ence, shouting and laughing, shuffled out of the room.

Meantime, Hilda had been watching the corvette and the smack. What the
former was about to do still remained doubtful, but the latter continued
her course till she came to an anchor close in with the mouth of the
voe. A boat which Hilda recognised as belonging to Rolf Morton went out
to meet her. The smack's own boat was also lowered, and several people
among whom were two ladies, embarked in her.

A tall thin man stepped into Rolfs boat with the air of a sailor, and
having shaken him warmly by the hand, assisted in two other gentlemen in
black dresses, who showed by their movements that they were far from
well accustomed to nautical adventure.

While Rolfs boat proceeded up the voe, the other pulled towards the
Lunnasting landing-place. Hilda would fain have watched the proceedings
of the corvette, but believing that her sister had arrived she hurried
down to meet her. At first she was about to go down to the
landing-place, but her courage failed, and she waited in the great hall
to receive her guests. At last they entered, ushered in by Lawrence,
who kept bowing and flourishing his three-cornered hat before them in a
way which seemed more like mockery than respect.

Colonel Armytage approached Hilda with formal respect, but the sisters
threw themselves into each other's arms, and the younger found vent for
her feelings in a torrent of tears; but not a drop fell from Hilda's
eye. Edda stood hesitating for a moment, and then threw her arms round
her aunt's neck, and kissed her affectionately.

"Oh, may you be more happy than either of us!" was all Hilda said, as
she looked at the sweet face beaming up at her.

A gentleman followed Colonel Armytage into the room. Hilda looked
towards him as if to inquire who he was.

"He is Mr Boland, my legal adviser," said the colonel. "I thought it
wiser to bring him, in case any difficulties should arise about the
succession to this property."

"What difficulties can arise--what doubts are there?" inquired Hilda, in
an agitated tone.

"Matters will be explained to you, madam, shortly," answered Colonel
Armytage, suspecting that Hilda had not heard of the discovery of her
son.

He was not a man who would have attempted to prevent him from obtaining
his rights, but he had not virtue enough to resist the wish that he
might, after all, never appear to claim them.

The meeting between Sir Marcus Wardhill and his