island had weakened his physical
force. In almost the first time in his life he felt a sensation of
faintness, which made him turn pale and stagger, as he recognised the
faces of the two persons whom he loved better than any other in the
world--his friend and his betrothed. A thought of Brian, too, embittered
this his first meeting with Elizabeth. Only one person noticed that
momentary paleness and unsteadiness of step; it was natural that Angela,
a sympathetic spectator in the background, should see more than even
Elizabeth, whose eyes were dim with emotions which she could not have
defined.

Explanations were hurriedly given, or deferred till a future time. It
was proposed that the whole party should go on shore, as everyone was
anxious to see the place where Percival had spent so long a time. Even
Rupert talked gleefully of "seeing" it. Percival had never seen his
friend so exultant, so triumphant. And then, without knowing exactly how
it happened, he found himself for a moment alone with Elizabeth, with
whom he had hitherto exchanged only a hurried, word or two of greeting.
But her hand was still in his when he turned to speak to her alone.

"How beautiful you look!" he said. "If you knew what it is to me to see
you again, Elizabeth!"

But it was not pure joy that sparkled in his eyes.

"Dear Percival! I am glad to see you, so glad to know that you are
safe."

"You were sorry when you heard----"

"Oh," she said, "sorry is not the word. I could not forgive myself! I
can never thank God enough that we have found you."

"Yes," said he, in a low tone. "I think you are glad that I am safe. I
don't deserve that you should be, but----Well, never mind all that.
Won't you give me one kiss, Elizabeth, my darling?" Then, in a more
cheerful voice, "Come and see this wretched hole in which we have passed
the last four months. It is an interesting place."

"Oh, Percival, it is just like yourself to say so!" said Elizabeth,
smiling, but with tearful eyes. "And how pale and thin you are."

"You should have seen me a couple of months ago. I was a skeleton then,"
said Percival, as he opened the door for her. "A shell-fish diet is not
one which I should recommend to an invalid."

He was conscious of a question in her eyes which he did not mean to
answer: he even found time to whisper a word to Jackson before they got
into the boat. "Not a word about Luttrell," he whispered. "Say it was a
steerage passenger who gave his na