to inquire after her; but a mystery
seemed to hang over her fate. She had never reached Pernambuco--so much
was certain! Had she gone to the bottom, carrying with her passengers
and crew? And the _Falcon_, in which Brian had sailed--also reported
missing--what had become of her?

Rupert knew enough of Elizabeth Murray's story to think of her with
anxiety--almost with tenderness--at this juncture. He knew of no reason
why the marriage with Percival should not take place, for he had not
heard a word about her special interest in Brian Luttrell; but he had
been told of Brian's reappearance, and of the doubt cast upon his claim
to the property. He was anxious, for Percival's sake as well as for
hers, that the matter should be satisfactorily adjusted; and he felt a
pang of dismay when he first learnt the doubt that hung over the fate of
the _Arizona_.

His anxiety led him one day to stroll with a friend into the office of a
shipowner who had some connection with the _Arizona_. Here he found an
old sailor telling a story to which the clerks and the chief himself
were listening with evident interest. Vivian inquired who he was. The
answer made him start. John Mason, of the good ship _Arizona_, which I
saw with my own eyes go down in eight fathoms o' water off Rocas reef.
Me and the mate got off in the boat, by a miracle, as you may say. All
lost but us.

And forthwith he told the story of the wreck--as far as he knew it.

Vivian listened with painful eagerness, and sat for some little time in
silence when the story was finished, with his hand shading his eyes.
Then he rose up and addressed the man.

"I want you to go with me to Scotland," he said, abruptly. "I want you
to tell this story to a lady. She was to have been married to the Mr.
Heron of whom you speak as soon as he returned. Poor girl! if anything
can make it easier for her, it will be to hear of poor Heron's courage
in the hour of death."

He set out that night, taking John Mason with him, and gleaning from him
many details concerning Percival's popularity on board ship, details
which he knew would be precious to the ears of his family by-and-bye.
Mason was an honest fellow, and did not exaggerate, even when he saw
that exaggeration would be welcome: but Percival had made himself
remarked, as he generally did wherever he went, by his ready tongue and
flow of animal spirits. Mason had many stories to tell of Mr. Heron's
exploits, and he told them well.

Vivi