184 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [Iv.

come along with me and see too, and why not to
market afterwards, I should like to know ?’

Scarcely were the words out of her mouth, when,
as her hand was outstretched towards the rock, it
suddenly opened before her, and to her amazement
she perceived a stream of water inside the cliff, evi-
dently flowing internally down to the sea. Into this
the Turbot, with a hoarse laugh, quietly glided before
her very eyes, and in an instant after disappeared,
whilst the rock closed behind him, and once more
returned to its original condition.

Molly Goodchild opened her eyes wide with
astonishment not unmingled with dismay. For the
thought crossed her mind that a creature with such
power at his command was but too likely to be gene-
rally well informed and to have told the truth re-
garding the fate of herhusband. Evidently, however,
it was useless to wait any longer by the rock,’ and
therefore without further delay, she hurried down the.
track which led to her cottage, and entered the latter
with a heart full of fear.

‘John!’ she cried, as she stepped over the threshold
of the open door; ‘John, my man, where are ye?’

But no voice answered her call, and all within
the cottage was still and silent as the grave. It was
evident that her husband was not there. She went
into the kitchen, but no sound was to be heard save
the steady ticking of the clock, a dreary and melan-
choly sound to an anxious mind, recalling to one as it
does the fact that time goes on just the same in our
misery as in our happiness,.and that it makes very
little difference to the progress of the world around