"Nothing," cried Aunt Ruth, who was suffering from the effect of what people call getting out of bed the wrong way--"nothing, and that's what he's always doing--nothing. I'm sick of the sight of him--eat, eat, eat, and sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, and grow, grow, grow, all the year round. I'm sure I don't know what we do having him here. I hate the sight of him." "Will," said Uncle Abram, "go down and see that the boat's cleaned out; perhaps Mr Temple will want her to-day." "Eat, eat, eat, and grow, grow, grow," cried Aunt Ruth. "Which it is the boy's natur' to," said the old man good-humouredly. "There, be off, Will." "Run out now and you'll catch him before he goes," said Mr Temple. Dick hurried out by the front to waylay Will, but encountered Uncle Abram. "Where's Will, my lad? Oh! he's coming. Old lady's been blowing off steam a bit. Busy day with her, you see. Cleaning. Didn't hear, did you?" "Oh, yes! we could hear every word," said Dick with a comical look. The old gentleman glanced over his shoulder and then patted Dick on the chest with the back of his hand. "It's all right," he said in a deep bass. "She don't mean nothing by it. Fond o' Will as ever she can be. Feels often, you know, as she must scold something, and sometimes she scolds Will, sometimes it's Amanda the lass, sometimes me. Why," he said cheerfully, "I have known her set to and let the tables and chairs have it for not shining when they were being rubbed. It's all right, my lad, all right. She's awfully fond of our Will, and if you hear her say she aren't don't you believe her. Here he comes." Will came round from the back just then, with his head hanging, and a look of dejection in his whole aspect; but as he caught sight of Uncle Abram and Dick he made an effort to hide his trouble. "Here he is," said the old gentleman, clapping Will on the shoulder, "here he is, Master Dick, my nevvy, and as stout and strong a lad of his years as there is in these parts. Your par wants him, does he?" "My father wants him," said Dick sturdily. "I never call him pa." "That's right, my lad. I never called my father pa. Wants our Will, do he? Well, I was going to send him down to get the boat ready. Go and see what Master Temple wants, my lad. 'Member what I said, Master Dick, sir." "All right!" replied Dick; and Will followed him to the door. "What has my uncle been saying?" he said quickly. "Oh! only that I wasn't to notice what your aunt said, and that she don't mean all that scolding." Will drew a long breath, and leaning his arm against the door-post he placed his forehead against it. "I can't bear it," he groaned; "I can't bear it. I seem to be so poor and dependent, and she is always telling me that I am a beggar and an expense to them. Master Dick, I'd have gone years ago, only it would half break poor old uncle's heart. He is fond of me, I know." "Oh! I say, Will, don't--please don't!" cried Dick.