"Why did she not come to meet me too? My letters have told you, Ethel, that after enduring the misery of three years' exile on the Bonny River, wearily waiting and toiling, transacting the sale of camwood, ivory, and palm oil, for my owners in Liverpool, and often enduring the frightful fever of that pestilent place----" "Ah, my poor dear Morley, how it has thinned and wasted you!" said Ethel, looking at him tenderly through her tears. "I have been compelled to return, almost broken in health, and what is worse, perhaps, in a worldly sense, well-nigh penniless, Ethel, to look for other work at home. But tell me something of yourself, dearest!" "What can I say?--what can I tell you, Morley, for here, at Laurel Lodge, each day that passes is so like its predecessor?" "How will Mr. Basset--how will your father, welcome me?" asked Morley, anxiously. "Most kindly, Morley." "You think so, still," continued the young man. "Yes. All the more kindly that you have not been favoured by fortune; papa is most generous," replied Ethel. Morley did not feel quite persuaded of this, but replied: "Bless him and you for this assurance, darling. Oh, Ethel, how charming your sweet English face seems to me! Do you know, dearest, that for three whole years I have never seen a white woman or a red cheek? But you have not told me about Rose--no husband yet?" "She has lovers in plenty, and Jack Page is her adorer," said Ethel smiling; "but there is enough time for Rose to think of marrying. Besides----" but Miss Basset paused and sighed. "True; she is two years younger than you, Ethel. But our marriage, my love, seems far, far off indeed. Oh, farther than ever! Your father----" "Will welcome you warmly, of that be assured, but----" "But what, Ethel? Something weighs upon your mind." "Many misfortunes have come upon him, misfortunes which we could never have foreseen." "In your two last letters, you hinted something of losses in London speculations." "Yes; and consequently, he has come to the resolution of leaving Acton-Rennel--leaving dear Laurel Lodge, where since childhood we have been so happy." "Leaving Laurel Lodge!" exclaimed Ashton. "Leaving England itself, Morley," said Ethel, as her fine eyes became suffused with tears again. "England!" repeated Morley Ashton, breathlessly, and growing very pale indeed. "Yes; did you not get my letter, in which I told you that papa had been appointed to a vacant judgeship in the Isle of France, and that in two months or less from this time we shall sail for that distant colony?" "No--no! I hear all this now for the first time." "Papa will tell you all about it," continued Ethel, weeping on her lover's shoulder. "He has been appointed one of the three judges in the supreme civil and criminal court of the island."