he shore."

"Of course they will!--I was sure of that;" returned Agatha, in the same
wild, determined tone. "Let me see! it was a quiet night. I stood a long
time looking at the moon--Ah!"

The ghastly thought of her standing there looking up at the moon, and
the pitiless moon looking down on the sea and on him! Agatha's senses
reeled--she burst into the most awful laughter.

Marmaduke held her fast--the whimsical absent Marmaduke--now roused into
his true character, kind, as any woman, and wiser than most men.

"Agatha, you must be quiet. It is wicked ever to despair. There is a
chance--more than a chance, that your husband has been saved. He has
infinite presence of mind, and he is a young, strong, likely lad. But
Brian--poor Brian! my dear old friend!"

Duke Dugdale's bravery gave way--he was of such a gentle, tender heart.
The sight of his emotion stilled Agatha's frenzy, and made it more like
a natural grief, though it was hard yet--hard as stone.

"Come," she said, taking his hand, and smiling piteously--"come--don't
cry. I can't!--not for the world. Let us talk. What are you going to
do?"

"I am going right off to Southampton--whence they have sent steamers out
in all directions to pick up the boats, if they are drifting anywhere
about the Channel. Fancy--to be out in the open sea, this winter-time,
with possibly no clothes or food!"

"Hush!"--shuddered Agatha's low voice--"hush! or I shall go quite mad,
and I would rather not just yet--_afterwards_, I shall not mind."

"Poor child!"

"Don't now," and she shrank from him. "Never think of me--_that_ does
not signify. Only something must be done. No weeping--no talking--_do_
something!"

"I told you I should. I am going"--

"Go then!" Her quick speech--the wild stamp of her foot--poor child, how
mad she was still!

Mr. Dugdale took no notice except by a compassionate look--perhaps
he, too, felt there was no time to lose. He went towards the door--she
following.

"I am off now--I shall catch the train in two hours," said he,
springing on his horse in the dark wet night. "Harrie will be with you
directly--only she thought I had better come first. Go in--go in--my
poor child."

Agatha obeyed mechanically, for the moment She walked about the house,
in at one room and out at another, meeting no person--for Andrews had
gone to call up some of the servants. The heavy quiet around stifled
her. Faster and faster she walked--clutching her hands on her thr