for
Lettice Audley, and he would gladly have remained another day could he
have found sufficient excuse. Duty had, however, always been his
guiding star, and he accordingly the next morning at daybreak was ready
to depart. He had taken leave of Mistress Audley and Lettice the night
before, but when the morning came Lettice was in the parlour to serve
him with breakfast, and he enjoyed some minutes of her society before
her brothers made their appearance. They came down booted and spurred,
prepared to accompany him part of the way. He promised not to spare his
good steed; but even so, he could not hope to be back much within a
fortnight, and soon after that time he expected that the _Rainbow_ would
be ready for sea, and he thus could not remain more than a day at
Mistress Audley's on his way to Plymouth.

In the evening Vaughan and Gilbert returned home. As they reached the
gate, they were surprised to see two stout horses, held by a groom,
standing before it. They inquired who had arrived. "Your worships'
cousin, master Harry Rolfe and a stranger, a stout and comely gentleman,
who has the air and speech of a sea-captain--though he may be, judging
by his looks, some great lord," answered the groom.

"Poor Harry! I thought after the unkind treatment as he called it which
he received from our sister, that he would not come back again to this
house--but I shall be glad to see him," observed Vaughan to his brother.

As they entered the parlour, they found their mother and Lettice with
the two gentlemen who had just arrived. Their cousin, Harry Rolfe,
whose appearance was much in his favour, sprang from his seat to greet
them, and introduced his companion as Captain John Smith, "With whom, in
the company of many other right worshipful gentlemen, I am about to sail
for Virginia," he added. "I could not quit England without coming to
bid you farewell: for it may be my lot, as it has been that of many
others, not to return."

Mistress Audley sighed as he spoke. "Pardon me, kind aunt, for the
inadvertence of my expression," he exclaimed.

"You are thinking of our father," said Gilbert; "but we have had news
that he is still alive, and you will, I know, gladly join us in
searching for him."

Captain Smith on this made inquiries regarding the subject of which they
were speaking, and such information as they possessed was given him. He
listened attentively, and promised to use all the means in his power in
searchi