n back to Shetland, and his
ultimate meeting with Tacon and Father Mendez, and of the aid which
Ronald Morton had promised towards the accomplishment of his object.

"He was always a noble, generous boy!" she exclaimed, warmly; but she
was little aware of the sacrifice Ronald was prepared to make to assist
his rival, and one who had shown such bitter animosity towards him in
obtaining his rights.

By this time the "Scorpion's" boat returned under charge of Lieutenant
Glover, with the Marquis de Medea, as Don Josef de Villavicencio had
hitherto been called, and his daughter Julia. She, poor girl, had at
first been astounded with the information that another person intervened
between the title and estates her father had held, and that he had no
right to them; but latterly, in consequence of the delicate endeavours
of Glover to console her, she had become much more reconciled to her
lot.

Whatever were the motives which influenced him, Father Mendez, armed
with the information he had gained from Tacon, so worked either on the
fears or better feelings of the dying marquis, that he professed himself
ready to confess his crime, and to do his utmost to right the wronged.

Hilda, still ignorant of who he was, had him conveyed to one of the best
chambers in the castle, and directed that all his wants should be
attended to, while another room near his was prepared for Donna Julia.

Ronald Morton was of course not aware of the arrival of Edda Armytage
and her parents; and feeling that it might be an intrusion, under the
circumstances, to present himself before Hilda on that day, he directed
Glover to say that he hoped to pay his respects in person on the
following morning, and then hastened on towards his father's house.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

RONALD VISITS LUNNASTING CASTLE--LEGAL VISITORS ARRIVE AT LUNNASTING--
THE RIGHTFUL HEIR DISCOVERED--THE PRINCE HAS GOT HIS AIN AGAIN.

With a heart agitated by a variety of conflicting feelings, Ronald
Morton, the day after the "Scorpion" reached Eastling Sound, approached
Lunnasting Castle. He was followed at a distance by his father and the
three gentlemen who had arrived by the smack from Aberdeen. His great
wish was that he might first meet Edda, and break to her the discoveries
which had been made, and which it was now necessary to disclose.
"Should I be unable to meet her, I will endeavour to see the Lady Hilda
by herself, and it will soften the blow, when I am able to