ves from justice,
which impending treaty may or may not have a retrospective action.
Therefore it is better that Mrs. Berners should be supposed to have
perished in the flood, and that the secret of her rescue and continued
life should be carefully kept from all, except those already mentioned.

"A last word. The only way in which my wife can keep her quiet, is by
promising that you will follow her immediately. Come as soon as you can.
I am weary of my charge. Why I ever undertook it, is my secret. We will
await you in Liverpool. A letter addressed to 'Raphael,' through the
general post-office in that city, will find us.

"And now I must seal up, wishing you a merry Christmas. From your

UNKNOWN FRIEND."

"Thank Heaven!" fervently exclaimed Beatrix Pendleton.

"Amen," earnestly responded her brother.

"You will go soon, Lyon?" eagerly inquired Beatrix.

"Soon? I would start instantly if I could. But there is no coach that
leaves for Baltimore or Norfolk until the day after to-morrow. To-day I
will give orders to my servants to pack up. To-morrow I will ride over
to Fugitt's to inquire after my child, which for its own sake must still
be left in their care, I suppose. And the day after I will leave in the
early coach for Baltimore. There I shall certainly be able to meet a
clipper bound for Liverpool," answered Mr. Berners, speaking very
rapidly.

"And in the mean time?" anxiously inquired Captain Pendleton.

"In the meantime, that is, to-day, I must give my friend Sheridan here a
power of attorney to manage this estate during my absence. For you--you
hold to your purpose of visiting Europe, Pendleton?"

"Oh, yes; and if you could wait a week, while I make the necessary
arrangements, Beatrix and myself might accompany you; but that is too
much to ask of you under the circumstances," smiled Clement Pendleton.

"I should be so rejoiced to have you both go with me, especially as the
voyage is going to be a tedious one at this season of the year; but how
can I delay a day while my poor Sybil, an exile among strangers, waits
for me?"

"Oh, of course you could not possibly do it. But we will follow you
soon, Berners, rely upon that."

Lyon Berners pressed his friend's hand in silence, and then went to meet
Minnie Sheridan, who had glided shyly and silently into the room.

She must have heard the latter part of the conversation, but without
apparently understanding it; for she came forward blushing and smili