"I am going to them now," she said, excusing herself. "I have promised to play with them a little; it rests Mrs. Meredith."

of gratified vanity as she shook her head and repeated her refusals.

hand that slowly waved the cap was brown as a Spaniard's.

"If Bob-he, is my brother had been allowed to spend his holidays Jem's admiring eyes followed her with me," the silence was suddenly strong, lithe figure as she walked away. broken," I should never have wished Other eyes turned and watched her to run away. I was quite as good as a also; even the captain stopped and brother to him-he often said so. I called to her by name, but she con- can swim better than he can; and tinued on her way, with a little flush as for cricket, - riding, — fishing," slowly enumerating her accomplishments,- we were just about equal. You don't believe me, of course,' "her voice growing more impetuous, as he made no comment, "because I am a girl, but it is true all the same! I am immensely strong, and," standing up, "now that I have begun to grow, I am not at all a bad height. I am five feet six- Bob always was afraid I should be short."

Vanity is almost as observant as love; indeed, as it is a matter of head, not heart, it is a question whether it is not more quick to note any remissness in its courtiers. Amongst all the eager, kindly voices, one alone was not heard one pair of grey eyes was never lifted from a book.

Im

"Good-morning, Sir Aymer." possible to turn a deaf ear to the sound of his own name, Sir Aymer looked up, though there was little encouragement to prolong the conversation in his unsmiling eyes. But Felicity Brooke was not to be daunted by unsmiling eyes or even grave silence. To reign a queen has this advantage it gives confidence.

"What a glorious day!" To bring herself nearer to the level of him she addressed, she drew closer some absent passenger's chair and seated herself, and, as she did so, she took off her cap and fanned herself slowly with it. "I am very hot," she said, as if apologetically. "Cricket on board ship makes one much hotter than it does on shore." "I dare say," he replied politely, and, as it seemed his turn to say something, "Are you a cricketer ?" he questioned.

"My dear child, I am not doubting your list of perfections." Even to Felicity Brooke's youthful ears the slight strain of irony was audible. She reddened visibly. "I did not mean to boast," she said quickly; "of course it was luck - I mean, as there were only the two of us, I had just the same advantages as Bob. If Bob," reverting to her first words, "had been with me, I should have been able to bear it; as it was "" expressive silence, a silence which the man interpreted to mean that it rested with him to fill it up with questions, but he did not take advantage of the unspoken permission. The whole story was well known to him through the gossip of the passengers.

an

But apparently unaffected by the silence, "When they told me that Bob was to spend his holidays in Scotland," Yes, I am rather good." she went on, "and that I was to reShe spoke modestly, but there was no main alone in Ireland with Fräulein, I mistaking that the "rather" was only knew," lifting her eyes suddenly, that added for the sake of conventionality. I should not be able to bear it! I was For a moment she was silent, her eyes rather frightened at first, but after all, turned seaward, but wherever her it was nothing really—it only wanted thoughts may have been, they were not a little courage.' bent on self. The glaring sunlight "Courage" flooded her, bringing out red gold passed her lips gleams in her thick, dark curls-it by the man. almost seemed as if it was reddening wrong names. her cheeks as she waited; the slenderous, cowardly thing to do!"

The word had scarcely before it was repeated "Don't call things by It was a hateful, odi

"Cowardly!" There was a blaze of | ter weakly, "that the aunt was very light in her luminous eyes as she kind to her." echoed his word, in undisguisedly angry tones.

"Some one, I suppose," he said shortly, "has to bear the blame. It seems to me cowardly to have run away, and left it to some one else." His thoughts were with the weeping woman of whom Hilda had spoken pitifully. He scarcely heeded the flushed, angry face of the girl, scarcely noted her quivering lips, as, without a word, she left him. But she did not go on her way as she had intended, to where Mrs. Meredith sat with her children; she hurried in the contrary direction, and a few minutes later her clear voice reached Aymer Digby's ears as she joined the little group playing hopscotch.

"Young ladies, captain, with strong wills, have a fancy for supposing so." "She is very handsome, don't you think?"

Sir Aymer Digby laughed. "My dear sir, I am afraid that your judgment has been a little suspended in consequence ! Imagine, now, one of your own daughters having placed herself, through such an odious trick, in the false position in which this girl finds herself, what would your feelings be ?"

Captain Baxter paused and looked seaward, not into the speaker's face, as he answered. Perhaps out there, on the horizon line, his fancy pictured the little toddling children that awaited his return, perhaps the picture inspired his answer.

The glorious morning was the fore- "I cannot imagine it," he answered. runner of a calm, cloudless day. "It" I cannot imagine any child of mine, might have been July," the captain fatherless and motherless, turning to saiu, and the passengers began already a stranger, and with those frank, honto talk of land, and the quickest pas- est eyes telling him that she was too sage, and of what they should do when unhappy to live in the home selected once ashore. for her, that any one must be kinder than the woman who stood to her in her mother's place.' There's something very wrong before such things come to pass, and, please God I reach old Ireland again, I shall find out for myself what it is."

"I am worried about that child," Captain Baxter confided to Sir Aymer, as the two loitered about together. "She says she is not going to return to England, but that she has determined to go on to Charleston, where she has relations, and ask them to keep her.'

"But that, of course, is nonsense?" There had been a slight interrogation in Captain Baxter's words to which Sir Aymer's seemed an answer. "She is a high-spirited girl," the captain observed, "and and expect the aunt with whom she lives finds her a handful." "It is more than probable. Fortunately, however, with that we have nothing to do. All you have to do is to give her over into the charge of the captain of the next steamer returning this way, and send a telegram to the aunt. Your duties are at any rate clear and limited; it is the aunt, I think, whose position is to be deplored!"

"I don't think," said Captain BaxLIVING AGE. VOL. V. 210

"Jem "

flushed with much exer- worded refusal, a minute later she was running up and down the deck, the child in her strong young arms, laughing as he caught at her curls, or smiled at her.

cise in the hot sun, Felicity paused by the quartermaster's side that same splendid afternoon Jem, it is very insulting, is it not, when a man tells another man that he is a coward ?"

"He is a dear," she said once, as she passed the mother, who looked after him with proud eyes, " and he

"Yes, miss," Jem answered laconically; but he lingered, watching the brilliant face, in expectation of a trans-likes me to play with him. See how lation of the mysterious question. he is laughing." "What would you do,”—she came closer, and lowered her voice confidentially, “if any one said that to you?" Begging your pardon, miss, I should knock him down.'

66

"I am sure he does," Mrs. Meredith said diplomatically, as she returned to her talk with a friend.

"That is the tea-bell." A few minutes later she rose with this remark, and stood up to collect her little flock.

"I must take him now, miss," approaching the side of the vessel as she spoke; "it is very good of you to have played with him so long."

"He does not want to go to you," the girl cried. "See, he loves me best," smiling in glad triumph, and stepping backwards as Mrs. Meredith approached, holding the child up above her head; and as she did so, suddenly the vessel gave a quick, violent lurch, the girl, unable to steady herself, threw out her hand to catch at something where there was nothing, the mother made a dart forward—they were but a

Felicity Brooke pursued her afternoon walk without another word, there was not much comfort to be gained from Jem's reply. It was with a heavy heart she approached the spot where Mrs. Meredith, enjoying a mo-step apart - but too late the child, mentary respite from crying children, was knitting in the sunshine, one little fellow sitting on her lap, whilst a neighbor amused the three other little things.

Here at any rate was a diversion means of banishing undesired thoughts, so easily banished at that age.

a

with a weak cry, had disappeared.

a scream

One hoarse, terrible scream rang through the still air and echoed in the ears of every one on deck, which brought every hearer with a rush to the spot. But that takes minutes, and there was not a minute, not a second's space, between the mother's heart-broken cry and the splash as Felicity Brooke touched the water. The same splash, so it seemed, took "Oh, miss, he's quiet now," Mrs. Aymer Digby, who had been leaning Meredith answered deprecatingly; against the side, in after her. "and he's been that fretful "she "Man overboard !" Noise and conpaused, perhaps hoping that the faint fusion all around, loud-voiced. orders, discouragement might be acquiesced a sudden cessation of the throb of

May I take him?" she began directly, kneeling down by Mrs. Mercdith's side.

in. But at fifteen a baby is a toy, like any other toy, to be played with, and nursed and tormented, till its screams make it an undesirable companion, in which case it can be returned to the nurse-or the mother. Felicity was no exception. Heedless of the half

the engines, an unusual, sudden, fearful silence, broken only by human voices, which sounded so small and unimportant after the loud, incessant breathing of the engine and away out yonder, a small dark spot on the quiet waters.

"She's got him, she's got hold of hide the pride and triumph of the mohim," some one said, and caught Mrs. | ment. It flashed from her dark eyes, Meredith's hand, and kept repeating and was as intoxicating as the chamthe words mechanically. All in such a pagne in which they drank her health. moment of time, uurealizable how It was only afterwards, when the short, except that the boat was still diners dispersed, that she realized being lowered, and a man throwing a there had been an absentee. buoy.

"She would never have had the strength to hold him, though," Jem Moore's voice said, as if in answer; "but she's all right now," glancing towards the swimmer.

"Where is Sir Aymer?"

"Ah, he is not as young as you are," Dr. Grey paused on his way to the door to answer the question; "he has got a chill, and has gone to bed with, I fear, a feverish night before him."

"How foolish," Mrs. Davis protested, in her slow southern drawl; "but if you are going, put on my fur

A quarter of an hour later the steamer "Oh, I am so sorry; "but as she was continuing her course, the strange, said the words she was turning away. awful silence a momentary, hideous" I must go and see the baby," as the dream of what might have been, the captain would have detained her. child apparently none the worse, safe in his mother's arms, and Felicity Brooke the water running off her wet clothes, her cheeks whiter than cloak. Oh captain! I wish I had had any one had ever seen them was a daughter," she went on, as the girl standing on the deck, whilst one after disappeared. "I should have liked a another of her fellow voyagers crowded daughter like that!" round, clasping her hands, uttering words of praise or advice.

"Not another syllable," but as he spoke the captain did not move his hand from where it rested on the girl's soaked shoulder; 66 now, doctor, give your orders-dry clothes and bed, I should think?"

But not all the doctors' orders in the world would have sent Felicity Brooke

The captain refrained from replying that even if such had been the case, the resemblance would not probably have been great.

"She wants me to take her to Charleston, and give her over to her relations in the South. I should like that; do you think it can be arranged?"

"We must wait till we get to New to bed that night. When the dinner-York, and see," the captain answered hour came round she was in her place diplomatically. by the captain's side, the red back The night was cold, though still; up in her cheeks. "I just ran up and on deck there were not many people down the deck till I was warm," she only a few dark, shadowy forms, most confided to him ; "that is what Bob of them discernible by the red light of always made me do when I was cold a cigar. Felicity, in her long, dark after swimming." cloak, passed unrecognized on her way Perhaps it was only the dress, but until the descent to Mrs. Meredith's she looked different to-night, the cap-cabin was reached; but arrived there, tain thought. Out of her innumerable a man's figure stepped out of the darktoilettes, kind, feeble Mrs. Davis had ness and approached her. at last discovered some loose white muslin wrapper, that by the help of judicious pinning had been drawn across the young figure; the long, trailing skirt and open sleeves gave her a more womanly look, which was at variance with the dark, childish eyes, the rich complexion, and unlined cheeks.

She was but a child; she could not

"Miss," in a hesitating voice.

"Oh, is that you, Jem ? I looked for you on deck; I wanted to see you. I am just going down to see how the little boy is."

"He's all right, so his mother says - and you, miss, you are none the worse? It was real brave — and that's what I wanted to tell you."

P

Her eyes shone at the words, per-| haps at some tone in the voice.

"But you see," was all she said, "it was my fault to begin with. I didn't stop to think afterwards, I know; but if I had not done it, if the baby had been drowned”. - her voice fell "it would have been just like murder.”

"Oh no, miss, it would have been an accident; but you saved his life, poor little thing, that's sure!"

"And Sir Aymer saved mine.

I

"I have to keep running over to see how he is," she explained, kneeling down on the deck, where the boy slept, his fat hand under his rosy cheek; "he looks quite well, don't you think?”

"Yes, miss, I hope so." Poor Mrs. Meredith as much could not be said for her. She looked slighter, more delicate than ever; there were dark lines under her eyes, her cheeks even looked thinner. There was a nervous

don't think I could have held the child | fear in her eyes as the girl knelt by the much longer." child; she stooped and arranged the shawl that covered him, touching his cheek with her hand as she did so.

"It was a mercy,' ," Jem observed, "that it was such a still day, and that he was standing so close to you. I got up to the side just as he jumped, and when I saw what a fine swimmer he was, I knew it would be all right. If he had not been so near, I'd have been the first, and gone after you myself."

"Thank you, Jem," Felicity answered soberly; and she laid her slim hand in the sailor's. "I'd rather it had been you, because we've always been good friends; but it was very brave of him," she added, as she moved away, as if afraid she had been rather sparing of her praise.

"It was his duty, miss,' "Jem replied seriously. The words, perhaps the tone, perplexed her afterwards, when they now and again recurred to her. Unconsciously they served as a sort of reverse of the medal, of which the one side had been given to her.

But a quiet, dreamless night drowned all unpleasant memories, or faintly troubling thoughts, though at breakfast Sir Aymer's empty place reminded her again, with a pang of regret, of his personality.

"Is Sir Aymer still ill, Dr. Grey?" 66. Yes, he is feverish. I hope, however, it will pass off. It is a bad cold," as her questioning eyes did not leave his face. "He is not very ill, but bed

is the safest place."

The doctor turned away - it was a busy hour; the only thing left to do was to go on deck and join in the sports there. But a little later she had escaped, and had sought out Mrs. Meredith.

66

I was

SO

"You look very tired," Felicity said. Yes, miss, I am tired," she said patiently; "the children were naughty, and I could not sleep. nervous and upset, and I kept thinking- Oh, miss," breaking off suddenly, "you are a brave young lady! And the gentleman too. He is ill, the doctor says, but I cannot rest till I have thanked him. I am just going down to see him."

"Oh, I'll go with you," Felicity cried, getting up hastily. "Of course he must think it unkind of us not to have been before. Come," she had started impetuously, whilst Mrs. Meredith was still giving over the care of the sleeping child to a friend.

"Come in."

The answer to the low knock was certainly given in extremely cross tones, but Mrs. Meredith did not observe the fact; she was not suspicious, and her mind was too much preoccupied to perceive how very unwelcoming was the reception her entrance met with.

"I have come," she began directly, "to thank you. I could not wait any longer, and when they told me you were ill

"Do sit down. Please," as she hesitated, swaying a little from side to side; and it was only when she took the one camp-stool, and seated herself obediently, that Sir Aymer became aware of the other figure in the doorway, the figure in the well-known blue