and to bring back
what he would give him. Delighted at the chance of earning sixpence,
the boy started at a run, and at last he was able to begin to read his
letter.

Had Arthur not been in quite such a hurry to leave the hotel, he might
have seen something which would have interested him, namely, a very
lovely woman--so lovely, indeed, that everybody turned their heads to
look at her as she passed, accompanied by another woman clad in a
stiff black gown, not at all lovely, and rather ancient, but, for all
that, well-favoured and pleasant to look on, being duly convoyed to
their room in the hotel by his friend the manager.

"Well, thank my stars, here we be at last," said the elderly stout
person, with a gasp, as the door of the room closed upon the pair;
"and it's my opinion that here I shall stop till my dying day, for, as
for getting on board one of those beastly ships again, I couldn't do
it, and that's flat. Now look here, dearie, don't you sit there and
look frightened, but just set to and clean yourself up a bit. I'm off
downstairs to see if I can find out about things; everybody's sure to
know everybody else's business in a place like this, because, you see,
the gossip can't get out of a bit of an island, it must travel round
and round till it ewaporates. I shall soon know if he is married or
not, and if he is, why, what's done can't be undone, and it's no use
crying over spilt milk, and we'll be off home, though I doubt I
sha'n't live to get there, and if he isn't why so much the better."

"Oh! nurse, do stop talking, and go quickly; can't you see that I am
in an agony of suspense? I must get it over one way or the other."

"Hurry no man's cattle, my dear, or I shall make a mess of it. Now,
Miss Angela, just you keep cool, it ain't no manner of use flying into
a state. I'll be back presently."

But, as soon as she was gone, poor Angela flew into a considerable
state; for, flinging herself upon her knees by the bed, she broke into
hysterical prayers to her Maker that Arthur might not be taken from
her. Poor girl! alternately racked by sick fears and wild hopes, hers
was not a very enviable position during the apparently endless ten
minutes that followed.

Meanwhile, Pigott had descended to the cool hall, round which were
arranged rows of hammocks, and was looking out for some one with whom
to enter into conversation. A Portuguese waiter approached her, but
she majestically waved him away, under the i