' It may not make the difference of more 
 
120 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 than a few hours though in our fate/ said 
 she ; but the howHng wind drowned her 
 voice, and she was not sorry he did not hear 
 what she said. 
 
 ' Suppose I bind you to the mast/ said he. 
 ' You may be swept off deck.' 
 
 ' No, I think not, but we may as well lock 
 our arms round it.' 
 
 And this they did ; the vessel heeling 
 tremendously as the gale increased, and 
 sometimes dipping her yards into water. 
 
 What an awful gale it was ! It was often 
 impossible to hear e'ach other speak, or to 
 see anything through the blinding spray. 
 Yet still they drove before the wind, and if 
 a special Providence really watched over 
 them and warded off every evil, it may have 
 been owing to the prayers of that unseasoned 
 young voyager clasping Miss Biddy to the 
 mast, and of the sick little wakeful brother 
 at home. 
 
 As day broke on the cheerless prospect, 
 the wind went down a little, and Charles, 
 with every sense preternaturally strained, 
 fancied he heard distress signals ; but Miss 
 Biddy, who, in the emotion incident to a 
 supreme moment, spoke to him and felt for 
 him as a mother to her child, said, - 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 1 2 1 
 
 ' No, dear, it is only the wind blowing great 
 guns ; the waves often make that noise on a 
 rocky shore/ 
 
 Here the sailor-boy called loudly from 
 aloft— 
 
 ' I see something on the lee-bow/ 
 * Lee-bow ? what is it you see ?' shouted 
 Beale. 
 
 ' I can't justly say,' answered Bob, ' but it's 
 something black/ 
 
 'A boat, perhaps!' cried Miss Biddy. 
 ' Charles, where ^s your glass ?' 
 
 Charles staggered away from her to fetch 
 it, and presently returned. Meanwhile Beale 
 roared, Ms it a rock ? ' 
 
 ' No,' shouted Bob, ' it 's a boat — a boat 
 adrift on the lee-bow !' 
 
 ' Make for it, Beale,' cried Miss Biddy, as 
 she took Charles's glass. ' I can see figures 
 in it quite plainly ; a woman as well as 
 men.' 
 
 They were now all in the utmost excite- 
 ment, straining every nerve to succour the 
 unfortunate boat's crew, some of whom were 
 standing up and waving their hats. They 
 brought-to just to windward of them, and the 
 boat presently came alongside, though the 
 men had only an oar between them. There 
 
122 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 were three sailors, a woman, and a child ; 
 they were all Portuguese, but one of the 
 sailors knew a few words of broken English, 
 and Charles's little vocabulary was put into 
 requisition, which did not happen to supply 
 him with many phrases that could be turned 
 to present account. It was no good to say, 
 ' I love milk, butter, and cheese,' to poor 
 wretches who were in want of hot brandy 
 and water, nor ' madam, sir, or miss, I wish 
 you a very good morning/ But nature, 
 the universal teacher, prompted Miss Biddy, 
 without need of words, to do just what was 
 wanted by these poor creatures, to give 
 them food and shelter. As, however, the 
 brig was not victualled for so large an addi- 
 tion to their party, especially for a lengthened 
 voyage, it was speedily decided that the best 
 way would be to get rid of them as soon as 
 they could, either by putting them on board 
 some other vessel, or if they had not the luck 
 to meet one, to run for the nearest coast. 
 Beale, by the language of signs, made out 
 from the most intelligent of the foreigners 
 that he could pilot them to the nearest port, 
 which, therefore, he allowed him to do, and 
 before many hours had passed they were 
 running along shore. Having reached the 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 123 
 
 port in question, a boat put off and took the 
 poor people on board, they expressing their 
 gratitude in the best manner they could by 
 sending on board a supply of water and pro- 
 visions sufficient for the present exigency, 
 before the ' Lively Peggy ' again set sail. 
 
 Meanwhile the little world of Hardsand 
 was full of conjectures concerning the fate 
 of the brig, and scarcely a fragment was cast 
 ashore without being handled and jealously 
 scrutinized, to see whether it could reveal 
 any grim secret. Many a weather-beaten 
 face viewed Bell with sympathy and compas- 
 sion as she came down to the quay, and 
 anxiously questioned one and another ; but 
 with true kindness each assured her the 
 storm had been nothing to signify — ' the 
 wind had been contrary, and might ha' 
 blowed Miss Biddy out of her course, but 
 that was the wu'st they were likely to hear 
 of ; maybe they should sight the brig afore 
 dark.^ 
 
 This somewhat allayed Bell's fears, but 
 she could not satisfy Perry. 
 
 ' Oh, they 're drowned, they Ve gone to the 
 bottom,' cried he piteously ; ' I felt they 
 would ! I Ve done nothing but dream of 
 them night after night ; and one night, when 
 
1 24 Miss Biddy Fj^obisher, 
 
 I was wide awake, I heard Charles calHng 
 Ahoy ! ahoy ' 
 
 ' But Perry, darling, you cotild not hear 
 him out at sea/ 
 
 'Don't people get warnings sometimes?' 
 returned Perry. ' The sailors say they do. 
 Sometimes, when fishers are lost at sea, 
 their wives hear taps at their casements, and 
 even see them looking through the panes. 
 Mamma doesn't like me to hear of such 
 things, but indeed they happen !' 
 
 ' If Charles is your brother, Biddy is my 
 sister,' said Bell, ' and you must not frighten 
 me with such dismal stories, or I shall have 
 no spirit left.' 
 
 ' That 's true,' said he, taking her hand 
 and stroking it ; and from that time, though 
 he was always on the watch for news, he 
 kept his forebodings to himself. 
 
 But, just at sunset one evening, there was 
 a violent thumping at the door with a man's 
 fist, and Perry almost screamed — 
 
 ' Oh, see what it is !' 
 
 Bell required no bidding, but flew down 
 stairs and threw the door open. There 
 stood the handsome young sailor, Joel 
 Sprent, his face shining with joy, as he 
 cried - 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' The Lively Peggy'' is coming in, Miss/ 
 
 'Oh, God be praised!' exclaimed Bell, 
 clasping her hands. ' I 'm so much obliged 
 to you, Joel.' 
 
 * I knew you 'd like to know,^ said he, 
 turning on his heel. She did not wait to 
 hear him, but ran up stairs, exclaiming — 
 
 'Perry! Perry! they're safe! the brig is 
 coming in.' 
 
 Perry began to cry, for he was very weak ; 
 but the next instant he waved his handker- 
 chief, and cried, ' Hurrah ! hurrah !' 
 
 He was now sitting, wrapped up in shawls, 
 at Bell's bedroom window, and, pressing his 
 face close to the small panes, he strained his 
 eyes to see the " Lively Peggy ' come in, 
 absolutely devouring her with his eyes as 
 she neared the quay, with what appeared to 
 him majestic deliberation. He was the only 
 one in the house, for Bell, Hetty, and Betty 
 had all run off to the quay, and he could see 
 his mother, with less youthful haste, taking 
 the same direction. 
 
 ' There 's mamma,' he murmured to him- 
 self ; ' she longs to kiss Charles ; there s 
 Captain Spinks hobbling along with all his 
 might ; there 's Mr. Foxey with his hands 
 in his pockets. Mr. Craikie 's down there 
 
1 26 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 already; he's saying something to Bell, but 
 she doesn't attend to him. There *s Miss 
 Biddy! hurrah! There's Charles! hurrah! 
 hurrah ! How they are all shaking hands 
 and kissing. Oh, how I wish I was down 
 there ! When will they come up ? They 
 don't seem at all in a hurry. I wonder if 
 they know yet about my having the measles ? 
 Miss Biddy looks this way ; I '11 nod, but I 
 don't believe she can see me. She does, I 
 declare !' Here his head kept nodding like 
 a China mandarin's. ' Charles looks just 
 like a real sailor ; oh, you happy, happy 
 fellow!' 
 
 After what seemed to him an age of de- 
 lay, though it was not really so very long, 
 he could hear their cheerful voices drawing 
 nearer and nearer. 
 
 ' How those sisters love one another,' 
 thought he, as he watched the two younger 
 ones hanging on Biddy's arms. ' I think 
 it would have been the death of Bell if 
 Miss Biddy had gone to the bottom, but 
 somehow she was never so frightened as I 
 was.' 
 
 Then they reached the house, and he 
 heard them coming in. 
 
 'Mamma! Charles!' cried he as loudly 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 127 
 
 as he could, 'do come up here, or let me 
 come down stairs/ 
 Bell came up to him. 
 
 * O Bell, do let me go down ! I 'm sure it 
 won't hurt me — ' 
 
 ' Well, I don't believe it will, if I wrap 
 you up in a blanket. Here 's Biddy coming 
 up stairs/ 
 
 This was delightful ; and when Miss Biddy 
 kissed him and pitied him, and told him 
 about their rescuing the boat's crew and 
 setting them on shore, he was as happy as 
 could be. 
 
 ' Charles did have some adventures, then, 
 after all,' said he. ' I thought he would ! 
 How glad I am ; it s next to having them 
 myself. But I should not have known about 
 the barometer, nor have had one to take 
 with me, so it has all been for the best. I 
 should have enjoyed it all, as much as he 
 has done, perhaps more, but I could not 
 have been as useful.' 
 
 Miss Biddy exchanged an amused look 
 with Bell at the idea of Charles's usefulness, 
 but she would not hurt Perry by hinting at 
 his brother's general incapacity, except as far 
 as the barometer was concerned. On the 
 contrary, she said what a good thing it was 
 
128 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 when people had their wits about them, and 
 could turn their knowledge to account ; so 
 that Perry was under the pleasing delusion 
 that 'Charles promised to turn out a good 
 sailor. 
 
 Afterwards, when Miss Biddy went into 
 her own room, he heard her tell Bell about 
 her finding the tobacco under her pillow, 
 and drew his own conclusions from it ; but, 
 like a little Solon, kept them to himself. 
 
 They all drank tea together, and Perry, 
 carefully screened from draughts, had as 
 pleasant an evening as any, in spite of his 
 head aching ready to split ; but at length, 
 when Mrs. Bertie insisted on putting him to 
 bed, he was not an unwilling victim, especially 
 as he could not hear a word of what Charles 
 was saying in a low voice to Bell, and Miss 
 Biddy was talking of settling her accounts. 
 
 Perry, having now a mind at ease, rapidly 
 recovered, and was soon well enough to go 
 home ; but he returned daily to take his 
 lessons of Bell, between whom and himself 
 there now existed a tender affection, and 
 she would only have to bid him do a thing, 
 for him to strain every nerve to do it. In 
 fact there could hardly be a better boy ; and 
 as he found that it would have been much 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her. i 29 
 
 better for Miss Biddy and Charles if they 
 had been conversant with Portuguese, or 
 even more ready with French, he set himself 
 to get forward with his French lessons in a 
 way that was surprising. 
 
 Miss Biddy had been heard more than 
 once to say that it was less trouble to ship 
 and unship a cargo than to get accounts 
 settled afterwards ; and so she said again 
 after her trip to Portugal ; however, matters 
 were settled at last, and she found herself 
 comfortably into pocket thereby. Mean- 
 while a great change was preparing for 
 Charles ; for his uncle. Captain Bertie, 
 arrived at Portsmouth and summoned him 
 to join him immediately. Charles hardly 
 knew whether to be glad or sorry ; he cer- 
 tainly was more ready to obey orders than 
 he would have been before his trip to 
 Portugal, and having always a tolerable 
 opinion of his own competence, he had no 
 misgivings of the judgment that might be 
 formed of him on quarter-deck ; but still 
 his marine predilections were by no means 
 so strong as to make him hail with joy the 
 adoption of a sailors life as a profession, 
 nor did he like tearing himself away from 
 Bell. 
 
 I 
 
130 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' You will not see me again for two or 
 three years/ said he to her, plaintively. 
 
 ' Well then, you will be older, and I shall 
 be older when we next meet,' said she lightly. 
 
 ' That's as true as that grass grows and 
 the wind blows,' said Charles ; ' the question 
 is, how shall we meet next time ?' 
 
 ' A question that nobody can answer,' said 
 Bell. 
 
 ' But yet,' said Charles, ' I feel with regard 
 to myself, that in some things I shall be 
 found unchanged.' 
 
 ' What sort of things ?' said Bell. 
 
 ' In my regard for you, for instance.' 
 
 ' Oh, that 's as may be. Perhaps I shall 
 have done something to forfeit it,' said she, 
 laughing. 
 
 ' I hope not,' said Charles very seriously. 
 ' I only wish I were as sure of you as I am 
 of myself 
 
 ' Would it not have been more modest and 
 more polite to say, I only wish I were as 
 sure of myself as I am of you ?"' said Bell. 
 
 ' O Bell, don't be so cruelly unfeeling ! I 
 don't believe you care a straw for me.' 
 
 ' Well, I really have never considered what 
 I value you at, but it is best to take our 
 friends' estimation of us for granted.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 1 3 1 
 
 ' Shall you be sorry I am gone ?' 
 
 * Sorry for your getting a good appoint- 
 ment ? Why, that would be the reverse of 
 friendly ! ' 
 
 ' I mean, shall you miss me ?^ 
 
 ' Yes, I daresay I shall, a little. Not 
 enough to fret about, you know ; but — oh, of 
 course I shall miss you. So shall we all.' 
 
 ' Thank you. Bell, I do wish you would 
 give me one little, little lock of your hair ?' 
 
 'Most certainly not!' said Bell. 'What 
 ever can you be thinking of?' And she ran 
 away, laughing at him. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 HARLES thought Bell did not mean 
 to come back, and was troubled 
 at so abrupt a parting, but in a 
 minute or two she returned with 
 a small book in her hand, and said gravely, — 
 ' This will be more valuable to you than 
 a lock of hair ; and I hope you will keep it 
 for its own sake as well as mine. Good-bye ; 
 I wish you well/ 
 
 She shock hands with him and went away ; 
 and with this leave-taking he had to console 
 himself as he might. The present was a 
 small copy of Mason on ' Self-Knowledge,^ 
 on the fly-leaf of which she had written 
 ' From a Friend,' with his name and the date. 
 He did not exactly like her choice ; not 
 being sure whether it were a hint that he 
 vvas deficient in the knowledge in question. 
 
Miss Biddy F^^obisher, 
 
 133 
 
 ' How dull everything is, now Charles is 
 gone !^ said Perry wistfully. 
 
 ' Well, I daresay you do miss him a good 
 deal,' said Bell. ' The best way is to fill 
 your thoughts as much as you can with other 
 things. Here is a piece of cloth that will 
 make a famous sail for your brig.' 
 
 ' Oh, jolly ! How is it. Bell, you always 
 know just what I want ? When mamma 
 has a piece like this, she says it will do for a 
 shirt-sleeve.' 
 
 She smiled, and said, ' You want a thimble, 
 Perry ; you may have this old one. Sailors 
 should know how to mend stockings and 
 sew on buttons.' 
 
 At night, when the wind blew hard, he 
 said, ' This is rough weather for those at 
 sea, but Charley is not on board yet — what 
 a difference that makes ! I am sorry for the 
 others, but not anxious.' 
 
 Miss Biddy had found it a hopeless task 
 to induce her men to go to church when op- 
 portunity offered ; Coles caring for nothing 
 that was likely to be heard there, and Beale 
 averring that a chapter in the Bible was as 
 good as any church to him. She had her 
 doubts on this point, especially as he spelt 
 out a chapter with exceeding difficulty ; but 
 
1 34 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 as Hardsand was unfortunately singularly de- 
 ficient in the means of grace, she was some- 
 times at a loss what to say to him. One 
 Sunday evening she was much surprised to 
 meet the old man posting along, hymn-book 
 in hand, as if bent on church-going ; and on 
 her stopping to ask where he was bound, he 
 said, — 
 
 ' To the Bethel, to be sure, ma am. Don't 
 you know we have one ? Sure-Z^, it 's the 
 place where we get pure gospel.' 
 
 ' No, indeed, Beale, I never heard of it 
 before. Where is it ?^ 
 
 ' In Oyster Alley, mum, just over agin 
 the Hope and Anchor.'' Harry Lawes set 
 it afoot, beginning o' the winter, and it 's 
 just the thing for us. Oh, it 's convincing, 
 it is ! Only last Sabbath, an awful back- 
 slider was struck down, convicted of sin.' 
 
 ' Well, I don't exactly know what to think 
 of it,' said Miss Biddy dubiously. 
 
 ' Don't see as how you can, mum, since 
 you've never been there, nor even heard 
 of it.' 
 
 ' I Ve a good mind to go there now, Beale, 
 and see what it 's like.' 
 
 ' As for seeing, there 's little to see,' an- 
 swered he, ' and I don't say it '11 come up to 
 
Miss Biddy Frodisker. 135 
 
 your mark. There little to see and a good 
 deal to smell. Herrings and onions do pre- 
 vail uncommon, and likewise cheese. But 
 it 's not the smell nor the sight, it 's the 
 sound that allures us, — the sound of the 
 Gospel trumpet.' 
 
 ' Well, Beale, may not I like that sound 
 as well as you ?^ 
 
 ' You may, mum, and you mayn't. You 
 may like the trumpet well enough, but you 
 mayn't like the way it's blowed. Mr. 
 Borage will conduct the worship to-night, 
 and they do say he makes one's flesh creep.' 
 
 Miss Biddy stood undecided for a moment, 
 and then said, — 
 
 *Well, I think I shall hear what Mr. 
 Borage has to say.' 
 
 It was difficult to tell whether Beale was 
 pleased or not ; he fell off the path, and 
 would have dropped behind, but she said, — 
 
 ^ You first, you know the way.' To which 
 he replied, — 
 
 ' Cert'n'ly, mum,' and trudged in advance, 
 but still off the path. 
 
 Arrived at the corner of Oyster Alley, 
 Miss Biddy was eyed curiously and in most 
 instances recognised respectfully by divers 
 old seamen and their wives on their way to 
 
136 Miss Biddy Fivbisher. 
 
 the Bethel. And it was a good thing for her 
 that she did not in the least mind what 
 might be thought by the public of her erratic 
 course, for certainly it could not be hid. 
 Oyster Alley was, as Beale had hinted, redol- 
 ent of the fumes of dried and fried fish and 
 other strong-smelling comestibles. In lieu 
 of paving, it abounded in heaps of oyster- 
 shells half pounded into lime by being con- 
 stantly trodden on and stumbled over. 
 There were also strong smells of tobacco 
 and spirits : the small tenements, chiefly low 
 lodging-houses or shops in the general line, 
 were built without any uniformity, except 
 that they were uniformly mean, dark, and 
 ill-ventilated. Built on a steep slope, with 
 every facility for drainage that a good fall 
 could bestow, the perversity of the inhabi- 
 tants made them negligent of the advantage, 
 and their obtuseness made them indifferent 
 to the trickling black stream that was 
 checked here and there in its downward 
 course by an old hat or shoe. 
 
 Beale turned through a low doorway and 
 passage, across a poor court, and entered a 
 sort of warehouse, which, for the nonce, 
 served for the Bethel. Here Miss Biddy 
 was for a short time the observed of all 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 1 3 7 
 
 observers, but in a grave, furtive kind of 
 way, which was not very embarrassing. Pre- 
 sently a man in shabby black gave out a 
 hymn, and forthwith a great many strong 
 voices were about to burst into song, when 
 they were checked by the minister s saying, 
 ' Now I do earnestly entreat every one who 
 cannot utter these words from the heart to 
 be silent, as it would be mocking God with 
 a lie/ 
 
 This, in Beale's phraseology, brought them 
 short up ; a solemn pause ensued, as well it 
 might, and then one or two steady voices, 
 gradually joined by most others, swelled 
 forth in full, deep notes, — 
 
 ' I will believe, I do believe, 
 The Lord has pardoned me.' 
 
 Miss Biddy said afterwards that it really did 
 make her flesh creep. Then came prayer, 
 homely, sometimes too familiar, as it seemed 
 to her, but very earnest— then more singing 
 — the room getting hotter and hotter, the 
 singing louder and louder. As for Beale, he 
 swayed from side to side, keeping time with 
 his head, evidently in intense enthusiasm. 
 Then came the sermon ; and what was the 
 text ? ' The door was shut! It may be easily 
 imagined how an able, devoted man might 
 
138 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 preach on it. He began very quietly— you 
 might have heard a pin drop — very quietly, 
 but that did not last long. ' He rose as the 
 tide does/ said Beale afterwards, ' softly and 
 softly, till at last it lashes and roars.' When 
 it came to the roaring, a man in the centre 
 of the meeting, suddenly fell down on his 
 knees, overwhelmed with the thoughts pre- 
 sented to his mind, and cried in a thrilling 
 voice, ' I Ve lived too long in sin for God to 
 pardon me ! I feel I have sinned away my 
 day of grace !^ (Immense sensation.) ' Don't 
 believe it, old man, don't believe it!' cried 
 the preacher, and the sensation increased. 
 ' It is the devil who is putting these thoughts 
 into your head ; but he was a liar from the 
 beginning, and he is now trying to make you 
 doubt the willingness of God to save you.' ^ 
 
 He repeated to him the many encouraging 
 promises of God's word, amid many stifled 
 sobs and deep-drawn sighs, and at length the 
 broken-hearted man seemed comforted ; at 
 all events he regained his self-control. By 
 this time a fine invisible web of sympathy 
 seemed drawing them all together, and every 
 word the preacher uttered sank into the 
 heart. Miss Biddy's attention was almost 
 
 ^ Life of Henry Lyon, Alusician and Street Preacher, 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her, 139 
 
 painfully strained ; at length, some passing 
 allusion sent her thoughts off at a tangent, 
 and when she recovered possession of herself, 
 she found her head full of her drowning 
 father and his last cry for help and mercy. 
 Her eyes were blinded with tears. 
 
 It was quite dark when they left the 
 Bethel ; and, of course, Oyster Alley was 
 not illuminated with lamps of any descrip- 
 tion ; but more than one deep, kindly voice 
 said, ' This way, mum ; there 's a roughish 
 bit just here ; sheer off a bit, mum/ 
 
 Her sisters were wondering what had be- 
 come of her. She came in, fresh and glow- 
 ing from the keen night air, and a little 
 excited by what she had heard and seen. 
 
 ' I don't say it 's the best possible form of 
 worship, even for sailors,' said she, ' but I 'm 
 sure there's a great deal of power, and a 
 great deal of good in it.' 
 
 The way this Bethel had been opened was 
 rather noteworthy. One afternoon, a poor, 
 decent man with a harp on his shoulders, 
 accompanied by a neat, respectable-looking 
 woman, entered the town and took his stand 
 near the quay. A harp being a very un- 
 common instrument in Hardsand, a group of 
 bystanders speedily drew about him, and 
 
1 40 Miss Biddy Frobishe7\ 
 
 stood open-mouthed while he uncovered and 
 tuned his instrument. Instead of playing a 
 waltz or ballad, he began a hymn tune, and 
 sang, — 
 
 ' The Lord's my shepherd ; I '11 not want — ' 
 
 in a good barytone voice ; the woman pre- 
 sently joining her treble. The audience 
 increased ; he sang two or three hymns, and 
 then addressed the bystanders in a plain, 
 earnest way on the subject of their salvation. 
 One of them was Mr. Lawes, a shopkeeper, 
 who had been meditating the opening a 
 Bethel in his warehouse, and here seemed a 
 man likely to assist him. He stepped for- 
 ward and said, — 
 
 ' My friend, you are telling us of things 
 we would gladly hear more fully. My ware- 
 house is at your service, and all those who 
 like to hear you are welcome to come there 
 this evening at seven o'clock.' 
 
 And this was the institution of the Bethel ; 
 which continued thenceforth to flourish, al- 
 though it pleased Providence to remove the 
 inefficient pastor of Hardsand that winter, 
 and substitute an active, efficient minister in 
 his place. 
 
 It was a winter of little incident, unless as 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 141 
 
 concerning a heavy gale early in the new 
 year, in which many small craft foundered or 
 had their bulwarks stove in, their masts or 
 bowsprits carried away, and their sails torn 
 to ribbons. A large smack, running before 
 the wind under three-reefed mainsail and 
 storm-jib, was struck by a heavy sea which 
 carried away her bulwarks; and a few minutes 
 afterwards, a second huge wave came down 
 upon her like a mountain, with such force as 
 to lay her on her beam ends. The captain 
 and two men were washed overboard, and 
 only two lads were left on board, who were 
 with difficulty rescued by a boat's crew from 
 Hardsand. Before the vessel righted she 
 half filled with water, and her cabin-fittings 
 were washed to pieces. The captain and 
 his two men were seen no more. 
 
 On the following night, while the gale was 
 yet blowing with full power, an object was 
 visible only a short distance from the shore. 
 The tide being scarcely half in, the crew on 
 board the vessel were unable to run her in 
 on the sandy beach, and, being ignorant of 
 the locality, they turned her head to the 
 rock-bound northern side of the little bay. 
 The result was necessarily disastrous ; all 
 sail was hauled down, but in a few minutes 
 
142 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 the vessel became unmanageable, and drove 
 with fatal fury on the rocks. 
 
 All the seafaring population by this time 
 were on the look-out, and many of them 
 hastening to the cliffs. It was impossible to 
 launch a boat. The vessel had heeled over 
 and was rapidly breaking up ; the crew ap- 
 peared paralysed. Half-a-dozen seamen at 
 length reached the shore, on spars and by 
 swimming. They were instantly taken into 
 the cottages and supplied with dry clothing 
 and food. It was a Maltese barque of 400 
 tons, laden with Indian corn. The wreck 
 was taken in charge by the agent for Lloyds, 
 and, with the few articles saved, put up to 
 auction the next day. The rescued sailors, 
 all of them foreigners, were forwarded to 
 Portsmouth, all but one, who was too much 
 bruised and injured to move. 
 
 This man, whose name was Manuel, 
 lodged with Beale and his sister, by whom 
 he was most kindly treated. He could 
 speak broken English, and many an hour 
 did he hold forth on his nautical experiences 
 to Miss Biddy and Beale, who sometimes 
 understood him and sometimes not. 
 
 ' The longer one lives,' said Beale to Miss 
 Biddy, ' the more one feels the advantage 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 143 
 
 of knowing a mort of lang-iddges. We're 
 slow to believe it at first, and many's the 
 whipping a young gent gets afore he 11 take 
 kindly to his French and his Latin : but oh ! 
 the advantage it is to him arterwards ; even 
 if he be rather awk'ard with his fingers. 
 See what a rise Mr. Charles took out on us 
 with his Portugee ; and maybe he knows 
 summat of Maltee.' 
 
 Perry, who was standing by, stored up 
 this saying of his oracle's, and resolved to 
 apply himself more zealously than ever to 
 his lessons. So it is no wonder he got on, 
 though without either competition or com- 
 pulsory instruction. He was a very happy 
 little boy at this time, industrious, but by 
 no means overworked ; finding his greatest 
 recreations in things that had generally 
 something connected, however humbly, with 
 practical seamanship. To help to paint an 
 old boat, or even an old tub — was felicity to 
 Perry ; he put his whole soul into every 
 stroke of the brush, and now and then 
 stepped back to contemplate his work, with 
 the serene satisfaction of a Stansfield. 
 
 ' Bell, have you a little turpentine handy 
 I Ve smeared my trousers a very little bit, 
 and mamma said if I spoilt my clothes I must 
 
144 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 leave off painting. I should be sorry for 
 that, it is so jolly. Would jk^^^ like to come 
 and do a little bit ? If you would, you 
 shall.' 
 
 ' No, thank you, Perry, I 'm not so fond 
 of the nasty smell of paint, nor yet of spoiling 
 my clothes. There, I 've done the best I 
 can for you, but your mamma will smell it 
 out.' 
 
 ' Not if I keep in the open air a good 
 while, perhaps ?' said Perry doubtfully. 
 
 She shook her head and laughed. 
 
 Bell never missed an opportunity of in- 
 direct teaching. 
 
 ' Perry,' she said one day, when they were 
 on the beach together, ' I am going to give 
 you a navigation lesson/ 
 
 ' Hurra, Bell! now for it/ 
 
 ' On second thoughts, I shall give you a 
 resuscitation lesson/ 
 
 ^ What^s that ?^ 
 
 ' You shall know. Bring that log of wood 
 here/ 
 
 ' Well, here it is.' 
 
 ' That represents a body/ 
 
 ' A what ? ' said Perry, opening his eyes. 
 
 ' A drowned body/ 
 
 ' Quite dead ?' said he, awe-stricken. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 145 
 
 ' No, we will hope not. We are going to 
 try to bring him to. What shall we begin 
 with?' 
 
 ' I can't think.' 
 
 / There 's a pretty answer ! Much the 
 drowned man is obliged to you. I 'm glad 
 I 'm not him, that 's one thing.' 
 
 ' Yes, Bell, but what should be done ?' 
 
 ' Coles' grandfather would have said, Tie 
 him up by the heels, to let the sea-water run 
 out of his mouth." But recollect. Perry, that 
 is never on any account to be done.' 
 
 ' No, I should think not.' 
 
 ' Proceed we then. Here we behold the 
 insensible form of a shipwrecked mariner, 
 whom we will call Sam Sponge. Now then, 
 Peter, Bob, and Harry,' cried Bell with 
 sudden vivacity, addressing herself to sundry 
 imaginary individuals, ' run off as hard as 
 you can to bring dry clothes and blankets 
 from the nearest house. Joe, don't stand 
 stupidly staring, fetch some men to help us, 
 call for the doctor, bring him back with you, 
 and also some smelling-salts and snuff' 
 
 ' Snuff!' ejaculated Perry. 
 
 ' Now then. Perry, let us lift him very 
 gently, and turn him face downwards. Stay, 
 you must loosen his clothes first. Gently, 
 
 K 
 
1 46 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 gently ; now we '11 turn him over, putting 
 his right arm under his forehead to sup- 
 port it/ 
 
 ' But he hasn't an arm/ 
 
 ' This stick represents it. There, poor 
 fellow, his mouth is no longer full of water. 
 Wipe his lips with your handkerchief ; leave 
 his tongue a little outside his mouth. Now 
 we must try to restore breathing. What 
 shall we do ?' 
 
 ' I 'm sure I can't tell,' said Perry. 
 
 ' Sam Sponge has a poor chance of life 
 then,' said Bell. * Come, let me see if I can- 
 not do something for him. Let us turn him 
 on his side. Here comes the boy with the 
 snuff ; we '11 try him with a little. No, he 
 can't snuff it. Support his head a little. 
 We 11 try^ him with the salts ; we '11 tickle 
 his throat with a feather. No ; it's no use.' 
 
 ' Dead and gone,' said Perry. 
 
 ' No such thing,' said Bell. ' You wouldn't 
 like to be given up so soon. Dash some 
 water on his face.' 
 
 Perry ran off, and really fetched some, 
 which he dashed on the imaginary Mr. 
 Sponge. 
 
 ' That 's no good, seemingly,' said Bell. 
 ' Then, Perry, we must produce artificial 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 147 
 
 breathing. Now, attend very closely to my 
 directions, or we shall have Sam Sponge s 
 life to answer for. Let us again gently turn 
 him on his face ; take off your jacket, fold it 
 up, and put it under his chest. Now, we'll 
 roll him very gently on to his side, then 
 briskly back on his face, about fifteen times 
 in a minute/ 
 
 Perry thought this very good fun, and did 
 his best to ' fool her to the top of her bent,' 
 by imitating her feigned seriousness. 
 
 ' Do you know how this produces artificial 
 breathing. Perry?' said Bell, after they had 
 rolled Sam Sponge to and fro several times, 
 sometimes on one side, sometimes on the 
 other. 
 
 * No, I can't think,' said Perry. 
 
 ' By placing him on his chest, the weight 
 of his body forces the air out ; by turning 
 him on his side, the pressure is removed, 
 and the air enters in! 
 
 ' Oh, I see ! But will that bring a dead 
 man to life ?' 
 
 ' He's not dead, I tell you. At least we 
 won't give him up yet. His life may be 
 very valuable to his family ; or if not, it may 
 be very important to him to live a little 
 longer and repent of his sins.' 
 
148 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Oh, then, we won't give up yet/ 
 ' No, no, many a man has been restored, 
 after seeming dead for hours. Every time 
 he is turned on his face, press him gently 
 below the shoulder-bones, firmly and quickly. 
 If this doesn't do, we must try Dr. Sylvester's 
 method.' 
 
 'What is Dr. Sylvester's method ?' 
 
 ' Never mind, we shall not want it. See, 
 he 's beginning to breathe ! Give him a tea- 
 spoonful of warm water, somebody ! after- 
 wards a little warm brandy and water, still 
 with a spoon. Now, Perry, assist the sailors 
 to take off his wet clothes, and put on dry 
 ones. If you cannot manage that, roll him 
 in blankets.' 
 
 ' Oh, we '11 manage it,' said Perry, laugh- 
 ing. ' How are you, old Sponge } ' 
 
 ' Hush, he's in a very anxious state still,' 
 said Bell. ' We must rub him gently, and 
 apply hot bottles.' 
 
 ' Out on the sands ?^ 
 
 ' No; now we have brought him into the 
 nearest cottage. Tell all the idle people 
 to go away, he must have quiet and fresh 
 air. He has had enough brandy and wat6Br 
 now ; we have put him in bed, and tucked 
 him in. Well, Perry, do you think you 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 149 
 
 shall know now how to treat a drowned 
 man ?' 
 
 ' Yes, in a general way, but is that the 
 real way ?' 
 
 ' The real and best way ; but how much 
 do you remember of it ? ' 
 
 He laughed, and tried to recollect, but 
 made several blunders. 
 
 ' O you bad boy,^ said Bell, ' lie down on 
 the sand this minute and let me give you a 
 good rolling as if you were drowned/ 
 
 ' That will be no punishment, only fun,' 
 said Perry ; ' but this is good play. Bell, for 
 it has some use in it — hasn't it ? And if we 
 have it every day, I think I shall know it 
 quite well by the time I get a drowned sailor.' 
 
 ' Do you wish for one to practise on ? 
 What a shame !' said Bell. 
 
 ' What was Dr. Somebody's method, that 
 you spoke of just now ?' said Perry. 
 
 ' Oh, we will not puzzle ourselves with too 
 many methods at once ; that will do for 
 another time. I have it all at full length in 
 this crumpled piece of newspaper.' 
 
 ' Is where you found it 1 What a girl 
 you are !' cried Perry in admiration. 
 
 Afterwards she told him how the Emperor 
 Alexander of Russia had learnt the rules of 
 
1 50 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 our Humane Society, and applied them to a 
 poor Russian peasant who was supposed to 
 be drowned. Long after everybody else 
 gave him up for lost, the Emperor insisted 
 on persevering in their efforts ; and when at 
 length the poor fellow sneezed, the Emperor 
 said it gave him greater pleasure than any 
 sound he had heard in his life. 
 
 ' So you see, Perry, it is a good thing to 
 learn such things at our leisure, that we may 
 apply them when there is need.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Perry. Then, after a pause, he 
 squeezed her hand, and said very softly, — 
 ' If Captain Frobisher had been thrown 
 ashore where people knew these rules, he 
 might have been alive now, perhaps.' 
 
 ' Ah, don't speak of that,' said Bell very 
 sadly. ' He was never thrown ashore.^ 
 
 Perry was now looking forward with in- 
 tense pleasure to Miss Biddy's next trip, 
 which would be to Havre, for he was to be 
 her companion. She kept her word and took 
 him : it was a prosperous, uneventful voyage, 
 much enjoyed by every one on board, except 
 Coles, who was not fond of children, and 
 thought the young gentleman in the way. 
 Perry soon found this out, and attached 
 himself the more to Beale and Bob, who 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 were always glad of his company. Some- 
 times, in the still hour of evening, he would 
 suddenly raise his voice, sweet as a lark's, 
 and sing in such a joyous, wild kind of way, 
 without any particular words, that Miss 
 Biddy thought 'that boy is an angel!' and 
 Beale was almost ready to cry, seeing which, 
 Coles the unsympathetic was ready to tip 
 the child overboard. 
 
 They shipped a cargo of linseed, which 
 made a great dust as it was poured into the 
 hold. As Perry dusted himself with his 
 little handkerchief. Miss Biddy said, — 
 
 ' I suppose you think linseed nasty stuff .f^' 
 ' No,' said he, ' I think everything's inter- 
 esting that belongs to the — profession. What 
 a number of poultices it will make, to be 
 sure !' 
 
 Presently he observed, ' I wish Coles would 
 not scold Bob so. He has done nothing 
 wrong, and all the hard work is over ; we 
 have nothing to do just now but to run be- 
 fore the wind and enjoy ourselves.' 
 
 ' A sail flaps most violently in a dead calm,' 
 said Miss Biddy, ' and Coles is readiest to 
 quarrel when he has nothing else to do.' 
 
 ' Yes, I suppose that must be it,' said 
 Perry. 
 
152 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 As they approached Hardsand, their atten- 
 tion was drawn to a boat, some distance off 
 shore, in the stern of which, according to 
 Perry, sat Captain Spinks. Miss Biddy was 
 so intent on making him out, that she did 
 not immediately perceive the ' Alert' revenue 
 cutter rounding the point and bearing down 
 on the ' Lively Peggy/ A new revenue 
 officer named Hawke had lately been ap- 
 pointed, who was said to be uncommonly 
 sharp. 
 
 Apparently Beale was rather put out by 
 the approach of the cutter, for he called 
 twice very sharply to Coles, who seemed 
 troubled with sudden deafness. He was 
 obliged to hear at length, however, and 
 sullenly prepared to go aloft and make 
 some alteration directed by Beale in the 
 ^gg^ng. 
 
 As he unwillingly slung himself up, Perry, 
 who continued to hang over the side, plucked 
 Miss Biddy by the dress, and said in his 
 artless voice, clear as a bell, — 
 
 ' Please, will you tell me, Miss Biddy, 
 what that is, hanging low down at the side 
 of the brig ? almost touching the water ? It 
 wasn't there before.' 
 
 A heavy coil of rope fell from Coles' hand 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 153 
 
 on the poor little boy's head, and, for the 
 moment stunned him. 
 
 Coles! what did you do that for!' 
 cried Miss Biddy in indignation and grief, 
 catching Perry in her arms. ' Come down 
 this minute ; you Ve nearly killed him.' 
 
 ' Why now, was there ever such a nasty, 
 blackguardly thing done in this world !' 
 thundered Beale. 
 
 ' Let the brig follow her own course then,' 
 growled Coles, leaping down; 'just as if I 
 done it on purpose ! Little masters had 
 better hold by their mammas' aprons than 
 come aboard to be in everybody's way and 
 get men into trouble saying which he 
 hastily made to the spot whence Perry had 
 just been making his observations. Miss 
 Biddy and Beale regarded him with surprise 
 and displeasure, but at the same instant they 
 were boarded by a boat's crew from the 
 ' Alert ;' and the officer, slightly touching 
 his cap, said, ' By your leave, ma'am, we 
 guessed something of what was going for- 
 rard, and came alongside just in time,' with 
 an ironical smile. 
 
 * I can't tell what you mean,' said Miss 
 Biddy, who still had her arms round Perry. 
 ' You don't suppose I carry contraband ?' 
 
154 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' I do suppose though, there 's a pretty 
 heavy package of tobacco slung over your 
 brig's side/ said Hawke ; ' and, moreover, a 
 boat in the offing hovering to pick it up.' 
 
 ' Tobacco ?' cried Miss Biddy, thunder- 
 struck ; and, with a vengeful ' Now, Coles !' 
 she ran to the side and looked over to see — 
 where it was not. 
 
 * It^s gone !' cried Perry, with his hand to 
 his head, eagerly looking over, ' it was there 
 just before/ 
 
 ' Yes, it 's gone to feed the fishes, that is,' 
 said Hawke, grimly; ' but here's more be- 
 hind. What say you to these, ma'am ?' 
 ferreting out sundry packages from a dark 
 corner. ' Your own eyes will tell you, from 
 the way these are packed and stowed, with 
 ropes attached to the outer covering, that 
 they were meant to be thrown overboard.' 
 
 ' Well, I never !' ejaculated Beale. 
 
 ' No, you never — were caught before, 
 master !' said the revenue officer mockingly. 
 
 ' I ? I 'd no hand in it,' said Beale, ' I 'd 
 scorn such a dirty thing ; I wash my hands 
 of it.' 
 
 ' You 11 consider yourself under arrest, 
 though, all the same,' said Hawke, ' and you 
 too, Coles. I seize this vessel.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 155 
 
 Perry set his teeth closely together, and ^ 
 the tears came into his eyes. 
 
 ' O Coles/ said he piteously, ' why don't 
 you speak out, and clear Beale 
 
 ' A pretty thing to ask of a man,' said 
 Coles, hoarsely. ' You go along with 
 you !' 
 
 His look, black as thunder, was fiercer 
 than his words, and silenced the little boy, 
 who held Miss Biddy's hand fast clasped. 
 
 * Am / under arrest too?' said she with 
 outward contempt and real anxiety. 
 
 ' By your leave, ma'am, in consideration of 
 your known character and your sex, and the 
 unlikeliness that a woman, the cleverest 
 born, ever cotdd know what goes on aboard 
 her own vessel, I don't mean to restrict your 
 personal liberty.^ 
 
 'Well, Mr. Hawke, I 'm obliged to you for 
 saying so, circumstances considered, though 
 all Hardsand would be up in arms had you 
 attempted the opposite course ; but I am as 
 indignant as you can be at this attempted 
 fraud ; much more so, I am outraged, amazed ; . 
 for it was in absolute disobedience to my 
 orders, and my vigilance is such that I can- 
 not conceive even now how it has been 
 managed.' 
 
1 56 Mi:is Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Quite believe you, mum — impressive 
 warning — which will maybe induce you to 
 prefer the privacy of domestic life ashore. 
 Rather an expensive lesson to you, too, for 
 I expect you '11 lose your brig.' 
 
 Miss Biddy's face became deep red ; but 
 she only returned Perry's squeeze of the 
 hand, and said in a strongly controlled 
 voice, — 
 
 ' Never mind. Perry, my boy, it will all 
 come right, you '11 see.' 
 
 And in this comfortable state of affairs 
 the ' Lively Peggy' came ignominiously into 
 harbour, and her men were marched off 
 under guard, and Miss Biddy, with tears 
 that would start and need to be brushed 
 away, had to walk through the little crowd 
 of the sympathetic and the curious that 
 always attended her landing ; holding and 
 almost dragging Perry along, he looking 
 like a little hero at bay. 
 
 Bell and Hetty, as usual, came rushing 
 down with beaming faces, but they slackened 
 their pace directly they came in full view of 
 their sister, and approached her with sur- 
 prise and anxiety. 
 
 ' What 's the matter, Biddy ? has anything 
 gone wrong, dear ?' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 1 5 7 
 
 ' Only that the brig has been seized, with 
 contraband on board !' 
 They exchanged looks. 
 ' Oh ! then that's — ' 
 
 ' Hush, don't name names. It will all 
 come out. Justice must be done. Mr. 
 Hawke has had reason.' 
 
 They walked home sadly, almost in silence. 
 Perry felt his lot was cast in with theirs, 
 and that he bore his portion of unmerited 
 obloquy. It was grave and exciting, and 
 rather grand. 
 
 And such a nice tea as the girls had 
 spread ! And Mrs. Bertie was just on her 
 way down to meet her darling Perry. As 
 soon as they came up to her, they began 
 speaking very fast, and rather unconnectedly ; 
 it was a great relief. They all went in and 
 drew close together round the tea-table ; but 
 nobody could eat much, or notice what they 
 ate ; they were full of the one great trouble, 
 the seizure of the brig. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 EXT day the posture of affairs 
 was worse rather than better. 
 Mr. Craikie had commissioned 
 Miss Biddy to bring him over a 
 sofa and six chairs he had bespoken at 
 Havre. It seemed an odd place to send 
 to for upholstery; and so, perhaps, Mr. 
 Hawke, the revenue officer, thought, for 
 inspirited by the capture of 260 lbs. of 
 tobacco, he prosecuted his researches even 
 into the stuffing of the sofa and chairs, which, 
 to his glee, proved to be entirely stuffed with 
 tobacco and cigars. 
 
 Of course Mr. Craikie asserted the inno- 
 cence of a lamb, and of course nobody be- 
 lieved him. There were plenty to suspect 
 Captain Spinks, but there was nothing what- 
 ever to prove against him. Mr. Craikie 
 had the effrontery and bad taste to call on 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 159 
 
 Miss Biddy to talk over ' this sad business/ 
 but she cut him very short, and told him 
 she wished she had seen him farther before 
 she had undertaken to let his sofa and 
 chairs come aboard her brig. He assured 
 her, shrugging his shoulders, that nobody 
 could be more sorry than he was ; even 
 a breath of suspicion against a man in his 
 business was so damaging ; to say nothing 
 of the loss of his goods. 
 
 ' I should think so, indeed !' said Bell 
 abruptly. He gave her an inquiring look, 
 and prolonged it into a stare, thinking that 
 her raised colour made her even handsomer 
 than usual. 
 
 Mr. Craikie had never enjoyed the best 
 reputation, but smuggling had not hitherto 
 been actually brought home to him. There 
 was not one believer in his innocence now ; 
 some mocked, some pitied him, some were 
 honestly disgusted. 
 
 Though he found himself an unwelcome 
 visitor. Captain Spinks had not equally for- 
 feited the privilege of the entree. He took 
 up his lamentation for the loss of so much 
 good tobacco without disguise or shame. 
 
 ' All those pettifogging revenue officers, 
 mum, that deserve to be tarred and feathered. 
 
i6o 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 There's something corrupt in high quarters, 
 mum, that permits this mean peeping and 
 prying into private persons' affairs. Is not 
 an EngHshman's house his castle, mum ? 
 and if so, why not his brig ? Here are you, 
 an innocent lady, made an object of survel- 
 liance to Gov'ment, and actually taken up 
 before you are down, — boarded before you 
 can run your goods, — and is this proper 
 governmental conduct to a lady?' 
 
 ' I don't take shelter under my sex,' said 
 Miss Biddy. ' What 's wrong in a man is 
 wrong in a woman, whether smuggling or 
 anything else, and I think a lady who 
 smuggles lace or gloves, or, in fact, any pro- 
 hibited article, no matter how trifling, in- 
 fringes the laws just the same as a man who 
 smuggles tobacco/ 
 
 'Just the same, mum! I never heard a 
 thing clearer stated. And it so being that 
 we know any lady born would smuggle lace, 
 gloves, silks, or any trinkets whatsomever, 
 that pleased her fancy, without the least 
 hesitation or sense of wrong, why, it stands 
 to reason there is no wrong, mum ! Ladies 
 do it every day, and laugh at it. And as 
 you truly observe, what's not wrong in a 
 woman, isn't-wrong in a man.' 
 
^Miss Biddy Fro bis her. i6i 
 
 ' You Ve twisted my words and mistaken 
 my meaning, Captain Spinks/ 
 
 ' Beg pardon, mum, those was your very 
 own words, I appeal to these young ladies. 
 Was not my remark on them, the very 
 moment they were uttered, that I never 
 heard a thing better stated? What's good 
 for the goose is good for the gander, is sense 
 all the world over ; and when I find you, 
 mum, surprised at the force and extentua- 
 tion of your own words, you remind me of 
 a celebrated character in my early days, — 
 a gentleman in the pay of Gov'ment, who 
 spoke with great heat against smuggling at 
 some public meeting ; and was mopping his 
 face under the warmth of his emotions, when 
 a neighbour slyly said, Allow me to look 
 at your pocket-handkerchief — ha! as I sup- 
 posed! a Bandana!"^ 
 
 Bell and Perry laughed heartily at this 
 story, however little to the point, being 
 entertained by the racy roguery of his man- 
 ner ; and he, well pleased at their merriment, 
 nodded and smiled at them both, as much as 
 to say, ' You see I have taken the whip-hand 
 of her/ 
 
 ' It was all Coles' doing, / know,' said 
 Perry. 
 
 L 
 
l62 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, ^ 
 
 ' Not proven/ said Captain Spinks autho- 
 ritatively ; ' not proven. Did you see him 
 do it, young gentleman ?' 
 
 ' No ; but—' 
 
 ' No hit in the case. Not proven. You 
 must never go and say a man's guilty if you 
 can't prove it. That's against the English 
 constitution, as the Act directs. Remember 
 that all your life, I advise you.^ 
 
 Perry looked impressed, but mystified. 
 
 ' Look here now,' said Captain Spinks, 
 resolved to improve his advantage ; ' you 
 don't believe Beale done it, do you ? ' 
 
 'No, I 'm sure he didn't.' 
 
 ' There 's no sure in the case. You be- 
 lieve he didn't.' 
 
 ' Yes, that I do ! I 'm quite certain.' 
 
 ' Very well. And I'm quite certain Coles 
 didn't. Now, where are you ? What's 
 good for you, is good for me. If you may be 
 certain-sure, I may be certain-sure. That 's 
 law and reason, all the world over.' 
 
 Perry concluded that it was ; but he did 
 not give up Beale for all that. 
 
 After Captain Spinks was gone. Miss 
 Biddy sat painfully thinking. 
 
 'What's the matter, Biddy dear?' said 
 Bell. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 163 
 
 ' The matter is, what shall I do if the brig 
 is seized ?' said Miss Biddy. 
 
 ' Get a new one/ said Perry eagerly. 
 
 ' Easy to say, dear. Where 's the money ? 
 Besides,' added she after a pause, ' I don't 
 see the good of continuing in the trade, if 
 an honest person using the utmost vigilance 
 is liable to frauds like this.'' 
 
 ' But it was only Coles,' put in Perry, look- 
 ing up from his lesson-book. ' If you get rid 
 of him, it will all go right.' 
 
 Miss Biddy did not seem to attend to him ; 
 and Bell whispered, ' Mind your lesson. Perry 
 dear. Little boys can't understand affairs 
 like these.' 
 
 Perry thought they could ; but did his 
 best to obey orders. 
 
 Hetty suddenly said, with great determina- 
 tion, ' If your business is done up, Biddy, 
 ril the one to work. YouVe worked 
 hard for us this long while.' 
 
 ' Hetty ! that 's very nice of you,' said Miss 
 Biddy, brightening. ' But don't say I 've 
 been working for you, my dear ; I 've been 
 working to pay my father s debt.' 
 
 ' Yes, that as well as the other,' said Hetty, 
 ' but you Ve done both. And now I '11 have 
 my turn. I mean what I say.' 
 
164 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Hurra!' said Perry softly. 
 
 'It's not in the power of circumstances 
 to make us very unhappy/ said Miss 
 Biddy, ' when we are so united among our- 
 selves/ 
 
 No more came of Hetty's proposal for a 
 time, but she did not lose sight of it. Dur- 
 ing the early part of the year a great feeling 
 of lassitude and depression, not to say dis- 
 content, had come over her, accompanied by 
 a vain desire for change. Miss Biddy had 
 been sorely puzzled what to do with her ; she 
 thought she required rousing, but that it 
 must proceed from herself. Hetty fretfully 
 said she did not see how she was to rouse 
 herself ; she went through her daily round 
 already, and did everything as well as she 
 could. She had lost her pleasure in her 
 ordinary work ; what was it all for 1 and was 
 one day to go on like another all her life ^ 
 No, she didn't want a voyage ; the sea always 
 made her ill ; she didn't mean to complain of 
 anything ; she never did complain, but she 
 owned she was sick and tired of things as 
 they were. Miss Biddy tried a little scold- 
 ing, but that only made Hetty cry, so she 
 soon desisted from it, and rather regretfully 
 let things take their course. A journey to 
 
Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 
 
 165 
 
 London with a nobleman's housekeeper for 
 her only fellow-traveller, enabled Miss Biddy 
 to talk over her sister's case with her com- 
 panion, who seemed a good motherly woman. 
 Mrs. Mellon thought that the young person 
 wanted change of scene, of faces, and of 
 occupation. ' It was just so,' she said, ' with 
 Lady Harriet two years ago ; and, oh ! what 
 sums of money she cost my lord before she 
 came round ! Change of place was easy for 
 the great ; she was taken hither and thither, 
 and was always hankering for home ; and 
 what cured her after all ? why, an infant 
 school ! She got the lodge -keeper's and 
 coachman's children to come to her every 
 morning in the stone summer-house at the 
 end of the bowling-green, and used to teach 
 them first, and play with them afterwards, 
 till she forgot all about herself and quite re- 
 covered her health. And your sister might 
 do something like it — go out into a family, 
 and get something for her pains, even if 
 there 's no need for her to work ; we all find 
 plenty of uses for our money. Why, there 's 
 old Madam Grunow, getting quite past work, 
 and dozing while Lord Harry is learning the 
 multiplication table and saying his collect. 
 A nice, healthy, lively young person would 
 
1 66 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 be a deal better companion for him, and 
 teach him twice as much/ 
 
 Miss Biddy repeated the substance of this 
 to Hetty on her return ; and Hetty seemed 
 to think she should like well enough to be 
 with titled people, and hear a Lord Harry 
 say his collect ; but the fancy soon faded 
 away, and when her sister asked if she 
 should look out for a situation for her, she 
 declined, and said she knew nothing well 
 enough to teach — and had no mind for 
 teaching. 
 
 Now, Hetty s sudden resolution surprised 
 and pleased Miss Biddy, and she truly felt 
 what she said, ' It is not in the power of 
 circumstances to make us unhappy/ 
 
 Some weeks elapsed before the fate of the 
 brig was decided. When the parties were 
 examined, there was so much prevarication, 
 recrimination, and flat contradiction, and 
 such frequent use of the name of Master 
 Perry, that Master Perry himself was brought 
 forward, and gave his evidence with the 
 solemnity of a man of sixty. When he said 
 he had seen ' something heavy ' among the 
 linseed, and that Coles had said it was 
 ' ballast/ Coles growled, ' That I didn't !' 
 and Perry rejoined, ' You know, Coles, you 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 167 
 
 did!' with his blue eyes fixed firmly on 
 him. 
 
 The end of it was that Beale was cleared, 
 Coles was sentenced to imprisonment, and 
 as Miss Biddy s character testified highly in 
 her favour, she was not ruined by the for- 
 feiture of her vessel ; but as the Commis- 
 sioners of Customs had reason to believe 
 this was not the first evasion of the law of 
 which it had been the instrument, they im- 
 posed a fine of ^200 before releasing it from 
 detention. 
 
 Miss Biddy, without one word of com- 
 plaint, took instant measures to sell out as 
 much stock as would cover the penalty, and 
 thus went the greater part of her savings 
 towards paying her father's debt ! No mat- 
 ter ; the ' Lively Peggy ' was hers once 
 more ; she could trade with it again, and 
 experience would make her wiser. Instead 
 of trying, by sleepless vigilance, to keep 
 a suspicious character from offending, she 
 would take care to have no one on board 
 that needed suspicion. In place of Coles 
 she took Joel Sprent, and began to make 
 preparations for a fresh trip. 
 
 The day after the fate of the brig was 
 known, Mr. Craikie called on Miss Biddy, 
 
i68 
 
 Miss Biddy F^^obisher. 
 
 and after some beating about the bush, 
 expressed his hope that the fine would not 
 much inconvenience her. 
 
 ' Of course it will inconvenience me/ she 
 said; 'but I make no complaint. It would 
 inconvenience me much more to do any- 
 thing dishonourable or shabby/ 
 
 ' I am glad to hear it will not straiten you/ 
 said Mr. Craikie, ' because — in fact, my ob- 
 ject in calling on you was to say how glad 
 I should be to advance the money to you, 
 if it would be of the least convenience/ 
 
 ' Thank you, Mr. Craikie, but there is no 
 occasion for it. I can draw out the money 
 without being beholden to any one ; and I 
 am never fond of laying myself under pecu- 
 niary obligations.' 
 
 ' But, to an old friend like me — a sincere 
 well-wisher,' pursued Mr. Craikie, who 
 would not immediately relinquish the sub- 
 ject ; and Miss Biddy wondered how long 
 and strongly his cheap generosity would 
 have been pressed on her, had he not learnt 
 at the outset that she was in no want of it. 
 
 Various little economies were agreed on 
 between the sisters, though they would make 
 a very trifling set-off against the fine. But 
 Miss Biddy was really straitened for ready 
 
Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 1 69 
 
 money just then, and as she was earning 
 none it was expedient to save. 
 
 At this juncture she received a letter 
 from Mrs. Mellon, the housekeeper, whose 
 noble master had just succeeded to a mar- 
 quisate and splendid estate. Lord Harry 
 had been taken out of his German gover- 
 ness's hands and put under a preceptor, who 
 had succeeded, in an incredibly short time, 
 in putting so much knowledge into his head 
 that he had nearly driven all the sense out 
 of it. To save the child from pressure on 
 the brain, absolute rest was prescribed ; he 
 was to be sent to a quiet country seat under 
 charge of some unexceptionable young per- 
 son, who should do nothing but play with 
 him and amuse him. 
 
 ' On this being made known to me,' pur- 
 sued Mrs. Mellon, ' I thought at once of 
 your sister, and named her to my Lady, who 
 puts such confidence in me that my recom- 
 mendation always goes for much. In short, 
 she is willing to make trial of Miss Hetty, 
 and if she prove suitable, to give her twenty- 
 five pounds a year.' 
 
 This put Hetty into a great flutter, and 
 her sisters were almost equally stirred by it. 
 Miss Biddy thought the opening too good 
 
1 70 Afiss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 to be rejected ; Bell did not at all like the 
 idea of losing Hetty ; but Hetty herself was 
 anxious to go, and did not seem to lay much 
 stress on the separation. So, after debating 
 the matter throughout the day, a grateful 
 acceptance was forwarded by the evening 
 post ; and Hetty's outfit was immediately 
 taken in hand. 
 
 Bell, since she could not keep Hetty from 
 going, did her best to assist her with her 
 ready fingers, and smothered many a sigh 
 as she silently worked. There seemed a 
 dead weight on her heart ; she could not, 
 for pity, tell Hetty of it, for she did not wish 
 to cloud her prospects for an instant ; and 
 she got no adequate sympathy from Biddy, 
 who said, — 
 
 ' We have been casting about for a change 
 for her, and here is one free of expense. Not 
 only that, but I am relieved of her charges 
 just when I am obliged to draw in ; not only 
 that, but she will have a nice salary, that will 
 be very acceptable, and give her a comfort- 
 able sense of usefulness. She will have a 
 wealthy home and a light task.' 
 
 All very true, and Bell could not for shame 
 dwell much on her own loss, except in her 
 heart. But with Biddy on the point of 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 1 7 1 
 
 another trip, the prospect before her was 
 dull and lonely enough ; and though Biddy 
 said, ' You must be a good deal with Mrs. 
 Bertie,' and Mrs. Bertie said how glad she 
 should be to have her. Bell felt that she 
 would not make up to her for the loss of 
 her sisters. 
 
 One morning, while they were all at needle- 
 work, Mr. Craikie called ; and though he 
 begged he might not disturb the young ladies, 
 they gathered up their work and left him 
 with Miss Biddy. 
 
 ' I have called unseasonably, I 'm afraid,' 
 said he ; 'you are all so busy.' 
 
 ' We are always busy,' said Miss Biddy. 
 ' Women generally find plenty to do.' 
 
 ' Report says Miss Hetty is starting on a 
 visit,' said Mr. Craikie. 
 
 ' She is going from home,' said Miss Biddy, 
 biting off her thread. 
 
 ' For some time, may I ask ?' said Mr. 
 Craikie. 
 
 ' Quite uncertain,' was her answer. 
 
 * Miss Bell will feel lonely in her absence,' 
 he resumed, after a pause. 
 
 ' Bell will miss her, no doubt, but she will 
 be constantly with Mrs. Bertie.' 
 
 ' My present subject is Miss Bell,' pursued 
 
172 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 he, with a Uttle hesitation. ' I may say, not 
 only my present subject, but object. So 
 acute an observer as yourself may have re- 
 marked before this that I have long had 
 her in view.' 
 
 ' Well, you certainly sit opposite to her in 
 church,' said Miss Biddy. 
 
 ' To survey her is to admire her,' said Mr. 
 Craikie ; ' and, in short, I don't hesitate to 
 say to you, Miss Frobisher, that my inten- 
 tions are serious.' 
 
 ' Intentions, Mr. Craikie !' 
 
 ' Matrimonial intentions. Miss Biddy. I 
 intend to offer her my hand and heart.' 
 
 ' You cannot be serious ! a girl scarcely 
 eighteen.' 
 
 ' Oh, pardon me, I 'm quite serious. Her 
 age is no objection ; I think her quite old 
 enough.' 
 
 ' But the disparity, Mr. Craikie !' 
 
 ' Well,' said he, evidently hurt, ' I don't 
 think that would be cast at me in any other 
 quarter. Many people would consider me 
 in what is called the prime of life — at any 
 rate the meridian. There was a greater 
 disparity. Miss Frobisher, between Miss 
 Bell's mother and your father.' 
 
 ' The cases are so different.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobishcr. 1 73 
 
 ' In what material point ? Your step- 
 mother was young and handsome ; Miss Bell 
 is young and handsome. Your father was a 
 widower, I am a widower. He wasn't over 
 rich, I am very well to do. He was between 
 forty and fifty ; I am scarce forty. And as 
 for looks. Miss Biddy — comparisons are 
 odious, but he was bald and weather-beaten, 
 and / — look at least the gentleman. I be- 
 lieve most would give me the advantage.' 
 
 Miss Biddy did not, but there was no need 
 to tell him so. She began, ' This subject is 
 so unexpected ;' but it was not. She began 
 again, ' This subject is Bell's affair rather 
 than mine.' 
 
 ' Precisely,' said Mr. Craikie. ' May I 
 solicit your kind intervention ?' 
 
 ' To tell you the truth, I Ve no mind to 
 part with her.' 
 
 ' Oh, let us hope that reluctance will be 
 overruled,' said he in a studiously modulated 
 voice. 
 
 ' No, I do not think it ; at least for some 
 years.' 
 
 ' But you yourself said it was her affair, 
 not yours.' 
 
 'Just so; but — I don't believe you will 
 find her inclined to listen to you.' 
 
174 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Some other preference/ said he, with a 
 sharp, quick look. 
 
 ' Nothing of the kind ; I don't beheve she 
 wishes to change her condition at present/ 
 
 ' Ladies always say that at first,' rejoined 
 he. ' Just give me the opportunity of put- 
 ting it to herself. I surely may claim that 
 much 
 
 ' Surely. If you wish to speak to her now, 
 I Avill send her to you. Only don t be much 
 disappointed if she does not accede to your 
 wishes.' 
 
 ' We 11 see about that,' said he, drumming 
 on the table. She left him, and went in 
 search of Bell. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 can't go down — I shant/ said 
 Bell, with disgust, when she 
 heard what was expected of 
 her. 
 
 Hetty looked extremely amused ; and 
 Miss Biddy, smiling, said, ' But you must. 
 I said you would. It must come, soon or 
 late, and you had better have it over/ 
 
 ' I 'd sooner have a tooth drawn,' said 
 Bell. 
 
 ' Nonsense ; I 'm sure you wouldn't. And 
 the longer you put it ofif, the worse it will 
 be. Mr. Craikie will think you are dressing 
 for him.' 
 
 ' Rather than that, I '11 go at once,' said 
 Bell, starting up. 
 
 ' Ay, do. Now mind, Bell, what you say.' 
 
 ' Of course I shall say No.'" 
 
 'Some girls have said ''No" before they 
 
176 Miss Biddy F7^obisher, 
 
 were asked/ said Miss Biddy mischievously. 
 ' Mind you don t do that/ 
 
 ' Of course I shall not/ 
 
 ' What I was going to say to you was, 
 don't say No" unkindly or rudely. You 
 may be equally firm, and still civil/ 
 
 ' I 'm always civil/ 
 
 ' And he is paying you a sort of a com- 
 pliment — what he means and thinks as such/ 
 
 ' Why, Biddy, he 'd better have proposed 
 to you! 
 
 ' Hush ! remember walls have ears. Come, 
 don't waste time in nonsense. Remember 
 our house is his, and don't affront him.' 
 
 ' Oh, well, if you care for the house more 
 than for me — ' said Bell, very gloomily ; and 
 she went down with a cross expression on 
 her face, which it very seldom wore. If 
 Mr. Craikie had been a physiognomist, he 
 would have seen, the moment she opened 
 the door and stood before him, that the 
 fates were against him ; but he was so 
 pre-occupied with imagined success, that he 
 only thought she looked very handsome and 
 rather ' high,' a kind of dignity not unsuitable 
 to the circumstances, and which became her 
 well. 
 
 He rose, made a little bow^ and attempted 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 1 77 
 
 to place a chair for her ; but she took another, 
 and looked at him with gravity. 
 
 The time had not seemed long to Mr. 
 Craikie while left alone, for he had been 
 running over various forms of address, any 
 one of which he thought quite adapted for 
 the purpose ; but now not one of them came 
 to mind. He was obliged to scrape his 
 throat and flick himself with his glove ; and 
 then he said, ' I 'm sure I 'm obliged to you, 
 Miss Bell, for this attention.' 
 
 ' What attention ?' said Bell. 
 
 ' Your complying with my wish for an 
 interview.' 
 
 ' I complied with my sister s wish,' said 
 Bell drily. ' She told me you had something 
 to say, so I came to hear what it was.' 
 
 If any speech would have cooled a man's 
 ardour, this would ; but Mr. Craikie was not 
 repelled. 
 
 ' I have already disclosed my intentions 
 to Miss Frobisher,' said he, ' and she referred 
 me to you.' 
 
 * What intentions do you mean.^' said 
 Bell, colouring very red, to her intense dis- 
 gust, since it prevented her seeming uncon- 
 scious. 
 
 ' Your confusion assures me that you 
 
 M 
 
1 78 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 guess,' said he, with an air of gallantry that 
 made him more odious in her eyes than 
 ever. ' I lay myself and fortune at your 
 feet/ 
 
 ' Pray do nothing so uncalled for, Mr. 
 Craikie,' said Bell. ' We are very well off, 
 thank you, and want no fortune but our own.' 
 
 ' You will misconstrue me,' said he, draw- 
 ing nearer to her ; ' but, in plain English, 
 since you will have it so, I wish you to be 
 my wife.' 
 
 'Your wife!' repeated Bell, flashing fire 
 at him with her black eyes. ' Why, you 've 
 had one already.' 
 
 ' I hardly need be reminded of that,' said 
 he ; ' but time repairs all losses, and — your 
 own father married twice.' 
 
 ' I had no voice in that matter,' said Bell, 
 ' but I have in this ; and — I am not partial 
 to widowers.' 
 
 This was an objection which occurred to 
 her on the spur of the moment. 
 
 ' Oh, well, I only want you to be partial 
 to 07ie widower,' said he lightly. * Indeed 
 that 's all I could allow of I 'm very exclu- 
 sive on delicate matters.' 
 
 ' I can't in the least see what that is to 
 me,' said Bell. 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her, 179 
 
 ' The plain question is — here am I, offering 
 you my hand and heart, and — will you have 
 me ?' 
 
 * Most certainly not/ said Bell, rising. 
 ' Why, Mr. Craikie, only think of our ages ! 
 I am young enough to be your daughter.' 
 
 ' Eighteen is a very pretty age,' said Mr. 
 Craikie, ' and I assure you I think nothing 
 of the disparity.' 
 
 ' But / do,' said Bell, ' and I must say 
 that if you wanted any one of us, I wonder 
 you overlooked Biddy.' 
 
 ' Come, come. Miss Bell, you can be very 
 smart, and a little stinging ; but I consider 
 that I have as much right as any man living 
 to look for a little youth and beauty. Miss 
 Biddy is a leetle gone off' 
 
 * You wound me by speaking disrespect- 
 fully of my sister,' said Bell, ' and I think 
 we had better end this uncomfortable inter- 
 view. I thank you for what are doubtless 
 your good intentions, and beg leave to 
 decline them.' 
 
 She then turned to go ; but he placed 
 himself before her, and said, — 
 ' Your objections ?' 
 
 ' I don't see that I am obliged to state 
 any,' said she impatiently. 
 
I So Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Pardon me ; I think, in common courtesy, 
 I may claim them/ 
 
 ' Oh, very well, Mr. Craikie,' Bell said 
 rapidly. ' I dislike talking of marriage, I 
 don't like widowers, I don't like your age, 
 and I don't like you.' The moment she had 
 said it she felt she had been rude ; but she 
 was in no humour to retract or soften. 
 
 Stiffening into rigidity, he looked keenly 
 at her for a moment ; and then said in a 
 constrained voice, — 
 
 ' Are those your real feelings, Miss Bell ? 
 are those your unalterable sentiments?' 
 
 ' My unalterable sentiments ; my real feel- 
 ings,' said Bell. 
 
 ' Then I 'm sorry I 've wasted my time,' 
 exclaimed he, trying vehemently to force 
 his hands into his new gloves, ' and I 
 wish you may not repent it. But you will 
 — I know it as well as that you stand there. 
 You '11 never have such an opportunity again 
 — never! Who are you, Miss Bell, permit 
 me to ask, that can command good offers at 
 your wish ? There is not a single eligible 
 match for you in the neighbourhood! More 
 than that — if there were dozens of young 
 men of the kind your fancy paints, you 
 might look and long for them in vain, for 
 
Miss Biddy Frobiske?^. 1 8 1 
 
 they 'd never have you, because you haven't 
 a penny ! It is not every affluent man, I 
 can tell you, that is ready to please his eye 
 at the expense of his purse ; and that 's 
 what I Ve just had an escape of, madam ! 
 You 11 probably die an old maid, along 
 with your sisters, for all your good looks ; 
 and you '11 remember my words and regret 
 their fulfilment ! — I wish you a very good 
 morning !^ 
 
 Purple with passion, and almost inarticulate 
 in his utterance, he stumbled over the foot- 
 stool and hurried out of the house ; swinging 
 down the gravel walk, and banging the little 
 white gate after him. Miss Biddy and 
 Hetty who had heard his raised tones, and 
 leant over the banisters to catch something 
 of what he was saying, ran down to Bell 
 directly he was gone, and found her white 
 and cold with emotion. 
 
 'What an escape!' were her first words ; 
 and directly she spoke, she began to cry. 
 
 ' Never mind, dear,' said Miss Biddy 
 soothingly. 
 
 'What in the world did he say.^' cried 
 Hetty. 
 
 ' At first he was as fulsome and sleek as 
 ever he could be ; but directly I gave him 
 
l82 
 
 Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 
 
 my plain answer, he threw off the mask and 
 showed himself in his true colours. Oh, 
 what a bad nature that man has ! Biddy, 
 you would not have me in his power ?' 
 
 ' Certainly not,' said Miss Biddy. ' I only 
 wished to avoid making an enemy of him, if 
 possible.' 
 
 ' It was not possible, Biddy. He would 
 have been our enemy soon or late. He is his 
 own enemy. Such bitter, taunting things he 
 said ! They didn t hit the mark, that 's one 
 comfort ! Think of his aiming to vex me 
 by saying I should die an old maid !' 
 
 ' So low of him !' said Hetty. 
 
 'Just as if I should mind it!' said Bell. 
 'Just as if I thought a woman's remaining 
 unmarried made her contemptible ! I think 
 just the reverse. I think it is the weak, 
 silly creatures who marry for a position, or 
 just because they cannot say No,'' that are 
 contemptible.' 
 
 ' You are over-exciting yourself,' said Miss 
 Biddy. ' He was disappointed and angry, 
 and said what came uppermost. I wonder 
 you mind it so.' 
 
 ' I didn't mind it a bit till he dragged you 
 and Hetty in, and said I should be an old 
 maid along with my sisters.' 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her, 183 
 
 Biddy burst out laughing. 
 
 *Just as if he could tell!' said Hetty, 
 annoyed. ' Perhaps none of us will be/ 
 
 ' He said there wasn't another match for 
 me/ said Bell. 
 
 ' And that is not your fault, surely,' said 
 Biddy. 
 
 ' How does he know you will always be 
 here, any more than I shall ?' said Hetty. 
 ' Perhaps jy^^r change may come soon.' 
 
 ' I don't want a change,' said Bell, sighing. 
 ' I want nothing but to go on comfortably 
 just as we are, — or just as we were before 
 you settled to go away. Now we are once 
 beginning to scatter, I dont suppose we 
 shall ever be a united family again.' 
 
 ' My dear Bell,' said Miss Biddy, ' do, pray, 
 shake off your low spirits, or we shall all have 
 the dismals.' 
 
 ' So I will, then,' said Bell. And by a 
 violent effort, she turned her attention to the 
 dress she was making for Hetty ; and in a 
 little while was able to think of it and of 
 other indifferent things without any effort 
 at all. 
 
 The next time she met Mr. Craikie, she 
 looked down with uncomfortable conscious- 
 ness, and thereby escaped seeing his rude, 
 
1 84 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 fixed stare. The same afternoon, Miss Biddy 
 received a curt, formal note from him, an- 
 nouncing that he was going to raise her rent. 
 
 'There, girls!' said she, throwing it to 
 them, ' that's what comes of BelFs declining 
 to be Mrs. Craikie.' 
 
 'I'm very sorry, Biddy dear,^ said Bell, 
 ' but I 'm sure you would not have liked 
 such a brother-in-law.' 
 
 ' No, I don't think I should ; but really 
 this rise in the rent is an awkward difficulty, 
 and quite unreasonable.' 
 
 ' Revengeful,' said Hetty. 
 
 ' Whatever the motive may be, we must 
 take it or leave it.' 
 
 'Til pay the difference, Biddy !' 
 
 ' You, child, out of your twenty-five pounds 
 a year ? Very likely you will need to spend 
 it all on yourself ; and I don't know that 
 these grand folks pay their dependants quar- 
 terly.' 
 
 ' Dear me, I hope they do !' said Hetty. 
 
 ' I hope so too,' said Bell. ' Otherwise 
 they will be very shabby. Why should rich 
 people have credit that we don't allow poor 
 ones ?' 
 
 ' Because they are rich,' said Biddy. ' Hav- 
 ing plenty, we conclude they can be trusted.* 
 
Miss Biddy Frobishe7\ 185 
 
 ' Money and trustworthiness are different 
 things though/ said Bell. 
 
 ' Indeed they are/ said Biddy. ' How- 
 ever, the grand people Hetty is going to are 
 rich, and trustworthy too, so she need not be 
 afraid of her salary, though she may not get 
 it every three months.' 
 
 ' How curious it will be to say, My Lord,'' 
 and Your Lordship,'' to a little boy of six 
 years old,' said Hetty complacently. 
 
 ' Perhaps they will dispense with it.' 
 
 ' Oh, I hope not' 
 
 Mrs. Bertie here came in, and on hearing 
 that Mr. Craikie had raised the rent, and 
 considerably too, she called it immoderate, 
 and said it was mean and shabby of him — 
 only done out of spite. 
 
 ' Don't give in to it,' said she, ' don't yield. 
 He won't get that price of anybody else.' 
 
 ' But what are we to do for a house .^' said 
 Miss Biddy. 
 
 ' What do you want with one ? Yester- 
 day it was a burthen to you. Hetty is going, 
 you are going, you do not like leaving Bell 
 in it by herself, nor locking it up.' 
 
 ' But we must have some place to hold 
 our things, and we must have a home when 
 I come back.' 
 
1 86 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 ' A place for your things may easily be 
 found. Smithson's two rooms would hold 
 them all. Lock them up there, and leave 
 Bell with me till you return. Tke7t you can 
 look about for a little house about the size 
 of Mary Gray's.' 
 
 ' That would be a great come-down/ said 
 Hetty. 
 
 ' I don't care for the come-down, much/ 
 said Miss Biddy. ' I care for paying my 
 way without incessant wear and worry. A 
 house is a great burthen when it eats up 
 half one's income — which this would, on Mr. 
 Craikie's terms.' 
 
 ' You 'd feel so stuffy, Biddy, in Mary 
 Gra/s !' 
 
 ' Besides, her house is not in the market.' 
 
 ' No, but it will be when she marries,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie. 
 
 ' What shall I do said Miss Biddy, after 
 a pause. 
 
 ' Don't give in to Mr. Craikie,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie. 
 
 * No, don't,' said Bell, stoutly. 
 
 Miss Biddy looked wistfully from one 
 sister to another. 
 
 ' If I write him a carefully worded letter, 
 perhaps he will come round/ 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 1 8 7 
 
 ' Men never come round, Biddy. At least 
 Mr. Craikie won't.' 
 ^Well, well try/ 
 
 So she set about her letter, and they were 
 all silent while she was writing it. 
 
 ' What have you said, Biddy V 
 
 ' Dear Sir, — I much regret that you 
 propose raising the rent of this house to a 
 sum which will prevent my renewing my 
 lease. I think, on consideration, you will 
 see it is beyond its market value. Some 
 addition, in proportion to my means, I should 
 be happy to pay.'' ' 
 
 ' It will be of no use,' said Mrs. Bertie. 
 
 Nor was it. Mr. Craikie replied he was 
 sorry to disoblige Miss Frobisher, but that 
 in fact he wanted to have the house in his 
 own hands, and did not therefore regret that 
 she declined to renew her lease. 
 
 ' What a dog in the manger !' said Hetty. 
 ' What can he want with two houses ? ' 
 
 ' He doesn't want two houses ; he wants 
 to vex us. And it does vex us. But never 
 mind, girls. We chiefly care for the house 
 for family reasons. Yoti will have homes of 
 your own, soon or late, in spite of Mr. 
 Craikie s opinion ; and my real home is the 
 
1 88 Miss Biddy Fr obis her. 
 
 brig. I care much less for the house than 
 for the Lively Peggy/' ' 
 
 She at once engaged two rooms to ware- 
 house her goods ; and by the time quarter- 
 day arrived, the furniture was moved into 
 them and the house-key sent to Mr. Craikie. 
 Hetty had started for Warrenne Castle, 
 Bell had taken refuge with Mrs. Bertie, and 
 Miss Biddy set sail on a new trip. Just 
 before she did so, she received through Mr. 
 Foxey a bill for dilapidations. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 HE has a fair wind/ said Perry, 
 looking up into Bell's face, as 
 they turned from watching the 
 brig, ^ but somehow she does 
 not seem to start as cheerfully as usual/ 
 
 ' No, she does not,' said Bell, ' but perhaps 
 all may come right, nevertheless. He 
 that now beareth good seed, and goeth 
 on his way weeping, shall doubtless come 
 again with joy, and bring his sheaves with 
 him." ' 
 
 ' And Miss Biddy has seed on board,' 
 said Perry, ' and she didn't quite cry, though 
 her mouth twitched a little.' 
 
 ' Perry, you must be a wonderfully good 
 boy while she is away, and make up to me 
 for her loss.' 
 
 ' I '11 try.' 
 
 ' Run on, now, and look for some shells. 
 
I go Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 I would rather sit still a little while and 
 think my own thoughts/ 
 
 He nodded and ran off, and she sat down 
 on an old mast. Her thoughts were vague 
 and melancholy. Life did not seem to her 
 a very happy thing. What was it made up 
 of ? Work, or want of work, useless longings 
 for change, or unexpected and unpalatable 
 changes, no great events, but plenty of little 
 disagreeables, longings and anxieties for the 
 absent, that made the present seem impor- 
 tunate and uninteresting. But God gives 
 us this life ; and when it lies on us like a 
 weight, we may only be too thankful it does 
 not crush us down ; at times it is joyous and 
 gladdening enough ; and oh, how it rises in 
 value when we are likely to lose it ! 
 
 Bell undertook her daily round and com- 
 mon task with steady resolution ; her life 
 might be joyless, but she would not let it be 
 useless. ' I am not making money, like 
 Hetty,' she thought, 'but through Mrs. 
 Bertie's generous kindness I am saving 
 money— saving Biddy the expense of my 
 keep. I have great need to be very grateful 
 to Mrs. Bertie, and to be as useful and 
 pleasant to her as I can.' 
 
 She was very useful and very pleasant to 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 191 
 
 her, and Mrs. Bertie found herself amply 
 rewarded for her genuine kindness. Perry 
 got on better than ever, for he was reaping 
 advantage from Bell all day long, and she 
 said she would not change him for a dozen 
 Lord Harrys. 
 
 'No, to be sure,' said Perry, laughing, 
 ' because then you would have to teach 
 twelve instead of one.' 
 
 Mrs. Bertie and Bell had long talks after 
 Perry went to bed, and Bell was the con- 
 fidante of her early troubles and struggles. 
 She was touched with the story of her love- 
 match, the details of which she now heard 
 for the first time ; and she liked to hear all 
 her friend could tell of the Berties — at 
 second-hand, for Mrs. Bertie had seen none 
 of her husband's family. Old Sir Peregrine 
 seemed from her account the incarnation of 
 family pride and cold-hearted obstinacy. 
 Hugh Bertie, the clergyman, appeared a 
 kind of modern George Herbert; but she 
 spoke of Captain Peregrine Bertie as very 
 severe. 
 
 ' Charles says there is no pleasing him,' 
 she said. ' He cannot get on with his uncle 
 at all. But I tell him to put up with as 
 much as he can, for it is the only line in 
 
192 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 which his uncle can or will help him. Poor 
 Charles, he is not fond of the sea. But we 
 are too poor to yield to likes and dislikes. 
 People talk of ruling passions ; but many of 
 our greatest men have distinguished them- 
 selves in pursuits that were by no means 
 their own choice. If we were all to follow 
 our own bents, this would be even a stranger 
 world than it is. Ask boys, What would 
 you like to be ? — it 's extraordinary what odd 
 answers they will give you. One would 
 like to ride the winning horse, one to be an 
 actor, one to be a keeper of wild beasts, or 
 to drive four-in-hancl.' 
 
 They always thought differently on this 
 point — Bell believing in first loves, first 
 friendships, and early predilections ; Mrs. 
 Bertie being for duty before inclination. 
 
 One morning, when Mrs. Bertie was en- 
 gaged with her pupils, and Bell with Perry, 
 there was a man's firm tread outside the 
 window, followed by a smart rap at the 
 door. It was a common thing for Bell 
 and Mrs. Bertie to answer the door at any 
 time, when it happened to be convenient, 
 and when they were unlikely to receive a 
 formal visitor ; and as Perry was in the 
 midst of a long column of figures, Bell, 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 193 
 
 instead of saying, ' Open the door, Perry,' 
 did so herself. 
 
 On the doorstep stood a gentleman in 
 naval officer s undress, whom, in an instant, 
 she guessed to be the man he was, though 
 totally unlike her preconception. He gave 
 her a quick look, and for a moment seemed 
 unable or unwilling to speak. She said, 
 almost involuntarily, — 
 
 ' Captain Bertie ?' 
 
 Perry sprang at the same moment to her 
 side, and grasping her hand stood looking 
 eagerly at the stranger. 
 
 'You know me, then ?' said he. 'Surely 
 you cannot be my sister-in-law? No, I 
 beg your pardon ; I am sure you are not.' 
 
 And embarrassment heightened the vivid 
 colouring of his handsome face. 
 
 ' I will call Mrs. Bertie,' said Bell. ' Pray 
 walk in.' 
 
 He bowed, and complied. She instantly 
 retired ; and Perry, looking admiringly up 
 at him, without a bit of fear, said, — 
 
 ' Are you my uncle Peregrine ?' 
 
 'Who are you, my fine fellow ?' said the 
 Captain. 
 
 ' Your nephew Perry,' said Perry. ' I 'm 
 so very glad to see you.' 
 
 N 
 
1 94 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Why should you be 
 
 ' Because you 're Captain Bertie. I Ve 
 often thought what you must be like/ 
 
 ' I hope I answer your expectations/ 
 
 'Quite!' said Perry emphatically, which 
 made Captain Bertie laugh. 
 
 'Who was the lady who was here just 
 now ?' 
 
 ' Bell. Miss Bell Frobisher. She 's mam- 
 ma s dearest friend — and mine. She teaches 
 me ever so many things. She teaches me 
 all I know.' 
 
 ' Navigation, astronomy, and so forth ?' 
 
 ' No, I wish she did !' 
 
 A pretty close examination of Perry's 
 acquirements followed. This handsome 
 uncle was by no means the terrible Turk 
 he had been imagined, but he was a man 
 of great determination, had a hasty, though 
 generous temper, and, on occasion, could be 
 both stern and severe. He was habitually 
 strict. 
 
 Meanwhile Mrs. Bertie was in the greatest 
 trepidation on hearing of his arrival. 
 
 'What on earth can he have come for ?' 
 said she. ' I had no idea he had landed. 
 Ten to one he has come to complain of 
 Charles. And he has never seen me, and 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker. 195 
 
 he is prejudiced against me. O Bell, how 
 can I go in to him ?' 
 
 ' I don't think you need be afraid/ said 
 Bell. 
 
 ' But my hair is rough, and my cap is 
 dirty, and I must wash my hands. Go to 
 him, dear, and talk to him till I am ready.' 
 
 Instead of this, Bell poured out water for 
 her, took out her best cap, brought her a 
 clean pocket-handkerchief, and having ex- 
 pedited her toilette, told her cheeringly that 
 she looked quite nice. 
 
 ' And don't be afraid of him,' repeated 
 she. ' Remember that first impressions are 
 everything.' 
 
 Mrs. Bertie looked rueful, as much as to 
 express that in that case her chance of 
 pleasing was very small. She quickened 
 her pace, for fear he should be angry at 
 her keeping him waiting ; but Perry was 
 amusing his uncle very much by the artless, 
 fearless way in which he told him how he 
 longed to go to sea, how he had been a trip 
 in the ' Lively Peggy,' how he shouH like 
 to go on board a ship of war, etc. When 
 Mrs. Bertie entered, their two heads were 
 close together, and Captain Bertie looked 
 up smiling ; but he grew grave as his eye 
 
1 96 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 fell on her black dress, and he met her with 
 seriousness and politeness. 
 
 ' I must introduce myself, Mrs. Bertie,' 
 said he, holding out his hand. ' You are 
 surprised to see me, I dare say.' 
 
 ' I am surprised,' Mrs. Bertie said with 
 constraint. Her tone instantly put them on 
 formal terms ; what a pity, when Bell and 
 Perry had smoothed the way so nicely ! 
 
 ' I only landed on Monday,' said he, taking 
 up a paper-knife that lay near him, and play- 
 ing with it mechanically. ' I at first meant 
 to write to you, but on second thoughts I 
 considered it might be best to see you.' 
 
 ' Nothing the matter with Charles, I hope V 
 said Mrs. Bertie. 
 
 ' Charles is the person I want to speak to 
 you about. He'll never do for the sea, 
 ma'am ! In the first place, he's too old.' 
 
 ' That is not Charles's fault,' said Mrs.. 
 Bertie with a little spirit. ' I sent him to 
 you directly you asked for him.' 
 
 ' But I did not suppose him so old ; I had 
 forgotten when he was born.' The dialogue 
 was already becoming antagonistic. 
 
 ' My husband wrote to inform his family 
 when I was confined, I know,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 197 
 
 ' Dear me, ma am ! Sailors have a pretty 
 deal more to do than to copy all the family 
 register into the first leaf of their Bibles V 
 
 \The family took no interest in any of our 
 concerns, I well know,' said Mrs. Bertie, 
 with a tear in her eye, ' unless in my poor 
 husband's death/ 
 
 ' Don't say unless,'' ' returned he in a 
 much softer tone. ' We were all sincerely 
 sorry for poor Charles's death.' 
 
 ' I should never have guessed it,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie, crying. 
 
 ' Come, come, we will not renew old 
 grievances. What I was going to say was 
 exculpatory. I sincerely mourned for my 
 poor brother, and determined that directly I 
 could help one of his boys I would. At 
 that time I was only second lieutenant, and 
 could do nothing ; that is,' rather hesitat- 
 ing, ' I might have sent a little money now 
 and then out of my pay, and wished to do 
 it, but I didn't know how you might take it.' 
 
 ' I should have taken very kindly any ex- 
 pression of friendly feeling from any of you,' 
 said Mrs. Bertie, ' for you cannot tell how 
 acceptable the smallest token of sympathy 
 from the family would have been. But I 
 should have been sorry to straiten you in 
 
198 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 the manner you speak of, though we were 
 often very straitened ourselves/ 
 
 ' I lament it ; I feared it might be so/ 
 said he ; ' but, you see, my brothers and I 
 were fettered/ 
 
 ' Your brother Hugh has been very kind 
 to Charles/ said Mrs. Bertie. 
 
 ' And that brings me back to my subject, 
 ma'am ; he 11 never do good on shipboard ! 
 It's no use putting his name on the books. 
 He has such thorough inaptitude; he's so 
 stupid, so awkward, and worst of all, the 
 young dog's so conceited ! What 's the mat- 
 ter with you, my man ?' turning suddenly on 
 Perry, whose cheeks were scarlet. 
 
 ' I don't like to hear my brother found 
 fault with so,' said Perry intrepidly ; ' least 
 of all to mamma. Besides, Bell says we 
 shouldn't speak ill of the absent.' 
 
 ' Perry !' said Mrs. Bertie, ' go out of the 
 room directly.' 
 
 ' No, let him stay,' said Captain Bertie. 
 ' I like his spirit. Do you know, my little 
 chap, that the first duty of a sailor is obe- 
 dience ?' 
 
 ' And if I were a sailor I 'd practise it,' 
 said Perry. ' Only try me,' laying his hand 
 on his uncle's knee. 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her, 199 
 
 ' You are too young and too small, my 
 boy/ 
 
 ' You said Charles was too old/ 
 
 ' Yes, but how many years are between 
 you ?' said Captain Bertie, laughing. ' There, 
 run away now, and don't fire up when I am 
 telling your mother unpleasant truths. That 's 
 a fine little boy, ma'am,' as the door closed 
 on Perry. ' If Charles had his spirit, now, 
 and his predilection for the profession, he 
 would make a good sailor. He's not even 
 fit for a chaplain ! a desk in some house of 
 business would suit him best. Or, suppose 
 Hugh takes him in hand again. You were 
 speaking of Hugh just now. Hugh will do 
 anything he can, out of pure Christianity. 
 I '11 write to Hugh, and wait for his answer 
 before I return Charles to you.' 
 
 ' Mtist he come back, then ?' 
 
 ' Like a bad penny. I daresay there 's good 
 in him, though not of a sort that I can turn 
 to any account. Let us hope he will make 
 a better figure in some other calling. Any- 
 thing I can do, I will do — I won't forget 
 him. And now, Mrs. Bertie, don't let us say 
 any more on this unpleasant subject, but try 
 to improve our acquaintance. I 'm sorry 
 I 've made it so late/ 
 
200 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' I should always have been glad to see 
 something of you, Captain Bertie ; but your 
 family was always so distant/ 
 
 ' Well, my father, you see, is peculiar — 
 very peculiar. And he 's proud, too ; very 
 proud. So you see that kept us apart. It 
 was a family question. He wanted his son 
 to marry for connexion — to make a grand 
 match. Personally, he must have been 
 charmed with you, I 'm sure, if he had ever 
 had the privilege of seeing you — but, you 
 see, connexion was his strong point, and he 
 couldn't get 'over the want of it' 
 
 ' I 'm sure I think the Berties, of all people, 
 need not want that. They Ve enough for 
 themselves and others.' 
 
 ' Precisely what I think, only my father 
 didn't. And he's a man nobody can turn. 
 So the end to me, you see, has been that 
 I have forsworn marriage altogether. I 
 didn't care to displease him by my choice, 
 and his choice would have displeased me.' 
 
 ' But you 're quite in the prime of life 
 still. Captain Bertie.' 
 
 ' But the case remains unaltered. It's a 
 dead lock. Charles's marriage made dis- 
 turbance enough in the family, though I 'm 
 sure he had great excuse. My ship is my 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 201 
 
 wife — now I have one. But I was long 
 overlooked. Directly I could take Charles 
 on board I sent for him. Well, Tm glad 
 to have seen you, Mrs. Bertie,'' rising as 
 he spoke. 
 
 ' Won't you dine with us. Captain Bertie ?' 
 faltering. 
 
 ' Ordered my dinner at the Crown." By 
 the way, since you are so kind, 1 11 tell them 
 to send my dinner over here, that I may 
 have the pleasure of your company. May I 
 take such a liberty ?' 
 
 ' Oh, certainly ! I shall . be delighted,^ said 
 Mrs. Bertie, much relieved ; for in truth the 
 poor woman^s hesitation had been caused by 
 her doubt of being able to prepare him a 
 suitable refection. 
 
 ' Very well then, so let it be,^ said he cor- 
 dially. ' I '11 tell them to send it over, and 
 my friend Perry shall take me a walk mean- 
 while, and show me the wonders of Hard- 
 sand. Hallo, Perry, my man V opening the 
 door and calling aloud. 
 
 Perry flew to obey the welcome summons, 
 and in another minute they were posting 
 off to the inn. Mrs. Bertie drew a deep 
 sigh of relief; and hurried away to Bell. 
 
 ^Well.^' said Bell with interest. 
 
202 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' My dear Bell, what a man ! Such a 
 complete Bertie, and so extremely hand- 
 some ! When I went in, I was so struck by 
 the likeness that I thought I should have 
 dropped. But his manner is not a bit like my 
 dear husband's. Much more imperative and 
 imperious. Professional, no doubt, but rather 
 intimidating to a lady. And he came to 
 complain of Charles. I was sure it was for 
 that! He says hell never do for a sailor, 
 and he 's going to return him on my hands. 
 What a sad thing, Bell, is it not ?^ 
 
 ' That depends,^ said Bell. ' Charles has 
 never taken kindly to the profession ; and 
 perhaps something may turn up.' 
 
 ' Captain Bertie says he will not forget him. 
 And I believe. Bell, he has a kind heart 
 under all that downrightness. He said he 
 had felt his poor brother s death deeply, and 
 I almost think his eyes glistened — I 'm sure 
 his voice altered. And he said he had longed 
 to send me a little assistance out of his pay, 
 but had not known how I might take it. 
 That was very delicate and thoughtful of 
 him ; but oh, how acceptable a little assist- 
 ance would have been !' 
 
 ' It speaks well for him to have thought 
 of it.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 203 
 
 ' And, my dear, he's coming to dinner!' 
 
 ' To dinner ?' repeated Bell. She knew 
 pretty well the state of the larder, and was 
 in trouble for her friend. 
 
 ' Yes — -he had ordered his dinner at the 
 Crown f but when I asked him — you 
 know, I thought I must, as he was my hus- 
 band s brother, but I did it trembling — he 
 said he would tell them to send the dinner 
 over here, that he might enjoy it in my 
 company. That is excellent, is it not ? 
 because it will be sure to be what he likes 
 to have.' 
 
 ' Excellent,' said Bell ; ' and Perry and I 
 can dine up here.' 
 
 • ' That must not be thought of,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie. ' You are my guest ; and he is 
 quite cordial with Perry ; and the more the 
 merrier. You and Perry will help to pre- 
 vent dead pauses.' 
 
 ' Oh, I shall hold my peace,' said Bell. 
 
 ' And Perry will talk nineteen to the 
 dozen,' said Mrs. Bertie, ' unless you keep 
 him in check. Nudge him now and then.' 
 
 ' O yes, 1 11 keep him within bounds,^ said 
 Bell, smiling ; and, in truth, she was well 
 pleased at the expected addition to their 
 little party. She helped Mrs. Bertie to set 
 
204 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 the table ; and just as the ducks and green 
 peas had arrived, Captain Bertie and Perry 
 returned from their walk in famous good 
 fellowship and good spirits, and declaring 
 they were very glad to see dinner on the 
 table. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 APTAiN Bertie, seated at Mrs. Ber- 
 tie's right hand, carved the ducks 
 splendidly ; Bell, opposite to him, 
 often met his bright, quick look 
 and gay smile. Peregrine, at the bottom of 
 the table, helped the potatoes with a becom- 
 ing sense of the responsibility of his office. 
 
 ' I say, uncle — ' he was beginning, when 
 he suddenly stopped short. 
 
 ' You speak, yet you say nothing,' said 
 Captain Bertie. 
 
 Perry nodded at him expressively, as much 
 as to imply that he had some cause of 
 silence. 
 
 ' Little boys should be seen and not heard,' 
 said his mother. ' Perry is accustomed to a 
 rather too indulgent listener in Miss Fro- 
 bisher.' 
 
 ' There is something very provocative of 
 
2o6 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 inquiry in that name/ said Captain Bertie to 
 Bell. ' Are you descended from the famous 
 navigator 
 
 ' Our belief rests on tradition rather than 
 proof/ said Bell, ' but we always have be- 
 lieved it/ 
 
 ' He was of Yorkshire extraction, if I re- 
 member right ? but I had fancied his family 
 was extinct/ 
 
 ' You must be of his family,' began Perry, 
 ' because — ^ 
 
 ' Because what ?' 
 
 'May I, Bell?' 
 
 ' Yes, you may finish the sentence/ 
 
 ' Because of the picture/. 
 
 ' He means,^ said Bell, laughing, ' because 
 we have an old portrait of an old commander, 
 which we hold to be a picture of Sir Martin 
 Frobisher.' 
 
 ' Probably it is so. Oral tradition holds 
 good, where no other evidence is to be ob- 
 tained. I shall look on you as a direct 
 descendant of Sir Martin till I have proof 
 to the contrary.' 
 
 ' Thank you,' said Bell, looking pleased ; 
 and Perry gave her a speaking glance of 
 satisfaction, though without uttering a syl- 
 lable. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 207 
 
 ' It seems to me/ said Captain Bertie, 
 ' that instead of over - indulging a certain 
 young person, you use a pretty tight curb/ 
 
 Mrs. Bertie and Bell smiled ; Perry did 
 not perceive the application. 
 
 ' He minds her at a word or a look,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie, ' but her rule has not been 
 acquired by severity.' 
 
 ' Hum — / am accused of severity now and 
 then,' said Captain Bertie. ' How is it to be 
 dispensed with, Miss Frobisher ?' 
 
 ' Generally speaking, I think people may 
 be firm without being severe,' said Bell. 
 
 ' Not always, though. 1 11 give you an 
 instance.' And he related a somewhat shock- 
 ing occurrence in the West Indies, where 
 an innocent person was under suspicion, and 
 would have been punished, but for severe 
 measures adopted by the commanding officer, 
 which led to the detection of the right 
 person. 
 
 ' Some would die, though, rather than tell,' 
 said Bell. 
 
 ' But not be flogged — beyond a certain 
 number of lashes — I 'm averse from flogging, 
 generally speaking, but there are cases in 
 which nothing else will do.'' And he cited a 
 case of a soldier in the Peninsular War, 
 
2o8 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 which may be found in the life of Sir Charles 
 Napier. 
 
 These stories made Perry grave and rather 
 pale. ' Do such things happen often ?' said 
 he in a low voice. 
 
 ' Not often ; but oftener than they should.' 
 
 ' One might avoid punishment though, if 
 one meant always to do right/ said Perry, 
 ' as I mean to do.' 
 
 ' If one always did right. Doing and 
 meaning to do are widely different things.' 
 
 ' And if that bad sailor had held out, the 
 innocent one would have been punished after 
 all,' added Perry. 
 
 ' We must all take our chance of that. We 
 must all take our chance of false accusation 
 occasionally ; and trust to our known general 
 good character. It strengthens us. Does not 
 St. Paul say, we must endure all things ?" ' 
 
 ' Did he mean sailors ?' 
 
 ' He meant everybody.' 
 
 After a good deal more desultory talk, 
 which Bell and Perry thought delightful, 
 Captain Bertie said he should go down to 
 the beach and smoke a cigar. Perry, in 
 spite of warning frowns, immediately asked 
 if he might go with him. His uncle looked 
 fixedly at him, and said, — 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, . 209 
 
 ' Well — yes to his immense joy ; so off 
 they set, leaving Mrs. Bertie to recover from 
 a nervous headache, and Bell to think over 
 again all that had been said. She was re- 
 called to more prosaic matters by Mrs. Ber- 
 tie's anxious inquiry whether they ought not 
 to have a cake of some sort for tea. Bell, 
 considering that Captain Bertie had given 
 the dinner, said ' Yes ' with decision, and re- 
 ceived the pleasing commission to go and 
 buy the nicest one she could. She had a 
 distant glimpse of Captain Bertie and Perry 
 sitting on an old boat, and was sure that 
 Perry was talking with all his might, while 
 his uncle, probably, only seemed to listen 
 to him. 
 
 Tea was a very pleasant, chatty meal, for 
 their intimacy had ripened wonderfully ; and 
 perhaps it was owing to the infusion of a 
 little green tea that Mrs. Bertie s nervous 
 headache quite left her. There was still a 
 pleasant summer evening before them, and 
 Captain Bertie proposed a walk, saying he 
 had noticed a piece of fine smooth turf on 
 the castle-hill, quite suitable for a seat for 
 ladies. 
 
 They all sallied forth to the spot, where 
 they sat till it grew quite dusk, talking in a 
 o 
 
2IO . Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 leisurely way of one thing and another, with 
 pleasant intervals of silence. Perry amused 
 himself with hunting for marine specimens, 
 which he brought from time to time to ex- 
 hibit. Once he coaxed Bell to let him show 
 her a sea-blubber. Captain Bertie said, in 
 her absence, — 
 
 ' Is that young lady your governess ?' 
 
 ' O no ; O dear, no !' said Mrs. Bertie. 
 ' I am quite too poor to afford one, even if I 
 wanted such a luxury. Perry says his les- 
 sons to her for love; she is a very dear young 
 friend.' 
 
 ' She keeps him well in hand,' observed 
 he. ' As well as if she were paid for it. 
 Better, perhaps.' 
 
 ' She has such force of mind,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie. ' So have they all. Poor Charles 
 has a soft corner in his heart for Bell.' 
 
 ' Charles ! how absurd,' said Captain Bertie 
 laughing. ' A mere boy like him ! He 
 shows his taste, however. And I believe my 
 first love-fit was somewhere about his age. 
 I shall go back to the Crown" and write 
 to Hugh, when I have seen you home,' added 
 he presently. 
 
 ' Then we had better return at once,' said 
 Mrs. Bertie. 'The post goes out at nine. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 211 
 
 You spend the night here, then ? I wish I 
 had known of your coming, that I might 
 have prepared for you/ 
 
 ' Pray don't think of such a thing. I shall 
 do very well at the Crown" — ^rather a poor 
 inn, by-the-bye/ 
 
 ' Oh, there is no competition, no one to 
 make an effort for/ 
 
 ' Hardsand is rather a poor place, — one of 
 the poorest I ever saw ; quite the poorest. I 
 wonder how you came to settle down here — ' 
 
 ' It is cheap/ 
 
 ' Or can have the resolution to continue 
 here/ 
 
 ' I have grown accustomed and attached 
 to it/ 
 
 ' I don^t think I ever could !^ 
 
 ' No, to any one accustomed to constant 
 change it must seem dull enough/ 
 
 ' A wreck or two, and a little smuggling, 
 must be the only excitements/ 
 
 ' Yes/ 
 
 ' Perry told me a long story about a smug- 
 gling affair on board the Lively Biddy/' ' 
 
 ' The Lively Peggy/' She is chartered 
 by Bell Frobisher s eldest sister/ 
 
 ' What an odd vocation for a woman 
 She sails in it, I understand/ 
 
212 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Perry told you all about it, I dare say/ 
 said Mrs. Bertie, smiling. 
 
 ' He told me a good deal, certainly. I 
 suppose it was all true ?' 
 
 ' Oh, he is truth itself.' 
 
 ' I was highly amused. The lady must 
 be a w^oman of spirit. By-the-bye, is she a 
 lady?' 
 
 ' You might think her rather homely, but 
 by no means vulgar. She is a popular 
 favourite/ 
 
 He lapsed into silence, and after a long 
 pause, said, — 
 
 ' Mrs. Bertie, I am glad I came down here. 
 None of us knew anything about you. I 
 assure you I did not expect — that is — in 
 short, I did not think we should get on so 
 well together.' 
 
 ' I am very glad, indeed, that you came,' 
 said Mrs. Bertie. ' It is such a gratification 
 to have exchanged friendly words at last 
 with one of the family. Dear me, it is time 
 Perry should be in bed/ 
 
 ' Don't disturb him ; he 's very happy. 
 Miss Frobisher ditto, apparently/ 
 
 Just then Bell and Perry desisted from 
 their researches and returned to the others. 
 They all walked slowly back, pausing now 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 2 1 3 
 
 and then to look at the rising moon, and 
 Captain Bertie took leave of them to write 
 his letter. 
 
 He reappeared next morning, soon after 
 breakfast. Bell happened to be the only 
 one in the room. 
 
 ' Miss Frobisher, I am glad to find you 
 alone. I have a few words to say to you.' 
 
 ' Perry has only gone to wash his hands,^ 
 said Bell. 
 
 'It's about Perry I want to speak. He's 
 a capital little fellow ; the most promising 
 boy I ever knew. I only wish he were not 
 as much too young as Charles is too old. 
 Perry tells me his mamma does not like him 
 to go to sea. Try to talk her out of that 
 feeling. You are her dearest friend. Perry 
 says ; therefore you have influence. You 
 must love this boy very much, or you would 
 not bestow such pains on him. Yes, you must 
 love him very much, or he would not love 
 you so. If you want to do him a good turn, 
 fit him for what I want him to be.' 
 
 ' How V said Bell, with great interest. 
 
 ' I will tell you ;' and he went fully though 
 succinctly into the course of teaching that 
 would fit Perry best for a naval career. 
 
 ' He 's a very little fellow ; I know we can't 
 
214 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 expect much, but you can give him the ele- 
 ments, the outhnes. You have the mind for 
 it, I see. Do you know anything of EucHd ?^ 
 'No/ 
 
 ' It would do you a great deal of good 
 to study mathematics. It would do every 
 woman good/ 
 
 ' Perhaps I could teach myself } To assist 
 Perry, I gladly will try.' 
 
 ' No ; I don't think you can teach yourself. 
 If Charles comes home, he can teach you/ 
 ♦ ' I don't much want to learn of Charles.' 
 
 ' I am not surprised at that. Charles might 
 teach his little brother himself, but he won't, 
 I '11 answer for it ! Well, you will get Perry 
 well on in geography and arithmetic ; little 
 vessels won't bear overfilling. You 11 want 
 books ; I '11 send you some ; I '11 send him 
 some, you know, I mean. Well, Miss Fro- 
 bisher, this was what I had to say to you. 
 You won't take it amiss, I know.' 
 
 ' O no, indeed ! I take it very kindly/ 
 
 ' I 'm quite surprised at my freeness in thus 
 speaking to you ; but, you see, I 'm anxious 
 to do something for the family, and yet not 
 to raise unbounded expectations. Charles I 
 can make nothing of To make amends for 
 it to his mother, I would gladly make some- 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 2 1 5 
 
 thing of Perry. He might be a smart officer. 
 It is the only Hne in which I can do any- 
 thing ; therefore, if I ^m to be of use to my 
 brother's orphans, you may assist me, don't 
 you see, by training Perry, and getting over 
 his mothers objections.' 
 
 ' I will do my best,' said Bell. He thanked 
 her by a look, and Mrs. Bertie and Perry at 
 the same instant came in. 
 
 ' And now, I 'm off,' said Captain Bertie, 
 rising. ' You '11 lose nothing by my going, 
 Mrs. Bertie, for on my return I shall send 
 Charles to you.' 
 
 ' I shall lose a great deal by your going,' 
 said Mrs. Bertie, ' though, of course, I shall 
 be delighted to see dear Charles.' 
 
 ' May I see you off, uncle ?' said Perry. 
 
 ' Yes, by all means.' 
 
 He shook hands with Mrs. Bertie and 
 Bell, and cordially took leave of them. 
 
 ' I cannot sufficiently wonder,' ejaculated 
 Mrs. Bertie, after watching him out of sight, 
 ' at his being so completely different from 
 what I had supposed. Charles never said 
 a word of his good looks and fascinating 
 manner. I cannot be sufficiently glad that 
 he came himself instead of writing. It has 
 taken off all the bitterness of the disappoint- 
 
2 1 6 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ment, though a heavy one it is. None of 
 the Berties are good letter-writers. They 
 say as little as they can, in as few words — 
 never find room for kind inquiries, and so 
 forth. This has helped to estrange us. But 
 I can never feel strange with Captain Bertie 
 again/ 
 
 When Perry came back, he looked brim- 
 full of some very important subject. 
 
 ' What is on your mind. Perry ?' said Bell. 
 
 ' Nothing particular. At least many things 
 that are very particular. My uncle has been 
 giving me some good advice, and I ^m afraid 
 of losing any of it.' 
 
 ' Write it down in your log.' 
 
 'That's a capital idea, Bell ! May it do 
 instead of an exercise ?' 
 
 ' Yes, I think it may ; if you write it very 
 well indeed.' 
 
 To work set Perry ; and Bell was not 
 sorry to stitch his wristbands free from 
 continual interruptions, and enjoy her own 
 thoughts. When he had finished, she said, — 
 
 ' May I see what you have written ?' 
 
 ' Yes, if you like ; only I 'm afraid the 
 writing is not very good.' 
 
 ' I must make allowance for it, as you were 
 afraid of forgetting what your uncle said.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 217 
 
 ' I didn't know you were going to read it, 
 Bell, so you must not mind the expressions/ 
 ' Very well/ 
 
 These were the expressions, — 
 
 ' Uncle says when mids are examined 
 they are expected to know all about naviga- 
 tion and seamanship, about the different 
 sailings, working tides, and double altitudes ; 
 and how to find the longitude by the time- 
 keeper, and about lunar observations. Uncle 
 said a mid must be able to tell them how to 
 conduct a ship from such and such a place 
 to another, under every disadvantage of 
 wind and tide. 
 
 ' When I told him all I knew, he said it 
 was wonderful a young lady could teach me 
 so much ; but that it amounted in fact to 
 very little indeed — almost nothing ; and that 
 if I meant ever to do good in the service, 
 and to rise in it, I must look very sharp 
 indeed, or I should fall short of the mark, 
 like .... (He needn't have said that.) 
 
 ' Uncle says the boys on board the Ata- 
 lanta'' learn Euclid and read Caesar, and 
 French from Ollendorf, first writing it out 
 and then learning it. I told him we had 
 Ollendorf and Euclid (at least Charles has). 
 So he said I had better learn all I could of 
 
2l8 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 mathematics and everything, and practise 
 cHmbing and not mind Httle hardships, and 
 then, in course of time, we should see what 
 we should see. I think I knew what he 
 was alluding to, though he didn't speak out 
 plain, for his eyes looked very bright and 
 smiling/ 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 APT A IN Bertie to the Rev. Hugh 
 Bertie, Steephollow, — 
 
 *The Crown, Hardsand, y?/;^^ 28. 
 
 ' Dear HucxH, — You will be surprised 
 enough to get a letter from me with the 
 above address. During the last six years I 
 have only enjoyed fourteen days at home. 
 But I don't mention this in the way of 
 grumbling, for no officer has a right to amuse 
 himself on shore till he is a post-captain, nor 
 even then if it interferes with his duty. 
 Well, my career has been excellent discipline 
 to me — my younkers say I 'm too fond of 
 discipline ; but one cannot be. I 'm not 
 speaking of unreasonable, unreasoning dog- 
 matism like my father s, but a strict and 
 just authority. It was a fine thing for me 
 to be put, when a squeaker, under Captain 
 
2 20 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 Hudson. What an unfortunate career that 
 man's was ! The ill wind that blows nobody 
 any good always filled his sails, and a dozen 
 times the Ate^^ must have gone to pieces 
 had the exact discipline to which his men were 
 accustomed been in any degree less abso- 
 lutely maintained. It saved their lives again 
 and again. Hudson commanded such im- 
 plicit confidence by his knowing the best 
 possible thing to be done under every cir- 
 cumstance, that the obedience of all on board 
 was perfect. We felt we were under the 
 command of a master-mind ; and great as his 
 misfortunes were, he really reaped more 
 credit for his conduct under them, than others 
 have gained by the most brilliant success. 
 
 ' Well, here I am a post-captain at last, 
 and not so very old neither. All owing to 
 personal merit, sir, and no patronage, take 
 my word for it ! One of my first thoughts 
 when I was posted to the " Atalanta,'' was 
 to have one of poor Charles's orphan lads 
 on board, so I wrote to his mother to send 
 me the eldest. It seemed such a little 
 while since poor Charles's death, that I had 
 no idea the boy was so old. He came on 
 board — as like his father as my two thumbs 
 are like each other. I declare the first sight 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 221 
 
 of him nearly unmanned me. But, in a 
 little while — -you know what he is, so you '11 
 not be surprised that he won't make a sailor. 
 As well make a mainsail of a lady's veil. 
 The poorest hand I ever knew ! and so 
 conceited withal ! I really was glad that 
 his age gave me a reason for not having 
 him put on the ship's books. I gave him 
 a good pitching and tossing in the Mediter- 
 ranean ; and as soon as we reached Spithead 
 I intended to pack him off to his mother, 
 with a letter explaining the reason. Some- 
 thing in a chance look that reminded me of 
 his father changed this purpose. Though 
 not the only son of his mother, yet she was 
 a widow, and probably doated on him ; so 
 I thought I 'd run down and break it to her 
 myself. I am very glad I did so. In a 
 very poor little street of this poor little 
 town, I found the small house in which she 
 lived, which had something about it that 
 raised it above its neighbours — a penn'orth 
 of putty and a penn'orth of paint will do 
 that, you know. Clean door-step, clean 
 curtains, clean window-panes, a pretty flower 
 or two in the window ; small matters like 
 these indicate something above mere decency 
 — refinement. I knocked at the door. You 
 
222 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 know we had always concluded Charles had 
 lost his heart to a pretty face, and did not 
 think the more of him for it. I knocked 
 once, twice, at the door, and it opened and 
 disclosed one of the most beautiful, dignified 
 faces I ever saw. 
 
 ' Don't be deluded, it wasnt Mrs. Charles, 
 though a lovely little Peregrine was clinging 
 to her skirts, and looking up at me with his 
 blue, fearless eyes, said, Are you my uncle 
 Perry?'' That boy might be made any- 
 thing of. He shall be made something 
 first-rate of by me. I '11 take him in charge. 
 He shall be my heir. 
 
 ' The beautiful girl who was not Mrs. 
 Charles, only her dearest friend, received 
 me with simple dignity, and went to find 
 Mrs. Bertie, who presently came in. 
 
 ' Hugh, she is a very lovely woman still, 
 though a little on the wane. She must 
 have been charming when Charles married 
 her. There is a quiet elegance about her 
 for which I was unprepared. In person 
 and manner she does not disgrace the name 
 of Bertie. I am very glad to have made 
 her acquaintance. It seems she is support- 
 ing herself in modest independence, by 
 keeping a day-school ; she is respected in 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 223 
 
 the place. This I learn from the people of 
 the inn. She was a good deal touched at 
 first, cried a little, spoke up for Charles, as 
 a mother naturally would ; yet so quietly, 
 so gently ! And what do you think of the 
 little one firing up like a little hero, and 
 saying to me, I don t like to hear my 
 brother spoken against!" I declare I re- 
 spected him for it. Something he added 
 about Bell says we shouldn't speak ill of 
 the absent.'' Bell was the handsome girl 
 I named just now. Handsome is quite the 
 wrong word, by the way, quite an unworthy 
 word, except in the sense of handsome is 
 that handsome does," and she has done 
 handsomely, to say the least of it, by our 
 little nephew Perry ; guides him with a rein 
 of silk, commands his implicit obedience ; 
 what an excellent foundation for his future 
 character ! She is not his governess, you 
 understand ; but his mother s dearest friend. 
 Curiously enough, she is descended from 
 old Sir Martin Frobisher. Her Hneage, I 
 should think, must be almost as good as 
 ours. 
 
 ' Well, I 'm glad I came down here to 
 judge of Mrs. Charles for myself It has 
 enabled me to soften the disappointment. 
 
224 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisker. 
 
 She is not angry with me ; only sorry. I 
 have told her I would ask you to do some- 
 thing for Charles, he being more in your 
 line than mine. You have put what good 
 he has into him. And he speaks of you very 
 affectionately. So bear him in mind, will 
 you, and find him something or other, an' 
 thou lovest me, or rather for the sake of his 
 father, and I may really add of his mother. 
 If you'll take him in hand, 1 11 take the little 
 one. Then Mrs. Bertie will only have to 
 maintain herself. Enough to do, too. More 
 than should fall to the lot of a woman ; a 
 pretty woman, the widow of a Bertie. 
 
 ' I have dined with her ; had a famous chat 
 with them all. It is now almost post-time, 
 and I can only add love to all your house. — 
 Your affectionate brother, 
 
 ' Peregrine Bertie/ 
 
 Before this letter could produce any re- 
 sults, Charles was at home again. He 
 looked so brown and manly that Mrs. Ber- 
 tie could not help expressing her maternal 
 pride and admiration, which he received 
 very smilingly, almost affably, as though he 
 knew it was his due. He seemed to think 
 he had almost seen as much of the world 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 225 
 
 and of human life as Sindbad the Sailor; 
 spoke with indulgent contempt of his uncle 
 as ' cranky/ and seemed decidedly of opinion 
 that the service would sustain a greater loss 
 in him than he in the service. 
 
 Bell could not bear this new phase of 
 Charles's character. She doubted if it were 
 quite new ; if the conceit and self-content 
 now cropping out had not always been 
 characteristic of him. She found it diffi- 
 cult to repress his too assured attempts at 
 light courtship except by being brusque and 
 rude to him. Happily it occurred to her 
 that she might turn him to account by get- 
 ting him to teach her the rudiments of 
 mathematics, which she, in her turn, could 
 dispense to Perry in infinitesimally small 
 doses. 
 
 Charles liked this well enough, though he 
 would have made it a mere excuse for phil- 
 andering, had she not, at the outset, peremp- 
 torily insisted on business first, nonsense 
 afterwards," and she took care to slip away 
 directly that business ended and nonsense 
 began. So that Charles found, if he would 
 have the luxury of her companionship at 
 all, he must apply himself to his task in 
 serious earnest. 
 
 p 
 
226 
 
 Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 
 
 Perry's admiration of his brother was pro- 
 found ; his creduHty without a flaw. The 
 only thing he did not Uke was Charles's 
 slighting tone in speaking of Captain Bertie. 
 
 ' I don't think you understood him, Charley,' 
 said he. 
 
 ' A likely thing ! ' said Charles derisively. 
 ' Much you must know about it. Master 
 Perry ! Do you suppose, then, that yoit 
 understand him ?' 
 
 ' Yes, I do,' said Perry stoutly ; ' and I 
 can tell you why — because I Ve a fellow- 
 feeling for him. (There is such an expres- 
 sion, isn't there. Bell ? — yes, I thought there 
 was.) I 'm fond of the sea, which you are 
 not, Charley ; and therefore I 'm fond of 
 sailors.' 
 
 ' I 'm sure I wish you had my berth on 
 board the Atalanta," then,' said Charles 
 carelessly. 
 
 ' Perhaps I shall, some day,' said Perry. 
 ' What makes you say that, youngster V 
 ' I think my uncle means to have me.' 
 ' Did he say so ?' said Charles quickly. 
 ' He said ''we shall see what we shall see." ' 
 'Ho, ho, ho!' 
 
 ' Perry, don't say any more about it,' said 
 Bell. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 227 
 
 ' No, I won't/ said Perry, ' since it makes 
 Charles warm/ 
 
 ' Warm ! you ridiculous chap ! — come, be 
 off, you ! ' 
 
 ' Yes, clear away your books. Perry dear, 
 and go down to the sands,' said Bell. ' I 'm 
 coming too.' 
 
 ' Bell, don't go,' said Charles. 
 
 She said, ' Certainly I shall,' very gravely, 
 and left the room. 
 
 She had not long been seated on the 
 shingle, however, before Charles followed her. 
 
 ^ I suppose you don't consider the shingle 
 intended for your sole and separate use.^^^ 
 said he, casting himself on it. 
 
 ' By no means/ said Bell, continuing to 
 read intently. 
 
 After a pause, he said, — 
 
 ' Bell, whence comes this change ?' 
 
 ' What change V said she, looking around, 
 and then at him. 
 
 ' In you.' 
 
 ' In me ? I am not aware of any.' And 
 she resumed her reading. 
 
 ' That book must be very interesting,' said 
 Charles, glancing at the title. ' Bonny- 
 castle's Arithmetic," by all that's lively!' 
 
 ' Don't swear.' 
 
2 28 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' You must be reading it for a feint.' 
 ' A what ? ' 
 
 ' A blind. Something to seem to read, 
 as people use books when travelling.' 
 
 ' I 'm much obliged to you !' 
 
 ' But seriously, do you mean you are 
 reading Bonnycastle" for amusement?' 
 
 ' For improvement.' 
 
 ' My senses ! You remind me of the lady 
 who read through Euclid s Elements just as 
 she would a novel.' 
 
 ' I am trying to make out something I 
 want to know — or was trying, till you in- 
 terrupted me.' 
 
 ' Shall I assist you ?' 
 
 ' No, thank you ; not now.' 
 
 ^ Why not?' 
 
 ' Because I think it very tiresome to be 
 followed about and interrupted when I want 
 to think my own thoughts a little.' 
 
 ' Well, Bell, that 's plain enough to be 
 understood, at all events. I '11 go, since my 
 presence is so disagreeable to you. I must 
 say, though, I wish I knew whence arises 
 this change in your manner to me. But I 
 need not ask — I divine! It is because my 
 uncle has thrown me off. I had expected 
 something nobler of you.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 229 
 
 ' I might truly expect something nobler of 
 you than such an unfounded suspicion/ said 
 Bell quickly. ' When did I ever think less 
 of a person for being unfortunate ? It was 
 no surprise to me that you did not prove 
 adapted for a sailor ; but I own it does sur- 
 prise me to hear you speak of your uncle 
 as you do, and see that you so little value 
 him/ 
 
 ' What can you know of him ?' 
 
 ' Very little, certainly. But what little I 
 did see and hear, gave me the impression of 
 a fine character.^ 
 
 Charles felt a sudden pang ; and said, 
 ' Well ; you are right. To a certain extent 
 at least. He is brave and determined. 
 Thoroughly knows how to handle a ship. 
 Is just, though strict, to his men.' 
 
 ' Then how can you say such depreciating 
 little things of him, especially in hearing of 
 Perry, as if to undermine him in his good 
 opinion ? Charles, I call it very bad of you. 
 You and Captain Bertie could not go on 
 together ; I say not where the fault was, but 
 a separation ensued. He may still be a very 
 valuable friend to your little brother, there- 
 fore you should not weaken his respect for 
 him.' 
 
230 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' I don't believe I could/ 
 
 ' Nor do I. But you weaken my re- 
 spect ior you, Charles, by going on in that 
 manner. ' 
 
 ' Bell, I am really and truly sorry ; I see 
 I was wrong. Say you forgive me.' 
 ' Not till I see some amendment.' 
 ' Do.^ 
 
 'No; I will not.' 
 
 ' I promise I won't speak slightingly of 
 my uncle in Perry's hearing again.' 
 
 ' Very well. If you keep that promise, 
 I '11 forgive you.^ 
 
 On which, Charles held out his hand to 
 her ; but she withheld her own, saying, 
 ' Nonsense — no occasion.' 
 
 After this they went on very harmoniously 
 and prosaically. 
 
 Hetty had never been a letter- writer ; and 
 her short, cramped billets, only one or two 
 in number, did not satisfy BelFs yearning 
 affection. She spoke of being well and 
 happy ; of supping in the housekeeper's 
 room with Mrs. Mellon and Mr. Harper. 
 Who Mr. Harper was, Bell could not make 
 out, whether librarian or chaplain. She 
 would have been glad of a catalogue raisonn^ 
 of Hetty's surroundings, even to the shape 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker, 
 
 231 
 
 and size of her room and the colour of the 
 furniture. 
 
 One day a letter came to Bell. It was in 
 a strange hand, and signed l^Cary Mellon. 
 It began, — 
 
 ' Mrs'. Mellon's respects to Miss Bell Fro- 
 bisher, and Lord Harry is down with the 
 scarlet fever. Miss Hetty has took it too. 
 My Lord would not let her out of his sight 
 except when asleep, and kept holding her 
 hand, so it is not surprising she has took it 
 heavy. Dr. Perkins is in attendance, and 
 she has the best of advice, but the maids (we 
 have only two here now) are afraid of catch- 
 ing it, and Mr. Harper recommends me to 
 acquaint you, madam, as since she was light- 
 headed she keeps calling on you by the name 
 of Bell, and says she wishes she had such 
 nursing as you bestowed on a gentleman 
 named Perry. I have no wish to alarm, but 
 think, as does Mr. Harper, that if you wish 
 to see your sister alive, you had best start 
 at your earliest convenience. — Yours respect- 
 fully, ' Mary Mellon.' 
 
 BelFs tears began to flow before she had 
 half read this letter, to the great consterna- 
 tion of Perry, who said in an awe-stricken 
 voice, ' Shall I call mamma ?' 
 
232 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Yes, do, dear,' said Bell, brushing the 
 tears from her eyes, and in another instant 
 he was off, and returned with his mother. 
 
 Bell said, Hetty is very ill, I must go to 
 her and put the letter into her friend's 
 hand. When Mrs. Bertie, with great con- 
 cern, had read it, she fully concurred with 
 Bell ; and with affectionate promptitude sug- 
 gested and accelerated every necessary pre- 
 paration for the journey. Charles and Perry 
 vied in solicitude to be of use ; and Charles 
 would gladly have been her escort on the 
 road, but the expense was a subject they 
 were compelled to consider, and Bell declared 
 she had no fears on her own account. They 
 contented themselves, therefore, with all ac- 
 companying her to the coach -office, and 
 Charles was her companion to the nearest 
 railway-station, a few miles off, saw to her 
 luggage, placed her in a second-class carriage 
 which had no other occupant, and was re- 
 warded by her grateful look of thanks as the 
 train moved onward. He returned pleased 
 with himself and with her. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 AiLWAYS were almost novelties 
 thirty years ago, and Bell was 
 so unused to travelling that her 
 journey had something exciting, 
 and would have been even alarming to her, 
 had she not been so preoccupied by her 
 sisters danger. The surprise, agitation, 
 bustle of packing and selecting what to 
 pack, the rapid walk and tedious coach- 
 journey, had all combined to raise her almost 
 to fever-height of excitement ; and now there 
 was something soothing in being borne for- 
 ward so swiftly, without the least effort of 
 her own, towards the object of her desires, 
 that amounted to a sad luxury. The unex- 
 pected noises, the shrill whistle, and sudden 
 plunge into darkness as they entered a 
 tunnel, filled her with momentary dread ; but 
 she had a feeling she should be upborne in 
 
2 34 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 what she had undertaken that overcame all 
 fears. The scenes through which she so 
 swiftly passed, which in ordinary circum- 
 stances would have caused incessant amuse- 
 ment and interest, now passed as unnoticed 
 as the wreaths of white smoke that floated 
 past and cast fantastic shadows on the land- 
 scape. 
 
 She alighted at none of the stations, for 
 she wanted no refreshment, and she was 
 afraid of losing her place in the train. As 
 the gloom of evening darkened round her, 
 there seemed something grandly mysterious 
 in the aspect of the outer world through 
 which they were fleeting. Distant lights in 
 farm-house or cottage, the uncertain wander- 
 ing of a flickering lantern through unseen 
 paths, the pale meteors dancing on swampy 
 ground, the dark rushing form of some night- 
 bird, the hoarse or quick bark of a dog, the 
 figure of some lonely traveller galloping 
 across a moor, filled her mind with a series 
 of vague romances that had a luxurious 
 melancholy. Mingled with them were ima- 
 ginary pictures of Hetty's sick-bed, of loving 
 looks, of dying words, that filled her eyes 
 with unchecked tears. And all the while it 
 grew darker and darker. 
 
Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 
 
 235 
 
 They were approaching a junction, where 
 she would have to change carriages, and 
 where Charles had told her the great diffi- 
 culty would be to cross the line by an under- 
 ground passage, time enough to catch the 
 other train. Just as they reached the station, 
 a tremendous jarring shock, an unearthly 
 grating sound, followed by piercing screams 
 and hoarse cries, told unmistakably that an 
 accident had happened. Bell was thrown 
 forward with violence, but the next instant 
 had let down the window, and was calling 
 piteously for some one to let her out. No- 
 body attended to her ; every one was rush- 
 ing to the upper end of the train, leaving 
 the remoter one deserted. She found her 
 face was cut and bleeding ; she did not 
 mind that, but continued to shake the door 
 violently and cry, ' Let me out ! please let 
 me out !' — ' O dear, O dear !' she exclaimed 
 in desperation as a deafening bell was rung 
 which drowned every other noise in its 
 clangour, ' I shall lose the other train.' 
 She cried aloud, ' Let me out ! let me out!' 
 with sharp, quick tones that at length were 
 heard by some one who rushed forward in 
 the dark. 
 
236 Miss Biddy Fi^obisher. 
 
 ' What is it ? where are you ? A woman, 
 and hurt ?' 
 
 ' Yes ! yes ! I 'm losing my train ; I 'm 
 going to a sister dying/ 
 
 A strong hand seized the door-handle ; 
 she had believed herself locked in, but was 
 not. 
 
 ' Do you want to go by the down train ? 
 So do I. We must run for it. Your face 
 is bleeding. Are you much hurt ? Do you 
 know how to cross the line ?' 
 
 ' No ; not in the least.' 
 
 ' Where 's your luggage ?' 
 
 ' I Ve only this great bag/ 
 
 ' All the better. Come along.' 
 
 He seized her hand, snatched her heavy 
 bag from her, and they raced rather than 
 ran along the platform, down a steep stair- 
 case, through a dimly lighted tunnel, up 
 another flight of stairs, and along the other 
 platform, where the down train was just 
 ready to start. 
 
 ' First-class or second ?' 
 
 ' Second, sir.' The light shone full on his 
 face, but hers was in shadow. 
 
 ' All right ; here 's a carriage with only an 
 old woman in it.' 
 
 He opened the door, forced her bag under 
 
Miss Biddy F7'obisher, 
 
 237 
 
 the seat, handed her in, and sprang in after 
 her. The next instant the door was locked, 
 the shrill whistle sounded, and they were off. 
 ' Miss Frobisher !' 
 
 ' I am so very much obliged to you. Cap- 
 tain Bertie.' 
 
 ' Dear me ! how totally unexpected ! how 
 glad I am to have been of any service ! Do 
 you know you have cut your face ?' 
 
 ' I know it, but I don't feel it,' said Bell, 
 putting her handkerchief to her cheek. ' I 
 don't think it 's much.' 
 
 ' O no, only skin-deep, but some ladies 
 would faint at the sight of a little blood.' 
 
 ' Luckily, I am no fine lady,' said Bell. 
 
 ' So I see — so I should have judged ; for 
 my part, I detest fine ladies ; the most worth- 
 less beings in creation, and the most unin- 
 teresting. You are not disfigured, it won't 
 disfigure you.' 
 
 ' Oh, I don't mind about that.' 
 
 ' You are preoccupied by some paramount 
 interest.' 
 
 ' My sister Hetty is ill with scarlet fever 
 — in danger.' 
 
 ' And you are going to her ? Have you 
 had it ?' 
 
 ^No.' 
 
238 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' But is your going to her safe ?' 
 
 ' Safe ?' said Bell with warmth. ' Fever 
 patients would be badly off if people never 
 went near them unless they were safe/ 
 
 ' True ; just what I should have expected 
 from — a woman/ he added softly — 
 
 When pain and sickness wring the brow." — 
 
 The quotation is somewhat hackneyed. Well, 
 I hope God will watch over you.' 
 
 ^Tm sure He will/ said Bell. ^ He al- 
 ways has.' 
 
 ' I too am obeying a call to the house of 
 sorrow/ said Captain Bertie after a pause. 
 ' Hugh Bertie, the heir of our line, only son 
 of my eldest brother, has been killed.' 
 
 ' Indeed — dear me !' 
 
 ' It will be a terrible loss to his father — 
 a terrible blow to ^ny father. His eldest son 
 will be without direct male descendant. He 
 dying without a son, and I dying childless, 
 my nephew Charles will represent the family/ 
 
 ' Dear me. But that is a remote contin- 
 gency, and may never occur.' 
 
 ' Very likely to occur, though/ said Cap- 
 tain Bertie. ' My brother's life is not worth 
 many years' purchase.' 
 
 ' But how did young Mr. Bertie die ?' 
 said Bell, thinking more of the bereavement 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 239 
 
 than the succession.- Captain Bertie saw 
 she did so, and told how he had accidentally 
 shot himself in crossing a stile. 
 
 ' He was a promising boy, I believe,' he 
 said, ' but I knew nothing of him personally, 
 having been so many years afloat. It will 
 be a dreadful cut-up to my brother Hugh — 
 with a valetudinarian wife and one little 
 girl. He will probably have Charles to fill 
 up the blank, adopt him, perhaps, but not 
 yet ; his heart is too sore, the void must 
 remain unfilled for a while. There are some 
 blanks that never can be filled.' 
 
 ' O yes.' 
 
 ' What do you think of Charles ? You 
 have seen him at home. I have only known 
 him on shipboard. What do you think of him ?' 
 
 ' There is a great deal of good in him,' 
 said Bell. 
 
 * What sort of good ?' 
 
 ' Good principles, good feelings. He is 
 very religious, I think, and would not do a 
 wrong thing on any account. Very dutiful, 
 and fond of his mother.' 
 
 * Ha ! But why will he be such a young 
 prig?' 
 
 ' Perhaps, because he is so young,' said 
 Bell, smiling. 
 
240 Mtss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 '/wasn't priggish at his years; Perry is not/ 
 
 ' Oh, Perry is such a very Httle boy ! We 
 should soon laugh him out of it/ 
 
 ' Charles is a boy too— not in the light of 
 a midshipman, you know ; he would be an 
 old m_iddy, but— to think of falling in love, 
 for instance ?' 
 
 ' I should think so,' said Bell, laughing a 
 little. 
 
 ' Oh, you would,' said Captain Bertie, in 
 an easier tone. ' We are quite agreed.' 
 
 After this, thinking it was a good oppor- 
 tunity of speaking up for Charles to his uncle, 
 whose opinion might be of great importance 
 to him hereafter, Bell searched her memory 
 for every little trait of goodness in him, and 
 succeeded in showing him in a very favour- 
 able light. 
 
 After this, thinking it was also a good 
 opportunity of putting in a word for Perry, 
 she spoke of him with all the warmth of her 
 generous nature ; told how the old sailors 
 and fishermen delighted in him — how well 
 he bore his disappointment about going with 
 Miss Biddy — and, venturing to amuse as well 
 as interest, told of his testamentary disposi- 
 tions, which made Captain Bertie smile. 
 
 ' You are evidently high in Perry's graces/ 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 241 
 
 said he, ' or he would not have called his 
 brig The Bell/' What is he doing now ?' 
 
 She told of his daily lessons. 
 
 ' Does he get through all that ? You 
 must give him a good many lifts, I fancy.' 
 
 ' Yes, I do,' said she simply. ' You know 
 our object is the same.' 
 
 ' What object 
 
 ' To get him on.' 
 
 ' You think, then, your lifts do not teach 
 him to evade difficulties ' 
 
 ' O no, I am sure they do not ; they are 
 not of that kind.' 
 
 When this subject was exhausted, they 
 ceased talking, and fell into reverie. Bell's 
 thoughts, suddenly turned from their pre- 
 vious channel, were very pleasurable, but 
 gradually reverted to their original course 
 as she drew nearer and nearer to Hetty ; 
 and Captain Bertie, by the light of their 
 carriage lamps, could see tears shining in 
 her eyes. After watching her a little, un- 
 perceived, he said, — 
 
 ' Where do you get out ?' 
 
 ' At Burley Gate.' 
 
 * Then we are close upon it. Shall you 
 take a fly ?' 
 
 'Yes, I suppose I had better, if there be one.' 
 Q 
 
242 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' I'll ascertain/ 
 
 He did so; saw her into it, shook hands 
 with her like an old friend, said, ' I trust 
 you will find your sister better;' saw her off, 
 and, returning to the train, availed himself 
 of the privilege of his first-class ticket. 
 Whatever his course of thought was, as he 
 pursued his journey, it was grave and 
 absorbing. 
 
 Bell, meanwhile, found herself traversing 
 unknown country roads and lanes, in almost 
 total darkness. Presently the moon broke 
 through clouds, and gave a vague and ghastly 
 light. At length they stopped, and the driver 
 shouted, ' Gate ! Gate !' 
 
 After a time, an old man opened the door 
 of a pretty lodge and unlocked the gate, and 
 held it open while they drove in. The fly 
 clattered down a long avenue, and at length 
 drew up at the back entrance of a heavy pile 
 of buildings ; irregular outlines of tower, 
 turret, and balustrade sharply cutting against 
 the moonlit sky. The driver rang a deep- 
 toned bell ; an entrance-door presently opened 
 and some one looked out. Bell heard a 
 man's subdued voice say,- - 
 
 ' Here s Miss Bell, I think, Mrs. Mellon.' 
 
 He came out, handed her out of the fly, 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 243 
 
 dismissed the driver, and accompanied her 
 into a vaulted stone lobby, with many pas- 
 sages branching from it. 
 
 ' You will find your sister no worse, Miss 
 Frobisher,' said he kindly. ' I daresay your 
 good nursing will make her better. The 
 doctor says the crisis is past. This is Mrs. 
 Mellon's room.' 
 
 He showed her into a comfortable room, 
 with tw^o candles and a cheerful fire burning ; 
 and Mrs. Mellon, who seemed busy grating 
 nutmeg, came forward and welcomed her in 
 a motherly manner. 
 
 ' I knew you 'd come,^ said she. ' I told 
 Miss Hetty you were coming, and she has 
 been better ever since/ 
 
 ^ I should like to see her at once, please,' 
 said Bell. 
 
 ' You shall see her at once, only first you 
 must drink a little of this white-wine negus, 
 and eat this bit of toast, to warm you after 
 your journey, for you look quite cold — and, 
 my dear, you have cut your face, and it has 
 been bleeding ! You must wash it, and re- 
 fresh yourself a little, or you '11 frighten your 
 sister. Don't fancy I want to keep you 
 from her a minute longer than I can help, 
 for I shall be very glad to be relieved from 
 
244 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 her charge ; my first duty, you know, being 
 to Lord Harry. He is going on nicely, I 
 am happy to say ; but poor Mary and 
 Jane are almost worn out. I don't know 
 what we should have done without Mr. 
 Harper. Usually, he is shut up with his 
 books ; but really he has been Jack of all 
 trades. You see, we are slack of hands, 
 my lord and lady being abroad. Some of 
 the establishment are gone to their homes, 
 and others discharged. Lord Harry would 
 have done badly but for Miss Hetty and me, 
 but indeed she took the greatest part of the 
 fag till she fell ill herself He was so fond 
 of her, he could not bear her out of his 
 sight.' 
 
 All this while Bell was washing her face, 
 smoothing her hair, arranging her dress, and 
 taking a few spoonfuls of the hot negus. 
 As Mrs. Mellon saw she was really impatient 
 to be with her sister, she did not insist on 
 her finishing the contents of the great cut- 
 glass goblet, but led the way along matted 
 passages, and up narroAv back - stairs, and 
 along other passages, till they reached 
 Hetty's bedroom. Directly she opened the 
 door, Hetty partly raised herself from her 
 pillow, saying, in a strangely altered voice, — 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 245 
 
 ' Oh, Bell, I 'm so glad you Ve come !' and 
 then fell back again. 
 
 Bell, quite forgetful, or neglectful of pre- 
 caution, bent over her and kissed her, pre'ssed 
 her hot hand, and then sat down beside her. 
 
 ' I can't talk much, my head aches so,' 
 said Hetty, ' and I can't look at you much, 
 the light glares so ; but do keep near me, 
 and let me feel you are near.' 
 
 ^Yes, I will,' said Bell. 
 
 Hetty closed her eyes in full trust, and, 
 after a few restless movements, fell asleep ; 
 on which Mrs. Mellon, giving Bell a signifi- 
 cant look of satisfaction, indicated by signs 
 the position of the medicine, the watch, the 
 lemon-water, etc., and then, with a little nod, 
 stole away to Lord Harry. 
 
 Bell found herself seated in a very com- 
 fortable high-backed nursing-chair ; it was a 
 great relief to see Hetty sleeping so quietly ; 
 she intended to sit watching beside her all 
 night, but her unvvronted fatigue and excite- 
 ment, and the sedative effect of the negus, 
 gradually asserted their influence on her 
 nerves — 
 
 ' Till, like a shutting flower, her senses close, 
 And on her lies the beauty of repose. ' 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 s the ' Lively Peggy ' came into 
 harbour, Miss Biddy missed the 
 loved familiar sisters flying down 
 to meet her. True, she knew 
 that Hetty would not be there, but she 
 strained her eyes in vain for Bell ; and would 
 have foreboded some disaster, had not Mrs. 
 Bertie and Perry stood at the edge of the 
 quay to greet her. 
 
 As Miss Biddy stepped on shore, she 
 grasped Mrs. Bertie's hand, and said, — 
 
 ' I am very glad, indeed, to see you ; but 
 how lonely it is to miss the girls !^ 
 
 ' Bell has gone to see Hetty,^ said Mrs. 
 Bertie. 
 
 ' To see Hetty ? Was she asked ?' 
 ' Yes. Hetty was not very well, and 
 wished to see her sister. So they sent for 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 247 
 
 her. Hetty had taken a feverish complaint 
 from Lord Harry/ 
 
 'Dear me!' cried Miss Biddy, perturbed. 
 ' Scarlet fever, perhaps/ 
 
 ' Yes, it was ; but don't be alarmed. She 
 is doing nicely now/ 
 
 ' But Bell ! Bell may catch it.' 
 
 ' Bell is in quarantine at present, but it is 
 nearly over. She has shown no symptoms 
 of fever as yet ; and the doctor says she 
 may soon be considered safe/ 
 
 ' Dear Bell ! poor Hetty V said Miss Biddy 
 with emotion. ' I felt as if something must 
 have gone wrong when I missed them on 
 the quay. Poor, dear girls V and she was 
 absently turning up the accustomed path to 
 her old house, when she stopped short and 
 then changed her course, saying, a little 
 bitterly, — 
 
 ' I have no roof of my own over my head 
 now.' 
 
 ' No ; but you soon will have,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie ; ' and, meanwhile, I shall be delighted 
 to have you. I miss Bell so, you can't think 
 — and you will help to fill her place.' 
 
 ' And / miss Bell,' put in Perry with em- 
 phasis. Then sliding his hand into hers, he 
 said artlessly, — 
 
248 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Has this been a good trip 
 
 ' Yes, Perry, a very good one. I ought to 
 be very glad and thankful, only I 'm sorry 
 for my sisters/ 
 
 ' But, Miss Biddy, only think,' resumed 
 Perry, ' uncle Peregrine has been down to 
 see us ; and, oh ! he 's such a — brick ! We 
 all like him very much indeed, and he liked 
 mamma and Bell, and I think he liked me 
 too pretty well, but he sent Charles home 
 because he hadn't the making of a sailor in 
 him/ 
 
 Perry said all this very fast, not wanting 
 to be forestalled ; but Mrs. Bertie went on 
 with — 
 
 ' Yes, indeed, this has been quite an 
 eventful time during your absence. Captain 
 Bertie's visit took me quite by surprise ; and 
 of course I was greatly disappointed about 
 Charles ; but he broke it to me so kindly, 
 and is such a fine, high-spirited, noble-minded 
 man ; quite the gentleman, and quite a Ber- 
 tie, and the very image of my poor Charles ; 
 and though he has sent back one nephew, he 
 is going to take the other. Perry, you need 
 not prick up your ears ; we are pretty sure 
 (was what I was going to say) that he will 
 do something for Perry some of these days, 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 249 
 
 if Perry will be a good boy and get on with 
 his lessons/ 
 
 ' Yes, I 'm quite sure/ interposed Perry, 
 ' because he said it/ 
 
 Miss Biddy's lively interest in these com- 
 munications was broken by salutations, right 
 and left, to the various old acquaintance ac- 
 customed to greet her on her return from 
 sea ; and only fragments of talk ensued till 
 they reached Mrs. Bertie's house, where she 
 was immediately installed in the neat little 
 room that had been allotted to Bell. Soon 
 she found herself comfortably seated at Mrs. 
 Bertie's fireside, when the chat was resumed 
 at the tea-table, and she heard the full de- 
 tails of Bells hasty departure, the railway 
 accident, the rencontre with Captain Bertie, 
 and h^ subsequent attendance on Hetty. 
 
 ' Bell says they are as kind as kind can 
 be,' said Mrs. Bertie, ' but it seems strange 
 to her to see such an immense house with 
 only two or three servants in it, and most of 
 the rooms shut up. Now that Hetty and 
 Lord Harry are recovering, they make quite 
 a snug little party in the housekeeper's room, 
 where the little Lord will be close to his 
 darling Hetty, though she is too weak to 
 amuse him ; so it devolves on Bell to enter- 
 
250 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 tain without fatiguing him, just as she used 
 to entertain Perry, and Mr. Harper is pretty 
 often of the party/ 
 
 'Who is Mr. Harper?' interrupted Miss 
 Biddy. 
 
 ' Mr. Harper,' said Mrs. Bertie, ' is the 
 son of the tutor who made the grand tour 
 with the Marquis ; and the Marquis had 
 such a good opinion of the father that he 
 resolved to befriend the son, so he paid his 
 college expenses, and made him his librarian ; 
 and now that Lord Harry is recovering from 
 the pressure on the brain, he is to be put 
 under Mr. Harper, who is to teach him, 
 little by little, as he can bear it, till he can 
 take his place among other boys. Bell says 
 he is very gentle and domestic, and makes 
 himself quite at home in their small, circle, 
 which he seems to prefer to his own pretty 
 cottage in the grounds. The Marquis and 
 Marchioness are on their way home now 
 from Styria, and it seems likely Hetty's 
 engagement will end when they return.' 
 
 ' Well, I shall be very glad to get her 
 back again,' said Miss Biddy ; ' for it hardly 
 seems like coming home when neither of 
 the girls comes to meet me. The worst of 
 it is that it isnt coming home, for I 've no 
 
^Miss Biddy Frobisher, 251 
 
 home to come to, and should not know- 
 where to put the girls if they were here. I 
 shall go and look at Mary Gray's rooms to- 
 morrow. She must be on the point of mar- 
 riage now, and will soon want the cottage 
 off her hands/ 
 
 ' Yes, Bell has had more than one talk 
 with her about it,' said Mrs. Bertie, ' and 
 has planned it all quite nicely, so that only 
 your confirmation is wanting.' 
 
 'Are you going to be confirmed?' said 
 Perry in surprise, at which they laughed. 
 
 ' Mary Gray is going to be married on 
 Saturday,' he presently added ; ' she wouldn't 
 be married on Friday, because it 's unlucky.' 
 
 ' Mary Gray and I shall soon arrange 
 matters,^ said Miss Biddy, 'and what things 
 I cannot pack into the house, I shall sell.' 
 
 ' O no, do not, you will get so little for 
 them,' said Mrs. Bertie, ' and some of these 
 days you may again be able to use them 
 in a good house.' 
 
 ' Well, I wish it may be so ; but the day 
 is far off yet.' 
 
 ' But you haven't heard about Charles ? 
 Charles's prospects have much changed.' 
 
 ' Indeed .'^ Do tell me all about it.' 
 
 ' He was very mortified, poor fellow, of 
 
252 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 course, at being sent home by his uncle ; 
 but Captain Bertie has so good a heart that 
 he would not lose si^-ht of him. He wrote 
 about him to his brother. Before anything 
 ensued from it, Mr. Bertie's only son, a fine 
 lad of fifteen, who was doated on by his 
 grandfather, accidentally shot himself in 
 crossing a stile with his gun. You may 
 imagine what grief the family was plunged 
 into by this sad event. Old Sir Peregrine, 
 I understand, took it in a very unsubdued 
 manner; you know he thinks everything 
 ought to bend to his will, and cannot bear 
 to be crossed. It was on his estate the 
 accident happened, for Hugh was often 
 staying with him ; so the family vault was 
 opened, and there was a superb midnight 
 funeral, the tenantry bearing torches and so 
 forth — quite in the old feudal manner. Mr. 
 Hugh Bertie was chief mourner, of course. 
 They say that the meeting with his father 
 was quite affecting ; the old man breaking 
 down for the first time, and shedding tears. 
 But I 'm afraid they were not from so pure 
 a source as we could wish. He regrets that 
 the only son of his eldest son is gone ; and 
 now that he has only two childless sons 
 living (at least, there 's a girl, who doesn't 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 253 
 
 count for anything), Charles becomes of 
 importance, you see ! So Sir Peregrine 
 sent for him to be at the funeral ; and his 
 sober, composed mien (v/hich Captain Bertie, 
 by the way, calls conceited) pleased his 
 grandfather, who told him he was glad to 
 see him so much of a Bertie. So, after 
 keeping him with him a few days, he sent 
 him to Mr. Hugh Bertie, with plenty of 
 money in his pocket (which Charles very 
 generously and dutifully has remitted to 
 me), telling him he would henceforth have 
 a fixed and ample allowance, and sending 
 instructions to Mr. Bertie to take the proper 
 steps to fit Charles for the future represen- 
 tative of the house. This I have had partly 
 from Charles, and partly from his uncle. So 
 I think,^ concluded Mrs. Bertie with tempered 
 complacence, ' I may consider Charles as 
 provided for.' 
 
 ' Yes, indeed,' said Miss Biddy warmly, 
 ' and I heartily rejoice at it.' 
 
 ' Charles is a very good boy, and certainly 
 clever,' pursued his mother ; ' and if he has 
 his little faults, they are such as will be 
 looked on with indulgence. I only hope 
 he may not be spoilt. I hope his grand- 
 father will not make him such a curmudgeon 
 
2 54 Miss Biddy F^^obisher, 
 
 as himself. Rich as he is, he is never bene- 
 volent : he will spend any amount of money 
 to keep up the family, but not a sovereign 
 to save a poor man from want. I do hope 
 Charles will never grow niggardly ; and, 
 therefore, I am very glad he is put under 
 his good uncle while his character is still 
 ductile.' 
 
 ' Charles always appeared singularly reli- 
 gious and steady for his age, so that I hope 
 and think he may be trusted.' 
 
 Miss Biddy did not let many hours elapse 
 before she came to an understanding with 
 Mary Gray ; so that, at the week's end, she 
 was put in possession of the cottage, and 
 her former servant undertook to clean it 
 down. Meanwhile she had her professional 
 business to attend to ; and by the time that 
 was off her hands, she was ready to move 
 as much of her furniture into the four-roomed 
 cottage as it would hold. It consisted of a 
 parlour, kitchen, and two little bedrooms : 
 it was a quaint little tenement, and Miss 
 Biddy felt that when she had her bureau, 
 and her arm-chair, and her own bed, and her 
 picture of Sir Martin Frobisher about her, 
 she should be comfortable enough. 
 
 Bell returned just in time to assist in the 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 255 
 
 removal. She had left Hetty convalescent 
 and happy, and had enjoyed her stay with 
 her very much. It had pleased her to wander 
 about the suites of rooms, and make acquaint- 
 ance with the pictures, miniatures, and cabi- 
 nets. Of these Mrs. Mellon had many an 
 interesting detail to give ; and there was a 
 fresh unhackneyed charm to Bell in the auto- 
 graph of Sir Philip Sydney, and the pin- 
 cushion worked by Mary Queen of Scots, 
 and the doublet and gauntlet of Sir Francis 
 Drake. The library, with its niches full of 
 shelves, and its gallery running along the 
 upper part, held more books than she had 
 supposed any one person to possess ; and 
 Mr. Harper, who was here to be found dust- 
 ing the precious volumes with a silk pocket- 
 handkerchief, was not sorry to vary the 
 monotony of his task by directing her atten- 
 tion to some of the curiosities of literature. 
 As he talked to her of one book and another, 
 he ascertained that though she had not read 
 many books, she had made good use of those 
 within her reach, and was pleased with her 
 good taste and judgment. Hetty had read 
 nothing like as much as Bell, and was in 
 nowise fond of study, but Mr. Harper did 
 not like her the less for it. Seclusion, leisure. 
 
256 Miss Biddy Prodis her. 
 
 and ' propinquity ' had brought him very 
 nearly to the point of falHng in love with 
 the gentle pretty girl who played so good- 
 humouredly with Lord Harry, and gave up 
 her entire time to him without spoiling him. 
 Hetty's mind had not to descend from a 
 painful height to her allotted task ; she liked 
 her surroundings, her position, and her pay, 
 so that she really was very happy in the 
 present ; and as soon as it dawned upon her 
 that Mr. Harper was thinking of her for his 
 wafe, she became very happy in the promise 
 of the future. Her engagement did not end 
 with Lord Harrys fever ; his parents were 
 pleased with her for having nursed him 
 through it at the cost of a dangerous illness 
 to herself. They begged her to continue 
 with him through the winter ; tempering the 
 fatigue of Mr. Harpers short and easy in- 
 structions by long games of play, treats of 
 story-telling, etc. The little boy learnt to 
 love her almost as much as Perry loved Bell, 
 though in a more self-willed manner. He 
 often made unreasonable requests, and Hetty 
 often yielded to them ; for love knows no 
 load, and the secret of his loving her so was, 
 that, with a child's quick instinct, he knew 
 she loved hint. 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 257 
 
 Bell, then; left Hetty very useful, valued, 
 and happy. She was sure Mr. Harper was 
 attached to her, but quite ignorant Avhether 
 he were in a position to marry her ; so she 
 left events to take their course, as Hetty 
 did, without too anxious thought for the 
 morrow. Thus she returned to Hardsand, 
 bright and cheerful in the consciousness 
 of fulfilled duty and her sister's restored 
 health, and entered gladly into Biddy's busy 
 cares about the furnishing. Soon the house 
 assumed an air of complete comfort, such as 
 Mary Gray's poor and scanty effects could 
 never give it ; and the sisters had long talks 
 in the long evenings, or worked, wrote, or 
 read, in social silence. 
 
 * There is no need of much to say, 
 Or much to tell and hear ; 
 It is enough to know and feel, 
 That those we love are near.' 
 
 Miss Biddy now rejoiced in having some- 
 thing to set against her father's debt again, 
 and she trusted that, with the continued bless- 
 ing of Providence, the day would come, 
 though it might yet be distant, when she 
 should pay his creditors in full. She was 
 now getting more and more familiar with 
 her strange mode of life, and securing more 
 
 R 
 
258 
 
 Miss Biddy F^obisher. 
 
 confidence from her employers ; so that, with 
 unfaihng request for God's blessing on her 
 basket and her store, on her going out and 
 coming in, she hoped to see the desire of 
 her soul accomplished. There was yet time 
 for one more trip, before the brig was laid 
 up for the winter. 
 
 Bell did not at all mind being left in the 
 house by herself, but Mrs. Bertie was so 
 fond of her that she insisted on her locking 
 it up and staying with her in Miss Biddy's 
 absence. Mrs. Bertie's circumstances were 
 now much easier, for Charles generously 
 sent her half his allowance ; and when one 
 does not take a larger house or more ser- 
 vants, or set up a carriage, and so forth, a 
 little addition to the average income gives 
 real ease and comfort. But she still kept on 
 her school, for Charles might displease his 
 capricious, tyrannical grandfather at any 
 moment, and find all his favours with- 
 drawn. 
 
 One day Bell received a letter from Charles, 
 inscribed ' Private,' and thinking it might 
 contain something unpleasant to communi- 
 cate to Mrs. Bertie, she took it with her to 
 read in her sister's cottage, which she was 
 just going to look after. Having unlocked 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 259 
 
 the door and opened the shutters, she sat 
 down in Biddy's arm-chair to con at her 
 leisure what Charles might have to say. 
 
 He began with expressions of the most 
 unfeigned esteem. He thought she must 
 know, he said, that she had been his first 
 model of what a woman ought to be. Her 
 friendship had raised him to a higher plat- 
 form ; he could trace certain good and high 
 qualities which he hoped he might without 
 vanity say he possessed Not without vanity !' 
 thought Bell) to her influence. He had 
 shown in many direct and indirect ways, the 
 admiration he had, even in boyhood, felt for 
 her. It was therefore his duty, as a Chris- 
 tian, nay, as a mere man of honour, to ac- 
 quaint her in all frankness with a revulsion 
 in his feelings that had lately taken place. 
 
 What a blessing that I shan't mind it a bit!') 
 It was hardly in woman's nature, he feared 
 — in an ordinary woman's nature — to hear 
 praise of a rival with unwounded ear ; but 
 Bell was no ordinary woman ; she had gene- 
 rosity, strength of mind ; and therefore he, 
 without hesitation, or at any rate after a 
 little hesitation, threw himself on her gene- 
 rosity in avowing that his affections had 
 
26o Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 detached themselves from Bell and concen- 
 tred on his cousin Ellen. 
 
 Here Bell had a hearty laugh. ' A capital 
 thing too/ thought she. ' This will be just 
 the attachment to please your grandfather. 
 O you conceited fellow ! to think I should 
 care a straw about it. It would be just the 
 same, though, if I did. Let me see what 
 more you have to say, Mr. Charles.' 
 
 He added hurriedly, that as he believed 
 his mother had not been aware of any serious 
 intentions on his part, and had at most only 
 considered his love for Bell a boyish fancy, 
 he thought there was no good in speaking 
 to her about it, and should be obliged by 
 her keeping the present communication en- 
 tirely to herself. He added, ' You need not 
 write to tell me that you will ; I know I 
 may trust to your honour.^ 
 
 ' Yes, that you certainly may,' said Bell, 
 tearing his letter into little bits, and throw- 
 ing it into the grate. ' I hope you will be 
 truer to Ellen than you have been to me.'' 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ERRY was reading aloud to Bell, 
 ' I now served out an ounce of 
 raw pork to each man/ when a 
 voice that made them both start 
 said, at the half-open door, — 
 ' Perry, how are you, my man ?' 
 ' Uncle Perry ! O jolly !' exclaimed Perry 
 in ecstasy, dashing down his book. ' Are 
 you come to dine ?' 
 
 ' Dine ! Why, I have but just break- 
 fasted,' said Captain Bertie, laughing, and 
 entering the parlour. 
 
 ' I 'm afraid I cause sad commotion and 
 misrule. Miss Frobisher,' said he, shaking 
 hands with her ; ' no more lessons to be got 
 out of Perry, apparently, till I go away.' 
 
 ' No, indeed,' said Bell. ' I will go and 
 call Mrs. Bertie.' 
 
 ' One moment — how is your sister, your 
 youngest sister ?' 
 
262 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ' Oh, quite well now, thank you. How 
 obliged I was, and am, to you, Captain 
 Bertie, for your kindness to me on the 
 journey ! I shall never forget it/ 
 
 ' Don't mention it. There was no kind- 
 ness.' 
 
 ' Indeed there was ! great kindness ! But 
 for you I should not have saved the train.' 
 
 ' Oh, I was very glad to be of service, 
 but I must have been a brute if I had not/ 
 
 ' Well, I am very much obliged to you 
 indeed.' And she left the room and went 
 for Mrs. Bertie, who heard of her visitor 
 with joy unalloyed, and gladly obeyed the 
 summons. 
 
 ' I wonder if he will dine here } And the 
 butcher has not been. Would you mind 
 running down. Bell, and ordering something 
 to be sent up at once ? It's no use saying 
 what I Vv^ould like to have ; you must see 
 what is to be had.' 
 
 Bell did so ; and instead of returning, went 
 on to her sisters cottage. Mrs. Bertie had 
 no fear now of her brother-in-law ; she felt they 
 were en rapport, and could truthfully say — 
 
 ' This is a pleasant surprise ! I am very 
 glad indeed to see you. Captain Bertie !' 
 
 ' We seem like old friends now,' said he, 
 
Miss Biddy Frodisker. 263 
 
 taking her hand. ' I sure I feel you to 
 be one/ 
 
 ' Yes, you may. I so very glad we 
 are good friends ! Any news of Charles ? 
 
 ' None that I know of. I must ask news 
 of you. Perry, my boy, you may run ofi. 
 I '11 take a walk with you by and by.' 
 
 Perry clutched his brig under his arm, 
 and went away without another word, care- 
 fully closing the door behind him. 
 
 ' A good boy that,^ said his uncle, looking 
 after him. ' He'll do well, you may depend.' 
 
 ' I am so glad you think so !' 
 
 ' I really do. ' He 11 do credit to me, he '11 
 do credit to you, he '11 do credit to Miss 
 Frobisher. She still goes on amateur go- 
 vernessing, I see/ 
 
 ' Yes ; it is very good of her. I am cer- 
 tain Perry gets on twice as fast with her as 
 he would with any one else. She gives him 
 such strong motives. He used to be rather 
 fond of flying off from one thing to another ; 
 but now he is steady, and can control him- 
 self.' 
 
 ' Excellent. Just as I said. He will do 
 credit to us all. As for Charles, he '11 get 
 along very well too, I make no doubt, now 
 he 's on terra fir77ta. But Perry — Charles 
 
264 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 will get on very well as long as he 's in my 
 father s good graces, but he must be careful 
 how he gets out of them ; for my father 
 rules us all. He will rule, or cast off alto- 
 gether. You know something of this : you 
 remember ?' 
 
 ' Yes — yes indeed,^ a little awe-stricken. 
 
 ' Charles has a good deal of self-will, is 
 rather fond of never-minding. So that a 
 gentle hint from you, his tender mother, may 
 perhaps warn him off shoals and quicksands.' 
 
 ' Certainly, I will tell him to be wary, by 
 all means.' 
 
 ' I don't want to advise dissimulation, you 
 know, but just a little prudence.' 
 
 ' Yes, yes, I understand — perfectly.' 
 
 ' I remember your telling me, the first 
 time I was down here — as a joke, you know 
 — of his fancying himself in love with Miss 
 — Miss Frobisher, and my laughing at such 
 a mere boy having any pretensions of the 
 kind. His affections are rather vagrant, it 
 seems; for now, I understand, he 's desperately 
 in love with his cousin Ellen.' 
 
 ' Dear me,' said Mrs. Bertie, rather dis- 
 turbed. 
 
 ' No harm in it, ma'am. Quite a suitable 
 match, if they were but old enough. My 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker, 265 
 
 father would like well enough to see them 
 betrothed even now — tied up together so 
 fast that there should be no escape/ 
 
 ' Dear me ! Well, it seems Charles won't 
 cross Sir Peregrine's wishes in this respect, 
 at any rate/ 
 
 ' Why, no. My father has quite a marry- 
 ing furor on him at present — m.arrying or 
 giving in marriage/ 
 
 * Why diOXit yoti marry, Captain Bertie ?' 
 
 * I !' said he, colouring so suddenly and 
 vividly that she was quite shocked at her 
 bluntness. ' Oh, I 'm quite too old, you 
 know,' with a little embarrassed laugh. 
 
 ' I certainly know no such thing. You 're 
 not too old at all. I call yours quite the 
 right age, and I 'm sure you 'd make an 
 excellent husband.' 
 
 ' All this I have been told quite recently. 
 It comes mended from your lips. But no ; 
 my ship is my wife, and I am returning to 
 her almost immediately. Mrs. Bertie, I 
 think when I come to England next time, 
 I might take Perry on board. What say 
 you ? Can you part with him ?' 
 
 ' What can I say ?' returned she, with tears 
 starting to her eyes. ' The parting will be 
 hard, come when it will, but it must come 
 
266 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 soon or late ; and such an excellent opening — 
 it is so good of you to propose it/ 
 
 ' That 's enough. We won't say any more. 
 We understand each other. And now, I 
 think I must be off.' 
 
 ' Won't you stay to dine ? Do stay/ 
 
 ' Hum — well — I don^t know what to say. 
 Be candid now, and tell me if I shall be a 
 bore ?^ 
 
 ' A bore ! No, certainly.' 
 
 * Put you horridly out of the way ?' 
 
 ' No, not in the least.' 
 
 ' Won't make any difference ?' 
 
 ' Not a bit of difference.' 
 
 She was making a mental reservation, but 
 it really must be excused ; what business had 
 he to ask such a question ? 
 
 ' Oh, well then. It may be a long while 
 before I am here again,' with a piteous em- 
 phasis on long, ' and really, Mrs. Bertie, I 
 enjoy myself uncommonly when I come, for 
 I so seldom have the treat of a woman's 
 society.' 
 
 ' Where can Bell be ?' said Mrs. Bertie, 
 wishing to leave her to entertain Captain 
 Bertie, while she made a hasty revision of 
 her dinner. But no Bell was at hand, nor 
 was she wanted, for Captain Bertie, remem- 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 267 
 
 bering his promise, went to the door and 
 called out, — 
 
 ' Now then. Perry !' 
 
 Down rushed Perry, cap in hand, and off 
 they started. 
 
 * Where are you steering for?' said the 
 captain. 
 
 ' Would you like to see the picture of Sir 
 Martin Frobisher, uncle ?^ 
 
 ' Sir Martin Frobisher ! Yes, by all 
 means.' 
 
 ' I thought you would, perhaps,' said Perry. 
 ' It was locked up in a warehouse when you 
 were here last, but I can show it you now. 
 I Ve been thinking over what you would 
 most like to see, and I thought it would be 
 that. Perhaps you mayn't like it much at 
 first ; I didn't, but now I 've got used to it 
 it seems to me a very nice picture indeed.' 
 
 ' Where is it ?' 
 
 ' In here,' said Perry, turning into Miss 
 Biddy's cottage, the door of which was ajar. 
 Entering the parlour, he said, ' Bell, here 's 
 Uncle Peregrine come to see Sir Martin 
 Frobisher's picture.' 
 
 Captain Bertie was quite confounded when 
 he saw Bell start up from her easy-chair and 
 drop her book ; but before he could utter a 
 
268 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 word of apology for his unintentional intru- 
 sion, she said very simply — 
 
 ' I shall be very glad of your opinion of it, 
 Captain Bertie, for we want very much to 
 know whether it is an original. Are you a 
 judge of pictures ?^ 
 
 * Not a very good judge, perhaps,' said he, 
 ' but we may all have our opinions. Where 
 is the picture ?' 
 
 ' This is it.' 
 
 ' This r 
 
 It was difficult to decipher his expression 
 as he looked hard at the blackavised old 
 commander. 
 
 ' Who do you suppose the artist to be ' 
 said he. 
 
 ' We have not the least idea,' said Bell. 
 
 ' Oh,' said he, smiling ; ' I thought you 
 wanted me to determine whether it were a 
 Holbein, or so forth.' 
 
 ' We know nothing of Holbeins. What 
 we want to know is, is it a likeness of Sir 
 Martin Frobisher or not ?' 
 
 ' Why in the world should not it be ?' 
 said he briskly, while his eyes laughed 
 merrily, if his mouth did not. 
 
 ' I don't know, I 'm sure,' said Bell. 
 
 ' Nor I neither. Why in the world should 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 269 
 
 we doubt it ? Why, this dirty old frame, 
 this worm-eaten panel, carry their date with 
 them. I daresay it 's been ever so long in 
 your family/ 
 
 ' O yes, ever so long/ 
 
 ' Precisely as I supposed. Why in the 
 world should this old picture have been pre- 
 served in your family, if it had not been Sir 
 Martin Frobisher ? You can't call it pretty ; 
 there 's nothing in it to attract the eye ; 
 nothing to make it of value on its own ac- 
 count, either in execution or anything else : 
 it must have been preserved simply because 
 it was the authentic likeness of a famous 
 man. Clearly, it is Sir Martin Frobisher.' 
 
 ' Hurra !' said Perry. 
 
 Bell looked very much pleased, and said, 
 ' I am very glad of it. You have made it 
 quite clear/ 
 
 ' O yes,' said Captain Bertie, taking a cane 
 chair, and sitting down on it with his chin 
 and knuckles resting on the back. Having 
 persuaded her, he was doing his best to per- 
 suade himself. ' It must be so ; Plato, thou 
 reasonest well/' Who was Plato, Perry V 
 
 ' An Attic philosopher, uncle.' 
 
 ' Why did you give Miss Frobisher that 
 quick look ? / saw it, you monkey !' 
 
Miss Biddy Fi^obishei^ 
 
 ' I looked to be sure I was right,' said 
 Perry, laughing, ' but I knew I was/ 
 
 ' You thought you would make assurance 
 doubly sure — like my assurance about this 
 picture/ 
 
 ' You are not laughing at it, are you ?' 
 said Bell doubtfully. 
 
 ' Laughing ? I laugh ? I ^m as grave as 
 a judge. I consider the authenticity of this 
 portrait a very serious question. You have 
 not any manuscripts or relics of Frobisher, 
 I suppose ?' 
 
 ' No.' 
 
 ' Nothing but this picture. Suppose we 
 take it down, and look at the back.' 
 
 They did so ; two of the party being duly 
 mystified and impressed. 
 
 ' Why, look here now !' exclaimed Captain 
 Bertie with great animation, ' what have we 
 here ? The initials M. F„ What do they 
 stand for but Martin Frobisher ?' 
 
 ' Shouldn't there have been an S. for Sir ?' 
 timidly suggested Perry. 
 
 ' Decidedly not. Sir is a title, not a name,' 
 said his uncle. Perry was silenced. 
 
 ' Might they not be my father's ini- 
 tials ?' suggested Bell. ' Mr. Frobisher, you 
 know.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisker. 2 7 1 
 
 ' Captain Frobisher/ said Perry. 
 'Was his name Martin?' said Captain 
 Bertie. 
 
 ' No : John.' 
 
 'Well then, his initials would have been 
 J. F. not M. F. No, no ; this picture is 
 hundreds of years before your father's time, 
 Miss Frobisher. I choose to consider it a 
 portrait of Sir Martin till proved to be the 
 contrary. I replace it on the nail with the 
 reverence due to an original portrait of the 
 sixteenth century.^ 
 
 Bell and Perry looked equally pleased. 
 
 ' Well, that 's settled, that 's one comfort,' 
 said Perry. 
 
 'But what a pretty little room that is!' 
 said Captain Bertie, looking round. ' I 'm 
 afraid I had no right to come here. It 
 is evidently fitted up solely for female 
 occupation. I feel dreadfully like a tres- 
 passer.' 
 
 ' Miss Biddy had a much larger house 
 than this,' said Perry, ' but Mr. Craikie turned 
 her out of it.' 
 
 ' Mr. Craikie must have been a scoundrel. 
 Come, Perry, you and I ought to be off. We 
 interrupt Miss Frobisher's studies. She 
 wishes us to go.' 
 
2/2 Miss Biddy Fro bis her. 
 
 He gave her a smiling, interrogative look ; 
 and Bell smiled too, but did not invite him 
 to stay. 
 
 ' It's almost dinner-time/ said Perry. 
 * Come along, Bell/ 
 
 ' I shall follow you in good time,' said Bell ; 
 and they passed out. As soon as they were 
 gone, and she had closed the door, she sat 
 down opposite the picture, and remained 
 some time in pleasant reverie ; endeavouring 
 to recall every word, look, and tone, in which 
 she was very successful ; but though she 
 once doubted whether Captain Bertie had 
 been quizzing her, she put aside the doubt 
 as unworthy of him. 
 
 Mrs. Bertie was glad to show this time 
 that her own resources could supply a pretty 
 dinner. Captain Bertie, finding that nautical 
 experiences interested the ladies nearly or 
 quite as much as Perry, entered freely into 
 the events of his naval career, and, enjoying 
 such intelligent and sympathizing listeners, 
 went from one thing to another, dwelt 
 upon with light yet masterly touch, far into 
 the afternoon. They all seemed to have a 
 much clearer understanding of his character 
 than before, now that they knew something 
 of his hardships, his dangers, his wasting 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her, 273 
 
 suspenses, his grievous disappointments, his 
 isolation and banishment from his native 
 country. On the other hand, he had many 
 pleasant reminiscences of foreign lands, and 
 could entertainingly describe their principal 
 features of interest. 
 
 Regretfully glancing at his watch, he said, 
 ' I must be gone, though I could gladly linger 
 here much longer.' 
 
 They all looked sorry ; and Mrs. Bertie 
 accompanied him to the door. 
 
 ' You had better remember my advice, and 
 act upon it,' said she, laughing, as he was 
 going off. 
 
 ' What advice ' said he, stopping short. 
 ' Oh, I remember ! What tempters of us 
 poor men you daughters of Eve are!' 
 
 ' I am only tempting you for your good.' 
 
 He seemed inclined to say something in 
 reply, but checked himself, shook his head, 
 smiled, and was gone. 
 
 ' How I wish I was going with him !' said 
 Perry, with a great sigh. 
 
 ' You will, some of these days,' said Bell. 
 
 ' Don't I wish it were to-morrow !' 
 
 Before he went to bed that night. Captain 
 Bertie wrote to his father. According to 
 Mrs. Bertie, all the family were unsatisfactory 
 s 
 
2 74 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 letter- writers. Certainly the Captain's epistle 
 was very curt. It ran thus : — 
 
 ' Sir Peregrine, — Your letter, now lying 
 before me, strongly urges me to marry. If 
 I ever do so, there is but one woman to 
 whom I am disposed to offer my hand. She 
 is without fortune, and of decayed gentility 
 — of the family of Sir Martin Frobisher. — 
 I am, dear Sir Peregrine, your dutiful and 
 obedient son. Peregrine Bertie.* 
 
 *Sir Peregrine Bertie, Bart, 
 etc. etc' 
 
 Though this style of address might be 
 called the north side of affectionate. Sir 
 Peregrine always preferred respect to attach- 
 ment, and exacted the most formal expression 
 of it from his children. By return of post, 
 he wrote, — 
 
 ' Dear Peregrine, — For goodness' sake, 
 marry the young lady before you sail. I told 
 you if you gave me good descent, I would 
 not insist on fortune.' 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ERE a pretty kettle of fish !^ 
 mused Captain Bertie over this 
 letter. ' Really my old father 
 takes most extraordinary leaps, 
 from one extreme to the other. How is it 
 possible to obey orders, I should like to 
 know ? I ^11 take care not to give him time 
 to change his mind, that 's one thing ! ' 
 
 Starting up, he took im.mediate measures 
 for his journey without a second thought — 
 there would be plenty of time for that on the 
 road. To Mrs. Bertie's intense surprise, he 
 walked in, just as if he had never been out 
 of Hardsand. 
 
 * Dear me,' said she hastily, ' is anything 
 the matter ?' 
 
 ' You always think me the bearer of evil 
 tidings,' said he, smiling. ' Nothing is the 
 matter ; but I want to have a quiet talk 
 
 f 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 f 
 
2/6 Miss Biddy Fr obis her. 
 
 with you before I go on board. Don't you 
 know a woman's quick wit is sometimes 
 very helpful to a man under difficulties ?' 
 She looked pleased, and said, — 
 ' I 'm afraid I have not much wit, but what 
 little I have shall be freely used in helping 
 you if I can/ 
 
 * That 's right. Are we free from inter- 
 ruption ?' 
 
 ' We shall be, if you will wait a moment.' 
 
 Running' up to Bell, she said, * My dear 
 Bell, Captain Bertie has come down to speak 
 to me on some business of importance. We 
 must be free from interruption. Will you 
 attend to the little girls ?' 
 
 ' Certainly,' said Bell. ' Perry, you may 
 go and play.' 
 
 Mrs. Bertie returned to her visitor, who 
 gave a look of relief, and said, ' You have 
 not been long. I love promptitude.' 
 
 ' I could not live without it,' said Mrs. 
 Bertie. ' Well, now let me hear your diffi- 
 culties. Not a quarrel with your father, I 
 hope ?' Her kind eyes were full of solicitude. 
 
 ' No, but yet my father has something to 
 do with it. Mrs. Bertie, I would have spoken 
 to you about it yesterday, but somehow it 
 stuck in my throat. It seemed so quick ! — 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 277 
 
 but I 'm very quick. It seemed so inconsis- 
 tent — but I 'm sometimes inconsistent.' 
 
 ' Tm not aware of it, and there is no great 
 harm in being so/ said Mrs. Bertie. ' Every- 
 body is, sometimes, I think.' 
 
 'What would you say now, after all my 
 bachelor professions, if I were to talk of 
 marrying ? ' 
 
 *Say?' said she, laughing merrily, and 
 her whole face lighting up, 'why, that it is 
 the very thing I wish for you ! What did 
 Benedick say ? — When I said I would die 
 a bachelor, I did not think I should live to 
 be married." The wit and wisdom were 
 both on his side.' 
 
 'What a capital woman you are!' cried 
 he, grasping her hand. ' But can you guess 
 who she is ?' 
 
 ' I don't know that I can guess, but I know 
 who I should like. If it be any one I know, 
 there can be but one. But Sir Peregrine — ' 
 
 ' Ah ! Sir Peregrine, just now, is in such a 
 fix that he has completely altered his tone. 
 He doesn't care for money ; he only cares 
 for connexion.' 
 
 'Connexion!' repeated Mrs. Bertie in 
 dismay. ' But — ^ 
 
 ' He only cares for old descent — decayed 
 gentility. Read his letter.^ 
 
278 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 She did, and was duly astonished and 
 dehghted. 
 
 ' You wrote to him about her, then ?^ said 
 she, with joy. 
 
 ' Yes ; a bold step, wasn't it ? You see, 
 he wrote first. He was very urgent about 
 it, almost implored ; a very unusual thing 
 with Sir Peregrine. Now, the very first 
 day I spent here in Miss Frobisher s com- 
 pany, the thought pressed itself upon me — 
 
 Here is the woman I should like for my 
 wife.'' I thrust it from me, wouldn't attend 
 to it ; the thing seemed out of the question. 
 Still her sweet face and dignified yet simple 
 demeanour recurred to me when we were 
 apart ; and that talk you and I had about 
 her on the sands. Then, you know, we 
 were thrown together in that unexpected 
 way on the railway. I then saw what she 
 was. Intrepid, devoted, flying to the succour 
 of a sister at her own imminent risk ; setting 
 self at naught. I felt here was the very 
 character I could love with all my heart 
 and soul. Our courses diverged again. But 
 see the chain of events ! Hugh's death, my 
 father s anxieties, his altered tone, his urgent 
 letter, my coming down here and seeing her 
 again, this answer to my letter. Whom 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 279 
 
 God intends to join, there is no fear that 
 events shall sunder/ 
 
 ' No, indeed. But — really I think you 
 had better not speak to her, at first, of your 
 father's urgency/ 
 
 ' Most certainly not ! Let us both keep 
 it snug. I 'm not even fond of such hasty 
 measures myself generally. We must not 
 startle her. But you think I may speak to 
 her ? you will give me the opportunity ?' 
 
 ' Oh, that will not be difficult / and after 
 expatiating a little on Bell's admirable quali- 
 ties, and her deep love for her, and her 
 convictions that their characters would ac- 
 cord, to which Captain Bertie gave rather 
 divided attention, she said, ' Of course you 
 will dine here,' and he said he would ; and 
 here they came to a pause. She said she 
 believed she must return to her little scholars, 
 and he said he would take a turn before 
 dinner. 
 
 Directly the door closed after him, she 
 went to Bell, and said, ' I can relieve you 
 now; Captain Bertie is .gone.' 
 
 Bell returned to the parlour, and presently 
 Perry came in, all in a glow with running, 
 and said, ' Uncle Peregrine met me, and said 
 I 'd better attend to my lessons and be a 
 
28o Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 good boy ; and he has given me five shil- 
 Hngs ! Isn't he jolly ?' 
 
 ' Decidedly/ said Bell. ' The half-crowns 
 seem to ring very well. I m sure they are 
 good ones. I don't think you need try them 
 any more. If you put them in your pocket, 
 you will be able to attend to your sum.' 
 
 While their heads were close together 
 over the slate, Captain Bertie returned. 
 
 ' Perry/ said he, ' you '11 find my valise at 
 the booking-office ; it 's not very heavy. Go 
 and fetch it for me, my boy.' 
 
 ' Yes, uncle. And bring it here ?' 
 
 ' No, take it to the inn. Tell them to put 
 it in the room I had before. Now, don't run 
 for your life.' 
 
 ' But I shall though,' said Perry, with a 
 knowing nod. 
 
 'What! disobey orders ? At your peril, sir!' 
 
 And Perry, though thinking him in fun, 
 marched off very demurely. 
 
 ' We must teach that youngster obedience. 
 Miss P>obisher,' said he in a softer voice, 
 and seating himself near her. ' You have 
 taught him— you teach him everything that is 
 good. Don't go away; I've a few words to say.' 
 
 His few words proved too many to be 
 here repeated ; and their effect was to as- 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 281 
 
 tonish, bewilder, confuse, and touch Bell so 
 much, that she could not refrain from crying. 
 He was wondrously careful not to alarm her 
 — said nothing of an early day — kept his 
 father out of sight altogether, except by 
 saying that he was an old man now, and 
 would be pleased to see him settled ; he was 
 sure of his consent and approval. 
 
 Bell's head was in such a whirl, and her 
 heart beating so fast, that she knew not how 
 to arrange her words as she could wash. 
 She said she wished Biddy were here. She 
 did not like speaking on so important a 
 matter without the knowledge of her elder 
 sister ; but she did not doubt her approval ; 
 her good opinion of Captain Bertie was 
 already secured. She believed there was 
 no reason to think — 
 
 ' It is your approval, not hers, that I 
 want,' said Captain Bertie. 
 
 Her quick, smiling look, so quickly and 
 shyly withdrawn, told him he was assured of 
 it ; and after this they had a long, delightful 
 talk, that seemed to throw quite a different 
 hue on their present and future lives, and 
 on things in general. 
 
 Perry broke the spell by rushing in to 
 say, ' Bell, it 's past dinner-time.' 
 
282 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 So Bell ran away to dress, and Captain 
 Bertie went out to think what a happy fellow 
 he was, on the sea-shore. 
 
 Perry could not make out what was in 
 the air at dinner-time. He felt that some- 
 thing was different, but could not conceive 
 what it was, and looked from his mother to 
 Bell, and from Bell to his uncle, with such 
 an air of perplexity, that they were much 
 amused. 
 
 After dinner, Mrs. Bertie sent them all 
 out to walk on the sands, and to Perry's 
 great joy they went a mile or more beyond 
 the longest walk he had ever yet taken, and 
 then found a capital seat on the shingle, 
 where they could watch the tide coming in. 
 Here Perry alternately sat beside them, 
 looking from one to the other, and ran 
 down to look for shells. Captain Bertie tell- 
 ing him that he particularly wished for the 
 largest cowry to be found on that coast. 
 
 'What do you think of this coast said 
 Bell presently. 
 
 ' That is such a vague question,' returned 
 he, laughing. ' If you mean, what do I think 
 of it as respects the eye, I think it very tame, 
 compared with others I have seen, though 
 there are pretty little bits here and there. If 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher. 283 
 
 you mean, what do I think of it professionally, 
 as a sailor, I know nothing of it at all. I 
 know nothing of the soundings, the reefs, 
 the currents, the shifting sands, the sunken 
 rocks. Strictly speaking, I know nothing 
 of it whatever/ 
 
 ' Yet you have known it as long as . you 
 have known me,' said Bell simply. 
 
 He looked at her with quickness, and then 
 said, ' Oh, is that your drift ? Why, you 
 are as easily read as large print.' 
 
 ' Don't be too sure of that,' said Bell, ' and, 
 at any rate, I may not find it as easy to read 
 you! 
 
 He made no answer to the last, but, look- 
 ing at her earnestly, said, ' Why should I 
 not be too sure of it ?' 
 
 ' For the very reason you gave about the 
 coast,' said Bell. ' You see what it is, but 
 do not know what it has been, or may be. 
 Those cliffs, which you call tame, have been 
 much higher than they are now, even in my 
 memory. That gentle swell which now 
 drowsily rocks a few fishing-boats is some- 
 times increased to a roaring surge.' 
 
 ' But I don't believe,' returned he, smiling, 
 ' th^t you either rage or roar, let the outward 
 excitement be what it may. You can't shake 
 
284 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 my faith in you : I know you by intuition ; 
 why won't you let me be happy ? Let us 
 enjoy the present moment — 
 
 " Here, resting on our bank of thought ; 
 And listen, till our soul 
 The voices of the waves has caught, — 
 The music of their roll." ' 
 
 It appeared that Captain Bertie had not 
 yet received saiHng orders, but was expect- 
 ing them daily, and as soon as he received 
 them must put to sea. 
 
 ' They may be sealed orders ; they may 
 send me I know not where, nor for how 
 long. Shall you mind the suspense — the 
 separation ?' 
 
 ' I shall mind it very much, but I can bear 
 it. Only think how little we have seen of 
 each other/ 
 
 ' Yes, and that bright little oasis may be 
 gradually encroached on by clouds of sand, 
 if not buried altogether.' 
 
 ' What do you mean ?' 
 
 ' I mean that you have so very few me- 
 mories of me to preserve, that if we are 
 very long apart they may get weakened.' 
 
 ' Oh, well, if you think so of yourself, you 
 need not think so of me.' 
 
 ' No ; but how much better it would be if 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her, 285 
 
 all my little remaining time could be spent 
 with you/ 
 
 ' Yes, certainly/ 
 
 ' As your husband, I mean/ 
 
 ' No, that cannot be/ 
 
 ' I should like to leave you a right to my 
 name, to my effects, to a home of some sort. 
 I should go away so much happier/ 
 
 ' It cannot be,' said Bell. ' There is not 
 time. We were nothing to each other yes- 
 terday.' 
 
 ' Oh, how can you say so ?' 
 
 * And we may be very happy and thank- 
 ful to-day without taking thought for the 
 morrow.' 
 
 ' Supposing you were to come round to 
 what I wish, where should you like our 
 home to be ?' 
 
 ' Why, have you not just said you are 
 under sailing orders ? Your home will be 
 your ship. My home will be with my sister.' 
 
 ' But not in that little cottage. I could 
 not leave my wife there. My means are 
 moderate, but yet I must do something 
 better for her than that.' 
 
 ' If I had my wish — ' began Bell. 
 
 ' Well, what then ? Let me hear.' 
 
 ' Supposing things were as you were wish- 
 
2 86 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 ing they were, it would be very nice for me 
 to be living in our old house, and Biddy 
 with me/ 
 
 ' Why should it not be so ? Is it in the 
 market ?' 
 
 ' I believe Mr. Craikie wants to dispose 
 of it, but nobody wants to have it/ 
 
 ' I '11 speak to him this very evening. It 
 would be a pity to let it slip through my 
 fingers.' 
 
 Bell could not help looking very much 
 pleased. ' It would be the best plan every 
 way,' said she. ' The rent at present is 
 above our means, but not above yours, and 
 you would have no expense in furnishing, 
 because our old furniture would go into its 
 old place, and we should like it a great deal 
 better than new. Then I should be in my 
 old happy home, and under my sister's pro- 
 tection in your absence, and — ' 
 
 ' Be almost as comfortable as if you had no 
 husband at all,' said Captain Bertie laughing. 
 
 ' No,' said Bell gravely, ' you know that 
 was not what I meant.' 
 
 ' Perry, this is a very large cowry ; per- 
 haps the largest I ever saw. Thank you, 
 my boy, this will do famously. Now we 
 are going home to tea, and to call on Mr. 
 Craikie.' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobisher, 287 
 
 ' Better not mention our names/ said Bell. 
 ' He is not friendly towards us/ 
 
 ' Uncle knows that/ muttered Perry. ' He 
 called him a scoundrel.' 
 
 ' Say you are Mrs. Bertie's brother-in- 
 law ; that will carry much more weight.' 
 
 ' Very well, I will. Could not we get the 
 key of the house and go over it, if he seems 
 disposed to treat ?' 
 
 ' Undoubtedly. He would expect any one 
 who thought of taking it to go over it.' 
 
 * I '11 ask him for the key, then. I should 
 like to see a house where you have been so 
 happy/ 
 
 ' It will not seem much of a house to you,' 
 said Bell ; ' but it was a happy home to us.' 
 
 When they reached home. Perry found 
 his mother in the store-closet, and availed 
 himself of the opportunity. 
 
 ' Mamma,' said he in a confidential under- 
 tone, ' I don't know whether I ought to say 
 so, but I think Bell and Uncle Perry like 
 each other very much.' 
 
 ' I hope they do, Perry, for I like them 
 both/ 
 
 ' Yes, but' — with very round eyes, and still 
 lower voice — ' should you be very much sur- 
 prised if they were to marry ?' 
 
288 
 
 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 ' Well, I think they might do worse. Per- 
 haps they may some of these days/ 
 
 ' Yes, I think they will ; for, as I came up 
 to them on the shingle, I heard the word 
 husband/^ ' 
 
 ' You must not make sure of it from a 
 single word, though,' said Mrs. Bertie, laugh- 
 ing. ' Perhaps they will make up their minds 
 about it before Captain Bertie sails, if we 
 give them the oj^portunity of talking it 
 over.' 
 
 ' I 'm sure / will,' said Perry. ' Only think, 
 if Bell were my aunt ! I suppose I must 
 leave olf calling her Bell.' 
 
 This excellent little boy so well carried 
 out his good intentions, that from this time 
 he never intruded when he was not wanted, 
 or appeared to hear or see anything that 
 was undesired. He hung back from going 
 with them over the old house, till Bell 
 said, ' Come, Perry,' and then he flew to her 
 side. 
 
 The old house certainly did not appear to 
 the best advantage — dusty, close, and un- 
 furnished — but Captain Bertie thought it 
 cheap, and Perry gravely ruminated whether, 
 in that case, Mr. Craikie were an absolute 
 scoundrel for having raised the rent. 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her, 289 
 
 ' You cannot think how much nicer it 
 looked when it was furnished/ said Bell. 
 
 ' Why should not I see it furnished again ?' 
 said Captain Bertie. ' I shall close with him 
 to-day, put in an old woman to scour it dovv^n 
 to-morrow, and why should you not put 
 your furniture into it the day after ? Then it 
 would be all ready for Miss Frobisher against 
 her return ; and what a pleasant surprise it 
 will be !' 
 
 Bell shook her head. ' She vv^ill have 
 quite enough of a surprise already/ 
 
 Perry here began shouting and capering 
 as if out of his wits. ' Ahoy ! ahoy ! The 
 Lively Peggy'' in the offing !' 
 
 Bell turned very red. The ' Lively Peggy ' 
 it was, sure enough. From red she turned 
 pale : she was too much agitated for pleasure. 
 
 ' You will think it very strange,' said she, 
 addressing Captain Bertie painfully, ' but — 
 would you mind going away for a little while, 
 till I have seen Biddy ?' 
 
 ' What, may not I see the Lively Peggy'' 
 come into harbour ? Are you ashamed of 
 me V said he, smiling. ' No, no ; I see, I 
 feel, I understand it all. Men are in the 
 way sometimes. I '11 keep out of the way 
 till to-morrow.' 
 
 T 
 
290 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 And he did so, to Bell's very great relief; 
 giving her time to tell Biddy the news in 
 her own way, at her own season. Miss 
 Biddy was very much overcome by it, sur- 
 prised, and gratified. She had had a success- 
 ful voyage, and this was the crown of it. 
 
 As the friends sat talking everything 
 over that evening, — Perry, on account of his 
 exemplary character, being allowed to sit 
 drawing on his slate all the while, listening 
 to every word, — Miss Biddy could not but 
 express her pleasure at the idea of living 
 again in the old house, with Bell still under 
 the same roof. Mrs. Bertie then took ad- 
 vantage of the opportunity to praise Captain 
 Bertie's extreme delicacy in not having once 
 pressed his father's urgent wish, almost com- 
 mand, to let the marriage take place before 
 the Captain sailed. 
 
 'He is such an obedient son — his father is 
 such a strange man, and his approbation is 
 of such great consequence, that he really 
 should have great credit given him for say- 
 ing nothing to Bell.' 
 
 ' He did say something,' said Bell, smiling, 
 'but I would not hear him.' 
 
 The elder ladies talked it over in a 
 sober, business-like way, but still they went 
 
Miss Biddy Fro bis her, 291 
 
 to bed with the decision that nothing so 
 sudden could in prudence or propriety be 
 done. 
 
 But how Captain Bertie talked them round 
 in the morning ! Bell much more feared her 
 sister s first impression on him than his on 
 her sister ; she was afraid he might think 
 her masculine — not a lady. She took much 
 more pains in setting out Miss Biddy than 
 herself for the morning interview ; and the 
 pains were not unsuccessful; for the black 
 silk dress, usually kept for Sundays, and 
 handsome cap from Guernsey, were much 
 more becoming than the beaver hat and 
 cloth coat Miss Biddy looked what she 
 was : an intelligent, good-humoured, elderly 
 woman. Captain Bertie saw nothing un- 
 prepossessing in her when he was presented ; 
 and she, on her part, could not fail to be 
 pleased with him. They were first friendly, 
 then cordial, then they fell into easy, some- 
 times earnest conversation ; and when Bell 
 left the room for a few minutes. Captain 
 Bertie so earnestly represented the manifold 
 advantages of Bell's consenting to name an 
 early day, that Miss Biddy agreed to urge 
 it on her. Miss Biddy's approval overcame 
 nearly all BelFs scruples at once ; in short. 
 
292 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 Captain Bertie carried his point, and thence- 
 forth all was joyous preparation. 
 
 Mr. Craikie, who had found Miss Biddy's 
 house a dear bargain to him, was extremely 
 pleased at a tenant dropping, as it were, from 
 the skies, and taking it on his own terms. 
 His face grew longer and darker, indeed, 
 when he found that this eligible party, this 
 fine, distinguished-looking officer of ancient 
 lineage, was going to marry Bell Frobisher 
 — of whom he had prophesied that she would 
 never have another offer — and leave her and 
 Miss Biddy in possession. But solid money 
 is better than empty spite ; or, at any rate, 
 than an empty house ; so, on the whole, he 
 was not dissatisfied ; while all the other 
 inhabitants of Hardsand were thoroughly 
 gratified. Captain Spinks came stumping 
 down on his wooden leg, to Miss Biddy, 
 with his ' Didn't I tell you, mum, that Miss 
 Bell's merits would not be overlooked .^^^ 
 which nobody could recollect his having 
 done. As for Beale, his eyes actually filled 
 with tears, when Perry rushed to him and 
 almost hugged him, exclaiming, ' Oh, Beale ! 
 what do you think ? Bell Frobisher 's going 
 to marry my brave uncle, and they are to live 
 in Miss Biddy's old house ! Isnt it jolly !' 
 
Miss Biddy Frobtsher. 
 
 293 
 
 The moving the furniture back again was 
 quite a festival, and Captain Bertie new 
 furnished Bell's room, which had a couch, 
 and a Davenport, and a book-case, and pretty 
 work-table. She received a kind message 
 from Sir Peregrine, a very kind letter from 
 the Reverend Mr. Bertie, and quite a sermon 
 from Charles ; who, after hoping she would 
 be happy, went on with ' And now, my dear 
 friend, let me offer a few words on the duties 
 of the new state to which it has pleased 
 Providence to call you,' etc., etc. — three full 
 pages ! And his wedding present was ' The 
 Whole Duty of Woman, in the Nursery, 
 the Kitchen, and the Closet ; to which are 
 added a few useful recipes and prescriptions, 
 with a dinner for two persons for every day 
 in the year.' 
 
 Bell could not be completely happy with- 
 out Hetty; and Hetty got leave to be 
 bridesmaid. A pretty bridesmaid she was, 
 everybody thought ; and though the wedding 
 was a very quiet, simple one, and they all 
 walked to church except Bell, every one in 
 Hardsand was present, and it was afterwards 
 decided unanimously that everything was 
 just what should be. Miss Biddy, in her 
 white bonnet, looked glorious, Perry thought. 
 
294 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 and Beale also. ' They may say what they 
 will of the young ladies, of course w^e all 
 knows they 're 'ansome ; but if you want 
 a real fine woman, there 's no one will beat 
 our cap n/ Of course, every blue-jacket in 
 the place had his favour, and a stiff glass of 
 grog besides. Miss Biddy had made the 
 favours — a clothes-basket full ; and a pre- 
 cious quantity of white ribbon she had put 
 into them. And now 
 
 ' The bridal is over, the guests are all gone'^ — 
 
 but the bride s eldest sister does not sit 
 weeping alone. She is in her old seat in the 
 bow-window overlooking the quay, and her 
 writing-desk is before her. The ' Lively 
 Peggy' lies motionless alongside the quay ; 
 Beale, Perry, and one or two old hands are 
 gossiping beside it ; Perry shifts from one 
 foot to another sometimes, and looks in the 
 face of each speaker in turn ; they all seem 
 very happy — the bells are still ringing, and 
 people step out briskly as they pass, exchange 
 cheerful words, and wear a holiday look. 
 The vessels in the harbour are dressed with 
 everything in the shape of a flag or pennant 
 that can be mustered, and as for the ' Lively 
 Peggy,' she is positively bedizened with 
 streamers. Captain Spinks sits on the old 
 
Miss Biddy Fr obis her. 295 
 
 white garden -seat, smoking his pipe, and 
 seems as much a feature in the locaUty as 
 the seat itself. He has never, no, never 
 felt so at home there (he tells Miss Biddy) 
 since she moved out of the house. But to 
 Mr. Craikie he intimates, in many half- 
 sentences, with knowing winks and grimaces, 
 ' The times are out of joint, sir ; the good 
 old times, when the free trade was a trade, 
 are gone.' 
 
 Miss Biddy marks one familiar object after 
 another with complacence. Captain Bertie 
 and Bell are speeding on their way to Steep- 
 hollow, where they are to spend a week. 
 After that, they go to Portsmouth to remain 
 till Captain Bertie embarks, and then Bell 
 will return to Hardsand. Hetty is telling 
 all the details of her daily life to Mrs. Bertie ; 
 she seems so happy in it, as to regret that 
 her engagement will soon end. Miss Biddy 
 reviews her sisters' positions with thankful- 
 ness ; she looks at her ledger, and sees her 
 father's debt still nearer its liquidation, and 
 is thankful for that too. Her only two Latin 
 words rise again to her lips — Laus Deo. 
 
 At length the day, the happy day, so long 
 anticipated by Miss Biddy, arrived. A few 
 
296 Miss Biddy Frobisher. 
 
 years had passed since Bell's marriage ; Hetty 
 was married too, and settled with Mr. Harper 
 in a pretty parsonage. Perry was on board 
 the ' Atalanta' with his uncle ; and Bell had 
 left her pretty house at Portsea to visit her 
 eldest sister. Miss Biddy had made her 
 crowning voyage ; the seven hundred pounds 
 was now made up ; and, dressed in her best, 
 she was preparing to go round with Bell 
 and Mrs. Bertie and pay all her father's 
 creditors in full. Mr. Craikie was the prin- 
 cipal creditor, therefore she went to him 
 first. They had scarcely seen each other 
 for many months, therefore she was struck 
 to see how ill he looked. The world had 
 not latterly gone well with Mr. Craikie ; he 
 had narrowly escaped being in the ' Gazette 
 therefore it was a surprise of no ordinary 
 pleasure to be paid the four hundred and 
 fifty pounds he had long looked on as a bad 
 debt. 
 
 ' Really, Miss Frobisher, this is a noble 
 deed ; a highly honourable action, ma am. 
 I wish there were more like you. A noble 
 dedication, really, of the fruits of the in- 
 dustry of years to the memory of a deceased 
 father. Will you take a glass of anything ? 
 Madeira ? sherry ? Mrs. Bertie, let me 
 
Miss Biddy F7^obisker, 297 
 
 offer you something, ma'am— Mrs. Peregrine 
 Bertie ?' 
 
 Poor Mr. Craikie ! Bell had refused his 
 hand and heart, and now his glass of wine 
 was declined with thanks. Availing himself 
 of this genial opportunity, Mr. Craikie told 
 Miss Biddy that he was very w^illing to sell 
 the house to her on very reasonable terms. 
 Miss Biddy liked the idea of buying it ; but 
 she must earn and save a little more first. 
 However, he showed her how it might be 
 easily arranged, and eventually she became 
 its purchaser. 
 
 We may now leave Miss Biddy in the 
 peaceful enjoyment of her declining years, 
 living in her own house with her old ser- 
 vant, and occasionally exchanging visits with 
 her sisters. The ' Lively Peggy' is sold ; 
 old Beale is superannuated ; she visits him 
 daily, and is daily visited by Mrs. Bertie. 
 Perry is now a fine young lieutenant. 
 
 The reader of this little narrative may 
 remember a paragraph which appeared in 
 the Illustrated News on June 11, 1864. It 
 was to this effect : — 
 
 ' An old lady, named Miss Betsy Miller, 
 lately died at Glasgow, who in her younger 
 days took a fancy to maritime speculation, 
 
298 Miss Biddy Frobisher, 
 
 and actually chartered an old brig, and be- 
 came sailing-master. So successful was her 
 career, that she was enabled to pay off a 
 debt of ^700, maintain herself in comfort, 
 and bring up two sisters left dependent on 
 her/ 
 
 The career of Miss Biddy Frobisher, then, 
 may be considered founded on fact. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 RDINBUKGH : T. CONSTABLE, 
 I'KINTliR TO THE QUEEN, AND TO THE UNIVERSITY. 
 
# 
 
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 [February 1, 1866. 
 
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14 
 
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List of Publications, 
 
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