ut among
them, easy, good-natured, and utterly unconscious that for him sparkled
Mrs. Ledwich's bugles, and for him waved every spinster's ribbon, from
Miss Rich down to Miss Boulder.

The point carried by their united influence was Charity Elwood's being
sent for six months' finish at the Diocesan Training School; while a
favourite pupil-teacher from Abbotstoke took her place at Cocksmoor.
Dr. Spencer looked at the Training School, and talked Mrs. Ledwich into
magnanimous forgiveness of Mrs. Elwood. Cherry dreaded the ordeal, but
she was willing to do anything that was thought right, and likely to
make her fitter for her office.

CHAPTER XIV.

'Twas a long doubt; we never heard
Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.

The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred
had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when
spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost
glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.

The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again
alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room
door, and Dr. Spencer called, "Ethel, can you come and speak to me?"

Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap. "Go!
go, Ethel," she said, "don't keep me waiting."

Dr. Spencer stood in the hall with a newspaper in his hand. Ethel said,
"Is it?" and he made a sorrowful gesture. "Both?" she asked.

"Both," he repeated. "The ship burned--the boat lost."

"Ethel, come!" hoarsely called Margaret.

"Take it," said Dr. Spencer, putting the paper into her hand; "I will
wait."

She obeyed. She could not speak, but kneeling down by her sister, they
read the paragraph together; Ethel, with one eye on the words, the other
on Margaret.

No doubt was left. Captain Gordon had returned, and this was his
official report. The names of the missing stood below, and the list
began thus:--

Lieutenant A. H. Ernescliffe.
Mr. Charles Owen, Mate.
Mr. Harry May, Midshipman.

The Alcestis had taken fire on the 12th of April of the former year.
There had been much admirable conduct, and the intrepid coolness of Mr.
Ernescliffe was especially recorded. The boats had been put off without
loss, but they were scantily provisioned, and the nearest land was far
distant. For five days the boats kept together, then followed a night
of stor