everywhere, lost nothing that nature had to show her.

The shapes of the clouds, and their relation to the weather, the
different phases of the sea, all the queer collection of weed and
mollusk that it cast ashore, the formation and colors of the cliffs, the
different shades and granulations in the sands of beach and pine grove;
everything gave her active, hungering mind food for thought and
speculation.

She seldom returned empty-handed from these strolls, and a rude little
set of corner shelves she and her brother had managed to nail together,
was rapidly filling with the oddest and prettiest of her findings. She
managed, also, to interest the children in these things, and taught them
a lesson some people never learn,--how to use their eyes.

Thus, living close to nature's heart, they could not be absolutely
miserable, though want did press them closely.

Sara had enjoined secrecy on the children in regard to the money. She
was naturally reticent, and dreaded the gossip of the little town, which
made a nine-days' wonder of every small happening; and had besides that
self-respecting pride which dislikes to thrust its misfortunes on a
careless world. But perhaps more than all, a certain loyalty to the dead
mother closed her lips. She would not have her blamed for her
foolishness now she could not defend herself, poor thing! And they would
manage somehow till father returned.

If worse came to worst, she could borrow of Squire Scrantoun, though she
felt she could not resort to that humiliation except in case of actual
necessity. So long as a potato or herring was left in store, she would