me about
before it might have been expected, crippled as she was, and now with
her courses hauled up she stood out to sea.

"Pipe below," cried the captain, leaving the weather side of the poop,
where he had stood since the ship had first got under weigh. "Keep her
south-west, Mr Matson," he observed, as he retired to his cabin; "and
call me on deck should any change take place in the weather."

It would be difficult to describe the feelings of those on shore who had
watched for so long the manoeuvres of the corvette as she worked her way
out of the bay. Often Lady Nora lifted up her hands as if praying to
Heaven for the safety of those on board. Each time, too the ship
approached the dangerous reef, with the character of which she was so
well acquainted, her cheek turned paler than usual, and her bated breath
showed the agitation of her feelings.

Yet, did she love the young commander of the corvette? She would
scarcely have acknowledged thus much to herself. He had not declared
his affection, and yet she felt almost sure that he was truly attached
to her.

"I must remember that he was poor Barry's friend," she said to herself;
"yet Barry did not pretend to know to what family he belonged; indeed,
he would never tell us how he first became acquainted with him. That
was very strange, for as often as I put the question he evaded it, and
replied, `I value him for himself, for the noble qualities he possesses,
and not for what he may possibly have been.' On board ship we think
only of our rank in the service, and what sort of fellow a man shows
himself to be by his conduct. So Nora do not say anything more about
the matter."

At length, when the corvette, as far as she was able to judge in the
thick gathering gloom of night, seemed to be clear of the land, Nora
could not refrain from giving vent to her pent-up feelings in tears,
while a prayer of thankfulness went up from her heart to Heaven.

Some time passed before she entirely recovered from the effects of the
fearful danger in which she had been placed. She looked forward, day
after day, for the return of the corvette, but in vain. She eagerly
examined the newspapers, but none of them mentioned the _Ariadne_. She
might still be on the coast of Ireland, or have been ordered elsewhere.
From what Captain Denham had said before he took his departure, she was
fully persuaded he would soon return; and it must be confessed, she
longed to ask him many questio