he operation, and, of
course, supposing that Ronald Morton was still with him, she felt sure
that he would likewise be engaged, and would be foremost wherever danger
was to be encountered. Never had she passed a time of suspense so
painful. It was shared, however, in a great degree, by her mother and
by Donna Julia.

She was becoming much interested in the young Spanish girl, though she
could not entirely make out her character. At all events she was
warm-hearted and enthusiastic, but though gentle in her manners, she
seemed more inclined to resent an injury than to forgive it. Still she
was very different to her father, for whom Edda had conceived a great
dislike. No one, indeed, liked him. Her father kept studiously aloof
from his society, and even Father Mendez rarely or never spoke to him.
Edda's chief annoyance arose from the attentions paid her by Alfonse
Gerardin; they had become more frequent, and he was far more confident
in his manner than he had ever before been. How to treat him under the
present circumstances she could not tell. The cabin was no sanctuary to
her. He entered it at all times with perfect freedom, and evidently
with the captain's sanction.

One day, believing that he was on duty on deck, where the rest of the
party were assembled, she remained in the cabin to read. She was seated
on a sofa, and had succeeded in fixing her attention on the book, when
the door opened, and on looking up she saw Lieutenant Gerardin
approaching her. She let her eyes again drop on the page before her,
but not a word could she read. He sat down by her side, and before she
was aware of it had grasped her hand.

"Hear me, Edda!" he exclaimed with vehemence. "I can exist no longer in
the state of uncertainty I have endured for so many years. From the
first moment I saw you, I loved you. You know it. My love was sincere,
faithful, disinterested. I am not a mere adventurer, as you may
suppose. My birth is equal, if not superior, to yours. Rank and wealth
will be mine. All I offer to lay at your feet. You doubt my words.
The means of proving my claims have only lately, in the most wonderful
way, been placed in the power of my guardian and protector, Pedro
Alvarez, whom you know as Pierre Gerardin, the captain of the ship. Let
me have the satisfaction of telling you, dear Edda, that I am your
cousin, the long-lost son of Donna Hilda Escalante."

Edda looked incredulously in his face, and endeavoure