ear, who would, I knew, be under the belief that I had
been lost.

Mr Raglan accompanied me, as I hoped that Mr Dear would be able to
inform him where his daughter was residing. He had left his office when
we arrived, and we therefore took a coach and drove to his residence.
We were shown by the servant into the drawing-room, while she went to
call her master, who was in the garden. The window was open, and we saw
him walking along a path, accompanied by two ladies. He soon came into
the drawing-room.

"Oh, my dear Laurel!" he exclaimed, in a voice broken by agitation, as
he took my hands. "You are as one risen from the dead; we had given you
up as lost. My wife will, indeed, be rejoiced to see you; and there is
another lady here who will be glad to find that you are in the land of
the living. Poor girl, when we heard her history we invited her to stay
here, and positively refused to let her leave us."

He said this before he appeared to notice Mr Raglan. I felt somewhat
embarrassed as to what to do, but I thought it best to introduce him
before Mrs Dear and Miss Kitty came in.

I scarcely knew what effect the sudden announcement that his daughter
was actually in his sight might have on the old officer. I resolved, in
the first instance, simply to tell Mr Dear that his unknown visitor was
a naval officer, who, having been shipwrecked, had come home in the
_Harmony_, and then to get him to leave the room with me, that I might
consult him in private. I did as I intended.

"I am very glad to see you, sir," exclaimed Mr Dear. "Pray be seated
on this sofa, and excuse me: my young friend here has a word or two to
say to me. Come along, Charley," and we left the room.

As soon as we were in the passage I told him who the officer was.

"Bless me!" he cried out, "that is extraordinary. I am, indeed,
delighted. Will you go back and tell him that you hope his daughter
will soon be with him, and then slip out again, and we will prepare Miss
Kitty. I want your assistance, for I am afraid I shall be letting the
truth out too soon."

I felt somewhat nervous, but I managed to break the news to my friend,
and then, hurrying out. I joined Mr Dear in the garden. We found the
ladies seated in an arbour at the further end. Miss Kitty, knowing me
at once, uttered a cry of surprise, and ran forward with outstretched
hands to meet me.

"I do not believe in ghosts," she said, "or I might have supposed that I
saw your