aint hope as time passed on and the catastrophe was still delayed; a
hope that grew gradually stronger and brighter, till at last it was lost
in glad certainty.

The electricity, it appeared, had scattered over the iron of the
machinery, instead of running on down into the hold.

Some said, "What a lucky escape!" others, "What a kind providence."

CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD.

"Sacred love is basely bought and sold;
Wives are grown traffic, marriage is a trade."
--RANDOLPH.

They came safely into port. A little crowd of eager, expectant friends
stood waiting on the wharf; among them a tall, dark-eyed young man, with a
bright, intellectual face, whom Molly, seated on the deck in the midst of
the family group, recognized with almost a cry of delight.

The instant a plank was thrown out, he sprang on board, and in another
moment she was in his arms, sobbing, "Oh, Dick, Dick. I thought I'd never
see you again!"

"Why?" he said with a joyous laugh, "we've not been so long or so far
apart that you need have been in despair of that."

Then as he turned to exchange greetings with the others, his ear caught
the words, "We had an awful night, expecting every moment to see flames
bursting out from the hold."

"What, what does it mean?" he asked, grasping his uncle's hand, while his
cheek paled, and he glanced hastily from side to side.

"We have had a narrow escape," said Mr. Dinsmore.

The main facts were soon given, the details as they drove to their hotel,
and Dick rejoiced with trembling, as he learned how, almost, he had lost
these dear ones.

A few days were spent in Philadelphia, then Mr. Dinsmore and the Travillas
sought their seaside homes, Dick going with them.

Their coming was hailed with joy by Mrs. Dinsmore and her daughter Rose,
who had been occupying their cottage for a week or more.

The Conlys would linger some time longer in the city, laying in a stock of
finery for the summer campaign, then, joined by Mrs. Delaford, they too
would seek the seashore.

The cottages were quite out of the town, built facing the ocean, and as
near it as consistent with safety and comfort.

The children hailed the first whiff of the salt sea breeze with eager
delight, were down upon the beach within a few minutes of their arrival,
and until bedtime left it only long enough to take their tea, finishing
their day with a long moonlight drive along the shore.

T