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She had abundance of occupation; for Mrs Treviss was accustomed to take in needlework, to assist her limited means, and as her eyesight had of late become dim, Jessie endeavoured to relieve her by labouring with redoubled diligence.
With a prayer for her safety, Mrs Treviss watched the young girl, who, like a bird released from its cage, flew rather than walked, as she made her way in the grey light of the early morn in the direction of the port. At last she reached the landing-place, some way off which Ralph had told her the Amity lay.
When his next letter arrived, giving an account of the battle and of the loss of the Eagle and of his own bitter disappointment, she was sitting by the death-bed of Mrs Treviss. Had it not been for the burning of the Eagle, Ralph might even now have been with her, but instead, he had certainly gone to that far, far off Indian Ocean, where he might be kept for years.
"Weel, sir," said he, getting redder, "he didna' exactly dee; he was killed. I had to brain him wi' a rack-pin; there was nae doin' wi' him. He lay in the treviss wi' the mear, and wadna come oot. I tempit him wi' kail and meat, but he wad tak naething, and keepit me frae feeding the beast, and he was aye gurrin', and grup, gruppin' me by the legs.
However he has a protection, and has a chance of getting off, I hope." The blow on the door was, repeated. "Open in the King's name," shouted the officer. "I always obey that authority," answered Dame Treviss, from within, "Ralph, unlock the door." The door was thrown open, and the seamen, led by their officer, rushed in.
At last Mrs Treviss reminded her that their guest might possibly be hungry, and that it was full time for supper, which she, in obedience to her grandmother, got up to place on the table.
The press-gang went on till they reached the outskirts of the town, when they brought up before a neat little cottage. Three men were sent round to the back-door, while five others advanced to the front entrance and knocked loudly. "That's where Widow Treviss lives; she's not one to harbour seamen," Dick heard one of the party observe.
The old dame sat calmly in her chair, while Ralph, with Jessie clinging to his arm, stood in the centre of the room. "Why have you come here at this time of the evening, my friends?" asked Mrs Treviss, with all the composure she could command.
"More willingly I could not, but it would be a satisfaction to know that I was saving her from poverty or from having to toil for her living." "I know you will, Ralph, and I believe you, so say no more about that," observed Mrs Treviss. "If your good captain settles to put the Amity into dock, you may perhaps marry some day next week. You can ask Jessie, and I don't think she will say you nay."
Beyond the "treviss," which formed one side of the stall, stood a cow, who turned her head and lowed when Jeanie came into the stable, an appeal which her habitual occupations enabled her perfectly to understand, and with which she could not refuse complying, by shaking down some fodder to the animal, which had been neglected like most things else in the castle of the sluggard.
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