MRS. STHADFAST. 15

was all decked with sea-shells, and which somehow resembled a
sea cave. There were several pictures on the walls. All these
pictures related to the sea. In some the sea was calm, in others there
was a storm. ‘The sea pictures were all put into frames covered with
seashells. There were bunches of sea-weed fastened on the walls, and
little baskets made of shells, filled with dry sea-weed, stood on the
mantelpiece. There was even a faint smell of the sea, which must
have come from the shells and sea-weed.

Cowslip uttered a pleased cry as she entered the pretty little room.
Clover went straight up to one of the pictures, and examined it
carefully.

“T always bring children into this room,” said the lady, whose
name was Mrs. Steadfast. ‘‘The children who come to me, and
who rest in this inn, are at the beginning of a dangerous journey, and
I like to bring them in here to show them these pictures of the
sea, and to assure them that if only they have courage, and don’t
go away from the right path, they will reach the haven. You see
that picture there, my little boy? That represents a ship riding
into haven. She is rather tattered, and her sails are torn, but she is
safe. You too will have dangers to go through, but you will get
safely into harbour, if only you have courage, and never leave the
right way.”

“Oh, I am sure we never will,” replied Cowslip, looking full
into the grey eyes of the lady.

“YT think you will try to be faithful,” she replied, pushing the
hair from Cowslip’s earnest face ; “‘and now sit down and rest, both of
you, while I get breakfast.”

_ She bustled out of the room. ‘The children seated themselves
in two little easy chairs which seemed to fit them exactly, and,
long before breakfast had arrived, tired little Cowslip fell fast asleep.

The lady presently brought in a tray which held two bowls filled
with wholesome bread and milk.

“This is the best breakfast of all for you both,” she said. ‘‘ The
bread is no ordinary bread, and the milk comes from a cow which
is sent to me every year by the King. This milk is good and sweet,

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