love the sea and the freedom I have upon it. You ought to be glad that I have found a way of life that I like, and left one that I hated."

Anna only shook her head and wept the more; and then Stephen came groping out; and, guided by Aaron's voice, approached also to say farewell.

"O, do not go yet," cried she to Aaron. "When will you come back? When will your conscience be touched about your way of life, about living by cheating the state?"

"Whenever the state shows a little more regard to the consciences of the king's subjects than it does now. What I do, I have been taught; and you know how, Anna. I shall come back to live by the land whenever they cut off my living by sea. Whenever the English un-tax corn and wine and tobacco, I shall come and be a Jersey farmer, and you shall milk my cows, unless

Stephen seized the occasion for a joke about the brown maidens of France, into whose company Aaron's wild occupations sometimes brought him, and about the damsels of the neighbouring islets, who had learned to know the stroke of his oar from all others, as soon as its flash could be seen in the sunshine. Aaron laughed; and laughing, bade his sister again farewell.

She could not even smile. Little did she once think that it could ever make her sad to see Aaron merry; but as little did she then suppose that Aaron would ever live by a lawless occupation. dly did she watch him, leading away his companion till both were quite out of sight; and dis

consolately did she then sit down in the porch, and grieve over the temptation which drew her brother away from the blossoming valley where his days, might have proceeded, as they had begun, in innocence and plenty.