compassion, excessively annoying to her
feelings. Often as she approached a group she found them whispering,
and she observed that their manner was constrained, and that they either
became silent, or had evidently abruptly commenced a fresh subject of
conversation.

Nothing, however, occurred to interrupt the marriage ceremony. How
different did it appear to the unhappy Hilda to that by which she had
been united to Don Hernan!

It was not till Colonel Armytage was about to take his departure, with
his bride, for the south, that on taking his leave of his father-in-law,
he showed that he was aware of what had taken place. He drew himself up
haughtily as he remarked--

"My love and esteem for your daughter, and a sense of honour, compelled
me to fulfil my engagement with her; but I must ever regard with
feelings of distrust and contempt the man who would conceal from me
matters of which I ought to have been informed. We shall probably
seldom, perhaps we shall never, meet again--our doing so can produce
little mutual satisfaction."

Sir Marcus looked confused, and could make no answer, and in silence he
handed his daughter into the boat which was to convey them on board
their vessel. His feelings were not soothed by hearing Lawrence give a
loud laugh, and sing--as he hopped and skipped up the causeway--

"The prince will hae his ain again! The prince will hae his ain again!"

The summer passed away, and business compelled Sir Marcus to visit
Scotland. During his absence Rolf Morton returned to Shetland. How
different was his home to what it had been! Its chief ornament, its
only attraction was gone. He frequently came up to the castle to see
his child; but he was soon convinced that he could not, as usual, spend
the winter at home, and he determined to go to Leith to seek for the
command of some ship sailing to southern latitudes.

A few days before he took his departure Sir Marcus returned to
Lunnasting. They met, and the baronet eyed him with so sinister an
expression that an uncomfortable sensation crept over the heart of the
bold seaman, and he felt that he was in the presence of one who would do
him an injury if he had the power.

Bidding farewell, however, to Bertha Eswick and his boy, he sailed for
Leith, believing that for this time, however, he had escaped the malice
of his enemy. He was mistaken. He had not been at Leith many days
before he had the offer made him of the command of a fine shi