nd her devious way among the shoals and reefs which
guarded the entrance to the bay. Many of the ladies were collected on
deck--Edda was one of them; she eagerly watched every movement of the
young commander of the ship, as he stood in the weather rigging, or
sprang on to the hammock nettings that he might obtain a clearer view of
objects ahead. What she thought and felt it would be difficult to
describe, but other ladies who were watching him too, agreed that he was
a noble specimen of a true sailor. Not for a moment, however, did he
turn to look at them: now by hand, now by voice, did he direct the men
at the helm the course to steer. Rich and deep were the tones in which
the words--starboard--steady--hard a-starboard--port--port--hard a-port,
and similar orders were issued. Colonel Armytage was assisted on deck.
He overheard some of the remarks which were made, and seemed perfectly
ready to acknowledge their justice.

"Certainly I have seldom seen a finer young man," he observed with a
warmth unusual to him. "We owe him a debt of gratitude, too, for the
gallant way in which he rescued us from our disagreeable captivity.
By-the-by, to what family of Mortons does he belong? It never before
occurred to me to inquire."

Edda heard the question; it showed her that her father had begun to
think of Morton in another light than that of a common acquaintance. He
was no longer either disposed to treat him with the supercilious air in
which he did on their first acquaintance. She could have replied,
because Ronald had told her that he belonged to Shetland, but she could
not bring herself to speak. Those the colonel addressed hazarded
various opinions, but all were agreed that from his manner and
appearance he must belong to a noble family. Colonel Armytage seemed to
have the same impressions.

"Yes, certainly I mistook him at first," he remarked. "There were some
reports to his disparagement about a foolish duel, but from what I have
since seen of him, I have little doubt he was in the right. Such a man
would certainly never refuse to fight unless the man with whom he had
quarrelled was palpably in the wrong."

This was, for Colonel Armytage, saying a great deal. His companions
agreed with him. It did not occur to them that a man might refuse to
fight a duel from a higher motive than knowing that he was so clearly
right that the world could not help taking his part.

The observations she overheard made Edda'