me, their anxiety about my wound,
and joy at once more having me under their roof, proved that I had not
been forgotten. After a short time, Vangilt left the room, and I
remained on the sofa, one hand in the grasp of Mr Vanderwelt, the other
holding the not unwilling one of Minnie. That evening I made known to
them all that had taken place since I last wrote to them, winding up
with the loss of my frigate, the death of Lord de Versely, and my
subsequent capture and rescue.

"And so it was in attempting to come and see us that you were wounded
and nearly murdered?"

"Yes, Minnie; I had long been anxious to see you, and could not help
availing myself of the first opportunity."

"Thank God you are here at last," said Mr Vanderwelt, "and that there
is now every prospect of a conclusion to the war."

"And you won't go to sea any more--will you, Percival?" said Minnie.

"They won't give me a ship, Minnie, after having lost the one I
commanded; to be unfortunate is to be guilty, in those who have no
interest."

"I'm very glad to hear it; then you'll remain quietly on shore, and you
will come and see us."

As I had been rendered feverish by travelling, and my wound was a little
angry, as soon as it was dressed for the night, they left me to repose;
but that I could not--the form of Minnie haunted me; to sleep was
impossible, and I lay thinking of her till day dawned. The fact was,
that I was for the first time in love, and that in no small degree--
before morning I was desperately so. Indeed, there was excuse
sufficient, for Minnie was as winning in her manners as she was lovely
in her person, and I was not at all surprised at hearing from Vangilt of
the numerous suitors for her hand.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

The next morning I was pale and feverish, which they observed with
concern, Minnie was sitting by me, and Mr Vanderwelt had left the room,
when she said, "How very pale you are, and your hand is so hot; I wish
the doctor would come."

"I could not sleep last night, Minnie--and it was all your fault."

"My fault!"

"Yes, your fault; for I could not sleep for thinking of you; I thought
you were looking at me as you do now the whole night."

Minnie blushed, and I kissed her hand.

As soon as my wound was dressed, I requested writing materials, and
wrote to the Admiralty, giving an account of what had occurred since I
quitted Heligoland. (I had written to inform them of the loss of the
frigate when I