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learned where the widow lived, and effected the bargain without

difficulty, for she was almost starving.

"I have bought it," he said, "because it may be that I may get it

damaged or sunk; but I only need it for six weeks or two months, and

at the end of that time I will give it you back again. As soon as the

Plague is over there will be work for boats, and you will be able to

let it, or to sell it at a fair price."

John Wilkes was greatly pleased when Cyril came back and told him

what he had done.

"That is the very thing for you," he said. "I have been a thick-head

not to think of it. I have been worrying for the last week at seeing

you sit there and do nothing but read, and yet there seemed nothing

else for you to do, for ten minutes out in the streets is enough to

give one the heartache. Maybe I will go out for a sail with you

myself sometimes, for there is no fear of the house being broken into

by daylight."

"Not in the slightest, John. I hope that you will come out with me

always. I should soon find it dull by myself, and besides, I don't

think that I am strong enough yet to manage a pair of sculls for

long, and one must reckon occasionally on having to row against the

tide. Even if the worst happened, and anyone did break in and carry

off a few things, I am sure Captain Dave would not grumble at the

loss when he knew that I had wanted you to come out and help me to

manage the boat, which I was ordered to use for my health's sake."

"That he wouldn't," John said heartily; "not if they stripped the

house and shop of everything there was in them."

CHAPTER XVIII

A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE

Having finally disposed of John Wilkes's scruples as to leaving the

house during the daytime, Cyril thenceforth went out with him every

day. If the tide was in flood they rowed far up the river, and came

down on the ebb. If it was running out they went down as far as it

would take them. Whenever the wind was favourable they hoisted the

sail; at other times, they rowed. The fresh air, and the exercise,

soon did their work. Cyril at first could only take one scull, and

that only for a short time, but at the end of a fortnight was able to

manage both for a time, or to row with one for hours. The feeling of

lassitude which had oppressed him passed away speedily, the colour

came back to his cheeks, his muscles strengthened, and he began to

put on flesh.

They were now in November, and needed warm garments when on the

water, and John insisted on completely muffling him up whenever they

hoisted the sail; but the colder weather braced him up, and he was

often inclined to shout with pleasure as the wind drove the boat

along before it.

It was cheering to know that others were benefiting by the change. In

the week ending October 3rd the deaths officially given were 4,328,

though at least another thousand must be added to this, for great

numbers of deaths from the Plague were put down to other causes, and

very many, especially those of infants, were never counted at all. It

was said that as many people were infected as ever, but that the

virulence of the disease was abated, and that, whereas in August

scarce one of those attacked recovered, in October but one out of

every three died of the malady.

In the second week of October, the number of deaths by the Plague was

but 2,665, and only 1,250 in the third week, though great numbers

were still attacked. People, however, grew careless, and ran

unnecessary risks, and, in consequence, in the first week of November

the number of deaths rose by 400. After this it decreased rapidly,

and the people who had fled began to come back again--the more so

because it had now spread to other large cities, and it seemed that

there was less danger in London, where it had spent its force, than

in places where it had but lately broken out. The shops began to open

again, and the streets to reassume their former appearance.

Cyril had written several times to Captain Dowsett, telling him how

matters were going on, and in November, hearing that they were

thinking of returning, he wrote begging them not to do so.

"Many of those who have returned have fallen sick, and died," he

said. "It seems to me but a useless risk of life, after taking so

much pains to avoid infection, to hurry back before the danger has

altogether passed. In your case, Captain Dave, there is the less

reason for it, since there is no likelihood of the shipping trade

being renewed for the present. All the ports of Europe are closed to

our ships, and it is like to be a long time before they lose fear of

us. Even the coasting trade is lost for the present. Therefore, my

advice is very strongly against your returning for some weeks. All is

going on well here. I am getting quite strong again, and, by the

orders of the doctor, go out with John daily for a long row, and have

gained much benefit from it. John sends his respects. He says that

everything is ship-shape above and below, and the craft holding well

on her way. He also prays you not to think of returning at present,

and says that it would be as bad seamanship, as for a captain who has

made a good offing in a gale, and has plenty of sea-room, to run down

close to a rocky shore under the lee, before the storm has altogether

blown itself out."

Captain Dave took the advice, and only returned with his wife and

Nellie a week before Christmas.

"I am glad indeed to be back," he said, after the first greetings

were over. "'Twas well enough for the women, who used to help in the

dairy, and to feed the fowls, and gather the eggs, and make the

butter, but for me there was nothing to do, and it seemed as if the

days would never come to an end."

"It was not so bad as that, father," Nellie said. "First of all, you

had your pipe to smoke. Then, once a week you used to go over with

the market-cart to Gloucester and to look at the shipping there, and

talk with the masters and sailors. Then, on a Sunday, of course,

there was church. So there were only five days each week to get

through; and you know you took a good deal of interest in the horses

and cows and pigs."

"I tried to take an interest in them, Nellie; but it was very hard

work."

"Well, father, that is just what you were saying you wanted, and I am

sure you spent hours every day walking about with the children, or

telling them stories."

"Well, perhaps, when I think of it, it was not so very bad after

all," Captain Dave admitted. "At any rate, I am heartily glad I am

back here again. We will open the shop to-morrow morning, John."

"That we will, master. We sha'n't do much trade at present. Still, a

few coasters have come in, and I hope that every day things will get

better. Besides, all the vessels that have been lying in the Pool

since June will want painting up and getting into trim again before

they sail out of the river, so things may not be so slack after all.

You will find everything in order in the store. I have had little to

do but to polish up brass work and keep the metal from rusting. When

do the apprentices come back again?"

"I shall write for them as soon as I find that there is something for

them to do. You are not thinking of running away as soon as we come

back I hope, Cyril? You said, when you last wrote, that you were fit

for sea again."

"I am not thinking of going for some little time, if you will keep

me, Captain Dave. There is no news of the Fleet fitting out at

present, and they will not want us on board till they are just ready

to start. They say that Albemarle is to command this time instead of

the Duke, at which I am right glad, for he has fought the Dutch at

sea many times, and although not bred up to the trade, he has shown

that he can fight as steadily on sea as on land. All say the Duke

showed courage and kept a firm countenance at Lowestoft, but there

was certainly great slackness in the pursuit, though this, 'tis said,

was not so much his fault as that of those who were over-careful of

his safety. Still, as he is the heir to the throne, it is but right

that he should be kept out of the fighting."

"It is like to be stern work next time, Cyril, if what I hear be

true. Owing partly to all men's minds being occupied by the Plague,

and partly to the great sums wasted by the King in his pleasures,

nothing whatever has been done for the Fleet. Of course, the squadron

at sea has taken great numbers of prizes; but the rest of the Fleet

is laid up, and no new ships are being built, while they say that the

Dutch are busy in all their ship-yards, and will send out a much

stronger fleet this spring than that which fought us at Lowestoft. I

suppose you have not heard of any of your grand friends?"

"No. I should have written to Sydney Oliphant, but I knew not whether

he was at sea or at home, and, moreover, I read that most folks in

the country are afraid of letters from London, thinking that they

might carry contagion. Many noblemen have now returned to the West

End, and when I hear that the Earl has also come back with his family

it will, of course, be my duty to wait upon him, and on Prince Rupert

also. But I hope the Prince will not be back yet, for he will be

wanting me to go to Court again, and for this, in truth, I have no

inclination, and, moreover, it cannot be done without much expense

for clothes, and I have no intention to go into expenses on follies

or gew-gaws, or to trench upon the store of money that I had from

you, Captain Dave."

They had just finished breakfast on the day before Christmas, when

one of the apprentices came up from the shop and said that one Master

Goldsworthy, a lawyer in the Temple, desired to speak to Sir Cyril

Shenstone. Cyril was about to go down when Captain Dave said,--

"Show the gentleman up, Susan. We will leave you here to him, Cyril."

"By no means," Cyril said. "I do not know him, and he can assuredly

have no private business with me that you may not hear."

Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter, however, left the room. The lawyer, a

grave-looking gentleman of some fifty years of age, glanced at Cyril

and the Captain as he entered the room, and then advanced towards the

former.

"My name is unknown to you, Sir Cyril," he said, "but it has been

said that a bearer of good news needs no introduction, and I come in

that capacity. I bring you, sir, a Christmas-box," and he took from a

bag he carried a bundle of some size, and a letter. "Before you open

it, sir, I will explain the character of its contents, which would

take you some time to decipher and understand, while I can explain

them in a very few words. I may tell you that I am the legal adviser

of Mr. Ebenezer Harvey, of Upmead Court, Norfolk. You are, I presume,

familiar with the name?"

Cyril started. Upmead Court was the name of his father's place, but

with the name of its present owner he was not familiar. Doubtless, he

might sometimes have heard it from his father, but the latter, when

he spoke of the present possessor of the Court, generally did so as

"that Roundhead dog," or "that canting Puritan."

"The Court I know, sir," he said gravely, "as having once been my

father's, but I do not recall the name of its present owner, though

it may be that in my childhood my father mentioned it in my hearing."

"Nevertheless, sir, you know the gentleman himself, having met him,

as he tells me, frequently at the house of Mr. Wallace, who was

minister of the chapel at which he worshipped, and who came up to

London to minister to those sorely afflicted and needing comfort. Not

only did you meet with Mr. Harvey and his wife, but you rendered to

them very material service."

"I was certainly unaware," Cyril said, "that Mr. Harvey was the

possessor of what had been my father's estate, but, had I known it,

it would have made no difference in my feeling towards him. I found

him a kind and godly gentleman whom, more than others there, was good

enough to converse frequently with me, and to whom I was pleased to

be of service."

"The service was of a most important nature," the lawyer said, "being

nothing less than the saving of his life, and probably that of his

wife. He sent for me the next morning, and then drew out his will. By

that will he left to you the estates which he had purchased from your

father."

Cyril gave a start of surprise, and would have spoken, but Master

Goldsworthy held up his hand, and said,--

"Please let me continue my story to the end. This act was not the

consequence of the service that you had rendered him. He had

previously consulted me on the subject, and stated his intentions to

me. He had met you at Mr. Wallace's, and at once recognised your

name, and learnt from Mr. Wallace that you were the son of Sir Aubrey

Shenstone. He studied your character, had an interview with Dr.

Hodges, and learnt how fearlessly you were devoting yourself to the

work of aiding those stricken with the Plague. With his own son he

had reason for being profoundly dissatisfied. The young man had

thrown off his authority, had become a notorious reprobate, and had,

he believed, sunk down to become a companion of thieves and

highwaymen. He had come up to London solely to make a last effort to

save him from his evil courses and to give him a chance of

reformation by sending him out to New England.

"Mr. Harvey is possessed of considerable property in addition to the

estates purchased of your father, for, previous to that purchase he

had been the owner of large tanneries at Norwich, which he has ever

since maintained, not so much for the sake of the income he derived

from them as because they afforded a livelihood to a large number of

workmen. He had, therefore, ample means to leave to his son, should

the latter accept his offer and reform his life, without the estates