had to relate. He
told of Mr Hope's exertions in Edinburgh, and of his having at length
ventured upon an illegal proceeding for which only the disturbance of
the times could be pleaded in excuse. He had sent out a vessel,
containing a few armed men, and Mrs Ruthven, who had undertaken to act
as guide to Lady Carse's residence. It was understood that the captain
had set Mrs Ruthven ashore in Lorn, through some disagreement between
them; and that the vessel had proceeded as far as Barra, when the
captain was so certainly informed that the lady had been removed to the
mainland that he turned back; pleading, further, that there was such
evident want of sense in Mrs Ruthven, and such contradictory testimony
between her and her husband, that he doubted whether any portion of
their story was true. It was next believed that a commission of enquiry
would be soon sent to this and other islands: but this could not take
place until the public tranquillity should be in some degree restored.

"Before that, I shall be dead," sighed Lady Carse, impatiently.

"There is no need now to wait for the commission," said the President.
"Where I am, all violations of the law must cease. Your captivity is
now at an end, except in so far as you are subject to ill health, or,
like myself, to winter weather and most wintry fortunes."

"The day is come, then," said Annie, through shining tears. "You are
now delivered out of the hand of man, and have to wait only God's
pleasure."

"What matters it," murmured Lady Carse, "how you call my misfortunes?
Here I sit, a shivering exile--"

"So far like myself," observed the President, moving nearer the scanty
fire.

"You have not been heart-sick for years under insufferable wrongs,"
declared Lady Carse. "And you have not the grave open at your feet
while everything you care for is beckoning to you to come away. You--"

"Pardon me, my old friend," said he, mildly. "That is exactly my case.
I am old: the grave is open at my feet; and beyond it stands she who,
though early lost, has been the constant passion of my life. Perhaps my
heart may have pined under the privation of her society as sensibly as
yours under afflictions more strange in the eyes of the world. But it
is not wise--it does not give strength, but impair it--thus to compare
human afflictions. I should prefer cheerfully encouraging each other to
wait for release; I see little prospect of any release this day for us
exiles; so