great thoroughfare, Betty thought
this the best chance of taking her sister home without a shock.

The boat from Woolwich had shot London Bridge immediately after them,
and stopped at the stairs nearest that where they landed; and just as
Sir Amyas, with an exclamation of annoyance at his unserviceable arm,
had resigned Aurelia to be lifted on to her temporary litter, a hand
was laid on his shoulder, a voice said "Amyas, what means this?" and he
found himself face to face with a small, keen-visaged, pale man, with
thick grizzled brows overhanging searching dark grey eyes, shaded by a
great Spanish hat.

"Sir! oh sir, is it you?" he cried, breathlessly; "now all will be
well!"

"I am very glad you think so, Amyas," was the grave answer; "for all
this has a strange appearance."

"It is my dearest wife, sir, my wife, whom I have just recovered
after--Oh, say, sir, if you think all is well with her, and it is only
a harmless sleeping potion. Sister--Betty--this is my good father, Mr.
Wayland. He is as good as a physician. Let him see my sweetest life."

Mr. Wayland bent over the slumbering figure still in the bottom of
the boat, heard what could be told of the draught by Loveday, whom he
recognized as his wife's attendant, and feeling Aurelia's pulse, said,
"I should not think there was need for fear. To the outward eye she is
a model of sleeping innocence." "Well you may say so," and "She is
indeed," broke from the baronet and the waiting-maid at the same
instant; but Mr. Wayland heeded them little as he impatiently asked,
"Where and how is your mother, Amyas?"

"In health sir, at home, I suppose," said Sir Amyas; "but oh, sir, hear
me, before you see her."

"I must, if you walk with me," said Mr. Wayland, turning for a moment
to bid his servant reward and dismiss the boat's crew, and see to the
transport of his luggage; and in the meantime Aurelia was lifted by her
bearers.

Sir Amyas again uttered a rejoicing, "We feared you were in the hands of
the pirates, sir."

"So I was; but the governor of Gibraltar obtained my release, and was
good enough to send me home direct in a vessel on the king's service,"
said Mr. Wayland, taking the arm his stepson offered to assist his
lameness. "Now for your explanation, Amyas; only let me hear first that
my babes are well."

"Yes, sir, all well. You had my letter?"

"Telling of that strange disguised wedding? I had, the very day I was
captured."

By the time they had