Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/302

Rh Sarah; but it is t' last time, lass, it is t' last time!"

Very soon the news spread through the village, and it lost nothing in the spreading. Steve was now as much praised as a year ago he had been condemned. His old mates found out that they had always thought well of Steve, and remembered, as most of them could do, small acts of kindness he had done them. They called upon Joyce with congratulations, and sent many a pleasant message to her husband, so that Joyce's last days in her native village were the proudest and happiest days of her life.

On the 19th she left for Liverpool, and Sarah went with her, for there were half a dozen boxes as well as the children to care for, and Joyce had, in an excessive degree, the restless, fearful, fussy temper which makes travelling a terror to such women. However, in spite of Joyce's convictions that everyone wanted to steal her boxes, and that they were certainly on the wrong road, Liverpool was safely reached. The Arion was in port, and though Steve was very busy, the captain managed to spare him long enough to bring his family on board. It was a joyful meeting, and Sarah was amazed to see her