and several poor boys, and a
few of the marines. The survivors were undecided what to do when Mr
Jamieson, who, hearing of the wreck, had come down to the beach, invited
them to the vicarage, and the bodies of the drowned were conveyed by his
direction to the church. Before the shipwrecked men had proceeded far
towards the vicarage, a messenger overtook them, from Mr Finlayson,
with a request that they would all come to the castle, to which their
captain was now on his way. Every preparation was made for their
reception. The medical man of the neighbourhood was also sent for, that
he might attend to the captain and others who might have been injured.
Fortunately, the surgeon of the frigate had also escaped, and he was at
once able to look to the captain's wound. Lady Nora felt a strange
satisfaction at having all those belonging to the frigate thus collected
beneath her roof. She had a trial to undergo; it was when at length the
Widow O'Neil desired to speak to her.

"Oh, Lady Nora," exclaimed the old woman, "I have discovered what I
little thought of. My bonnie son loves you, lady. It may be
presumption on his part, and it makes me feel more and more that I am
not worthy to be his mother, but I am, believe me, his true mother. It
seems strange that the son of one like me should thus have gained such a
name as he has, but there is one thing I would tell you, lady, I know my
days are numbered. You will not have the old fishwife as your mother;
if I thought so, I would gladly take myself away where you would never
see or hear of me more. I would not stand between you and my son for
all the world can give. You will not send him from you, lady?"

"Oh, do not speak thus, Mistress O'Neil," exclaimed Nora, rising from
her seat and taking the widow's hands in hers. "I do not deny that I
love your son, for long I have done so, though only this day have I
discovered how deeply I loved him. My delight and satisfaction will be
to save you from any further toil and trouble. You have ever proved a
loving mother to him, and it shall be our united happiness to care for
you, and to shield you from all the troubles and hardships to which you
have been so long exposed. We will have a suitable house prepared for
you and your brave brother Shane and his son, where you may live in
comfort without toiling any more on the treacherous ocean."

"You speak like a true and noble girl," exclaimed the widow, "and now
there is a se