lted in the capture of two Spanish line-of-battle ships,
and the retreat of Villeneuve into Ferrol.

The news was received with truly national feeling, if noise might be
taken as an index of patriotism. 'Rule Britannia' was called for and
sung by the whole house. But the importance of the event was far from
being recognized at this time; and Bob Loveday, as he sat there and heard
it, had very little conception how it would bear upon his destiny.

This parenthetic excitement diverted for a few minutes the eyes of Bob
and Anne from the trumpet-major; and when the play proceeded, and they
looked back to his corner, he was gone.

'He's just slipped round to talk to her behind the scenes,' said Bob
knowingly. 'Shall we go too, and tease him for a sly dog?'

'No, I would rather not.'

'Shall we go home, then?'

'Not unless her presence is too much for you?'

'O--not at all. We'll stay here. Ah, there she is again.'

They sat on, and listened to Matilda's speeches which she delivered with
such delightful coolness that they soon began to considerably interest
one of the party.

'Well, what a nerve the young woman has!' he said at last in tones of
admiration, and gazing at Miss Johnson with all his might. 'After all,
Jack's taste is not so bad. She's really deuced clever.'

'Bob, I'll go home if you wish to,' said Anne quickly.

'O no--let us see how she fleets herself off that bit of a scrape she's
playing at now. Well, what a hand she is at it, to be sure!'

Anne said no more, but waited on, supremely uncomfortable, and almost
tearful. She began to feel that she did not like life particularly well;
it was too complicated: she saw nothing of the scene, and only longed to
get away, and to get Bob away with her. At last the curtain fell on the
final act, and then began the farce of 'No Song no Supper.' Matilda did
not appear in this piece, and Anne again inquired if they should go home.
This time Bob agreed, and taking her under his care with redoubled
affection, to make up for the species of coma which had seized upon his
heart for a time, he quietly accompanied her out of the house.

When they emerged upon the esplanade, the August moon was shining across
the sea from the direction of St. Aldhelm's Head. Bob unconsciously
loitered, and turned towards the pier. Reaching the end of the promenade
they surveyed the quivering waters in silence for some time, until a long
dark line shot from behind the prom