"Ah! it's all plain enough what it means, Mr Meadows," said Mrs Lee. "Martin, there, used to tell me, years ago, that now I was a wife, I must stay at home, and cry `clack, clack,' to the chickens; and now it seems that I'm going to cry `clack, clack' in vain; for one's chick is going to ran away, when she might be happily settled down here close by, where we could see her." Katie's wandering and troubled look fell upon Mr Meadows, who smiled grimly, as he said, "I'm afraid, ma'am, that your poor mother would have to cry `cluck, cluck' very loudly before you would hear her all these thousand miles away. It's nature, ma'am, nature. As the old birds mated in the pleasant spring of life, so will the young ones; and God bless them, say I, and may they be happy!" "Amen!" said old Martin; "there's no getting over that, wife. All I want is to see some one happy; and I'm afraid it's rather a mistake when old folks try to manufacture the youngsters' future. That's about the best sermon I ever heard from you, Parson Meadows; it was short, and to the point. I've been wrong, I know; but then she talked me into it." And he nodded towards his wife, who rose and left the room, while Kate crept to her father's side, Edward following Mrs Lee out into the garden, where the long, conversation that ensued must have terminated favourably; for when Kate, who had been anxiously watching for their return, at length followed them out into the bright moonlit space in front of the house, she was encountered by her mother, who whispered two or three words, and then hurried in, having owned herself defeated. "And where are the young folks?" said old Lee, as she entered. Mrs Lee made a motion with her hand, and then bustled away to superintend the arrangements for the night, besides receiving deputations of shepherds and stockmen, and acting as her husband's prime minister, so that he might be left at liberty to entertain his visitors. "It's hard to manage matters, parson, when two children want the same apple," he said. "Yes, yes," said the minister; "all you have to do is to give it to the most deserving. There's a simple straightforwardness about the young sailor I like, though he did compare me to a mushroom." "Yes, I like him," said old Lee; "but then the wife was set on this Bray, because he's close at hand here. But I think she's come round, though I know she did hope that time and the long journeys would tire out the other; but he's true as--" "The needle to the pole, as he'd say," laughed the other; "and if he's that, what more would you have?" "Who? I? Nothing, nothing. I only want to see the little lass happy. I'm sorry for Bray, though. I suppose he could not bear to see it, for he has gone." "Yes, he went long enough ago, scowling furiously. I hope, friend Lee, there will be no unpleasantry between them." "O, nonsense!" ejaculated the old settler; and farther converse was stopped by the entrance of the young people.