gon ready packed
to start for Tubbermore on receiving my next orders.

R. C.--Kingstown Harbor.

"And who brought this note?" said Mrs. Kennyfeck, who fancied she was
conducting the inquiry in true judicial form.

"One of the yacht sailors, ma'am; he came up on Lord Kilgoff s
carriage."

"On Lord Kilgoff's carriage--how did that happen?"

"The carriage came into town, ma'am, to bring some things my Lady sent
for; at least, so the sailor told me."

"And were Lord and Lady Kilgoff on board the yacht?"

"Yes, ma'am; they both sailed in her last night."

As though drawn by some irresistible influence, every eye was now turned
to Aunt Fanny, who, up to this, had listened to Mr. Phillis with a
breathless attention, and if looks could be translated, every glance
thus thrown said plainly, "This is _your_ doing."

"Are you certain that the yacht has not returned to Kingstown?" said
Miss O'Hara.

"Perfectly, ma'am. It blew a storm last night, and the sailors about the
harbor told me it was a great chance that any small vessel could outlive
the gale."

Olivia Kennyfeck became deadly pale at these words, and whispered
something in her sister's ear.

"Of course," replied the other, aloud; then turning to Phillis, said,
"Had they a pilot with them?"

"I believe so, miss, but there are so many contradictory reports,
one don't know what to credit; some say that Lord Kilgoff was greatly
opposed to the cruise, but that her Ladyship insisted, and that, in
fact, they got under weigh at last without my Lord's knowing, and while
they were at dinner."

"It was a fearful night!" said Mr. Kennyfeck, whose mind was entirely
engrossed by the one idea.

"Take him into the next room, and I'll join you presently," said Mrs.
Kennyfeck to her husband, for that keen-sighted lady had remarked the
intense interest with which Mr. Phillis listened to every remark made
around him.

"Here's a pretty piece of business!" cried she, as the door closed after
her husband and the valet; "and certainly, I must say, we 've no one to
thank for it but you, Fanny!"

"Unquestionably not," echoed Miss Kennyfeck. "Aunt Fanny has the entire
merit of this catastrophe."

"It is most cruel," sighed Olivia, as she wiped the tears from her eyes,
and bent upon her stern relative a glance of most reproachful sadness.

"Are you all mad?" said the assailed individual, her courage and her
color rising together. "How can you pretend to connect me w