tears, but Elizabeth's face was
rigidly set in an enforced quietude.

"I am glad I have met you," she said. "I was wondering where to find
you. I did not know your address."

"Come and see me now," said Angela, by a sudden impulse.

"Thank you. I will."

A few minutes' walking brought them to the old house which Rupert had
lately taken. It was in a state of some confusion: boxes stood in the
passages, parcels were lying about the floor. Angela coloured a little
as she saw Elizabeth's eye fall on some of these.

"We are going away," she said, hurriedly, "on a sea-voyage. The doctors
have been recommending it to Rupert for some time."

This was strictly true.

"I knew you were going away," said Elizabeth, in a low tone.

She was standing beside a table in the drawing-room: her left hand
rested upon it, her eyes were fixed absently upon the muff which she
carried in her right hand. Angela asked her to sit down. But Elizabeth
did not seem to hear. She began to speak with a nervous tremor in her
voice which made Angela feel nervous, too.

"I have heard a strange thing," she said. "I have heard it rumoured that
you are going to cross the Atlantic--that you mean to visit the Rocas
Reef. Tell me, please, if it is true or not."

Angela did not know what to say.

"We are going to South America," she murmured, with a somewhat
embarrassed smile. "We may pass the Rocas Reef."

"Ah, speak to me frankly," said Elizabeth, putting down her muff and
moving forward with a slight gesture of supplication. "Mr. Vivian was
Percival's friend. Does he really mean to go and look for him? Do they
think that some of the crew and passengers may be living upon the island
still?"

"There is just a chance," said Angela, quoting her brother. "He means to
go and see. We did not tell you: we were afraid you might be
too--too--hopeful."

"I will not be too hopeful. I will be prudent and calm. But you must
tell me all about it. Do you really think there is any chance? Oh, you
are happy: you can go and see for yourself, and I can do
nothing--nothing--nothing! And it was my doing that he went!"

Her voice sank into a low moan. She clasped her hands together and wrung
them a little beneath her cloak. Angela, looking at her with wet,
sympathetic eyes, had a sudden inspiration. She held out her hand.

"Come with us," she said, gently. "Why should you not? We will take care
of you. What would I not have given to do something for the man I lo