als the moon
would burst through the clouds and add to the ghostly effect of boiling
foam in the distance.

They passed through the strip of woodland which extended down to the
water's edge, and at last reached the grounds connected with the
dwelling upon that side, and came out upon the broad lawn.

"Home at last!" cried Mellen, as a warm glow of lights shone out from
his dwelling. "Ride on, my man; you shall sleep here to-night, and
return in the morning."

In his exultation Mellen dashed forward, urging his horse across the
open space till he was considerably in advance of his attendant. The
moon shivered out again for an instant, and Mr. Mellen saw a woman
shrouded in a long cloak rushing towards the house. Some instinct,
rather than any real recognition of her person, made him cry out, as he
leaped from the horse and left him free:

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"

The figure paused. There was a faint cry; at the same instant Mellen
heard a violent rustle in the shrubbery, with a sudden downpour of
raindrops, scarcely noticed, as he hurried towards the lady, but well
remembered afterwards. She was standing upright and still, as if that
unexpected voice had changed her to stone; her hair had broken loose and
was streaming wildly over her shoulders; one hand was lifted above her
eyes, as she strained her sight through the gloom.

"Elizabeth!" he called again.

"Who is it?" she cried, in a suppressed voice, that had all the
sharpness of an agonised shriek. "Who calls to me?"

He reached her side as she spoke.

"Don't you know me?" he exclaimed. "My wife! my wife! I have come back
at last!"

There was one wild look--one heavy breath--he heard a low exclamation:

"My God! oh, my God!"

Before he could discover whether this was a cry of thanksgiving or not,
she fell forward and lay motionless at his feet.

After that first second of stupefaction, Mr. Mellen checked the
wonderment of the man--who by this time had come up--and between them
they carried the senseless woman to the house.

The servant who met them in the hall gave a cry of dismay at the sight
of her master thus suddenly entering the house with his wife lying like
a dead woman in his arms, and was ready to believe that the whole sight
was a ghostly illusion.

"Bring some wine," called Mellen; "is there a fire? Are you deaf and
blind, girl?"

"It is the masther!" exclaimed the frightened creature. "It's the
masther come back--oh, I thought I'd see