"At your animals," said Lucilla. "I understood that all the barking and squealing you talk about was the doing of a very nice old gentleman." "Yes," said Ned a trifle shamefacedly; "but please don't be hurt or affronted, Cousin Ronald; I didn't know how to say it any better." "No, sonny, and you meant it all right," the old gentleman answered pleasantly. "I am very glad to be able to furnish amusement for so good and lovable a bit of a kinsman as yourself." "Thank you, sir. I like that word--kinsman," said the little boy, regarding Mr. Lilburn with sparkling eyes. "It means a relation, doesn't it?" "Yes, just that, laddie. Your grandmother and mother are of my kin, and that makes you so too. I hope you are not ill-pleased to own so auld a cousin?" "No, indeed, sir," said Neddie earnestly; "and I'll try to behave so well that you won't ever feel ashamed to own me for your kin." "It will be a great surprise to me if ever I do feel my relationship to you and yours a disgrace, laddie," the old gentleman said with a smile. Then, turning to Violet, "Could not you give us a bit o' sacred music, cousin?" he asked. "It strikes me 'twould be a fitting winding-up of our services." "So I think," said the captain; and Violet at once took her place at the instrument. "Mamma," said Grace, "let us have 'Master, the Tempest is Raging.' We can all sing it, and it is so sweet." "Yes," said Violet. The others gathered around her, and together they sang: "'Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness! No shelter or help is nigh! Carest thou not that we perish? How canst thou lie asleep, When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep? _Chorus:_ "'The winds and the waves shall obey thy will, Peace, be still! Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea. Or demons, or man, or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies; They all so sweetly obey thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still! They all so sweetly obey thy will, Peace, peace, be still! "'Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief to-day; The depths of my sad heart are troubled; Oh, waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o'er my sinking soul; And I perish! I perish, dear Master, Oh, hasten and take control! _Chorus:_ "'The winds and the waves shall obey thy will, etc. "'Master, the terror is over, The elements sweetly rest; Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven's within my breast; Linger, O blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more; And with joy I shall make the blest harbor, And rest on the blissful shore. _Chorus:_ "'The winds and the waves shall obey thy will,'" etc. CHAPTER XV.