Th' Admiralty allers give an annual 'lowance for the support of the childer o' them officers as is killed in action, that is when their folks are left badly off; and some one must ha' put up your uncle to this, for he took precious good care to draw it every year you was along o' him." "Oh, I'm so glad!" I exclaimed, joyfully.

"I only wish, though, I had known it before, so that I could have thrown it back in Aunt Matilda's teeth when she used to tell me that I was robbing her children of their bread every meal I took in the house, taunting me with being only a pauper!" "Never mind that now," said Sam Pengelly--quite his composed, calm, genial self again, after the little ebullition he had given way to on my behalf.

"Better let byegones be byegones.

It is a good sailin' direction to go upon in this world; for your cross old aunt will be sartin to get paid out some time or other for her treatment o' you, I'll wager! Howsomedevers, I'm glad we've got that letter from your uncle, though.

You see, laddie, it cuts them adrift altogether from any claim on you; and now, if you be so minded, you can chuck in your lot with old Sam and his sister--that is, unless you want to sheer off and part company, and desart us ?" "Oh no, I'll never do that if I can help it," I replied, earnestly.
"Why, I did not know what it was to be happy and cared for till I met you, and you brought me here to your home.