"Poor Mrs. Elliot has been weighed down with cares for many years, and knows not that, perhaps, they have been permitted, as George Herbert says, 'that at least if goodness lead her not, yet weariness may toss her to His breast.' I pray it may be so. Their being at Shellford will add very much to your pleasure, I think, dear, as they are a pleasant, bright family, and perhaps, Nellie, you will have some little mission for them." Aunt Ruth drew the young face to her, and kissed it fondly. "My dear child," she said, "our Heavenly Father leads us all in different paths; but they are all His paths—all lead straight to His heavenly home, and we must try and be willing to walk in our own faithfully and joyfully. Some paths are full of suffering, others are full of work; but still each, let us remember as we walk along in it day by day, is His path, made ready for our feet." "Yes, dear aunt," said Nellie, looking up in the worn face, and knowing that these words came from a heart which had proved what it said. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VI. CAUGHT BY THE TIDE. "MAUDE!" called Mrs. Elliot from the breakfast-parlour. "Maude! Are we not late this morning?" "No, mamma; or at least only five minutes," answered a handsome girl coming forth from the kitchen, rolling up an apron which she had just taken off. "I was afraid it was more, my dear." "I have done all the things," said Maude, "and packed up the butter, and Wilmot is picking the strawberries. The butter is as cool as possible, and will travel so in all those cabbage leaves. I put some wet muslin over it first, of course." "Have you made up the bread?" "Yes; and it is in the oven. I think I've done well," said Maude complacently; "and by the time we have finished breakfast, it will be baked." "Such a lot of little pretty loaves!" said a child, who had been superintending the preparations, and was now seated at the table. "Yes; Hope could not have made them better," said Maude, laughing. At this moment, a tall young man carried in a large basket of strawberries. "Will this be enough?" he asked. "Are there any more ripe?" said Mrs. Elliot. "Yes; a good many more." "Oh, then let us have them!" said Maude. "Nobody could have too many strawberries." "Very well; but some of you will have to give a hand to them after breakfast." "The children will," said Mrs. Elliot; "there will be plenty of time." Then they sat down to breakfast. "I wonder what time Hope and Miss Arundel will come down," said little Mary. "Hope is sure to be punctual," said Maude, "so at exactly 'ten o' the clock,' we shall hear the wheels." A picnic to Orston Cliff was one of the "institutions" of Shellford. It was about five miles off, and was to be reached in four different modes—by sea, by donkeys, by any conveyance which Shellford might boast, and by walking.