ning staircase.

"Granny! Oh, God save my----" But before she could finish she was seized
by strong arms and lifted up, and then darkness fell on her brain, and she
knew no more.

CHAPTER XIII.

When poor Lucy Carne next opened her eyes and came back with a sigh to the
horrors and suffering of which she had for a time been mercifully
unconscious, her first thought was for her husband.

"Has the boat come in? Did the storm die down?--or did it get worse?
Has anyone heard or seen anything of my husband?" She panted feebly.
But before they could answer her, she had floated off again into a
troubled delirium.

"Oh, the wind! Oh, the awful wind!" she kept on repeating. "Oh, can't
anything stop it! It's fanning the flames to fury; it's blowing them
towards granny's room. Oh, the noise--I must find her--I must save her--
she's so feeble. Oh, granny! Granny!" Her voice would end in a scream,
followed by a burst of tears; then she would begin again.

Once or twice she had recovered consciousness, and then had asked for her
husband or Mona. "Is she badly hurt?--will she get over it?"

The nurse soothed and comforted her, and did all she could. "She isn't
conscious yet, but they think she will be soon. She's got slight
concussion, and she has cut herself a bit--but she will do all right if
she gets over the shock. They are keeping her very quiet; it is the only
way. You must try not to scream and call out, dear. For if she began to
come round and heard you, it might be very, very serious for her."

After that Lucy lay trying hard to keep fast hold of her senses.
"Don't let me scream!" she pleaded. "Put something over my head if I
begin. I can keep myself quiet as long as I have my senses--but when they
drift away--I--don't know what I do. I didn't know I made a noise.
Oh--h--h!" as some slight movement racked her with pain.

"Poor dear," said Nurse. "I expect you're feeling your bruises now, and
your leg."

"I seem to be one big lump of pain," sighed poor Lucy. "But I don't mind
if only Mona pulls through, and Peter is safe. Oh, my poor husband--what
a home-coming!"

"Now try not to dwell on it. You'll only get yourself worse, and for his
sake, poor man, you ought to try and get well as fast as you can.
There, look at those flowers Patty Row has brought you. Aren't they
sweet!"

"Oh, my!" Lucy drew in deep breaths of their fragrance. "Stocks, and
sweet-brier--oh, how lovely! They'll he