Hal however did not object to the golden gains which resulted from his new position.
Everybody was ready to give him "a job" now, and his old clothes were soon exchanged for new ones, bought with his own money and adapted to his own taste.
Not a day passed that did not see Hal Hutchings at Mrs.Robertson's door, to lend his strong arm and willing feet to do for her some little kindness, a true labor of love.

When the Sabbath was wearing away, Hal might be seen moving his coarse finger slowly along the sacred page, reading holy words, to which Mrs.Robertson from time to time added her voice of explanation or gentle persuasive counsel.
So the chilling weeks of autumn passed at Fairport, and now the first snow was ushering in November's dreary rule.

A strong landward breeze was rolling the waves one after another as in a merry chase towards the shore, while the Fairport Guard were gathered on the wharf, valiantly fighting a battle with snowballs.

The appearance of a ship entering the harbor soon called the attention of the combatants away from the "charge, rally, and charge again," in which they had just been engaged.
Men muffled in greatcoats came out of the neighboring stores and offices, and shivered in the cold wind as they bent their eyes on the stranger ship, for so at once they pronounced her.
"British build and rigging, but the right colors flying.

She knows the channel.