JEFF BENSON, OR THE YOUNG COASTGUARDSMAN, BY R. M. BALLANTYNE. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

OUR HERO INTRODUCED WITH SOME OF HIS FRIENDS. 

A poor schoolmaster named Benson died, not long ago, in a little town onthe south-east coast of England, which shall be called Cranby. 

He left an only son, Jeffrey, and an elder brother, Jacob, to mourn hisloss. The son mourned for his father profoundly, for he loved him much. The brother mourned him moderately, for he was a close-fisted, hard-hearted, stern man of the law, whose little soul, enclosed in alarge body, had not risen to the conception of any nobler aim in lifethan the acquisition of wealth, or any higher enjoyment than a socialevening with men like himself. 

The son Jeffrey was a free-and-easy, hearty, good-natured lad, with anovergrown and handsome person, an enthusiastic spirit, a strong will, and a thorough belief in his own ability to achieve anything to which hechose to set his mind. 

Up to the time of his father's death, Jeff's main idea of the desirablein life was--_fun_! Fun in all its more innocent phases seemed to himthe sum of what was wanted by man. He had experienced it in all itsscholastic forms ever since he was a little boy; and even when, at themature age of fifteen, he was promoted to the rank of usher in hisfather's school, his chief source of solace and relaxation was the oldplay-ground, where he naturally reigned supreme, being the best runner, rower, wrestler, jumper, gymnast, and, generally, the best fellow in theschool. 

He had never known a mother's love, and his father's death was the firstblow that helped to shatter his early notions of felicity. The cloudthat overshadowed him at that time was very dark, and he received nosympathy worth mentioning from his only relative, the solicitor. 

"Well, Jeff, what d'you think of doing?" asked that austere relative, two days after the funeral. "Of course at your age you can't carry onthe school alone. "

"Of course not, " answered the boy, with a suppressed sob. 

"What say you to entering my office and becoming a lawyer, Jeff?"

"Thanks, uncle, I'd rather not. "

"What will you do, then?" demanded the uncle, somewhat offended at thisflat rejection of his proposal. 

The lad thought for a moment, and then said quietly but decidedly, "I'llgo to sea. "

"Go to the world's end if you like, " returned the uncle, who was proudand touchy, and hated the sea; "but don't ask me to help you. "

"Thank you, uncle, " replied the lad, who was as proud as himself, thoughnot touchy, and had a strong affection for the sea; "having noparticular business at the world's end just now, I'll put off my visitto a more convenient season. "

They parted, and we need scarcely add that the brief intercourse ofuncle and nephew which had thus suddenly begun as suddenly ceased. 

It is not usually difficult for a strong, active lad, with merry blackeyes and cheery manners, to obtain employment. At least Jeffrey Bensondid not find it so. A few miles from his native town there was aseaport. Thither he repaired, and looked about him. In the harbour laya small vessel which looked like a yacht, it was so trim and clean. Onthe quay near to it stood a seafaring man with an amiable expression ofcountenance. 

"Is that your schooner?" asked Jeff of this man. 

"Yes, it is. "

"D'you want a hand?"

"No, I don't. "

Jeff turned on his heel, and was walking away, when the seafaring manrecalled him. 

"Have 'ee ever bin to sea, lad?" he asked. 

"No, never. "

"D'ye know anything about ships?"

"Next to nothing. "

"D'ye think you could do anything, now, aboard of a ship?"

"Perhaps. "

"Come along, then, wi' me to the office, an' I'll see to this. "

Thus was Jeff introduced to the skipper of the coasting vessel in whichhe spent the succeeding six years of his life. At the end of that timehis schooner was totally wrecked in a gale that sent more than twohundred vessels on the rocks of the British Isles. The skipper waswashed overboard and drowned, but Jeff was saved along with the rest ofthe crew, by means of the rocket apparatus. 

By that time our hero had become a tall, powerful man, with a curlyblack beard and moustache. Through the influence of a friend he wasoffered a situation in the coastguard; accepted it, and, to his greatsatisfaction, was stationed in the neighbourhood of Cranby, his nativetown. 

Now, near to that town Jeff had a confidante, into whose sympatheticbosom he had poured his joys and sorrows from the days of littleboyhood. Of course this confidante was a woman--a thin, little, elderlycreature, with bright blue eyes, and grey hair that had once beengolden, who had a sort of tremble in her voice, and whose frame was solight that the fishermen were wont to say of her that if she was to showher nose outside when it was blowing only half a gale she'd be blowedaway like a fleck of foam. Nevertheless Miss Millet was a distinctpower in Cranby. 

Being off duty one fine afternoon, our coastguardsman walked along thebeach in the direction of Cranby, bent on paying a visit to Miss Millet, whom he had not seen for several years. On his way he had to pass apiece of common close to the town, where he found that a number of thetownsmen and some of the fishermen from the neighbouring hamlet hadassembled to hold high holiday and engage in athletic exercises. Thememory of school-days came strong upon him as he watched the sport, andhe longed to join, but was modest enough to feel that his offering to doso in connection with games which seemed to have been already organisedmight be an intrusion. 

Two men were wrestling when he joined the circle of spectators--one wasa fisherman, the other a huge blacksmith of the town. They were wellmatched; for, although the fisherman was shorter than the blacksmith, hewas an unusually powerful man. 

Great was the excitement as the two herculean men strove for themastery, and loud was the cheer when at last the blacksmith prevailedand threw his adversary. 

But the enthusiasm was somewhat damped by the boastful manner in whichthe victor behaved; for it is not easy to sing the praises of a manwhose looks and words show that he greatly overrates himself. 

"You don't need to look so cocky, Rodger, " cried a cynical voice in thecrowd. "There be lots o' men as could throw thee, though they ben'there just now. "

Rodger turned sharply round, intending to give an angry defiance to thespeaker; but seeing that it was only Reuben Drew, a white-haired oldshoemaker of small stature, he burst into a sarcastic laugh. 

"Well, I don't deny, " he said, "that there may be many men as couldthrow me, but I defy any of 'ee now present to do it. "

This was an opening for Jeff Benson, who was not slow to avail himselfof it. Stepping into the ring he threw off his coat. 

"Come along, Rodger, " he said, with a good-humoured look; "you'll haveto make good your words. "

Of course our hero was received with a cheer of satisfaction; foralthough Jeff was two inches shorter than his adversary--the latterbeing six feet two--it could be seen at a glance that he was at leasthis match in breadth of shoulder and development of muscle. But intruth the young coastguardsman was much more than the blacksmith'smatch, for at school he had received special training in the art ofwrestling from his father, who was a Cornishman, and hard service in thecoasting trade had raised his strength of limb to the highest possiblepoint. 

"Surely I've seen that young man somewhere, " whispered one of thespectators to Reuben. 

"So have I, " returned the latter. "Don't he look uncommon like the oldschoolmaster's son? Hallo!"

And well might Reuben exclaim "hallo!" for Jeff, instead of grasping hisopponent round the waist, had suddenly seized him with one hand by theneck, with the other by the leg, and lifting him completely off theground, had flung him on his back. 

The people were too much astonished at first to cheer. They burst intoa fit of laughter, which, however, extended into a hearty cheer whenReuben cried out, "It is Jeffrey Benson, as sure as I'm alive, " andclaimed him as a townsman. 

"You're right, Reuben, " said Jeff, as he put on his coat, "though I am agood bit changed, no doubt, since I was here last. "

"Then the townsman have beaten the seaman after all, " exclaimed one whowas inclined to triumph. 

"Not so, " returned Jeff quickly, "for I'm a seaman myself and take sideswith the fishermen. "

"Well said; give us your hand, mate, " cried John Golding, one of thelatter, holding out his hand, which our hero grasped warmly, for he hadknown the man in former years. 

"You've done well in credit o' the sea. "

"An' better still, " said little Reuben, "in doing credit to the land byrefusin' to boast. "

Nevertheless, though Jeff Benson did not boast, it is but just to saythat he _felt_ considerable satisfaction in his triumph, and rejoiced inthe possession of so powerful a frame, as he continued his walk to MissMillet's house. It did not occur to him, however, to thank God for hisstrength of body, because at that time "God was not in all histhoughts. "

Miss Millet was a woman of action and projects. Her whole being wasabsorbed in one idea--that of doing good; but her means were small, verysmall, for, besides being exceedingly poor, she was in delicate healthand getting old. She subsisted on quite a microscopic annuity; but, instead of trying to increase it, she devoted the whole of her time tolabours of love and charity. The labour that suited her health andcircumstances best was knitting socks for the poor, because thatdemanded little thought and set her mind free to form unlimitedprojects. 

The delight which Miss Millet, experienced in meeting with her oldfriend Jeffrey Benson was displayed in the vivacity of her reception ofhim and the tremulosity of her little cap. 

"It's just like coming home, auntie--may I still venture to call youso?"

Jeff had been wont to sit on a stool at the good lady's feet. He did sonow--on the old stool. 

"You may call me what you please, Jeff. It was your child-fancy toaccord to me that honourable relationship; so you may continue it if youwill. How you are grown, too! I could not have known you had I metyou--so big, and with that horrible black beard. "

"Horrible! Miss Millet?"

"Well, terrible, if you prefer it. It's so bushy and unnatural for oneso young. "

"That can hardly be, auntie, " rejoined the youth, with a smile that sentquite a ripple down the objectionable beard, "because my beard wasprovided by Nature. "

"Well, Jeff, " returned the spinster promptly, "were not scissors andrazors provided by--no, it was art that provided _them_, " she continuedwith a little smile of confusion; "but they _are_ provided all the same, and--But we won't pursue that subject, for you men are incorrigible!Now tell me, Jeff, where you have been, and why you didn't come to seeme sooner, and why your letters have been so few--though I admit theywere long. "

We will not inflict on the reader all the conversation that ensued. When Jeff had exhausted his narrative, Miss Millet discovered that itwas tea-time; and, while engaged in preparations for the evening meal, she enlarged upon some of her projects, being encouraged thereto byJeff, whose heart was naturally sympathetic. 

"But some of my projects are impossible, " she said, with a little sigh. "Some small things, indeed, I have accomplished, with God's blessing;but there are others which are quite beyond me. "

"Indeed! Tell me now, auntie, if you had Aladdin's wonderful lamp, whatwould you ask for?"

"I'd ask for--let me see (the old face became quite thoughtful here)--I'd ask for a library. You see, Cranby is _very_ badly off for books, and people cannot easily improve without reading, you know. Then Iwould ask for a new church, and a school room, and a town-hall where wemight have lectures and concerts, and for a whole street of model-housesfor the poor, and a gymnasium, and a swimming-bath and--"

"A swimming-bath, auntie!" exclaimed Jeff. "Isn't the sea big enough?"

"Yes, but children won't learn in the sea. They're too fond of runningabout the edge, and of romping in the shallow water. Besides, the bathcould be used in winter, when the sea is too cold. But I'm praying forall these things. If God sees fit, He will give them. If not, I amcontent with what He has already given. "

A somewhat sceptical smile rested for a moment on the young man's lips. Happily his heavy moustache concealed it, and saved Miss Millet'sfeelings. But she went on to vindicate the ways of God with man, and toimpress upon Jeff the fact that in His good wisdom "ills" or "wells, "and things that seem to us only evil, work out gracious ends. 

Jeff listened, but said little, and evidently his difficulties were notall removed. Presently, observing that three cups were laid on thetable, he asked, "Do you expect company?"

"Yes, my brother the captain is coming to tea. He is about to start forChina, and I'm so glad you happen to be here; for I'd like you to knoweach other, and you're sure to like him. "

Jeff did not feel quite so sure on that point, for he had counted on along _tete-a-tete_ with his old friend. He took care, however, toconceal his disappointment, and before he had time to reply, the dooropened with a crash. 

"What cheer, old girl? what cheer?" resounded in bo'sun's-mate tonesthrough the house, and next moment a rugged sea-captain stood beforethem. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

A SEA-CAPTAIN RELATES HIS ADVENTURES, AND REFUSES TO DRAW MORALS. 

Captain Richard Millet, like his sister, was rather eccentric. Unlikeher, however, he was large, broad, and powerful. It would have takenconsiderably more than "half a gale" to blow _him_ away. Even a galeand a half might have failed to do that. 

"Glad to meet you, " he said, extending his solid-looking hand with afrank, hearty air, on being introduced to Jeff. "My sister Molly hasoften spoken of you. Sorry to hear you've left the sea. Great mistake, young man--great mistake. There's no school like the sea for teaching aman his dependence on his Maker. "

"The school is not very successful, if one may judge from the characterof most of its pupils, " replied the youth. 

"Perhaps you misjudge their character, " returned the captain, with alook of good-natured severity. 

"I'm _sure_ he does, " cried Miss Millet, with enthusiasm. "Noble-hearted, simple men, who would probably never go wrong at all ifit were not for their unsuspecting trustfulness and bad companions!Come, sit down, Dick. Tea is ready. "

"Yes, young man, " continued Captain Millet "you misjudge 'em. Youshould not judge of a school by the shouting and mischief of the worstboys, who always flaunt their colours, while the good ones steer quietlyon their course. You'll understand that better when your beard is grey. Youth is fond o' lookin' at the surface, an' so is apt to misjudge thecharacter of men as well as the ways of Providence. "

Jeff took the rebuke in good part, readily admitted that youth was proneto err, and slily expressed a hope that in his case coming in contactwith age might do him good. 

"If you mean that for a shot at me, " cried the captain, with a loudguffaw, "you've missed the mark; for I'm only forty-five, an' that isn'tage; is it, Molly?"

"Of course not. Why, you're little more than a baby yet, " replied MissMillet who greatly enjoyed even a small joke--indeed, she enjoyed almosteverything, more or less, that was not wicked. "But now, Dick, I wantyou to tell Jeff some of your adventures in foreign parts--especiallythose that have a moral, you know. "

"Why, Molly, that's a hard job--you don't want me to _draw_ the moral, do you? I never was good at that, though I've known fellows with thatpeculiar cast o' brain as could draw a moral out of a marline-spike ifthey were hard put to it. Seems to me that it's best to let morals drawthemselves. For instance, that time when I was wrecked on the SouthAmerican coast, I came to a shallow river, an' had to wade across, butwas too lazy to pull off my boots, 'cause they were long fisherman'sboots, right up to the hip an' rather tight; so in I went boots an' all. Just as I was gettin' to the other side, a most awful alligator seizedhold o' my right foot. It's wonderful how easy my boot came off justthen! Although I was used to tug, an' shove, and gasp, and pull, atthat boot of a night, no sooner did the alligator lay hold on it than myleg came out like a cork out of a bottle, and I was out o' the water andup the bank like a squirrel. Now, Molly, what would you say was themoral that should be drawn from that--Never use an alligator as aboot-jack--eh?"

"I should say, Never wade across a South American river without yourboots on, " suggested Jeff. 

"Well, now, _I_ should say, Never wade across a South American river atall, " said Miss Millet; "but, brother, that's not what I meant. Beforeyou arrived, Jeff and I had been talking about God's ways with man, andI was trying to show that disasters and what we call misfortunes are notnecessarily evil, but are often the means of great blessing. I don'tthink Jeff quite sees that. I can't explain myself clearly, brother;but you know what I mean. "

While the old lady was speaking, the captain had become thoughtful. 

"Yes, I know what you mean, " he replied, "and I agree with you heartily. Is it not written of our Saviour, `He hath done all things well?' andis He not unchangeable? Of course it is not to be expected that weshall always see through and understand His ways though we can alwaystrust Him; but sometimes He lifts a corner of the veil and lets us see. Very odd, Molly, " continued the captain, extracting a large blackpocket-book with some difficulty from a breast-pocket, "very odd thatyou should have touched on this question, for I have somethin' to say toyou that bears on it. Look here. What's that?"

He handed an oblong piece of paper to his sister, who examined itslowly. 

"Why, Dick, it's a cheque for 500 pounds. "

"Just so, old girl, an' it's yours. "

"Mine!"

"Ay, I might have given it to you when I first came back, but I took afancy to keep it as a little surprise for our last evenin' together, sothat I might leave you with a good taste in your mouth. Now, listen, an' I'll spin you an' Jeff a yarn. But first fill up my cup. I'm fondo' tea--nat'rally, bein' a teetotaler. Up to the brim, Molly; I like agood bucketful. Thankee--now, let me see. "

The captain put his hand to his rugged brow, became thoughtful for a fewmoments, and then resumed. 

"Just before startin' on my last voyage to China I ran down toFolkestone to see Rosebud--that's my little daughter, Jeff. Surely youmust have seen her when knocking about here?"

"You forget, Captain, I have not been in these parts for six years. Nevertheless, I did see Rosebud some ten or twelve years ago with hernurse in this very room. "

"Yes, so you did, " chimed in Miss Millet. "She was six at that time, and the dearest little angel I ever saw. "

"She was all that and a great deal more, " said the enthusiastic father. "It don't become me to have much of an opinion about the angels, but Iwouldn't give my Rosebud for the whole lot o' them, an' all the cherubsthrow'd into the bargain. Well, as I was sayin', I ran down toFolkestone to the school where she is, and as we were partin' she mademe promise when I got to Hong-Kong to run up the river to see an oldschoolmate o' hers that had gone out there with her father. I was togive Clara Rosebud's dear love, and her photograph, and get hers inexchange. I would have done this, of course, for my darlin', anyhow, but I promised all the more readily because I had some business to dowith old Nibsworth, the father. 

"Well, after I'd got to Hong-Kong an' seen the ship all snug, I thoughtof runnin' up the river in a small steamer that was ready to start. Itso happened that I got a letter that very day from Nibsworth himself, who had heard of my arrival, askin' me to come without delay, as therewas a grand chance of doin' a bit of business that might turn in somethousands of pounds. But it would have to be settled next day, or thechance would be lost. You may be sure I didn't waste time after readin'this, but when I got to the river-side, I found that the steamer hadstarted, and there wasn't another till next mornin'. "

"_What_ a pity!" exclaimed the sympathetic sister and Jeff in the samebreath. 

"Yes, wasn't it? Of course it wasn't a personal loss, but it was theloss of a splendid out-o'-the-way chance to do a good turn to theowners. It was an ill wind--Jeff, almost a disaster. Hows'ever, I hadto grin an' bear it. But I couldn't rest till next day; so I hired anative boat, determined to do my best in the circumstances, and you maybe sure I wasn't in the best of humours, as we went creepin' slowly upthat river, when I knew that the hours of opportunity were slippin'away. 

"It was not till the evenin' o' the next day that I reached oldNibsworth's house. Just before we rounded the bend of the river thatbrought it into view, I noticed smoke risin' pretty thick above thetrees. Of course I thought nothin' of it till I found that it was theold man's house was a-fire! Didn't we bend to the oars then with awill!

"As we drew near, we found that all the servants and work-people aboutthe place were runnin' here and there, shoutin' and yellin' for ropesand ladders. Most people seem to lose their heads in a fire. Anyhowthose people had; for nobody could find a ladder long enough to reach atop window, where I could see that someone was waving his arms for help. The moment we touched the beach, I jumped out o' the boat and ran up tothe house. It was blazin' fiercely in the lower rooms, and I soon foundthat old Nibsworth and his daughter were inside--driven to the attics bythe fire and smoke. They soon left the window where I had first seenthe arms waving, and threw open another that was further from the fire. 

"I saw that the old man was frail. The girl, they told me, wasdelicate. `Get straw, hay, branches--anything soft, ' I shouted, `an'pile 'em under the window. '

"`Him's too weak for jump, ' gasped a native servant. 

"`Do as I bid ye, ' said I, with a glare that sent 'em all offdouble-quick. Happily I found a rope handy in a storehouse hard by. Imade a coil of it. You know a seaman can usually heave a coil of ropepretty well. I made a splendid heave, an' sent it right in at thewindow. The old man caught it. 

"`Make fast to a bed-post, ' I roared, `or a table, or chest o' drawers--anything big. '

"He understood me, I could see, and presently he looked over the windowan' shook his head. Then I could see the face of a dark-haired, beautiful girl. Even through the increasing smoke I could tell that shewas deadly pale, and drew back with a shudder. By this time a big pileof straw lay under the window. I saw there was no hope of such an oldman lettin' himself or his girl down by a rope, so up I went hand overhand. Many a time had I done the sort o' thing for a lark when I was ayoungster; but bein' out o' practice, and a good deal heavier than inold days, I found it hard work, I can tell you. Hows'ever, I managed itand got in at the window, an' didn't my heart give a jump when I sawthat the old chap had only made the rope fast to a light bedroom chair. If I'd bin a stone heavier, I'd have pulled that chair right over thewindow!

"`God bless you!' cried the tremblin' old man; `save my Clara!'

"There was no time for pretty speeches. I made fast the end of the ropeto the leg of a table, made a loop on the other end, threw it over thegirl, caught her round the waist an' swung her over the window. I wasin such a hurry that the rope nearly took the skin off my hands; but Ilanded her safe on the straw below. The old man was heavier, and not soeasy to manage; but I got him lowered safe, and then, slipping overmyself, began to descend. The flames had by that time got headway, andwere dartin' like fiery serpents' tongues out o' the windows below. Oneo' them gave me a wipe in passin', an' cleared eyelashes, eyebrows, andhalf the hair o' my head away. Another twined round the rope and singedit; so that when I was half-way down, it snapped, and I came to theground with a thud that damaged my canvas ducks, though they were by nomeans delicate. Hows'ever, the pile of straw broke the fall, and I wasnone the worse. 

"The gratitude o' that poor old man and his daughter knew no bounds, specially when he found I was the father of his Clara's favouriteschoolmate. 

"`Now, Captain Millet, ' says he at partin', `nothin' in this world canrepay what we owe you. I know it would be insultin' to offer you moneyfor such service, but sometimes men like you like to help a good cause. Will you accept of five hundred pounds for such a purpose?'

"`No sir, ' says I, `I won't! But I've a sister at home who spends allher time in tryin' to do good. If you'll be kind enough to send it toher, she'll consider it a blessed windfall, and will lay it out to thebest possible advantage. '

"`Good, ' said he, seizin' his pen an' writin' out the cheque. `Is yoursister well off?'

"`She might be better off, ' said I. 

"`Then pray beg her in my name to accept of a few shares in anAustralian tin-mine which came to me a few days ago. They are not worthmuch, but I don't want to be troubled with them; indeed, will considerit a favour if she will take them off my hands. '

"The old fellow said this with a laugh--so there you are, Molly, 500pounds to the credit of your charity account an' I don't know how muchtin transferred to your own. "

"O brother, how good--how kind!" Miss Millet paused here, and gazed insilence at the cheque, for she had already begun to calculate how farthat sum would go towards the library, and the church, and thetown-hall, and the model-houses, and the gymnasium, and theswimming-bath. 

"And now, young man, " said the captain, turning to our coastguardsman, "the missin' of that steamer, at which I growled so much that day, turned out to be a great blessin' after all, although it seemed such amisfortune. For it caused me to arrive just in the nick of time to savetwo human lives--besides givin' the old girl here somethin' to thinkabout and work upon for the next twelvemonth to come--whereas, if I hadarrived the day before, I would have bin sleepin' in the house, andmayhap have bin burnt alive wi' old Nibsworth and his daughter. Seemsto me as if that little story had some sort o' bearin' on the subjectyou was discussin' wi' Molly. But I'm not good at drawin' morals, soI'll leave you to draw it for yourself. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

OUR COASTGUARDSMAN MEETS WITH A SERIOUS BUT VERY COMMON FALL. 

Whether Jeff Benson drew the moral of Captain Millet's story for himselfor not, we cannot tell; but it is certain that his mates found him afterthat date a man who was prone to solitary meditations, with occasionalfits of absence of mind. They also found him a pleasant companion and amost active comrade in all the duties of his station. 

Sometimes these duties involved great hardship, and frequent risk tolife and limb; for, as is well known, our coastguardsmen not onlyperambulate our shores in all weathers, but often work the rocketapparatus for saving life from shipwreck, and are frequently called uponto assist the lifeboat-men by putting off to the rescue in their ownboats when others are not available. In all these duties Jeffrey Bensondid his work with tremendous energy, as might have been expected of oneso strong, and with reckless disregard to personal safety, which wasappropriate in a hero. 

One evening, about a year after the period of which we have beenwriting, Jeff was returning along shore with a party in charge of therocket-cart, after having rescued the crew of a small coasting vessel--four men and a boy, with the skipper's wife. The service had beenprolonged and pretty severe, but feelings of exhaustion were, for thetime at least, banished from the coastguardsmen's breasts by the joyresulting from success in their heroic work. On the way, the party hadto pass close to Miss Millet's cottage--her "cottage by the sea, " as theromantic old lady was fond of calling it. 

Jeff--although fatigued and hungry, besides being drenched, dishevelledabout the hair, bespattered with mud, and bruised, as well as laceratedsomewhat about the hands--determined to pay a short visit to thecottage, being anxious to "have it out" with his confidante about thatmatter of good being made to come out of evil. 

"O Jeff!" exclaimed the horrified old lady when he entered, "wounded?perhaps fatally!"

"Not quite so bad as that, auntie, " replied Jeff, with a hearty laugh, for Miss Millet's power to express alarm was wonderful. "I'll soon putmyself to rights when I get back to the station. I ought to apologisefor calling in such a plight, but I've been thinking much since I lastsaw you, and I want to have a talk. "

"Not till I have bound up all your wounds, " said Miss Millet firmly. 

Knowing that he would gain his end more quickly by giving in, Jeffsubmitted to have several fingers of both hands done up with pieces ofwhite rag, and a slight cut across the bridge of his handsome noseornamented with black sticking-plaster. He not only enjoyed theoperation with a sort of reckless joviality, but sought to gratify hisfriend by encouraging her to use her appliances to the utmost, intendingto remove them all when he quitted the cottage. The earnest littlewoman availed herself fully of the encouragement, but could scarcelyrefrain from laughing when she surveyed him after the operation wascompleted. 

"Now, auntie, have you finished?"

"Yes. "

"Well then, tell me, do you really think that at all times, and in allcircumstances, God causes events that are disastrous to work out good?"

"Indeed I do, " returned Miss Millet, becoming very serious and earnestas she sat down opposite her young friend. "No doubt there is much ofmystery connected with the subject but I can't help that any more than Ican help my beliefs. Of course we know, because it is written, that`_all_ things work together for good to them that love God;' but even inthe case of those who do _not_ love Him, I think He often sends sorrowand trouble for the very purpose of driving them out of trust inthemselves, and so clearing the way to bring them to the Saviour. Andis it not written, `Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee?'"

The young man remained silent for a few moments. 

"Well, now, " he said, "what think you of this case? The skipper whom werescued this afternoon, along with his wife, told me that he has beenreduced to beggary. He owned the vessel which now lies out on the rocksthere, a total wreck. It was his last venture. He had put all that hepossessed into it, and not a scrap of the cargo will be saved. Havingbeen a lucky man all his life previously, he said he had determined to`chance his luck' this time, and did not insure vessel or cargo: so thatall is gone. His wife and several children are dependent on him. Hehas no relatives rich enough, or willing enough, to help him; and, poorfellow, he has received injuries while being rescued, which willprobably render him helpless for the rest of his life. Now, do youthink that good will come out of all that?"

"I am _sure_ it will, " returned Miss Millet confidently, "and good to_him_ too if he seeks it; though of course I know not how or when. "

"But why are you so sure?"

"Because, Jeff, it is written that God does not `afflict the children ofmen willingly. ' He does it for their good, and that good cannot fail ofaccomplishment, unless they refuse the good and choose the evil. "

Again Jeff became silent and thoughtful. "I have meditated much oflate, " he said, "about Captain Millet's adventure in China--"

"By the way, " interrupted Miss Millet, "that reminds me that thecaptain's little girl Rose--Rosebud, as he calls her--is to come herethis very evening to stay with me for a week. "

"Indeed? that will be pleasant, auntie. I must come and see her as anold acquaintance. "

"Oh yes, you must, Jeff. You've no idea what a sweet girl she hasbecome. I am quite charmed with her--so modest, and unselfish, andclever, and good, and--and, in short, I call her the four F's, for sheis fair, fragile, fervent, and funny. "

"What a catalogue!" exclaimed the youth, laughing; "you may well becharmed with her. But what do you mean by funny? Does she try to makepeople laugh?"

"Oh dear, no! In company she can scarce be made to speak at all, butshe _is_ so fond of fun--has such a lively appreciation of humour, andlaughs _so_ heartily. She has grown quite into a woman since I last sawher when her father went to sea. There she is!"

Miss Millet sprang from her chair with the agility almost of a youngwoman, and ran to open the door, for a cab was heard pulling up in frontof the cottage. 

There was a delighted little shriek from "Auntie!" and the warmestsalutations of welcome; and the next moment Miss Millet, with thecaptain's daughter, arm in arm, embracing one another, entered theparlour. 

The coastguardsman was transfixed, for there, before him, flushed andpanting, stood--

 "A maid with eyes of heavenly blue, And rippling hair of golden hue; With parted lips of Coral too, Disclosing pearls--and--"

All the rest of it! Yes, no wonder that Jeffrey Benson was transfixed. Still less wonder that Rosebud stood in much the same condition; for, ayoung giant in pilot-cloth, damp and dirty, dishevelled, bespatteredwith mud, tied up about the fingers and plastered over the nose, was notprecisely what she had expected to find in Aunt Millet's parlour. 

They were soon introduced, however, and on the best of terms; for theshrinking from Jeff's filthy appearance changed in a moment tohero-worship in the romantic heart of Rose, when she was told the causeof the youth's condition, and heard all the details of the rescue fromhis own manly lips. 

It was love at first sight with both of them; more than that, it wasfirst love at first sight! We have profound sympathy with young peoplethus circumstanced, especially when they are reticent, and don't giveway to sentimental silliness. A good manly and womanly case of thissort of love, in which the parties concerned take a serious header andgo deep down, without the smallest intention of ever coming up again, ispleasant to contemplate and agreeable to record. 

Of course it must not be supposed that Rose Millet understood what hadhappened. She was fully aware, indeed, that something unusual hadoccurred within her inexperienced breast, but she quietly set it down tohero-worship. She had read Carlyle on that subject. She had seenoccasional reference in newspapers and magazines to lifeboat work, andshe had been thrilled by the record of noble deeds done by heroic seamenand coastguardsmen. At last it was her lot to come athwart one of thoseheroes. He quite came up to her conception--nay, more than came up toit! She regarded Jeff with feelings approaching to awe. The idea oflove in connection with a damp, dirty, wounded, nose-plastered, hair-ravelled giant, with beard enough to make an average hearth-broom, never entered her fair head. If suggested to her she would have laughedit to scorn--had it been possible for one so bright and "funny" tobecome scornful. 

As for Jeff--he more than suspected what had happened in regard tohimself. His experience of life had been varied and extensive for hisyears--at least in a nautical direction--and that is saying a greatdeal. 

"Done for!" he remarked to himself that evening, as he left theresidence of Miss Millet and sauntered slowly homeward, divesting hisfingers of the wrappings in an absent manner as he went along; but heforgot the plastered nose, and was taken to task about it by hiscomrades. 

"Why, wherever did you get the stickin'-plaster?" asked David Bowers, anAnglo-Saxon much like himself in form and size, only that his locks andbeard were yellow instead of dark brown. 

"From a friend, " replied Jeff. 

"A female friend?" asked Bowers, with a sly glance. 

"Yes, " replied Jeff, so promptly, and with a look of such benignity, that the Anglo-Saxon felt constrained to give up his intended badinage. 

That night curiously enough, Rose and Jeff were beset by dreams exactlysimilar in kind, though slightly modified in form. Both were in themidst of howling blasts and raging billows; but while the one was savinga fair and slender girl in circumstances of great but scorned risk, theother was being rescued by a young giant with a brown beard, in a stylethe most heroic, and in the midst of dangers the most appalling. 

Next day, when Jeff--having got rid of the nose-plaster, and removed themud, and brushed the dishevelled hair, and put on dry garments--paidanother visit to Miss Millet, the Rosebud formed a more correct estimateof her condition, became alarmed, and shrank like a sensitive plantbefore the gaze of the coastguardsman; insomuch that she drove him tothe conclusion that he had no hope whatever in that quarter, and that hewas foolish to think of her seriously. What _was_ she, after all? Amere chit of a school girl! It was ridiculous. He would heave heroverboard forthwith, and trouble his head no more about her. He wouldnot, however, give up visiting his old confidante on _her_ account--ohdear, no!

It was wonderful what an amount of guarding seemed to be required by thecoast in the vicinity of Miss Millet's cottage during the followingweek! Any one observing the frequency of Jeff's visits to it, and hisprolonged earnest gazing at the sea, would have imagined that theancient smuggling days had revived, or that the old tendency of theFrench to suddenly come o'er and find the Britons awaiting them onshore, was not yet extinct. 

One evening our hero, after paying a little unwonted attention to histoilet prepared to set out for Miss Millet's cottage. He had obtainedleave of absence for the evening, and had made up his mind to spend anhour or two in metaphysical discussion. Rose had not yet left her auntbut no matter. If she could not assist in the conversation, she couldat all events listen, and might be benefited. 

In passing through the station, the officer on duty called to him. 

"I want you, Benson, to take Wilson's place to-night. He is unwell andoff duty. We may possibly require all our force, for the barometer hassuddenly fallen much lower than usual. "

No shade of disappointment betrayed itself on the grave countenance ofthe well-disciplined Jeff as he replied, "Very well, sir, " and went out;but profound disappointment nevertheless harrowed his broad bosom, forhe had promised himself such a long and pleasant evening of discussion;possibly of benefit to the young girl for whom he cared nothing now--amere passing fancy, pooh! But even while ejecting the "pooh!" hewondered why the disappointment was so severe. Was it possible that hewas being taught by experience the lesson which Miss Millet's reasoningpowers had failed to inculcate?

It was blowing hard when Jeff reached the cliffs, and, bending forwardto the increasing blast made his way to the rugged coast which was to bethe scene of his night vigil. As he stood on the shore with hands inpockets and legs apart, to steady himself, and gazed out upon thedarkening sea, he saw plainly enough that the prophetic barometer wasright. Far out on the water a ledge of rocks, barely covered at highwater, caught the billows as they rolled shoreward, broke them up, andsent them spouting into the air in volumes of foam. On the horizon theclouds were so black that the shrieking sea-birds passed athwart themlike flakes of snow. Low muttering thunder was heard at intervals; andas night drew on, gleams of lightning flashed in the obscurity. 

During one of these flashes Jeff thought he saw a vessel labouringheavily. He could not be quite sure, for by that time spray, borne onthe whistling wind, was blinding him. Suddenly a red flash was seen, followed by a report. It was a signal of distress. 

Every thought and feeling save that of duty was instantly banished fromthe mind of our coastguardsman, as he hurried away to give the alarm andjoin in the rescue. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

A WRECK AND RESCUE. 

Terrible was the gale which burst that night upon the shores of oldEngland, and awful the fate that awaited many of the vessels which werenearing port at the time. Better far for many of them had they met thefoe in the open field of what seamen term blue water, for no place is sodangerous as the shallow waters off the coast when the storm-fiend isabroad. 

Perhaps it may be news to some readers that the losses of this countryby shipwreck form a perennial drain of life and wealth as regular andcertain as the recurrence of the seasons. Nearly two thousand ships, two millions sterling, and little short of a thousand lives are losteach year on the shores of the United Kingdom--sometimes more, sometimesless, --each and every year. We give round numbers, because they aremore easily remembered. 

On the particular night of which we write, many a gallant ship wasdriving over the sea, making for her port, nearing home and friends, rushing to her doom! Passengers and crews alike had by that time, doubtless, become so familiar with whistling gales and heaving seas, that they had ceased to fear them; but some among them had yet to learn, when too late, that the dangers of the deep are insignificant comparedwith the perils of the shore. 

Among these hapless ships was one to which we direct the reader'sparticular attention. She was a large ship, with a crew of betweentwenty and thirty men, bound from China to the Thames. She carried nopassengers, and was commanded by our friend, Captain Millet. 

No captain in the mercantile navy of Britain was better qualified thanhe to take his ship across the trackless main, and, if need be, carryher safely into port; but seamanship and knowledge of channels and barsand currents avail nothing when the sails and cordage of a ship areunseaworthy and her timbers worn out. 

The owners of the _North Star_ cared little for human lives. They wereeconomists of the strictest kind. Hence her condition was bad. 

The gale overtook the _North Star_ when she was not far from the coastwhere nestled her captain's native town of Cranby. A pilot had beensignalled for in vain, for the night was thick as well as stormy. Atlast one was obtained, and all went fairly well until the vessel was offthe black rocks on which the eyes of Jeff Benson had been resting forsome time. Fearing that he was too near that point of danger, the pilotgave orders to go about. While the vessel was in stays, one of theropes parted, and she missed. At the same moment a squall came down onher, and carried away the main and fore-topmasts with the jib-boom. Instantly the vessel was unmanageable, and drifted bodily towards therocks. 

Captain Millet and his men toiled like heroes to clear away thewreckage, and orders were given to fire the signal-gun. As we haveseen, our coastguardsman was swift to carry the alarm to his station, and without delay the lifeboat was launched. At the same time orderswere given to get ready the coastguard boat, in case its services shouldbe required. 

The regular crew of the lifeboat had, as usual, been on the alert, andthe bright blue boat of mercy was at once run down to the beach, untilher carriage reached the edge of the foaming sea. 

"Now, lads, jump in!" shouted the coxswain. 

It was found, however, when they had taken their places and seized theoars, that two of the crew were missing. Volunteers were instantlycalled for, and Jeff, with his friend David Bowers, answered to thecall. They put on the cork life-belts, took the vacant seats, andgrasped the oars. Then the transporting carriage, with the boat andcrew on it, was pushed by many willing hands as far into the sea aspossible, the men bending forward with the oars out, ready to pull at amoment's notice. 

The launching ropes were already manned. At another signal from thecoxswain, the boat plunged into the boiling surf, the oars were dipped, ten strong backs were bent, and away they shot on their errand ofmercy--drenched and filled by the first great billow through which theycut their way, but not swamped, for the water ran out through thedischarging tubes as fast as it came in. 

An hour of hard toil brought them within sight of the wreck. Keepingwell to windward, the coxswain cast anchor, and the bowman, taking aturn or two of the cable round the bollard, allowed the boat to dropdown to the wreck, stern foremost. 

"Can't you get round to leeward of the wreck?" asked Jeff, who sat nearthe stern of the boat, keeping a firm grasp of his oar, which therushing and breaking seas well-nigh forced out of his hands. 

"No, not as the rocks lie, " replied the coxswain curtly. 

On drawing a few yards nearer, it became evident that no boat could livein the seething caldron of rocks and foam that lay under the lee of thewreck. Their only chance lay in approaching from the weather side, which was not only a difficult and dangerous operation, but was rendereddoubly so by the violent swaying of the wreck from side to side. 

The roaring of the gale and thunder of the seas, combined with thedarkness and the hurtling spray, rendered it impossible for the men inthe life-boat to distinguish anything clearly, until close to the wreck. Then it was seen that the whole crew had taken to the rigging of themainmast--the topmast of which had been carried away by the fall of theforemast and mizzen. 

A lusty cheer told that the shipwrecked men were still strong in hope, though their situation was terrible; for every lurch of the hull shookthe swaying top so violently as almost to tear even the strong seamenfrom their grasp. 

"Jeff, " said Bowers, who sat on the same thwart with his friend, "did yenot recognise a voice in that cheer?"

"Ay, that I did, " returned Jeff, with feelings of great anxiety. "'Twasuncommon like Captain Millet. "

"Look out for the rope!" roared one of the lifeboat men, as he swung anddischarged the loaded stick with a line attached. 

The heave was successful. The men on the maintop of the wreck caughtthe line, and by means of it passed a stout warp between the mast andthe boat, down which they began to shin like squirrels, for the promptappearance of their rescuers had not left time for the exhaustion oftheir strength. 

"Is your vessel the _North Star_, commanded by Captain Millet?" shoutedJeff in the ear of the first arrival, for the noise of raging elementsrendered ordinary tones almost useless. 

"Ay, she is, " replied the man; "but you won't see _him_ till the last ofus is safe aboard. "

"Hallo! Captain Millet!" cried Jeff, with a roar that almost equalledthe elements. 

"Ay, ay, is that you, Jeff?" came back in a similar roar (but greatlysoftened by distance) from the swirling spray-clouds that raged abovethe wreck. 

"Cheer up, Captain; we'll save you all right, " returned ourcoastguardsman in another enthusiastic roar, which of itself didsomething to cheer up all who heard it. 

About a dozen of the sailors had been got into the lifeboat, when atremendous rending sound was heard, followed by a loud cry of alarm, asthe mast broke off a few feet above the deck, and plunged, with the menstill upon it, into the boiling sea. To add to the confusion andterror, some part of the cordage caught the lifeboat, and completelysank as well as overturned it. 

To an ignorant observer it might have seemed that all hope was gone--that every man must perish. But this was not so. The buoyant qualitiesof the magnificent lifeboat brought it to the surface like a cork theinstant it was freed. Its self-righting qualities turned it on itskeel. The self-acting discharging tubes emptied it in less than twominutes; and the crew, supported by their cork life-belts, caught thelife-lines festooned round the boat's side for this very purpose, andclambered into her. 

Of the men of the wreck who had been tumbled into the sea along withthem, some clung to their rescuers, whose belts could easily sustaintwo. Others were able to lay hold of the boat, and a few held on to thefloating wreckage till they were saved. 

Suddenly the voice of Captain Millet was heard, "Hold on, lads; don't gowithout me. My foot's jammed here, and I can't--"

He stopped abruptly, for the head of the mast plunged under water at themoment, taking the captain along with it. 

Without a word Jeff rose and sprang into the sea at the spot where hisfriend had disappeared. Almost at the same moment the end of the mastre-appeared, and struck our hero on the side with terrible violence. Inspite of the blow, however, he was able to free the captain, who wascaught by several strong arms, and hauled inboard at the same momentthat his rescuer laid hold of one of the hanging life-lines. 

While they were still heaving at the captain, David Bowers heard Jeff'svoice--

"Your hand, Davy!"

The stout coastguardsman was not slow to obey and he received a griplike that of a drowning man; but his mate made no other effort to savehimself. 

"Help here, two of you, " cried Bowers. 

Another moment, and six brawny arms embraced Jeff, and lifted him intothe boat. 

"Not hurt, I hope, Jeff?"

"Not much, Davy--at least not to speak of; only I'm a bit stunned. Justlet me lie here. One o' the _North Star's_ men can take my oar. "

There was no time for delicate attentions or inquiries in thecircumstances, for the wreck of the mainmast had already given the boat, strong though it was, some damaging lunges as it shot wildly to and froin the mad sea. 

"All there?" demanded the coxswain of the saved men, who had beenrapidly counting their numbers. 

"All here, thank God!" answered Captain Millet. 

"Haul off, lads!"

The men laid hold of the hawser, and hauled with a will--not a momenttoo soon, for the wreck was breaking up, and the sea around was strewnwith heavy timbers. Having hauled the boat up to her anchor, the latterwas got in, and the oars were shipped. These last being made fast tothe boat with strong lines, had not been lost in all the turmoil, thoughtwo of them were broken. They were replaced, however, by spare oars;and then the lifeboat, being pulled out of danger, hoisted her scrap ofsail and scudded away gaily before the wind for the shore with herrescued freight. 

Of course the news spread like wildfire that the lifeboat had come inwith the crew of the wrecked _North Star_--some said the whole crew, others, part of the crew; for verbal reports of this kind never docoincide after travelling a short way. 

"Jeff, I must go straight to my sister, and be first wi' the news, " saidCaptain Millet on landing. "You said my Rosebud is with her just now?"

"Yes, I'll go with 'ee, captain. "

"Come along, then, lad; but I fear you've got hurt. You're sure itisn't broken ribs?"

"Oh, nothing to speak of, " replied the youth, with a light laugh. 

"First however, I must telegraph to the owners, " said the captain. 

This duty performed, and his men comfortably housed in a neighbouringinn, Captain Millet and Jeff went off to the cottage. It was about twoin the morning when they reached it. No one had yet been there. In hisexcited state of mind, the captain, who had no nerves, thundered at thedoor. 

If there was one thing that Miss Millet had a horror of, it washousebreakers. She leaped out of bed, and began to dress in terror, having roused Rose, who slept with her. 

"Burglars never thunder like that, auntie, " suggested Rose, as shehastily threw on her garments. 

Miss Millet admitted the force of the argument and then, somewhatrelieved, concluded that it must be tipsy men. Under this impressionshe raised the window-sash--her bedroom being on the upper floor--andlooked timidly out. 

"Go away, bad, naughty men!" she said, in a remonstrative tone. "If youdon't I shall send for the police!"

"Why, Molly, don't you know me?"

"Brother!" shrieked Miss Millet. 

"Father!" exclaimed the Rosebud. 

Need we say that, after a few more hurried touches to costume, the doorwas opened, and the untimely visitors were admitted? Need we add thatwhen Rose, with a little cry of joy, leaped into her father's arms andreceived a paternal hug, she leaped out of them again with a littleshriek of surprise?

"Father, you're all wet! a perfect sponge!"

"True, darling, I forgot! I've just been wrecked, and rescued by thelifeboat through God's great mercy, 'long with all my crew; and there, "he added, pointing to Jeff, "stands the man that saved my life. "

If Rose loved the young coastguardsman before, she absolutely idolisedhim now. Something of the feeling must have betrayed itself on her fairface, for Jeff made a step towards her, as if under an irresistibleimpulse to seize her hand. 

But at that moment he experienced an agonising sensation of pain, and, staggering backwards, sat down--almost fell--upon the sofa. 

"Nothing--nothing, " he replied, to the anxious inquiries of Miss Millet. "Only a little pain, caused by the rap I got from that mast. Come now, auntie, don't fuss about me, but sit down and hear what the captain hasgot to say. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

MISS MILLET RECEIVES A SURPRISE, ROSEBUD A DISAPPOINTMENT, AND OUR HEROANOTHER BLOW. 

Miss Millet was one of those cheery, unselfish, active-minded women whoare not easily thrown off their balance--deranged, as the French say--byuntoward circumstances. 

The arrival of any two friends at two in the morning would have failedto disturb the good nature or weaken the hospitality of that amiablecreature. Her joy, therefore, at the sudden, though untimely, appearance of her brother and friend was not marred by selfishconsiderations; and although she was eager to bear what the captain hadto say, she would not let him begin until he and Jeff had retired to anattic chamber and put on dry habiliments. 

How male attire came to be so handy in a spinster's house is easilyaccounted for by the fact that her regard for the memory of her departedfather was so great as to have induced her to leave his hat and stick inthe passage in their wonted places after his death, and to leaveundisturbed the chest of drawers which contained the greater part of hiswardrobe. Nothing short of absolute necessity would have induced MissMillet to disturb these sacred relics; but she knew that death mightresult from sitting in drenched clothes, and her well-balanced mind atonce pointed out that here was a case which demanded a sacrifice. Shetherefore bowed to the inevitable, and handed her brother the key of thechest of drawers. 

As the late Mr Millet had been a large man, the result was that hervisitors were admirably fitted out--the only disadvantage being that thecaptain had to turn up the legs of the trousers and the cuffs of thecoat. 

Meanwhile Miss Millet lighted a gas-stove, which she had always readyfor invalid purposes, and Rose arranged the table, so that when theirvisitors returned to the parlour, they were greeted with the sight offood and the singing of the tea-kettle. 

"I can offer you brandy, brother, " said the little hostess, "_as amedicine_!"

"Thankee, Molly--not even as a medicine, " said the captain, with abenignant look; "tea is better in the circumstances. I can speak from avast amount of experience. But of course I speak only for myself. Idon't know what Jeff's principles--"

"My principles, " interrupted the coastguardsman, "are to leave every manto judge for himself. My judgment for myself is, that, as I don'trequire strong drink, I'm much better without it. "

"My principles go much further than that, " said Miss Millet who was anenthusiastic total abstainer. "The Bible justifies me in denying myselfthe use of wine and all spirituous liquors _for my brother's sake_, sothat I may set him an example, and also have more weight when I reasonwith him, and try to get him to adopt my views. "

"Why, Molly, to hear you talk like that about giving up drink for yourbrother's sake, one would think that I had bin a tippler all my life!"

"You know that I refer to my brother--man, brother. "

"Ah, of course--of course; and also your sister-woman, I suppose, " criedthe captain, seizing the loaf and beginning to cut it intoinch-and-a-half slices. "What's _your_ opinion, Rosebud, on the drinkquestion?"

Rose, whose cheeks emulated her namesake flower, replied that, neverhaving tasted wine or spirits in her life, or thought upon the drinkquestion at all, she had no opinion to express. 

"Long may you continue in that innocent and humble state of mind, myRosebud, " cried the captain, with a laugh which caused him to choke onhis first mouthful of tea. After recovering himself and wiping hiseyes, he said--

"Now, Moll, I must tell you all about the wreck;" on which he launchedout into a graphic description of what the reader already knows. 

You may be sure that he did not underrate the services and heroism ofJeff, who sat wonderfully silent during the recital, and onlyacknowledged references to himself with a faint smile. 

"But, brother, " exclaimed Miss Millet, with sudden energy when he hadfinished, "what will the consequences of this wreck be?"

"The consequences, my dear, will be that the owners will lose a goodmany thousand pounds, for neither ship nor cargo were insured. An' itsarves 'em right for the vessel was not fit to go to sea; an' they knewit, but were too graspin' to go to the expense o' refittin'. Besides, they've bin what they call so lucky in past years that they thought, Ifancy, there was no fear o' their luck departin'. "

"But I was not thinking of the owners, brother; I was thinking of theconsequences to yourself. "

"Why, as to that, Molly, as I've lost my ship, I'm pretty safe to losemy situation; for, from what I know of the owners, they are sure to layall the blame they can upon my shoulders, so that I won't find it easyto get another ship. Worse than all, I had made a little privateadventure of my own, which was very successful, and the result o' whichI was bringin' home in gold-dust; and now every nugget o' that is at thebottom o' the sea. So you see, Molly, it's loss an' disastereverywhere--nothin' but a black horizon all round. "

Jeff glanced quickly at Miss Millet. This seemed to bear somewhat ontheir recent discussions. Miss Millet as quickly returned the glance. 

"I know what you are thinking, Jeff, " she said, with an intelligentlook. 

"Well, auntie, " returned the youth, "it does seem hard to think that anygood can come out of all this--doesn't it?"

"Young man, " said the captain, regarding Jeff with an almost stern look, "if a savage were taken into a factory and shown the whirling wheels andbands and rollers working in all directions, and saw filthy old ragsboiled and mixed up with grass and evil-smelling substances, and torn toshreds and reduced to pulp in the midst of dirt and clattering noise andapparent confusion; and if that savage were to say, `Surely nothin' goodcan come out of all this!' wouldn't you--knowin' that great rolls offair and spotless paper were to come out of it--pronounce that savage afool, or, at least, a presumptuous fellow?"

"True, captain; I accept the rebuke, " said Jeff, with a short laugh anda swift glance at Rose, who, however, was gazing demurely at hertea-cup, as if lost in the contemplation of its pattern. Possibly shewas thinking of the absurdity of taking tea at all at such an hour!

"Well, then, Jeff, " continued the captain, "don't you go and judgeunfinished work. Perfect men and women are, in this world, only inprocess of manufacture. When you see them finished, you'll be betterable to judge of the process. "

Jeff did not quite agree with his friend; for, gazing at Rose, he couldnot help feeling that at least one woman had, to his mind, been almostperfectly finished even here! However, he said nothing. 

At this point the conversation was turned by Miss Millet suddenlyrecalling to mind her brother's generous friend in China. 

"You have no idea, Dick, how much good I have been able to do with thatmoney. Of course it could not pay for the swimming-bath, or the church, or but here, I have a note of it all. "

She pulled a soiled red note-book from her pocket and was about to referto it, when she was arrested by the grave, sad expression that hadoverspread her brother's countenance. 

"Ah, Molly, " he said, "dear Clara Nibsworth was dying when I last sawher, and I fear her father won't survive her long. You remember, I toldyou the poor girl was delicate and her father old, and the excitementand exertion of that night of the fire was too much for both of them. When I arrived this time in China, I took a run up to their place to seethem, and found Clara almost at the point of death. I had little timeto spare, and meant to have returned the next day; but the poorbroken-down father entreated me so earnestly to remain that I at lastagreed to spend three days wi' them. Durin' that time I read the Biblea good deal to the poor girl, and found that she had got her feet firmon the Rock of Ages. She was very grateful, poor thing, and I never sawone so unselfish. She had little thought about herself, although dyin'and in great sufferin'. Her chief anxiety was about her old father, andwhat he would do when she was gone. 

"It was impossible for me to stay to the end, for no one could guess howlong the poor thing would hold out. I did my best to comfort thefather, and then I left, bringing away a kind message to you, my poorRosebud. She seems to have loved you dearly, and said you were verykind to her at school. "

Rose had covered her face with her hands, and with difficulty restrainedher tears. 

"But you said the doctors had _some_ hope, father; didn't you?" sheasked. 

"No, darling, the doctors had none--no more had I. It was her poorfather who hoped against hope. Death was written on her sweet face, andit could not be far off. I doubt not she is now with the Lord. When Iwas leaving, she gave me a small packet for you; but that, witheverything else in the _North Star_, has gone to the bottom. But wemust be goin' now, " continued the captain, rising. "I see Jeff isgettin' wearied--an' no wonder. Besides, it won't do to keep you two uphere talkin' till daylight. "

Jeff protested that he was not weary--that in such company it wasimpossible for him to tire! but Rose was too much distressed by herfather's narrative to observe the compliment. 

Still, in spite of his protest, there was something in our hero's mannerand look which belied his words; and when he returned to the coastguardstation that day, and was about to lie down for much-needed repose, hisfriend and mate, David Bowers, was surprised to see him turn deadlypale, stagger, and fall on his bed in a state of insensibility. 

"Hallo! Jeff, what's wrong?" exclaimed Bowers, starting up, seizing hisfriend's arm, and giving him a shake, for he was much puzzled. To see aman knocked into a state of insensibility was nothing new or unfamiliarto Bowers, but to see a powerful young fellow like Jeff go off in afainting fit like a woman was quite out of his experience. 

Jeff, however, remained deaf to his mate's hallo! and when at last adoctor was fetched, it was found that he had been seriously injured;insomuch that the medical man stood amazed when he heard how he hadwalked several miles and sat up for several hours after his exertionsand accident at the wreck. That medical man, you see, happened to be anold bachelor, and probably did not know what love can accomplish!

"I very much fear, " he said to Captain Millet, after inspecting hispatient, "that the poor fellow has received some bad internal injuries. The mast, or whatever it was, must have struck him a tremendous blow, for his side is severely bruised, and two of his ribs are broken. "

"Pretty tough ribs to break, too, " remarked the captain, with a look ofprofound distress. 

"You are right, " returned the doctor; "remarkably tough, but not quitefitted to withstand such a powerful battering-ram as the mainmast of asix-hundred-ton barque. "

"Now, doctor, what's to be done with him? You see, the poor youngfellow is not only my friend, but he has saved my life, so I feel boundto look well after him; and this isn't quite the sort o' place to be illin, " he added, looking round the somewhat bare apartment, whose wallswere adorned with carbines and cutlasses. 

"The wisest thing for him to do is to go into hospital, where he willreceive the best of medical treatment and careful nursing. "

"Wouldn't the nursing of an old lady that loves him like a mother, and acomfortable cottage, do as well?"

"No doubt it would, " said the doctor, with a smile, "if he also hadproper medical attendance--"

"Just so. Well, that's all settled, then, " interrupted the captain. "I'll have him removed at once, and you'll attend him, doctor--whobetter?--that is, if you can spare the time. "

The doctor was quite ready to spare the time, and the captain bustledoff to tell his sister what was in store for her, and to order Rosebudto pack up and return to school without delay, so as to make room forthe patient. 

Great was his astonishment that his Rosebud burst into tears onreceiving the news. 

"My Bud, my darling, don't cry, " he said, tenderly drawing the fair headto his rugged bosom. "I know it must be a great disappointment to havea week cut off your holidays, but I'll go down to Folkestone with you, an' take a lodging there, an you an' I will have a jolly time of ittogether--till I get another ship--"

"Oh! father, it's not _that_!" exclaimed poor Rose almost indignantly;"it's--it's--"

Not being able to explain exactly what it was that ailed her, she tookrefuge in another flood of tears. 

"Oh!" she thought to herself, "if I might only stay and nurse him!" butshe blushed at the very thought, for she was well aware that she knew nomore about scientific nursing than a tortoiseshell cat! Three months ofthe most tender and careful nursing by Miss Millet failed, however, toset Jeffrey Benson on his legs. He was very patient and courageous. Hope was strong, and he listened with approval and gratitude to hisnurse's teachings. 

There came a day, however, which tried him. 

"You think me not much better, doctor?" he asked, somewhat anxiously. 

"Not much, " returned the doctor, in a low, tender tone; "and I fear thatyou must make up your mind never again to be quite the same man youwere. "

"Never again?" exclaimed the youth, in startled surprise. 

The doctor said nothing, but his look was--"never again. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

GOOD NEWS TO THE CAPTAIN--ALSO TO JEFF. 

There is a period, probably, in the life of every man, when a feelingakin to despair creeps over him, and the natural tendency of his heartto rebel against his Maker becomes unquestionable. There may be some onwhom this epoch descends gently--others, perhaps, who may even questionwhether they have met with it at all; but there must be many, of whomJeff was one, on whom it comes like a thunderbolt, scathing for a timeall the finer qualities of heart and mind. 

"If it had only come at a later period of life, or in some other form, auntie, " he said one day, as he lay on a sofa at the open window of thecottage, looking out upon the sea; "but to be bowled over at my age, when the world was all before me, and I was so well able--physically, atleast--to fight my way. It is terrible, and seems so outrageous! Whatgood can possibly come of rendering a young man helpless--a strong, capable machine, that might do so much good in the world, useless?"

He spoke in an almost querulous tone, and looked inquiringly in hisnurse's face. It did not occur to the youth, as he looked at her, thatthe weak-bodied, soft, and gentle creature herself had been, and stillwas, doing more good to the world than a hundred young men such as he!

Miss Millet's face was a wholesome one to look into. She did not shakeher head and look solemn or shocked. Neither did she laugh at hispetulance. She merely said, with the sweetest of little smiles, "Youmay live, Jeff, to be a very useful machine yet; if not _quite_ asstrong as you were--though even that is uncertain, for doctors arefallible, you know. Never forget that, Jeff--doctors are fallible. Besides, your living at all shows that God has something for you to dofor Him. "

"Nonsense, auntie. If that is true of me, it is just as true ofhundreds of men who live and die without making the smallest attempt toaccomplish any work for God. Yet He lets them live for many years. "

"Quite true, " returned Miss Millet; "and God _has_ work for all thesemen to do, though many of them refuse to do it. But I feel sure thatthat won't be your case, Jeff. He finds work just suited to ourcapacities--at the time we need it, too, if we are only willing. Why, in my own very case, has He not sent you to me to be nursed, just as Ihad finished organising the new night-classes for the usher-boys; and Iwas puzzled--absolutely puzzled--as to what I should do next and hereyou step in, requiring my assistance, and giving me full employment. "

"That's it--that's it, " returned Jeff hastily. "I am without means, anda burden on you and Captain Millet. Oh! it is hard--very hard!"

"Yes, indeed, it _is_ hard to bear. Of course that is what you mean, for, as God has done it we cannot suppose anything that He does isreally hard. If your illness had been the result of dissipation, now, or through your own fault, you could not have said exactly it was God'sdoing; but when it was the result of noble self-sacrifice--"

"Come, come, auntie; don't make me more vain than I am. I'm bad enoughas it is, and--and--I'm _very_ weary. "

The poor youth's head fell back on the pillow, and he sighed deeply ashis nurse brought him some strengthening food. He needed it much, forhe was reduced to a mere shadow of his former self. 

His fine eyes had become quite awful in their size and solemnity. Hisonce ruddy cheeks were hollow. His well-formed nose had become pinched, and his garments hung on, rather than clothed, a huge skeleton. 

During all Jeff's illness Captain Millet was unremitting in hisattentions, insomuch that a certain careworn expression began to take upits settled abode on his countenance. But this was not altogether owingto sympathy with his friend, it was partly the consequence of hisfinancial affairs. 

Having lost his situation, as he had expected, he found it difficult toprocure another, and was under the necessity of living on the smallcapital which he had accumulated in the course of laborious years. Hadhis own subsistence been all his care, he would have had little trouble;but Rose had to be supported and educated, his sister had to beassisted, his charities had to be kept up, and now Jeff Benson had to bemaintained, and his doctor paid. The worst of it all was, that he couldnot talk on the subject to any of the three, which, to a sympatheticsoul, was uncommonly hard--but unavoidable. 

"Yes, quite unavoidable, " he muttered to himself one evening, when alonein his lodging. "They think I'm a rich old fellow, but I daren't say aword. If I did, Jeff would refuse to eat another bite, an' that wouldkill him. If I told Rosebud, it could do no good, and would only makeher miserable. If I told Molly, I--I really don't know what she'd do. She'd founder, I think. No, I must go on sailin' under false colours. It's a comfort, anyhow, to know that the funds will last some littletime yet, even at the present rate of expenditure; but it's perplexin'--very. "

He shook his head, wrinkled his brows, and then, rising, took awell-worn pocket-Bible from a shelf, and sought consolation therein. 

Some time after that Captain Millet was seated in the same room, aboutthe same hour, meditating on the same subject, with a few additionalwrinkles on his brow, when he received a letter. 

"From Hong Kong, " he muttered, opening it, and putting on his glasses. 

The changes in his expressive face as he read were striking, and mighthave been instructive. Sadness first--then surprise--then blazingastonishment--then a pursing of the mouth and a prolonged whistle, followed by an expressive slap on the thigh. Then, crumpling the letterinto his pocket he put on his glazed hat, sallied forth, and took theway to his sister's cottage. 

At that cottage, about the same time, a great change had taken place inJeff Benson--spiritually, not physically, though even in the latterrespect he was at all events not worse than usual. Having gone from badto worse in his rebellion, he had at last reached that lowest depthwherein he not only despaired of the doctor's power to cure him, and hisown power of constitution, but began silently, and in his own mind, tocharge his Maker with having made a complete failure in his creation. 

"Life is a muddle, auntie, altogether!" he exclaimed when he reachedthis point. It was the lowest ebb--hopeless despair alike of himselfand his God. 

"A muddle, Jeff?" said the little woman, raising her eyebrows slightly. "How can that be possible in the work of a Perfect Creator, and aPerfect Saviour who redeems from all evil--your supposed `muddle'included?"

Our young coastguardsman was silent. It was probably the greatturning-point when the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to see Jesus, and allthings in relation to Him. For a long time he did not speak. The lipsof his nurse were also silent, but her heart was not so. At last Jeffspoke--

"It _must_ be so. Perfection is bound to work out perfection. Thisapparent evil _must_ be for good. `He doeth all things well. ' Surely Ihave read that somewhere!"

In a low clear voice his nurse said--

 "`He doeth all things well, ' We say it now with tears; But we shall sing it with those we love Through bright eternal years. "

"I think the light is dawning, auntie. "

"I am _sure_ it is, Jeff. "

Again they were silent, and thus they remained while the natural lightfaded, until the western sky and sea were dyed in crimson. 

The first thing that diverted their thoughts was a quick step outside, then a thunderous knock at the door, and next moment the captain stoodbefore them, beaming with excitement, panting heavily, and quite unablefor some minutes to talk coherently. 

"Sister, " said he at last, "sit down an' listen. Jeff, open your ears. "

He drew a crumpled letter from his pocket, spread it on his knee, put onhis glasses, and read as follows:--

"`My DEAR CAPTAIN MILLET, --

"`You will, I know, be grieved, though not surprised, to hear that yourold friend Nibsworth is dead. Poor fellow! his end came much as you andI had anticipated when we last parted. He followed his dear Clara abouttwo months after her death. I suppose you know that she died three daysafter you left their house. 

"`My object in writing just now, however, is to convey to you a piece ofgood news; namely, that Nibsworth has left you the whole of hisproperty, which, altogether, cannot amount to less, I should think, thaneighty thousand pounds. '"

At this point the captain paused and looked over his glasses at hissister, who, with wide-open eyes, exclaimed--

"Brother! he must be joking!"

"Sister, " returned the captain, "my friend _never_ jokes, except when inextremely congenial society, and then his jokes are bad--so bad as to beunworthy of repetition. "

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Miss Millet. 

"Singular, " murmured Jeff, whose thoughts seemed to be engaged with somefar-off prospect. 

"He goes on, " continued the captain, reading: "`I am left the soleexecutor of his affairs. Pray, therefore, write as to what you wishdone. I am not at present conversant with the precise duties of anexecutor, but of course I will get the best advice possible in thecircumstances, and do the best I can. I would recommend you to do thesame at your end of the world, and let me have your instructions as soonas possible. The enclosed statement will show you the nature of yourproperty. The greater part, you will observe, is in hard cash. I mayadd that the house and grounds here would sell well at present, if youfeel inclined to dispose of them. 

"`In conclusion, allow me to congratulate you on this piece of goodfortune--perhaps, knowing your character so well, I should have written, this good gift from God. '"

"Ay, my friend, " said the captain, folding the letter, "you might havewritten, `this unexpected and undeserved gift from God. ' But now, Molly, what think ye of it all?"

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the good lady in reply; and beyond this word sheseemed unable to go for a time, save that, after a strong mental effort, she varied it to "amazing!" Suddenly she seemed to recover, and saidwith a quick, earnest look--

"Dick, what are you going to do?"

"Do?" exclaimed Captain Millet, smiting his knee and looking from hissister to Jeff with a broad smile. "I'll run up to London, an' take amansion in the West End, call at Long Acre in passing, and buy acarriage and four. Then I'll run down to Folkestone an' buy a villathere, or a castle if they have one in stock; if not, I'll order one o'the newest pattern, with gas, water, electricity, and steam laid on. After that I'll buy a steam-yacht and take a trip round the world, so asto calm my brain and think over it. Of course I'll drop in at HongKong, in passing, to have a look at my property; and then--"

"Hush, brother! don't run on with such nonsense when we ought to be onlyfilled with serious thoughts. "

"How can a man be filled with serious thoughts, Molly, when a sort ofArabian Nights' affair has tumbled on him all of a sudden--took himaback like a white squall, and thrown him on his beam-ends?"

"And what a selfish fellow you are, too!" said Jeff; "not one word inall you propose to do about anybody except yourself--no mention even ofRosebud. "

"Pooh! Jeff, are you so green as not to know that a wise man never putshis best foot foremost? Don't you know that it is usual, when a manmakes a speech, to keep tumblin' out one point after another--clinkin''em all as he goes along--until he comes to the `last but not _least_'point? If you had let me alone, Molly, I was comin' to Rosebud andyourself too; but as you've been so unmannerly, I'll keep these pointstill another time. By the way, when you write to Rosebud, not a wordabout all this. It might unsettle the darlin' with her lessons. An'that reminds me that one o' my first businesses will be to have hersupplied wi' the best of teachers--French, Italian, Spanish, Germanmasters--Greek an' Hebrew an' Dutch ones too if the dear child wants'em--to say nothin' o' dancin' an' drawin' an' calisthenics an'mathematics, an' the use o' the globes, an' conundrums o' that sort. "

"Really, brother, if you go on like this, I'll begin to think your goodfortune, as you call it, has turned your brain. "

"Never fear, Molly, when I come to say what I'm going to do about thelittle church, an' the night-classes, an' the soup-kitchens, and themodel-houses and the swimming-bath, you'll whistle another tune. Butcome, Jeff; it's time to ask how you are gettin' along. You lookbetter, my boy. "

"I _am_ better, captain--much, _much_ better, " returned the youth, witha flushed cheek and sparkling eye, "for I, too, have got news thismorning of a fortune which exceeds yours in value, and the security isbetter. "

The captain was puzzled. "A fortune, Jeff?"

"Yes; but my news will keep. You are too much excited to hear about itjust now. Enough to say that I am much better. Now, if you are wise, you will go without delay and take some steps about this affair. "

"You're right, lad, " returned the captain, rising quietly and clappingon his hat; "so good-bye to 'ee both. I'll soon be back. At presentI'm off to consult my--my--solicitor! though I don't know who he is yet, more than the man in the moon. "

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

AN UNQUIET, ADVENTUROUS MORNING IN THE SHELL-CAVE. 

"I think, " said Jeff Benson one fine morning, as he got up and stretchedhimself, "that I feel well enough to-day to get down to the shorewithout assistance. You know, auntie, I shall never be able to walkalone if I give way to laziness, and lean so much on others. I'm likethe babies now, and must be encouraged to try it on my own hook. "

He looked at Miss Millet with a half-pitiful smile, for there wassomething woefully true in his words, and his good little nurse found itnecessary to go in search of the household keys for a minute or sobefore answering. 

"Well, Jeff, perhaps you are right and the day is splendid--sunny, calm, and warm--so you won't be likely to catch cold. Only don't go far, foryou might become tired out. So, promise that you won't go far, and thenI will let you go. "

Jeff promised; but of course he did not do exactly as his nurse wished, for, in such circumstances, the word "far" has a wonderfully variedsignificance. At first, leaning on his stick and pausing frequently torecover strength, he made his way to the shore; but when there, theinvigorating air and the exhilarating sound of ripples on the sand, anda rest on the rocks, made him feel so much better, that he thought hemight walk the length of the shell-cave without breaking his promise. 

He tried, and succeeded, but was so fatigued, when at length he threwhimself on the soft sand at the cave's mouth, that he felt uneasy aboutgetting home again. 

The shell-cave was a favourite nook in a lonely part of the cliffs, which Jeff had been wont to frequent in his coastguard days, especiallyat that particular time when he seemed to expect the revival of thesmuggling traffic near Miss Millet's cottage. He had frequently spokenof it to Rose as a beautiful spot where innumerable sea-shells were tobe found, and had once taken her to see it. 

It was, as we have said, a lonely spot, far removed from the fishingtown, and was sought out by Jeff because he did not yet feel strongenough to hold much intercourse with his friends and former mates--noneof whom had seen him since his illness began. But the poor invalid wasdoomed to several interruptions that day. 

The first comer was his comrade Wilson, of the coastguard, whose placehe had taken on the eventful night of the wreck. On rounding the pointof rock, and coming suddenly on our hero, that worthy was struck dumband motionless for at least a minute, while his eyes gradually openedwide with surprise, and his mouth partially followed suit. 

"Not Jeff Benson!" said Wilson at last, in quite a solemn tone. 

"What's left of him, " answered Jeff, with a faint smile. 

"An' it ain't much!" returned Wilson, with a kind of gasp, as heapproached softly. 

"Not much more than the bones an' clothes, " said Jeff, with a laugh athis friend's expression; "also, " he added more seriously, "a good dealof the spirit, thank God. How are all the lads, Wilson?"

The man tried to answer, but could not. The sight of his old stalwartchum so reduced was too much for him. He could only go down on oneknee, and take the thin large hand in his. Seeing this, Jeff returnedhis squeeze, and relieved him by saying--

"You can beat me now, Wilson, but I could squeeze till I made you howlonce, and mayhap I'll do it again--who knows? But you must not think meunkind if I ask you to leave me, Wilson. The Doctor is always insistingthat I must keep quiet; so, good-day to you, my boy, an' remember mekindly to my comrades. "

The next visitor, who appeared half an hour later, was the terrier dogof the station. Bounce belonged, of right, to David Bowers, but, beingamiable, it acknowledged the part-ownership of all the men. On suddenlybeholding Jeff, it rushed at him with a mingled bark and squeal of joy, and thereafter, for full two minutes, danced round him, a mass ofwriggling hair from tip of tail to snout, in uncontrollable ecstasy. Mingled misery and surprise at Jeff's sudden and unaccountabledisappearance, prolonged agonies of disappointed expectation, thesickness of heart resulting from hope long deferred, all were forgottenin that supreme moment of joy at reunion with his long-lost humanfriend!

Jeff had to rise and sit down on a shelf of rock to escape some ofBounce's overwhelming affection. Presently Bounce's owner appeared, andwent through something of a similar performance--humanised, however, andwith more of dignity. 

"I can't tell 'ee how glad I am to see you again, Jeff, " said Bowers, sitting down beside him, and grasping his hand. "But oh, man, howthin--"

The huge coastguardsman choked at this point, as Wilson had done beforehim; but, being more ready of resource, he turned it into a cough, anddeclared, sternly, that night-work must have given him a cold, or"suthin' o' that sort. " After which he made a great demonstration ofclearing his throat and blowing his nose. 

"But you'll soon be yours--at least, somethin' like your old self, before long, Jeff. The doctor told us that, the last time he was at thestation. "

"If God wills, " returned Jeff, softly; "I am in His hands, and willingto be what He chooses. You remember, David, the talk we once had aboutMiss Millet's argument, that God brings good out of evil. I didn'tbelieve it then; I believe it now. I've bin to school since I last sawyou, David, and I've learned a good lesson, for I can say from my heartit has been good for me that I was afflicted. "

Bowers did not reply, but looked at his friend with an expression ofpuzzled surprise. 

"Yes, " continued Jeff, with rising enthusiasm; "I have lost my health--the doctor thinks permanently. I've lost the strength that I used to beso proud of, and with it the hope of being able to make a living in anyactive line of life; and I've lost much more besides. But what I havefound in my Saviour far more than makes up for it all. "

In the "much more besides, " poor Jeff mentally referred to his loss ofall hope of ever gaining the hand of Rose Millet; for if his chanceseemed small before, how immeasurably was it reduced now that his healthwas shattered, and his power even of supporting himself gone. No; hefelt that that door was closed--that he must avoid the girl as much aspossible in future; and, above all, be particularly careful not to fallin love with her. Of course, it was only a passing fancy as yet, and, like fruit, would never ripen unless the sun shone. He would avoid thesunshine! Meanwhile, of all these rapidly fleeting thoughts, he saidnever a word to his friend David Bowers, but after a little moreconversation, begged him also to go away and let him rest. 

All very good, friend Jeff; but what if the sun should shine in spite ofyou?

Just about that time, in the course of his eager and somewhat erraticwanderings among solicitors and other men of business, Captain Milletmade a sudden pause, and, by way of taking breath, rushed down toFolkestone, brought Rose up to Cranby, hired a dog-cart, and drove alongthe sands at low tide, in the direction of his sister's cottage. 

"I think it probable that you may see him today, Rosebud, " he said, "though I'm not quite sure, for the doctor is afraid of a relapse, andfriends are not yet allowed to visit him. To be sure bein' only alittle girl, you probably wouldn't disturb him at all--'specially if youdidn't speak. Anyhow, you'll see auntie, which will be more to thepurpose. "

"Father, " said Rose, whose name seemed remarkably appropriate at thatmoment, "I should like to get down here, and walk the rest of the way. By the time I arrive, you'll have had a little talk with poor Jeff andauntie. Besides, there is a pretty cave that I used to gather shells inwhen I was last here. I would like so much to pay it a visit inpassing. "

Of course the captain had no objection, and thus it came to pass thatJeff's fourth visitor on that unquiet morning was the Rosebud!

How feeble are written words to convey ideas at times! If you couldhave obtained one glance of Rose and Jeff at that moment, reader, wordswould not be required. No peony ever blushed like that Rose--to saynothing of the blank amazement in those wide blue eyes. Jeff, stillseated on the rock, became petrified. 

Recovering first, as women always do, Rose hurried forward with--"I'm_so_ glad, Mr ---, " but there she stopped abruptly, for the unexpectedsight of that stalwart coastguardsman, reduced to a big skeleton withpale face, hollow cheeks, cavernous eyes, and an old-man stoop, was toomuch for her. She covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. 

What could Jeff do? He forgot his prudent resolves. He forgot hisweakness because his strength seemed to have suddenly returned. Hesprang up, intending to comfort the poor girl in a brotherly sort ofway. Somehow--he never could clearly remember how--he had her seated onthe rock beside him, with his arm round her waist and her head on hisshoulder. 

A few moments later--he never could tell how many--the wickedness of hisconduct came down upon Jeff like a thunderbolt. He removed his arm, drew away from her about three inches, and looked in her surprised facewith a solemn, self-condemned expression. 

"Forgive me, Rose, " he said, in the deep, hollow voice which had becomenatural to him since his illness began; "my love for you proved toostrong to be restrained just now: but believe me, I had fully made up mymind never to open my lips to you on the subject; for what right have I, a helpless, and, I fear, hopeless, invalid, to dare to aspire--"

There must have been something peculiar in the very slight, almostpathetic, smile which overspread the tearful face of Rose at thatmoment: for the arm was suddenly replaced, the three inches were reducedto nothing, the fair head again rested on the once stalwart shoulder, and thus they remained until the cavern was filled with the sounds:--

"Hi! Ho! Hallo! Rose--Rosebud ahoy! That girl would worry any man todeath! Where are you? Hi! Ship ahoy! Hallo-o-o!"

We need scarcely remark that Rose did not wait for the last stentorianhalloo! Bounding from her lover's side, she ran to meet her father--redat first and then pale--exclaiming, "Oh! father I've found him!"

"Found who, child?"

"Jeff--I mean Mister--"

"Not dead?" exclaimed the Captain, interrupting with awful solemnity. 

He was answered by the invalid himself coming out of the cavern, andwishing him good-morning with a confused and guilty air. 

"Well now, " said Captain Millet after a moment's pause, while he glancedfrom the one to the other, "this beats the polar regions all to sticksand stivers. Rose, my dear, you go round the p'int, an' wait by thedog-cart till I come to 'ee. "

"So, young man, " he said, turning sternly to Jeff, "you've bin cruisin'after my little girl without leave. "

"I am guilty, Captain Millet, " said Jeff humbly, "but not intentionallyso. Long ago, when I learned that there was no hope of recovering myold strength, I had determined to give up all thoughts of dear Rose; butI was taken by surprise this morning--was off my guard--and, I confess, wickedly took advantage of my opportunity to tell her how dearly I lovedher. Yet it was done under a sudden, irresistible impulse. I do notexcuse myself. I would give worlds to undo the evil I may have done. But after all it _may_ be undone. Rose may have mistaken her extremesympathy and pity for love. If so, she will not suffer much, or long. Indeed, now I think of it, she won't suffer at all, except regret athaving been led to raise false hopes in my breast. "

The mere thought of this was so depressing, that Jeff, who was alreadyalmost worn out with excitement, leaned heavily on his stick forsupport. 

"Jeff, " returned the captain severely, "how could you do it?"

"I hardly know, " rejoined Jeff, feeling something of the old Adam risingin his breast; "but my intentions were honourable, whatever my conductmay have been under impulse and strong temptation. Perhaps I mightappeal to your own experience. Have you never done that which you didnot mean to under the power of impulse?"

"You've hit me there, boy, below the water-line, " said the captain, relaxing a little: "for I not only put the question to my old womanwithout leave, but carried her off with flyin' colours against orders;but it came all right at last, though I didn't deserve it. However, Jeff, you've no need to look so blue. My little girl has raised nofalse hopes in your breast. Moreover, let me tell you, for yourcomfort, that I saw the doctor this morning, and he says that yourconstitution is so strong that you're in a fair way to pull through inspite of him, and that you'll be fit for good service yet--though notexactly what you were before. So, keep up your heart, Jeff! Never saydie, and you shall wed my Rosebud yet, as sure as my name's DickMillet. "

There was need for these words of comfort, for the poor youth wasobliged to sit down on the sand for a few minutes to recover strength. 

"I've had a pretty stiff morning altogether, captain, " he saidapologetically; "but I'm thankful--very thankful--for the succession ofevents that have brought me to this happy hour. "

"And yet, Jeff, " said the captain, sitting down beside him, "you and Ithought these events--the wreck, and the loss of employment, and theoverturning o' the lifeboat, and the thump on the ribs, and the longillness--nothing but misfortunes and full of evil _at first_. There, --I'm not goin' to draw no moral. I never was good at that. Come, now, if you've rested enough, we'll up anchor and away. I've got a dog-cartbeatin' off an' on round the p'int there, an' my Rosebud will be gettin'impatient. "

This was true--Rose was becoming not only impatient but anxious. When, however, she saw her father and lover approach, all her anxietiesvanished. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 

The wonder-working power of Time is proverbial. Behold Jeffrey Bensononce again, looking like his old self, at the hospitable board of MissMillet. It is an occasion of importance. Opposite to her sits herbrother. Jeff is on her right hand. On the left sits Rose--prettier, brighter, and more womanly than ever. A gold circlet on one of thefingers of her left hand proclaims a great fact. A happy smile on herface proves that her confidence has not been misplaced. 

Jeff is nearly as stout and strong as he ever was; of his severe illnessscarcely a trace remains. The doctor does not know what it was, and itis not to be expected that we should know. Sufficient for us to statethe fact that it is gone. 

But our hero is not now a coastguardsman. Listen, and the captain willexplain why. 

"Molly, my dear, another cup of your superb tea, to web my whistlebefore I begin. It ought to be good, for I know the man that grew it, and the firm through which it came. Well, now, both you and Rosebudwill nat'rally want to know about the situation which I've obtained forJeff. You'll be surprised to hear that he is now Secretary of State toKing Richard Longpurse. "

"In other words, " interrupted Jeff, with a laugh, "your brotherthinks--"

"If _you_ think, sir, " interrupted the captain in his turn, "that KingRichard cannot explain matters in his own words, you had better say soat once, and I will abdicate in your favour. "

"Go on, sire--I submit, " said Jeff. 

"Well then, Molly, I was about to say, when my secretary interrupted me, that he and I have at last come to an agreement. After muchexplanation, I have got him to understand that a king cannot possiblymanage all his own affairs with his own hands, and that I am forced tohave a secretary, who can at least do the `three R's' pretty well. Yousee, although my edication has not been neglected, it still remains afact that I can't read without specs, that in cipherin' I am slow--slow, though sure--and that in the matter of penmanship I am neither swift norlegible. Therefore, seein' that in such things I don't differ much fromother kings and great men, Jeff has generously consented to refuse thelucrative sitooation under Goverment, with nothin' partik'lar to do, which has been offered to him, and to accept the secretary ofstate-ship, now at the disposal of King Richard, who will give him atleast as good a salary as Government, and at the same time keep his nosecloser to the grindstone. "

"Oh! Jeff, " said Rosebud at this point, shaking her finger at herhusband, "I _knew_ there was something in the wind!"

"My child, " remarked the captain, "there is always something in thewind. According to the best authorities, you may count on findin'oxygen, nitrogen, and carbonic-acid gases in it--not to mention foreignsubstances at times, such as dust leaves, bits of old newspaper and thelike, except at sea, where it is always pure and good. "

"But with plenty of salt in it, " interposed Miss Millet, "though notenough to cure you of bad habits, brother. Come now, tell us reallywhat you mean. "

"Well, sister, what I really mean is this: that the fortune which hasbeen sent to me is far too big for one pair of hands and one brain tomanage: so my son-in-law has agreed to help me--and the labourer, youknow, is worthy of his hire! Surely I don't need to explain the meaningof that text to _you_! Since we last conversed in this room on thedisposal of my surplus funds, Jeff and I have had many a long talk andwalk together. Moreover, I have kept the young secretary's nose sotight to the grindstone for some months past that he has producedresults which will, I think, interest--it may be even surprise--you. "

"Before going further, " continued the captain, pushing in his cup, "let's have some more o' that brew to wet my whistle. Well, you will bepleased to hear that I have changed my mind about the carriage and four, and the mansion in Belgravia, and the castle at Folkestone, and thesteam-yacht--given 'em all up, and decided to come here an' live quietlybeside you, sister. "

"Are you in earnest brother?" asked Miss Millet, with sparkling eyes. 

"Never more in earnest in my life; but get out your plans an' papers, secretary, an' explain 'em. "

Jeff rose, left the room, and returned with a business-like bundle ofpapers, which he untied and arranged on the table before him. Taking upone, he said--

"This is a list of the poor people in Cranby, in whom Miss Millet hasbeen accustomed to take special interest. The first on the list is oldSusan Jenkins. "

"My dear old woman, who has been bedridden so long, and in such terriblepoverty?" asked Miss Millet. 

"The same, " answered Jeff. "Captain Millet has succeeded in getting heradmission into the hospital for incurables. We have only just receivedintimation of the appointment; and as the old woman does not know of ityet, we thought it best to let you be the bearer of the news. "

"Oh, brother!" exclaimed Miss Millet, clasping her hands in delight. She knew now that the captain was in earnest, for he would sooner havecut off his own hand than trifle with her feelings. 

"Go on, secretary, " cried the captain, taking a considerable swig oftea, "an' don't you interrupt, Molly, else we'll never get through. "

"The next name is Martha Brand. "

"What, ragged little Martha?" exclaimed Miss Millet. 

"The same. A new rig-out has been ordered for Martha, and she is to besent to school. Joe Puncheon, better known as Vagabond Joe, has beenapprenticed to a carpenter--by his own special desire--and goes to workon Monday next in a suit of suitable clothes. "

"Come, sir, none o' that in business hours, " cried the captain, "andheave that list overboard. It would take us half the night to getthrough with it. Come to the plans, sir; open the plans. "

Putting aside the list, the obedient secretary took up a large document, and, unfolding it, spread it on the table. 

"This, " said Jeff, with business-like gravity, "is a plan of the CranbySwimming Bath. The coast near the town being rocky, and in many waysinconvenient for bathing, sea-water is to be pumped into this bath dailyby a steam-engine. A professor of swimming is appointed to givegratuitous instruction in his art. The bath is to be in two parts--onefor ladies, one for gentlemen--and will have dressing-boxes all round, besides diving-boards and every sort of convenience. At certain hoursof the morning and evening it will be open free of charge to all comers;so that there will be no excuse for any man, woman, or child in Cranbybeing dirty or unable to swim. "

"What a blessing it would be, " exclaimed the enthusiastic Miss Millet, "if such baths existed all over the kingdom!"

"It is a disgrace to the kingdom, " said Jeff, "that a bath such as thisdoes _not_ exist in every town of the kingdom. A mere tithe of themoney wasted on drink and tobacco, " ("and tea, " muttered the captain, pushing in his cup for more), "would suffice to do it. "

"Come, Jeff, clap a stopper on your long-winded lectures, and go aheadwi' the next plan, " said the captain, "and don't moralise if you canhelp it. "

"But, brother, can you afford all this?" asked Miss Millet. 

"Afford it? Of course I can. It's wonderful, Molly, what men canafford when they're willing to spend. Why, I've known a man myself whowas so uncommon willin' to spend that he ruined his baker an' butcheran' greengrocer before he had done spendin'. If that's so with them ashasn't got money to spend, surely it's for a man like me to do so who'srollin' in four thousand a year, more or less. Besides, I'm goin' toinvest some o' the capital in a way that'll pay back three or fourhundred per cent interest! I'm not goin' to leave it all to my Rosebud. A reasonable provision she shall have--not more. You see, Molly, I'mof opinion that whatever a man has--whether he makes it by the use ofhis talents, or inherits it from his father, or has it sent to himunexpected, like mine--he holds it all in trust, to be used for theglory of God and the good of men. Now, cut along, secretary. "

"This, " said Jeff, "is the plan of the People's Free Library. Thepurchase of the site was effected last week, and the building is to becommenced next month. "

"Ay, and the Prince of Wales is coming to lay the foundation stone, "cried the captain; "leastwise I've asked him to do it, and no doubthe'll come if he's got time. But look here, Molly, " he added, becomingimpatient and opening out all the plans at once--"here you've got thelecture-hall an' the gymnasium, an' the church, an' the ragged school--all ship-shape--an' what d'ye think this is? Explain it, secretary. "

"This is a plan of two cottages exactly the shape and size of this onein which we sit, but with a few more rooms and out-houses behind. Theempty space between them represents the site of this cottage. The oneon the right is intended for Captain Millet. That on the left for--"

"For the secretary and his wife, " cried the captain again, taking up thediscourse. "An' look here, what d'ye think the double lines in pencil'tween your cottage an' mine means?"

"A wash-house, perhaps. "

"A wash'us, " repeated the captain, with contempt. "No; that's a passagefrom one house to the other, so as you an' I can visit comfortably inwet weather. There's a door in the middle with two locks, one on eachside; so that if either of us should chance to be in the dumps, we'vegot only to turn the key on our own side. But the passage ain't in theplan, you see. It's only a suggestion. Then, Rosebud, what d'ye thinkthat thing is atop of my cottage?"

"It--it _looks_ like a--a pepper-box, " replied Rose, with somehesitation. 

"Pepper-box!" repeated the captain, in disgust; "why, it's a plate-glassoutlook, where I can sweep the horizon with my glass all round, an'smoke my pipe in peace and comfort, and sometimes have you up, my girl, to have a chat about old times. But that's not all, Molly. Here's aletter which you can put in your pocket an' read at your leisure. Itsays that the tin mine in which you have shares has become so prosperousthat you could sell at ten or twenty times the price of your originalshares; so, --you see, you are independent of me altogether as to yourlivelihood. Now, old girl, what d'ye think of all that?"

The captain threw himself back in his chair, wiped his brow and lookedat his sister with an air of thorough satisfaction. 

"I think, " returned Miss Millet slowly, "that God has been very good tous all. "

"He has, sister, He has; and yet the beginning of it all did not seemvery promising. "

The captain cast a glance at Jeff as he spoke. The youth met the glancewith a candid smile. 

"I know what you think, father, " he said. "You and I are agreed on thatpoint now. I admit that what appears to be evil may be made to work forgood. "

"True, Jeff, " returned the captain; "but I have lived long enough tosee, also, that the opposite holds good--that things which arequestionably good in themselves sometimes work out what appears to beevil. For instance, I have known a poor, respectable man becomesuddenly and unexpectedly rich, and the result was that he went in forextravagant expenditure and dissipation which ended in his ruin. "

"But that, " said Miss Millet quickly, "was because he did not accept thegift as from God to be used in His service, but misused it. "

"True, Molly, true; and such will be my fate if I am not kept by theHoly Spirit from misusing what has been given to _me_. "

The Rosebud opened not her lips, only her ears, while this conversationwas going on; but the next day, seated on a stool at Jeff's feet, withher fair little hands clasped on his knee and looking up in his kind, manly face, she said--

"I wonder, Jeff, what auntie would say if, instead of working out suchpleasant consequences to us, all these things had ended only in what weterm disaster, and bad luck, and poverty, and death--as happens so oftento many people. "

"I wonder, too, my Rosebud, " returned Jeff. "Suppose we go and put thequestion to her. "

Accordingly they went, and found the quiet old lady busy, as usual, knitting socks for the poor. 

"Now, auntie, " said Jeff, after stating the question, "if everything hadturned out apparently ill for us--according to what men usually callill--would you still hold that everything had really turned out well?"

"Certainly I would, Jeff, on the simple ground that God is good andcannot err, though He has many and strange methods of bringing about Hisends. You can prove it by taking an extreme case. Go to one of theearly martyrs, who lost not only property, and health, and friends, andliberty, but finally his life at the stake. The unbeliever's view wouldbe that everything had gone against him; his own view, that God had puton him great honour in counting him worthy to suffer and die for Jesus;and you could not doubt his sincerity when you heard his hymns of praiseon the way to the stake--ay, even in the _fire_. "

"Then, whatever happens--good or bad--auntie, " said Rose, "you wouldsay, `All is well. '"

"I would believe it, dear, whether I had courage to say it or not. Ifstrength were given, I would certainly acquiesce, and say, `Thy will bedone. '"

"Amen! Long may we live to say that, Molly, " said Captain Millet, entering the cottage at that moment. And the captain's prayer wasgranted; for he and Molly--and the ex-coastguardsman with his Rosebudlived many a year after that to see the completion of the swimming-bath, and the people's' library, and the gymnasium, and the evening classes, and the model houses, etcetera, and to experience the truth of thatblessed Word which tells us that "all things work together for good tothem that love God. "

THE END.