Mrs. Seagrave, "at least, not fine ladies. My health and strength are
recovering fast, and I mean to be very useful. I propose to assist Juno
in all the domestic duties, such as the cookery and washing, to look
after and teach the children, mend all the clothes, and make all that
is required, to the best of my ability. If I can do more I will."

"I think we may be satisfied with that, Mr. Seagrave," replied Ready.
"Now, sir, the two most pressing points, with the exception of building
the house, are to dig up a piece of ground, and plant our potatoes and
seeds; and to make a turtle-pond, so as to catch the turtle and put
them in before the season is over."

"You are right," replied Mr. Seagrave; "but which ought to be done
first?"

"I should say the turtle-pond, as it will be only a few days' work for
you, Juno, and William. I shall not want your assistance for this next
week. I shall fix upon some spot, not far from here, where the trees
are thickest in the grove, and cut them down so as to clear out a space
in which we will, by and by, build our storerooms; and, as soon as the
rainy season has gone by, we can remove all our stores from the other
side of the island. It will occupy me the whole of the week, cutting
down the trees and sawing them into proper lengths, ready for building
the house, and then we must all join our strength and get it up without
delay."

"Can you really manage to get it up in time? How soon do you expect the
rains will come on?"

"In three or four weeks. After next week, I shall probably have the