"No, no--that you won't, honey," said Hester, bustling forward, and
pushing Bet down again on to the three-legged stool. "You're better,
and the ice is broke a bit, and you must just set there in that cosy
corner and tell me your plans. Oh, you need not mind Will; he'll just
smoke his pipe and not listen more than he need to."

"I'll go out if you like," said Will, half rising.

Bet raised her pathetic eyes to his face. "I don't mind you, Will,"
she said, simply. Her words sent a thrill through the young fellow's
heart. He did not know that when she began to speak to Hester she
almost forgot his presence.

"Yes, Hester. They ain't much of plans, but such as they be they're
made. Mother will be buried come Saturday, and then the boys and me
we go away. Father have had fair warning, and he knows me. I'll take
the littl'uns and be the best sort of mother I can to them; father
shan't have 'em. He kick'd the Cap'n last week--he shan't never do
it no more. I promised mother, so there's no argufying on that
point--the boys and me we must go."

"But where will you take them, honey? You must find a place where he
can't follow you--he's sartin sure to do his best if he thinks you are
'arning money, and I suppose the littl'uns are insured for--same as
most of the children around."

"Oh, yes," said Bet, with a short, grim laugh; "he have a price on
both their lives--don't let's talk of it. He shan't find 'em--and they
shall live, if only to spite him."