John Saltram had therefore
contrived to keep himself quiet amidst all the feverish impatience and
confusion of mind prevailing, amongst the other passengers. He was
rewarded for his prudence; for when he rose to go on deck, he found
himself stronger than he had felt yet. He went up the companion-ladder,
took his place close to the spot at which the passengers must all leave
the vessel, and waited.

New York was very near. The day had been cold and showery, but the sun
was shining now, and the whole scene looked bright and gay. Every one
seemed in high spirits, as if the new world they were about to touch
contained for them a certainty of Elysium. It was such a delicious relief
to arrive at the great lively Yankee city, after the tedium of a
ten-day's voyage, pleasant and easy as the transit had been.

John Saltram looked eagerly among the faces of the crowd, but neither
Percival Nowell nor his daughter were to be seen amongst them. Presently
the vessel touched the wharf, and the travellers began to move towards
the gangway. He watched them, one by one, breathlessly. At the very last,
Mr. Nowell stepped quickly forward, with a veiled figure on his arm.

She was closely veiled, her face quite hidden by thick black lace, and
she was clinging with something of a frightened air to her companion's
arm.

John Saltram sprang up from his post of observation, and confronted the
two before they could leave the vessel.

"Marian," he said, in slow decided tone, "let go that man's arm. You will
leave this vessel with me, and with no one else."

"Stand out of the way, fellow," cried Percival Nowell; "my daughter can
have nothing to say to you."

"Marian, for God's sake, obey me! There is the vilest treachery in this
man's conduct. Let go his arm. My love, my darling, come with me!"

There was a passionate appeal in his tone, but it produced no answer.

"Marian!" he cried, still interposing himself between these two and the
passage to the landing wharf. "Marian, I will have some answer!"

"You have had your answer, sir," said Percival Nowell, trying to push him
aside. "This lady does not know you. Do you want to make a scene, and
render yourself ridiculous to every one here? There are plenty of lunatic
asylums in New York that will accommodate you, if you are determined to
make yourself eligible for them."

"Marian!" repeated John Saltram, without vouchsafing the faintest notice
of this speech. "Marian, speak to me!"

An