exmore, to catch the night express from the
North to London."

As a hint that his time was valuable the ship-owner had hitherto
remained standing. He now took his customary seat, and began to listen
with some interest. Mrs. Callender had produced her effect on him
already.

"It was absolutely necessary," she proceeded, "that you should be on
board your ship in the London Docks at nine o'clock the next morning. If
you had lost the express, the vessel would have sailed without you."

The expression of his face began to change to surprise. "Who told you
that?" he asked.

"You shall hear directly. On your way into the town, your carriage was
stopped by an obstruction on the highroad. The people of Bexmore were
looking at a house on fire."

He started to his feet.

"Good heavens! are you the lady?"

She held up her hand in satirical protest.

"Gently, sir! You suspected me just now of wasting your valuable time.
Don't rashly conclude that I am the lady, until you find that I am
acquainted with the circumstances."

"Is there no excuse for my failing to recognize you?" Mr. Lismore asked.
"We were on the dark side of the burning house; you were fainting, and
I--"

"And you," she interposed, "after saving me at the risk of your own
life, turned a deaf ear to my poor husband's entreaties, when he asked
you to wait till I had recovered my senses."

"Your poor husband? Surely, Mrs. Callender, he received no serious
injury from the fire?"

"The firemen rescued him under circumstances of peril," she answered,
"and at his great age he sank under the shock. I have lost the kindest
and best of men. Do you remember how you parted from him--burned and
bruised in saving me? He liked to talk of it in his last illness. 'At
least' (he said to you), 'tell me the name of the man who has preserved
my wife from a dreadful death.' You threw your card to him out of the
carriage window, and away you went at a gallop to catch your train! In
all the years that have passed I have kept that card, and have vainly
inquired for my brave sea-captain. Yesterday I saw your name on the
list of speakers at the Mansion House. Need I say that I attended
the meeting? Need I tell you now why I come here and interrupt you in
business hours?"

She held out her hand. Mr. Lismore took it in silence, and pressed it
warmly.

"You have not done with me yet," she resumed with a smile. "Do you
remember what I said of my errand, when I first came in?"