88 COUSIN PHILLIS.
answer was simple enough; business and the necessity of attending strictly to the orders of a new super-intendent, who had not yet learned trust, much less indulgence. The minister nodded his approval of my conduct, and said, —
"Right, Paul! 'Servants, ohey in all things your masters according to the flesh.' I have had my fears lest you had too much licence under Edward Holdsworth."
"Ah," said cousin Holman," poor Mr. Holdsworth, he'll be on the salt seas by this time!"
"No, indeed," said I, "he's landed. I have had a letter from him from Halifax."
Immediately a shower of questions fell thick upon me. When? How? What was he doing? How did he like it? What sort of a voyage? &c.
"Many is the time we have thought of him when the wind was blowing so hard; the old quince-tree is blown down, Paul, that on the right-hand of the great pear-tree; it was blown down last Monday week, and it was that night that I asked the minister to pray in an especial manner for all them that went down in ships upon the great deep, and he said then, that Mr. Holdsworth might be already landed; but I said, even if the prayer did not fit him, it was sure to be fitting somebody out at sea, who would need the Lord's care. Both Phillis and I thought he would be a month on the seas."
Phillis began to speak, but her voice did not come rightly at first. It was a little higher pitched than usual, when she said —
"We thought he would be a month if he went in a sailing-vessel, or perhaps longer. I suppose he went in a steamer?"
