ese years; not that it much matters now, however," he added
contentedly. "By the way, that reminds me, how are our two guests, the
new parson and his daughter? That was a queer story about your finding
her on the wreck. Are they still here?"

"Yes; but the old gentleman is out of bed now, and he expects to be able
to move into the Rectory on Monday."

"Does he? Well, they must have given you some company while you were
alone. There is no time like the present. I will go up and see him
before I dress for dinner."

Accordingly Morris conducted his father to the Abbot's chamber, and
introduced him to the clergyman. Mr. Fregelius was seated in his
arm-chair, with a crutch by his side, and on learning who his visitor
was, made a futile effort to rise.

"Pray, pray, sir," said the Colonel, "keep seated, or you will certainly
hurt your leg again."

"When I should be obliged to inflict myself upon you for another five or
six weeks," replied Mr. Fregelius.

"In that case, sir," said the Colonel, with his most courteous bow, "and
for that reason only I should consider the accident fortunate," by these
happy words making of his guest a devoted friend for ever.

"I don't know how to thank you; I really don't know how to thank you."

"Then pray, Mr. Fregelius, leave the thanks unspoken. What would you
have had us--or, rather, my son--do? Turn a senseless, shattered man
from his door, and that man his future spiritual pastor and master?"

"But there was more. He, Mr. Monk, I mean, saved my daughter Stella's
life. You know, a block or a spar fell on me immediately after the ship
struck. Then those cowardly dogs of sailors, thinking that she must
founder instantly, threw me into the boat and rowed away, leaving her
to her fate in the cabin; whereon your son, acting on some words which I
spoke in my delirium, sailed out alone at night and rescued her."

"Yes, I heard something, but Morris is not too communicative. The odd
thing about the whole affair, so far as I can gather, is that he should
have discovered that there was anybody left on board. But he is a
curious fellow, Morris; those things which one would expect him to know
he never does know; and the things that nobody else has ever heard of
he seems to have at his fingers' ends by instinct, or second sight, or
something. Well, it has all turned out for the best, hasn't it?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose so," answered Mr. Fregelius, glancing at his injured
leg. "At any rate, we