He was grateful for the smallest crumbs, so to speak.

House-work and work about the house--milking, feeding the pigs and so on--did not interest him, nor would he attend the labourers in the fields.

Harvest time would make a difference; now it was ploughing, sowing, and hoeing, with nothing for Jack.

But he was always down at the fishing cove to see the boats go out or come in and join in the excitement when there was a good catch.

It was still better when the boat went with provisions to the lighthouse, or to relieve the keeper, for then Jack would go too and if they would not have him he would plunge into the waves and swim after it until the sails were hoisted and it flew like a great gull from him and he was compelled to swim back to land.