'Gone! sailed thus suddenly without a letter of explanation, of farewell, or the time of her return being even hinted to me,' were Goring's natural thoughts. 'And what about Lord Cadbury?' he asked. 'Oh! he has gone too; the Court is shut up,' replied Mrs. Trelawney, with a faint approach to a smile. 'Gone too!' replied Goring, more mystified than ever. Was she yielding to the pressure put upon her by Sir Ranald--yielding after all? 'And for where has the party sailed?' he asked. 'There is no party, on board, I understand, but only Lord Cadbury, Alison, and her father; and whither they have gone no one knows--they decamped so hurriedly. But you, at least, will certainly hear in time,' said Mrs. Trelawney, with a soft smile, as she knew well how deep was the interest Goring and Miss Cheyne had in each other. 'I am indeed surprised that--that Alison did not write about the whole affair to me.' 'Perhaps she did not know in time, or her letter may not have been--may have from some cause miscarried. So whether they are seeking the fiords of Norway or the source of the Nile we cannot know.' 'And who was your informant so far, Mrs. Trelawney?' 'Old Mrs. Rebecca Prune, who came with a farewell message from Alison to me--a circumstance which I thought strange, as courtesy required that she should have called, or at least written.' 'And there was none for me?' 'None. I assure you, Captain Goring, I miss Alison very much, and so does my child here, little Netty.' 'Ah--little Netty, whose "flower-like beauty," as he calls it, Dalton is never weary praising.' Mrs. Trelawney's colour heightened for a moment, her long lashes flickered, but she merely said, 'How is Captain Dalton? I have not seen him for some time.' 'Very well--but low-spirited apparently,' replied Goring, who thought that 'she seemed interested in poor Tony after all.' After a pause-- 'Dalton is my dearest friend, Mrs. Trelawney, and, as the confidant of his secrets, he has not concealed from me his deep admiration and love of yourself.' Mrs. Trelawney's bright hazel eyes sparkled, and her bosom heaved, while an undoubtedly joyous expression spread over all her animated face. 'You will pardon me for saying this, when I know that you are the friend of Alison Cheyne, whom I love with my whole life, and shall follow over the world if I can trace her!' said Goring, whose voice trembled with emotion that sprang from love and anger. 'I do love sweet Alison very dearly.' 'And poor Dalton,' said Goring, anxious to plead his friend's cause; 'can you not love him as he deserves to be?' 'I have not said so,' replied Mrs. Trelawney, now laughing excessively, and added, 'what an odd question for a gentleman visitor!' 'Do pardon me; but will you give him time to hope--through me?' 'Please not to suggest this, Captain Goring.' 'Why? 'There is--I know--a secret in his life--he knows it too--a secret that in some measure fetters alike his words and his actions.'