“He was not ill. He was in the army; he fell at the first battle of Bull Run,” answered Justin, gravely, adding: “That is all I know as yet. I learned that much only from the man who has succeeded to my uncle’s business. My good uncle, too, has passed away; but that lesser grief is swallowed up in the greater one.” “Ah! yes, yes,” sighed the young lieutenant. A few minutes passed in silence, during which a waiter appeared with the tea service. When he had arranged the table, Miss Conyers dismissed him, and presided herself over the tea-urn. “I hope you succeeded in completing your business to-day,” said Justin. “Yes, thank Heaven, that I did, especially as I am now doubly anxious to bear you company on to Washington,” replied the young man. “You are a good fellow, Ethel,” said Justin, gravely. As it was decided that they should leave for Washington by the first train in the morning, it was thought advisable that they should all retire to rest at an early hour that night; so Lieutenant Ethel, at nine o’clock, arose to take his leave. “I shall go on board again to-night, so as to give my last instructions to Passed Midshipman Allen, whom I shall leave in charge of the prize. But I shall be sure to meet you at the train to-morrow,” he said, as he shook hands with Justin and Britomarte, and bowed himself out of the room. A few moments longer the two friends remained in conversation, and then Britomarte bade Justin good-night and withdrew to her chamber. There she found Judith waiting for her. “Ah! is it you, my dear girl? I am glad to see you. I was afraid that something had prevented you from coming, and that I should not see you again before leaving,” said Miss Conyers. “Troth, sooner than that should have happened, I would have gone to the gates iv the station, so I would, and watched every living soul that came in and every train that wint out till I saw you. But sure I got the name iv the house from Martin, and troth I made me gay Tom fetch me here! and here I’ve been staying, waiting for you, these three hours,” said Judith. “I am sorry. I didn’t know that you were here, or I shouldn’t have kept you waiting.” “Bother the odds, asking your pardon, ma’am, for I was very comfortable entirely. But now it’s only to say good-by and good luck to you, ma’am; for it’s getting on to ten o’clock, and I must be going, for me aunt can’t abide late hours, so she can’t,” said Judith, rising to go. “You found your aunt well?” kindly inquired Miss Conyers. “Divil a bit betther at any time iv her life; only whin she saw me, as she thought me dhrowned many a long day ago, she wint off into the highstrikes, so she did, and had fits so fast that we had to give her four glasses iv rum before she would come round. But sure she’s all right now, ma’am, except in the matter iv a pain in her temper, as she is subject to; and be the same token, I mustn’t bring it onto her by staying out late, so I will bid you good-by, and God bless you, ma’am.”