s last trial of her fortitude, Mrs. Bowmore's feeble reserves
of endurance completely gave way. The poor lady turned faint and giddy.
Amelia placed her on a chair in the hall, and told the cook to open the
front door, and let in the fresh air.

The cook obeyed; and instantly broke out with a second terrific scream;
announcing nothing less, this time, than the appearance of Mr. Bowmore
himself, alive and hearty, returning with Percy from the meeting at the
Club!

The inevitable inquiries and explanations followed.

Fully assured, as he had declared himself to be, of the sanctity of his
person (politically speaking), Mr. Bowmore turned pale, nevertheless,
when he looked at the unoccupied peg on his clothes stand. Had some
man unknown personated him? And had a post-chaise been hired to lead an
impending pursuit of him in the wrong direction? What did it mean? Who
was the friend to whose services he was indebted? As for the proceedings
of the man-servant, but one interpretation could now be placed on them.
They distinctly justified what Captain Bervie had said of him. Mr.
Bowmore thought of the Captain's other assertion, relating to the urgent
necessity for making his escape; and looked at Percy in silent dismay;
and turned paler than ever.

Percy's thoughts, diverted for the moment only from the lady of his
love, returned to her with renewed fidelity. "Let us hear what Charlotte
thinks of it," he said. "Where is she?"

It was impossible to answer this question plainly and in few words.

Terrified at the effect which her attempt at explanation produced on
Percy, helplessly ignorant when she was called upon to account for her
daughter's absence, Mrs. Bowmore could only shed tears and express a
devout trust in Providence. Her husband looked at the new misfortune
from a political point of view. He sat down and slapped his forehead
theatrically with the palm of his hand. "Thus far," said the patriot,
"my political assailants have only struck at me through the newspapers.
_Now_ they strike at me through my child!"

Percy made no speeches. There was a look in his eyes which boded ill
for Captain Bervie if the two met. "I am going to fetch her," was all he
said, "as fast as a horse can carry me."

He hired his horse at an inn in the town, and set forth for Justice
Bervie's house at a gallop.

During Percy's absence, Mr. Bowmore secured the front and back entrances
to the cottage with his own hands.

These first precaut