o rescue a fellow-passenger."

"It was no accident which led to Miss Clinton's safety from destruction.
I am convinced of that. But you must not thank _me_; it is due to
another than myself that she does not now sleep in death."

"May I ask to whom you refer?"

"I refer to a dear and noble girl, to whom I swam in that burning wreck
to save. Her veil had been agreed upon as a signal between us. That
veil, carefully thrown over the head of Miss Clinton, whom I found
clinging to the spot assigned to--to her whom I was seeking, deceived
me, and I bore in safety to the shore the burden which I had ignorantly
seized from the gaping waters, leaving my own darling, who had offered
her life as a sacrifice to----"

"Oh, not to die!" exclaimed Willie.

"No; to be saved by a miracle. Go thank her for Miss Clinton's life."

"I thank God," said Willie, with fervour, "that the horrors of such
scenes of destruction are half redeemed by heroism like that."

The stern countenance of Mr. Amory softened as he listened to the young
man's enthusiastic outburst of admiration at Gertrude's noble
self-devotion.

"Who is she? Where is she?" continued Willie.

"Ask me not!" replied Mr. Amory, with a gesture of impatience; "I cannot
tell you if I would. I have not seen her since that ill-fated day."

His manner seemed to intimate an unwillingness to enter into further
explanation regarding Isabel's rescue, and Willie, perceiving it, stood
for a moment silent and irresolute. Then advancing nearer, he said,
"Though you so utterly disclaim, Mr. Phillips, any participation in Miss
Clinton's escape, I feel that my errand would be but imperfectly
fulfilled if I should fail to deliver the message which I bring to one
who was the final means if not the original cause of her safety. Mr.
Clinton, the young lady's father, desired me to tell you that, in saving
the life of his only surviving child, the last of seven, all of whom but
herself had an early death, you have prolonged his life, and rendered
him grateful to that degree which words on his part are powerless to
express; but that, as long as his feeble life is spared, he shall never
cease to bless your name and pray to heaven for its choicest gifts upon
you and those who dwell next your heart."

There was a slight moisture in the penetrating eye of Mr. Amory, but a
courteous smile upon his lip, as he said, "All this from Mr. Clinton!
Very gentlemanly, and equally sincere, I doubt not; but y