COUSIN PHILLIS. 80
"Old Obadiah Grimshaw was more than six weeks in getting to America," observed cousin Holman.
"I presume he cannot as yet tell bow he likes his new work? " asked the minister.
"No! he is but just landed; it is but one page long. I'll read it to you, shall I ? —
"Dear Paul, —
"We are safe on shore, after a rough passage. Thought you would like to hear this, but homeward-bound steamer is making signals for letters. Will write again soon. It seems a year since I left Hornby. Longer since I was at the farm. I have got my nosegay safe. Remember me to the Holmans,
"Yours, "E. H."
"That's not mucb, certainly," said the minister. "But it's a comfort to know he's on land these blowy nights."
Phillis said nothing. She kept her head bent down over ber work; but I don't think she put a stitch in, wbile I was reading the letter. I wondered if she understood what nosegay was meant; but I could not tell. When next she lifted up ber face, there were two spots of brilliant colour on the cbeeks that had been so pale before. After I bad spent an hour or two there, I was bound to return back to Hornby. I told them I did not know wben I could come again, as we — by which I mean the company — had undertaken tbe Hensleydale line; that branch for whicb poor Holdsworth was surveying when be caught his fever.
"But you'll have a holiday at Christmas," said my cousin. "Surely they'll not be such heathens as to work you then?"
"Perbaps the lad will be going bome," said the
