, and
the latter unusually keen.

As the company grouped themselves upon the beach, however, Elizabeth
found Archdale beside her.

"I want you to see the waves from that point," he said. "It puts me in
mind of one of the juttings of the shore up there."

She walked on with him, and two of her companions, who had heard the
remark, followed, desirous, as they said, to get a sight of anything
that could give them a hint of Louisburg. Elizabeth would not spoil
Archdale's satisfaction by saying that she saw no resemblance. She
listened while he answered the questions of the others, and by
suggestions and reminders she led him on to vivid descriptions of one of
the incidents of the siege. In talking he constantly referred to her.
"You remember," he said, sometimes; or at others, "You were not there;"
or, again, "It was on such a day," recalling some event with which she
was connected. It seemed to Archdale very soon when the summons came to
lunch.

"I haven't enjoyed myself so much for a long time. I hope we are not
going home yet," protested Lady Dacre, as the party went on board again.

"No, indeed!" cried Archdale. "Where should you like to go, Lady Dacre?"

Her ladyship pointed to a line of shore a few miles distant. "Is that
too far?"

"Not if the wind holds good," returned another of the party so promptly
that a sailor, who was about to speak, drew back again with a frown, and
contented himself with muttering something to his companions.

For a time the wind was fair; but when they had gone two-thirds of the
distance it failed them. The boat lay, rocking a little, but with no
onward progress, her sails hanging flabby and motionless. Gradually
laughter and jest ceased from the lips of the pleasure-seekers.

"A shower coming up," said Sir Temple Dacre, in a tone that he wished to
make unconcerned. But it was not a mere shower that threatened, but
something more awful in the brassy heavens, the stifling atmosphere, the
clouds that had gathered with a swiftness unprecedented in that region.
The air seemed to have receded behind the clouds to swell the fury of
the tempest that was coming. The stillness was full of horror; it seemed
like the uplifting of a weapon to strike. The reticence of the sailors
was ominous. This calm had fallen so suddenly that the boat had not been
able to reach land, or even water more sheltered. It must meet the full
fury of the tempest.

The lightning began to play incessantly. The thu