at, but, I
believe, your whole story. Is it possible you are ignorant of the fact
that your name is in everybody's mouth, and that your story is public
property?"

"So you have heard _all_ about me?" remarked George. "Then I hope to
Heaven that you have also already heard the sad news which I came over
to break to you this evening. I see you are in black."

"Yes," said Lucy, growing very grave at once, "I am in mourning for poor
mother; she died nearly a year ago. But what is the sad news of which
you have to speak to me?"

"You have _not_ heard, then?" said George. "Well, it is about your
cousin Edward. I regret to say that I bring you bad news of him."

"Are you referring to his death?" asked Lucy with just the faintest
suspicion of a tremor in her voice. "Because, if so, I have already
heard of it, and of all your noble, self-sacrificing behaviour on his
behalf. And as a relative, as indeed his _only_ surviving relative, let
me here and now thank you, George, in all earnestness and sincerity, for
your devotion to my unfortunate cousin."

"By Jove, she bears it well; she can't have cared so _very_ much for
him, after all," thought George.

"No thanks are necessary, I assure you," was the reply. "I only did for
him what I would have done with equal readiness for a stranger. But I
had vowed that I would be a protector to him, and that I would--if God
willed it--restore him to your arms; and I am grieved that I failed to
keep my vow. Believe me, it was through no fault of mine that I failed,
Lucy; I did the best I could, but God willed it otherwise."

"Yes--yes," answered Lucy in a dazed sort of way; "yes, God willed it
otherwise. But--whatever do you mean, George, by talking about
restoring him to my arms? Any one would think, to hear you speak, that
I was married to him."

"Well," said George, "betrothal _is_ a sort of marriage, is it not?"

"Betrothal!" exclaimed Lucy, looking more bewildered than ever. "Pray
explain yourself, Captain Leicester; I assure you I have not the
_slightest_ idea of what you mean."

It was now George's turn to look mystified.

"No idea of what I mean?" he stammered. "Why--why--you were engaged to
your cousin, Edward Walford, _were you_ not?"

A new light suddenly flashed into Lucy's mind. All along she had been
convinced that there was some reason for George's failure to visit her
on the occasion of his previous arrival in port, and now the matter was
assuredly