not impaired by
the sombreness of her garments; she almost always wore black now, but it
was black velvet, and she had a knot of violets in her bosom. Rupert's
musing face, with its high-bred look of distinction, was turned
thoughtfully to the fire. Arthur Fane had the sleek, fair head, straight
features, and good-humouredly intelligent expression, characteristic of
a very pleasant type of young Englishman. The beautiful deerhound which
sat with its long nose on Rupert's knee, and its melancholy eyes lifted
affectionately from time to time to Rupert's face, was a not unworthy
addition to the group.

Vivian spoke at last with a smile. "I am very unsociable to-night," he
said, tuning his face to the place where he knew Angela sat. "I have
been making a decision."

Fane looked up sharply; Angela said "Yes?" in an inquiring tone.

But Rupert did not at once mention the nature of his decision. He began
to repeat Captain Somer's story; he told her what kind of a place the
Rocas Reef was like; he even begged Fane to fetch an atlas from the
study and show her the spot where the _Arizona_ had been wrecked.

"You must please not mention this matter to the Herons when you are
writing, you know, Angela," he continued, "or to Miss Murray. It is a
mere chance--the smallest chance in the world--and it would not be fair
to excite their hopes."

"But it is a chance, is it not, Rupert?"

"Yes, dear, it is a chance."

"Then can nothing be done?"

"I think something must be done," said he, quietly. There was a purpose
in his tone, a hopeful light in his face, which she could not but
remark.

"What will you do, Rupert?"

"I think, dear," he said, smiling, "that the easiest plan would be for
me to go out to the Rocas Reef myself."

"You, Rupert!"

"Yes, I, myself. That is if Fane will go with me."

"I shall be delighted," said Fane, whose grey eyes danced with pleasure
at the idea.

"You must take me, too," said Angela.

It was Rupert's turn now to ejaculate. "You, Angela! My dear child, you
are joking."

"I'm not joking at all. You would be much more comfortable if I went,
too. And I think that Aunt Alice would go with us, if we asked her. Why
not? You want to travel, and I have nothing to keep me in England. Let
us go together."

Rupert smiled. "I want to lose no time," he said. "I must travel fast."

"I am fond of travelling. And I shall be so lonely while you are away."

That argument was a strong one. Rupert c