e injuries he had received in the
cutting-out expedition had been more severe than had been supposed, and
that his system had received a shock from which it had never recovered.
Nora, too, was scarcely aware of the danger of her brother. Lady Sophy,
perhaps, had suspected it, but could not bring herself to speak of it to
her cousin. Barry himself declared that he felt better every day,
though he showed, by his disinclination to take exercise, that he was
much weaker than he was ready to acknowledge.

At length the frigate came back, and the two young lieutenants rejoined
her. When, however, Lord Barry came on board, the surgeon kindly told
him that he thought he would be better off by remaining on shore a
little longer with his father. The surgeon saw that a great change had
taken place in him.

Barry declared he was fully capable of doing his duty, but the surgeon
persisted in advising him to return home.

"I am sure a little more rest will do you good," said Captain Falkner,
looking at him compassionately; "we will manage to have your duty done
on board, and we must hope that in a short time you will be sufficiently
recovered to resume it yourself."

The Earl was somewhat surprised at seeing Barry return, but Captain
Falkner, who accompanied him, endeavoured to tranquillise his mind; and
though he could not honestly say his son would recover, he remarked that
youth and a good constitution often enable persons to gain strength when
otherwise it might be hopeless.

The _Cynthia_ was ordered to cruise about the Windward islands; a
dangerous locality, but where she would have many places to visit.
Captain Falkner observed that he should frequently have to call off the
island, and that he hoped to see the Earl and his family whenever he did
so.

It would be difficult to describe the beautiful scenery of the island
now placed under the government of the Earl. The ground is broken into
hills and valleys, and here and there lofty mountains rise, towering
high up into the blue sky. Good roads, however, are cut across the
island in every direction, and thus not only were the young ladies able
to drive about, but they also had the pleasure of taking long rides to
many scenes of beauty, accompanied by Barry, who, though he did not
appear to recover his strength, was still able to sit on horseback. A
number of planters were settled about the island, many of whom were men
of education, and all were glad to offer hospi