ill he
knew enough to be aware that the ship was in great danger. The wind
prevented them from making rapid progress along the downs, although they
urged on their steeds as fast as they could go, anxious to meet some one
who could give them further information about the ship. They determined
to go on till they reached the widow's hut, as they knew that, should
her brother be there, as he had promised to be, they would learn more
from him than from anybody else as to the probability of the ship
escaping destruction on the dangerous reef towards which she appeared to
be drawing. Still they hoped against hope, that she might struggle on
and escape.

As they approached the end of the cliff above Widow O'Neil's cottage,
they recognised her standing on a high projecting point of land, gazing
towards the ship. Her actions gave them the idea that she, like poor
Kathleen, had lost her senses. Wildly she waved her arm, sometimes
clasping her hands, raising them towards heaven; then, again, she
stretched them over the ocean. As the ladies and Mr Finlayson rode up
to her, words of prayer were escaping from her lips.

"What is the matter, Mistress O'Neil?" asked Sophy, riding up to her.
"Why are you thus agitated this morning?"

"It is on account of a dream I had last night," she answered. "That is
no wonder, though, for every night as I lie on my bed I dream that my
boy is coming back to me, though when I am about to clasp him to my
heart he escapes away again; but last night I dreamed that he really had
come back, and there he was lying in my arms, just as he was when an
infant and smiling in my face. He must come back soon, too, for I am
getting old, very old, and oh, he will scarcely know me now! There is
not much time to lose; but he will come; yes, my lady, I know that he
will come. He will not be as young, and beautiful, and strong, and
happy as he was when he went away, so many, many years ago,--I know not
how many; I have lost all count of them. Oh, they have been years of
grief and mourning to me--sad, sad years; but such have been the years
of my life since one I loved was taken from me. Ah, if you had known
him, ladies, you would have said I had reason to love him: and now, my
boy, my only boy, to have been thus long kept from me! But he is coming
back, ladies. I tell you, I dreamed last night that he was coming back;
and suppose he was to be on board yonder ship! Ah, but I feel sure that
he cannot be,