it
cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear.'"

"No, but--He does let people drown; and oh, I can never live without my
husband!"

"Dear child, there is no need to consider that question till it is
forced upon you. Try, dear one, to let that alone, and rest in the
promise, 'As thy days, so shall thy strength be.'"

The captain had drawn near, and was standing close beside them.

"Mother has given you the best of advice, my little sister," he said, in
his kind, cheery way; "and for your further comfort let me say that it
is altogether likely the Edna is safe in harbor somewhere. I think they
probably perceived the approach of the storm in season to be warned not
to put out to sea till it should be over."

"Do you really think so, captain?" she asked, lifting her head to wipe
away her tears.

He assured her that he did; and thinking him a competent judge of what
seamen would be likely to do in such an emergency, she grew calm for a
time, though her face was still sad; and till darkness shut out the
sight, she cast many an anxious glance from the window upon the raging
waters.

"If not in harbor, they must be in great peril?" Mr. Dinsmore remarked,
aside, and half inquiringly, to the captain.

"Yes, sir; yes, indeed. I am far more anxious than I should like to own
to their mother, Zoe, or Violet."

It was near their tea hour when the storm burst; they gathered about the
table as usual, but there was little eating done except by the children,
and the meal was not enlivened, as was customary with them, by cheerful,
sprightly chat, though efforts in that direction were not wanting on the
part of several of their number.

The storm raged on with unabated fury, and Zoe, as she listened to the
howling of the wind and the deafening thunder peals, grew wild with
terror for her husband. She could not be persuaded to go to bed, even
when her accustomed hour for retiring was long past, but would sit in
her chair, moaning, "O Ned! Ned! my husband, my dear, dear husband! Oh,
if I could only do anything to help you! My darling, my darling! you are
all I have, and I can't live without you!" then spring up and pace the
floor, sobbing, wringing her hands, and sometimes, as a fierce blast
shook the cottage or a more deafening thunder peal crashed over-head,
even shrieking out in terror and distress.

In vain Elsie tried to soothe and quiet her with reassuring, comforting
words or caresses and endearments.

"Oh,