"'I would like to get home,' said poor Patrick in a faint voice. 'Couldn't I be carried home, sir?' he pleaded, turning to the doctor.
DOWN AT THE COVE.
"'Not for some days, my boy,' replied the doctor kindly. 'If you lie very still, and attend to orders, we shall see what can be done for you then.'
"But when the doctor had gone, Vea came slipping out, and bidding me follow her, went round to where some boats lay moored. A ladder was placed against the side of one of these, and up this Vea mounted before I knew what she was going to do. 'I feel sure,' she said, looking over the side of the boat to me, as I stood on the beach below, 'if we could only get Patrick hoisted up here, we might get him taken home quite safely.'
"'Ah, but I don't think the doctor will allow you to do that,' I replied; 'I fear he must remain here for some weeks.'
"'He seems very anxious to get home, poor boy. I cannot make it out,' said Vea. 'He says he will tell me the reason once he finds himself in his own bed at Aunt Berkley's. I wonder who this boat belongs to.'
"'Polly said it belonged to Martha's father,' I replied; 'she told me so just before they left me to go home.'
"'Polly, I hope, has quite made up her mind not to run away,' said Vea.