dwelling ere they were met by one of the servants, who, upon seeing them, uttered an exclamation of the greatest affright; then, lifting her hands with a gesture of incredulity, wonder, and delight, she rushed past them, and fled like a lapwing into the house, the doors of which stood wide open, and breathlessly communicated the welcome tidings to those within.

Lady Stanley and Lucy, the only occupants of the drawing-room, the gentlemen having gone down to the beach with a party of fishermen, could not at first realize the good news. Nevertheless they hurried out, and when the former saw that it was indeed true, her white sorrow-stricken countenance became instantly lighted up with joy, and as she folded her recovered treasure in her arms, she whispered, in a voice which showed how deep and overpowering was her emotion,—

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My precious, precious child; thank God that you are safe."

Next she turned to Herbert, and without trusting herself to say another word she hastily seized one of his poor bruised hands in both her own, and before he could prevent her, or divine her intention, she had pressed it to her lips.

"With your permission, dear Lady Stanley, I will carry her upstairs," said our hero, glancing anxiously at Ella, who could scarcely stand, "she is, as you perceive, quite worn out, and needs rest and quiet." And suiting the action to the word, he conveyed her to her own dressing-room, where he laid her down upon a sofa.

"You dear, darling, foolish little thing," cried Lucy, who appeared almost beside herself with joy, "how you did frighten us! I cannot even yet believe that it is really you;" and she kissed her again and again, as if to make sure of her indentity.

"It is all Herbert's doing," said Ella, smiling faintly; "if he had not taken care of me, I should have been drowned long ago."

"So it's Herbert now!" exclaimed Lucy, who seemed instinctively to comprehend what had occurred; and her dark eyes, whose lids were still red and swollen from the tears she had so recently shed, sparkled mirthfully.

Yes, now and for ever!" murmured Ella, venturing a soft, shy glance at Herbert, and afterwards nestling her head among the pillows, with the innocent air of a tired child, who can remain awake no longer.

"Here, my love," said Lady Stanley, coming hurriedly into the room with the housekeeper, who bore a salver in her hands, covered with various kinds of nourishing dishes, "you must take something at once."

"Indeed, I can't, mamma,” replied Ella, without opening her eyes. "I am sleepy-not hungry."

"But it is absolutely necessary that you should eat first," urged Lady Stanley; "at any rate, you can swallow this, my dear," she added coaxingly, bringing forward a plate of strong soup.

Again Ella shook her head, but when Herbert leant over her, whispering softly, "For my sake, darling," the soft blue eyes unclosed, and flashed up to him a bright grateful look, and she held out her hand for it, saying meekly,—

"I'll try, mamma."

It was evidently an effort for her to comply with their wishes, and several times she was on the point of putting it away untasted, but

those few simple words "For my sake," were too forcible to be withstood it was the first thing he had ever asked her to do, how then could she refuse?

Herbert quietly stole away to his own apartment as soon as she had finished the soup. He felt the need of being alone, in order that he might think over what had transpired, and endeavour to tranquilise his mind, which was in a perfect whirl.

His cogitations were, however, soon disturbed by a tap at the door, followed by the entrance of the housekeeper, who came with a roll of lint and some ointment, and begged him to allow her to bind up his crushed hands.

He had much difficulty in restraining his impatience as she made this request-it seemed to him at that moment a matter of such supreme indifference, and he told her so.

But his unwelcome visitor was not to be repulsed-examine them she would and did, and afterwards proceeded, quite against his will, to execute her self-appointed task with sundry ejaculations of grief and concern at the depth and severity of several of the cuts, and ended by expressing her opinion that although her own skill in the healing art was something worthy of particular observation, she could not venture to assert that it would in his case be sufficient without the assistance of a competent surgeon.

"I suppose Miss Ella is asleep?" said Herbert, upon whose inattentive ear her words had fallen, it is true, but produced not the slightest effect.

She is, sir," replied the loquacious housekeeper, going off upon another tack; "and thankful we may be to you for

"Did you say that Lady Stanley was asking for me in the diningroom?" inquired Herbert, unhesitatingly interrupting her in the middle of her sentence.

"Yes, sir; she begged me to tell you that she would be very glad if you would go down and get some refreshment. Ah, sir," added the good woman, with tears in her eyes, returning to her subject, you don't know what a terrible state we have all been in; we never expected to see either of you alive again; and as for my lady, when she came in from her drive, and found out what had happened, I really thought it would have killed her outright. But, if I may make bold to ask the question, sir, how did you manage to escape?" Herbert briefly explained.

"Twas a miracle," she remarked, conclusively, while fastening a black silk handkerchief outside the lint covering of one hand, and then commencing a similar process with the other," nothing else. Now, sir," she continued, presently, glancing complacently at her handiwork, "I won't detain you longer; I have done all that is necessary for the present."

It must be confessed that Herbert's own sensations as he beheld his hands thus swathed and confined were by no means comfortable. He was keenly averse to anything like ostentation or display, and imagined-foolishly enough, no doubt-that having his members thus bound and bandaged was equivalent to making a boast of his exertions, and the risk and danger he had so lately incurred.

He was still regarding them with a dubious, uncertain look, mentally debating the question, and asking himself whether he could not in some way get rid of these useless encumbrances, with

out hurting the feelings of his well-meaning friend, when the door was flung violently open, and Sir Edward burst into the room, and seizing him impulsively by the shoulder, he literally fell upon his neck and wept.

"Now you must go downstairs," he said, recovering himself at length; "mamma is in great trouble about you; she says you have tasted nothing since morning-not even a glass of wine-and the dinner is all getting spoilt. Come along, you dear, good, noble fellow." And grasping his arm, he forced him to accompany him to the dining-room.

An hour later, and Herbert was pacing the floor of the library with quick, uneven footsteps, a flushed and agitated countenance, firm-set lips, contracted brow, and eyes, now flashing with uncontrollable rapture, now darkening beneath some bitter and desponding reflection.

He was soon joined by Sir Edward and Lady Stanley, for whom he had sent.

The latter gazed at him with surprise and latent uneasiness.

"I hope you are not going to be ill," she said, in a voice of deep emotion; "but, indeed, after all you have

Here Herbert, with very unusual discourtesy, interrupted her with a gesture of impatience; after which he observed, in short, hurried sentences, as if he could hardly get the words out,—

"Pray say no more I am already satiated with thanks and unmerited praises; and if you will listen to what I am about to tell you, you will probably discover that, so far from being the unselfish and disinterested person you seem to consider me, I

He paused for a moment; a shade passed over his brow, his lips quivered with suppressed feeling, and every muscle of his face appeared to be moved by some strange and unwonted influence.

Sir Edward stood mute with astonishment, scarcely daring to believe the evidence of his senses; while Lady Stanley's dignified countenance underwent a sudden change, a look of painful perplexity extinguishing the gentle and affectionate expression it had hitherto worn, and the mild eyes, so recently moist with tender sensibility, now became anxious and terror-stricken.

"It is true," resumed Herbert, "that I put my life in jeopardy— but why? Simply because her life was, in my estimation, a thousandfold more precious than my own! because I love her passionately, and with intense devotedness! and—and," he added, in the tone of one who has committed some desperate crime, but is nevertheless determined to make a full confession, "I have told her so!"

There was a period of profound silence, during which the tender light came back to Lady Stanley's eyes, and a softly heaved sigh spoke of infinite relief.

Herbert waited, quite expecting to hear himself not abused, but gently reproached for taking advantage of such an inappropriate time to avow his love.

How was he amazed, therefore, when the lady, after exchanging an intelligent glance with her son, came forward, and exclaimed, while laying her hand affectionately upon his arm,

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My dear Herbert, if you have her consent, you have mine. There is no one in the whole world to whom I would more cheerfully resign her than yourself."

"What!" cried Herbert, who seemed unable to credit such good news; "tell me, Edward," turning appealingly to the young baronet, •6 what does she mean?"

"She just means that you are the best and noblest fellow on the face of the earth," was sir Edward's enthusiastic reply," and that she has for a long time loved you almost, if not quite, as well as she loves

me

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"Stop, Edward!" said Herbert, staggering giddily into a chair; "this unlooked-for happiness is too much for me I cannot realize it.” How could you for a moment suppose that we should disapprove of your suit?" asked Sir Edward, after a pause; "I have often wondered at the obtuseness of your perceptions in this respect, and succeeded at last in persuading myself that I was entirely mistaken in fancying you ever cared for Ella."

"Ah!" said Herbert, "know you not that—

'There is in love

A consecrated power, that seems to wake from its repose,
In the profoundest depths of thinking souls,
Superior to the outward signs of grief,
Sighing or tears'?

But apart from this," he went on, mournfully, "I could not forget
that I was a disinherited son with very limited means, and she-
"Has enough for both," quickly interposed Sir Edward.
"Surely,"
he continued, seeing that Herbert was about to speak, "you are not
too proud to make use of that which she would under other circum-
stances, not know how to spend ? "

"Too proud!" repeated Herbert, thoughtfully; "I scarcely think it can be called pride."

"I beg your pardon, my dear fellow, it's nothing else," rejoined Sir Edward, warmly; "pride shows itself in a variety of forms, you know; and in your case- But here comes Lucy; she will soon find

a definition for it."

"A definition for what?" demanded the sprightly girl, looking at them with an air of arch meaning.

"Never mind," said her brother, who guessed that Herbert would shrink from pursuing so delicate a subject in her presence; 66 we will not expose ourselves to your 'sarcastic levity of tongue,' my good sister."

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May I not even offer my felicitations?" inquired Lucy, demurely. "Have you already discovered that he is in a position to require them?" asked Sir Edward, in surprise.

"Indeed I have," she replied, with a frank, good-humoured laugh; "his manner, to say nothing of Ella's, has undergone such a noticeable transformation that I was at no loss to understand how matters stood with them. And I need hardly say," she added, in a tone of real, heartfelt sincerity, "how much pleasure it gave me to think that the one of all others we most truly value and esteem should be entrusted with dear Ella's happiness."

Herbert's eyes glistened gratefully. His cup of joy seemed full to overflowing, and as he gazed around him upon these dear friendsdoubly dear to him as being the relatives of his beloved Ella-he murmured, in a tremulous, half-audible voice,

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

THE LOSS OF THE "BURDWAN."

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"
SHAKESPEARE.

"No common coxcomb must be mentioned here,
Nor the dull train of dancing sparks appear,
Nor fluttering officers who never fight;
Of such a wretched rabble who could write?"
SHEFFIELD, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

"O, but she is wise!

Or else she could not have the wit to do this;-
The wiser the waywarder."

"There are to whom that ship was dear,

For love and kindred's sake!

When these the voice of rumour hear,

Their inmost heart shall quake,

SHAKESPEARE.

Shall doubt, and fear, and wish, and grieve,
Believe, and long to unbelieve,

But never cease to ache."

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

HERBERT'S fears regarding Ella's health were happily unverified; for when, contrary to his expectations, she appeared at breakfast the following morning, her countenance, though a trifle paler than usual, bore no remaining traces of the hardships and suffering of the preceding day.

She had, Lady Stanley assured him, enjoyed an unbroken night's repose, which doubtless assisted very materially in averting the evil consequences which might otherwise have ensued from so unwonted a degree of fatigue and nervous excitement.

The meal was drawing to an end, when Lucy, who happened to be seated near her mother, remarked, in too low a tone for any one else to hear,

"Mamma, Mr. Lexley is coming up the avenue."

"Is he?" replied Lady Stanley, with a slight start; and she cast a dubious glance around the table, as if uncertain what course to adopt.

"Don't you think he ought to be told about Ella?" continued Lucy, in the same suppressed tone; "he will never cease persecuting her until he knows how odious his attentions are to her."

"Yes, he ought to be informed," said her mother, reluctantly: "but I confess I feel very unequal to this task just at present, and it would be useless requesting Edward to undertake it."

"Let me do it, mamma," returued Lucy, eagerly.

"You?" exclaimed Lady Stanley, looking at her in doubt and perplexity; "I fear you might be too abrupt-too flippant, my dear; and this is a case which requires extreme delicacy."