ave been running over in my head all that could bear upon this
matter, and now I remember a couple of weeks ago that Longworth, who
came with a French friend of his to pass an evening at the cottage, led
me to talk of the parish church and its history; he asked me if it had
not been burnt by the rebels in '98, and seemed surprised when I said it
was only the vestry-room and the books that had been destroyed. 'Was not
that strange?' asked he; 'did the insurgents usually interest themselves
about parochial records?' I felt a something like a sneer in the
question, and made him no reply."

"And who was the Frenchman?"

"A certain Count Pracontal, whom Longworth met in Upper Egypt. By the
way, he was the man Jack led over the high bank, where the poor fellow's
leg was broken."

"I remember; he, of course, has no part in the story we are now
discussing. Longworth may possibly know something. Are you intimate with
him?"

"No, we are barely acquainted. I believe he was rather flattered by the
very slight attention we showed himself and his friend; but his manner
was shy, and he is a diffident, bashful sort of man, not easy to
understand."

"Look here, L'Estrange," said Augustus, laying his hand on the other's
shoulder; "all that has passed between us here to-night is strictly
confidential, to be divulged to no one, not even your sister. As for
this letter, I 'll forward it to Sedley, for whom it was intended. I
'll tell him how it chanced that I read it; and then--and then--the rest
will take its own course."

"I wonder if Julia intends to come back with me?" said L'Estrange,
after a pause.

"No. Nelly has persuaded her to stay here, and I think there is no
reason why you should not also."

"No, I 'm always uncomfortable away from my own den; but I 'll be with
you early to-morrow. Good-night."

Nelly and Julia did not go to bed till daybreak. They passed the night
writing a long letter to Jack,--the greater part 'being dictated by
Julia while Nelly wrote. It was an urgent entreaty to him to yield to
the advice of his brother officers, and withdraw the offensive words he
had used to the Admiral. It was not alone his station, his character,
and his future in life were pressed into the service, but the happiness
of all who loved him and wished him well, with a touching allusion to
his poor father's condition, and the impossibility of asking any aid or
counsel from him. Nelly went on: "Remember, dear Jack, how friendle