fety of his friends had not Don Josef assured him that he had sent out
scouts to watch their movements, and to give the earliest notice of
their approach.

The next day a surgeon arrived, who pronounced the wounds Colonel
Armytage had received to be in no way dangerous, but expressed his
opinion that he would be unfit for a long time to perform the duties
intrusted to him. Of this the colonel himself seemed to be fully aware,
and he accordingly at once wrote to beg that he might be superseded.

In the afternoon a scout arrived with the information that the French
were retreating northward. This was accounted for by the rumour of the
approach of a strong Spanish force.

Ronald would gladly have remained to watch over the safety of Edda and
her parents, and Don Josef did not fail to employ every argument he
could think of to persuade him that he would be right in so doing. He
had, however, been absent from his ship much longer than had been
intended; and though he could give a very good account of the way he had
employed his time, and he knew that his captain would be perfectly
satisfied, he felt sure that she would be employed in some work in which
he would wish to take a part. Edda had too high a sense of the duty of
an officer to attempt for a moment to detain him, though her sad looks
showed how much she felt the parting. She talked hopefully of the
future; of the happiness which might be in store for them when her
father's objections were overcome.

"They must be conquered some day," she exclaimed. "Why should he object
on the score of birth? We are cousins, though distant ones, and as for
fortune, I have never been ambitious, and shall be well content to share
what you may have, till--You know some day, Ronald, Lunnasting in all
probability will be mine. I am not greedy of it. I would gladly see it
belong to my long-lost cousin, poor aunt Hilda's son, if he could be
found; but after the lapse of so many years, that is not likely.
Indeed, it is for your sake alone, Ronald, that I should prize it."

Ronald pressed her to his heart. "Thanks, thanks, generous one," he
whispered. "We may yet obtain ample fortune to satisfy our wishes. Of
that I have little fear."

The tears came into Mrs Armytage's eyes when Ronald wished her
farewell. It appeared to her as if the only person to whom she could
look with confidence for protection and support was about to leave her,
for even should Colonel Armytage recov