and walked off to her own room. Somehow Carey and Janet felt more on
their ordinary terms than they had done all these sad days, in their
consternation and a certain sense of guilt.

Carey could adjudicate now, though trembling still. She made Jock
own that his Serpentine plans had been unjustifiable, and then she
added, "My poor boy, I must punish you. You must remember it, for if
you are not good and steady, what _will_ become of us."

Jock leapt at her neck. "Mother, do anything to me. I don't mind,
if you only won't look at me like that!"

She sat down on the stairs, all in a heap again with him, and
sentenced him to the forfeit of the ship, which he endured with more
tolerable grace, because Armine observed, "Never mind, Skipjack,
we'll go partners in mine. You shall have half my cargo of gold
dust."

Carey could not find it in her heart to check the voyages of the
remaining ship, over the uncarpeted dining-room; but as she was
going, Armine looked at her with his great soft eyes, and said,
"Mother Carey, have you got to be the scoldy and punishy one now?"

"I must if you need it," said she, going down on her knees again to
gather the little fellow to her breast; "but, oh, don't-—don't need
it."

"I'd rather it was Uncle Robert and Aunt Ellen," said Jock, "for then
I shouldn't care."