Christie, the King's Servant / A Sequel to Christie's Old Organ""

gin to look for quarters. I was anxious, if possible, to find a lodging in one of the cottages

ll, sir, quite full.' In one place I was offered a bed in the kitchen, but the whole place smelt so strongly of fried herrings and of fi

y, and which stood at the very top of the high cliff. I turned a little lazy when I thought of the climb, for I was tired with my journey, and, as I said before, I was not very strong, and to drag my bag and easel up the rugged ascent would require a mighty effort at the best of times. I noticed that wooden benches had been placed here and there on the different platforms of the rock, for

ed was empty. I went to it, and laying my knapsack

isherman, dressed like his mates in blue jersey and oilskin cap,

said. 'What do you

. 'I like it well enough now, but I daresa

better for knowing, in my opinion, sir, and I ought to k

cimen of an honest English fisherman, with dark eyes and hair, and with a sunny smile on his weather-beaten, sunburnt face.

aid; 'I want to find a room here if

, they're full, and Robinson's, and Wilson's, and Thomson's, all full up. There's Giles'

s clean; I don't mind how rough

do all the work of the house-to boil the dirty clothes, and the fish, and

ng; 'I should not li

ight, sir; I shouldn't like it myself. Cleanliness is next to godliness, that's my idea. Well, then, t

to trudge up to the hotel at the top of t

e have a room as we lets sometimes, but it's a poor place, sir,

let me see

for cleaning; she's not one of them slatternly, good-for-nothing lasses. There's heaps of them here, sir, idling aw

of steps which led down from the height on which the seat was placed

pretty boy with light hair and blue eyes, and was tidil

said the boy; 'come

, and there's sure to be herrings. We almost lives on herrings here, sir, and then, if you're so minded, you can look at the roo

am very hungry, and if Polly's room is as nice as I

e open, and the whole place struck me as being wonderfully sweet and clean. A low wooden settle stood by the fire, one or two plain deal chairs by the wall, and little John's three-legged stool was placed close to his father's arm-chair. A small shelf above the fireplace held the family library. I noticed a Bible, a hymn-book, a Pilgrim's Progress, and several other books, all of which had seen their best days and were doubtless in consta

e small round table. Duncan, with little John on his knee, asked a bles

hair, a small wash-hand stand, and a square of looking-glass hanging on the wall. There was no other furniture, and, indeed, there was room for no other, and the room was unadorned except by three or four funeral cards in dismal black frames, which were hanging at di

d Duncan, 'for asking you to

you, and I like your wife, and if you will have

arties, and then all things being settled, Polly went to put

ad weathered many a storm; but it was the dream of Duncan's life to b

boat, every penny of it. We mean to call her The Little John. He's going in her the very first vo

were leaving their cottages and were making for the shore. Already some of the boats were launched, and the men were throwing in their nets and fishing-tackle, and were pulling out to sea. I enjoyed watching my ne

He nodded to me and bid me good-night, and when he was a little way from shore, I saw

th little John in his white nightgown in her arms. He was waving his red