38o THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



own. He turned away, and followed his comrades out 

 of the cottage, and in a moment Breeta was left alone 

 with the Captain and her child. 



"Cheer up, my woman," said the sailor. "You 

 have got a fright. No wonder, sitting all alone on 

 such an eerie night. But you must not let your 

 morbid fancies run away with you. Your husband 

 may have met some friends, and they will have per- 

 suaded him to linger with them. This is a holiday 

 time recollect, and a man must have a bit freedom on 

 such occasions. He will return safe and sound before 

 long." 



Breeta shivered, and clasped Liza more tightly, but 

 made no reply to the Captain's well-intentioned 

 remarks. And still the snow fell heavily, the winds 

 screamed, and the billows clamoured as they broke 

 upon the shore. 



The Captain, receiving no response to his attempts 

 at cheering Breeta, made himself comfortable in a big 

 arm chair, and soon began to doze over the fire. 



Liza, cuddled to her mother's bosom, fell into a soft 

 sleep ; and the hours fled on, and Breeta sat motionless 

 and bewildered, striving to think, yet afraid to think. 



And James Gertson did not return to his home; 

 nor did Yaspard come back, as he had promised to do. 



The snow and the wind and the sea continued their 

 wild warfare without the cottage ; within, the girl-wife 

 waited. 



