and sob bitterly.

Again the door opened, and I saw Mr. Inch enter with a roll of papers
in his hand.

"Mr. Inch," cried Ruth, "will you not be my friend, will you not tell
me that this need not be?"

Then I saw Mr. Inch and Wilfred change glances, and the former open his
roll of papers.

"I am your friend," he said; "and I am also your father's old servant,
and I would see his wishes carried out."

Then he began to read:--"'I desire my daughter Ruth to dwell in the
house of my friend, Roger Trewinion, and that she shall be wedded to
his heir, so that the two estates shall be united. And it is my will
that she shall be wedded to him as soon as possible after she comes of
age, and to remain at Trewinion Manor until within a month of the
wedding day. Then she shall return to Morton Hall to prepare for the
marriage ceremony.' This is an extract from the will," he went on,
"and I should not be a friend to Miss Ruth if I failed to see this
carried out. We have waited now many years beyond the time, and if
this be not done soon the bodies of the dead fathers will rise from
their graves to know why their wishes have not been fulfilled."

Then I heard Ruth speak again.

"Oh, Roger, Roger," she said, "why did you go away?"

"Why?" said my mother, "because you drove him. He was mad with love
for you, and because you scorned him he ended his days. Be careful,
or, perchance, you will drive my other son to his death as well."

At this she looked up to the faces of those in the room with an
expression of dull despair.

"I will obey my father's will," she said huskily, "make what
arrangements you choose."

Then I saw Wilfred move towards her, as if to embrace her; and I
thought I went forward too, as if to hinder him, but Ruth looked up and
gave a scream, half of joy, half of fear.

"Roger is here!" she cried.

I thought I saw consternation on every face, then all melted away, and
I awoke.

I was lying in my cabin in a pirate vessel, was not at home at all;
what I had seen was a mocking dream. And yet all was real. I could
not believe that I had not been at home, though I knew it could not be.
I was away on the broad seas, hundreds of miles from land. My
imagination had been excited, and I had dreamed--that was all. I tried
to sleep again, but could not, I was constantly thinking of what I had
seen in my vision. Then I remembered the day of the month and the
year. Yes, ten years ago that very night I ha