extreme
was the danger to which the young lady had been exposed, that scarcely
knowing she had escaped it, she fainted. The young officer, with his
precious burden, hurried up the downs, when her companion, jumping from
her horse, came to his assistance.

"O Nora, Nora," she exclaimed, "do tell me that you are alive! O that
we had some water to give her, such a faint as this is dangerous. What
can be done?"

The groom, observing that there was a stream a few hundred yards on,
dashed forward on his horse, and quickly returned with his hat full.

Lady Sophy, loosening Nora's dress round her neck, and holding her head
on her knee, sprinkled the water over her face, which was turned in the
direction of the wind. By this means she quickly returned to
consciousness, and, opening her eyes, they fell on the countenance of
the young officer.

"Oh, Captain Denham," she exclaimed, "I owe my life to you. In another
moment I should have been dashed to pieces. I thought that I had gone
over the precipice. How grateful my dear father will be to you!"

"Then that must be your ship," said Lady Sophy, pointing to the
corvette. "You must come with us at once to the Castle."

Captain Denham, of course, could only express his very great
satisfaction at having been the means of preserving the life of Lady
Nora, though he could claim no credit for having done so. Whatever had
been his previous intentions, he could do nothing else than accompany
the ladies till he had seen them safe at the Castle. He made anxious
inquiries after the Earl, and found, from the account they gave him,
that he was greatly broken in health, not having recovered from the
effects of the West Indian climate, or the loss of his son. In many
respects the meeting could not fail to be a sad one. The sight of
Captain Denham recalled painfully to Lady Sophy the death of her
intended husband, while Lady Nora, naturally, could not help thinking of
her young brother, who had been Captain Denham's friend.

The distance to the Castle was considerable, but Lady Nora declared her
inability to mount a horse, even if one had been sent for; nor would she
consent to take that of Lady Sophy. Supported, however, by the arm of
the captain, she proceeded towards home. They had many things to talk
about. Captain Denham had to describe how he had been sent to the coast
of Ireland to render assistance to any of the loyal subjects of the king
who might require it, whils