oy! I shall go right away to
Portsmouth and meet him, and you shall come and nurse him. My brave,
good lad! What care we for money, Flo? The Mackenzies have their
swords!"

On the arrival of the _Ocean Pride_ in port, Jack had been sent to shore
quarters for a time, and Tom determined to share his rooms.

Jack was very cheerful, for he had almost forgotten his dream.

Now Mr. Keane had determined to play his cards as well as he knew how
to. The baronet had become indisposed, but the astute lawyer had invited
him down to his little place in the country, and he had taken Gerty home
too.

At the time of the _Pride's_ arrival in Portsmouth there was no
engagement between Gerty and Sir Digby. All that she had really promised
her father since Richards had told her that fairy story was that she
would try to learn to love Sir Digby all she could, and when a little
older would marry him; so Keane was content.

This, however, did not prevent him sending a confidential clerk down to
interview Jack. And the following is the bomb-shell Saunders the clerk,
obeying orders, fired:--

"Mr. Keane just sent me down to ask about you and convey all sorts of
kind messages. Especially did he bid me assure you that he had not
spoken to your father about the little account, and that he is in no
hurry for the money. Indeed, the approaching marriage of his daughter is
at present absorbing all his attention.

"Why, what is the matter, Captain Mackenzie?" continued the clerk,
noticing the staggering effect his words had on poor Jack.

"Nothing, nothing much. A little faint, that is all. Leave me now, Mr.
Saunders. Tell Mr. Fairlie I would speak with him."

Tom ran in. He found Jack lying helpless on the sofa, white and
trembling. But he soon recovered sufficiently to speak.

"My dream, my dream, Tom; it has all come true."

Tom Fairlie sat long beside his friend, giving him all the comfort he
could think of, and that really was not a great deal. Things might not
be quite as the clerk had represented them. Gerty _could_ not be so
cruel. From all he--Jack--had told him, he seemed to know her
thoroughly. Jack must see her and learn his fate from her own lips.
This and much more said Tom Fairlie.

[Illustration: "_This good blade shall be my bride._"
Page 58.]

But for a time never a word said Jack.

He rose from the couch at last, and going quietly to the corner, took up
his sword and drew it.

"Tom," he said boldl