g
over the documents with which it was filled, but he declined for the
present to explain their contents to Lady Nora, assuring her that they
were somewhat complicated, and that unless he had examined them
thoroughly, he might mislead those whom they chiefly concerned. To no
one else, indeed, did he divulge their contents for several days; by
that time Captain Denham was once more able to appear in public.
Several guests had been invited to the castle, Mr Jamieson and his
niece being among them. They were all assembled in the drawing-room,
when the lawyer, as the captain entered the apartment, went up to him,
and in a significant manner, took him by the hand.

"I have to congratulate you, my dear lord, on obtaining a rank of which
you are--"

"Do you address me?" exclaimed Captain Denham with surprise. "What, my
dear sir, do you mean? You do not intend to mock me!"

"I mean that you are the lawful Earl of Kilfinnan," answered the lawyer
in a positive tone, as if his word had been called in question.
"Although the elder members of your family were deprived of the right to
assume the title, as long as another branch existed, I have sufficient
evidence to prove that in your generation the attainder has been
removed. Your father, the husband of the devoted woman whom you have
always known as your mother--as she truly is--was, while living in the
character of a fisherman, drowned off this coast. He was the grandson
of the former Earl."

Captain Denham, or rather the new Earl of Kilfinnan, cast a glance,
beaming with happiness and satisfaction, towards Lady Nora.

"Yes, indeed our kind friend, Mr Finlayson, is not mistaken," she said,
taking his hand, "and though you know full well, my dear lord, that had
it been otherwise, I had promised to become your wife, yet I rejoice to
know that you can feel yourself with regard to rank in every respect my
equal."

It is not necessary to describe the happy marriage which afterwards took
place. The Widow O'Neil enjoyed the comfort and luxuries which had been
prepared for her by her affectionate children but for a few months. Her
nervous system had received a shock it never recovered, in the exertions
she made in rescuing her son, but she had the satisfaction of knowing
that she had saved his life, and that he was restored to the position
his ancestors had enjoyed. He did not neglect his noble friend, Ned
Davis, who continued, as before, his constant attendant, and ultima