XXIX.— Young England 252 XXX.— Peace! 259 XXXI.— From Darentdale to High Seathorpe 266 XXXII.— A Letter 276 XXXIII.— All’s Well that Ends Well 283 XXXIV.— Was it a Dream? 292 XXXV.— Was it Expedient? 300 XXXVI.— For Ever After? 307 NINETEEN HUNDRED? _A FORECAST AND A STORY._ CHAPTER I. OLD ENGLAND FOR EVER. The good ship _Kenwick Castle_ lay off Madeira. Few of her passengers cared to land, for they were homeward bound, and desired nothing so much as to get away speedily. Neither were they as much impressed as on the outward journey, by the soft brilliancy of the atmosphere and the picturesque loveliness of the crimped coast of the island. The towering peaks, the rainbow-spanned gorges and ravines, the dense foliage of the forests, the vineyards and the plantations—made up a picture worthy of admiration; but the eyes that looked across the waters to the white houses of Funchal were wearying for the quiet beauty of English meadows. The scene between the ship and the shore was a lively one. Boats flashed in the sun, and a clamorous company of Portuguese, Moorish, and negro salesmen offered fruits, baskets, chairs, and ornaments of all sorts, so that those who had forgotten to bring presents for their friends might easily purchase them now. Swimming boys—black-skinned and coffee-coloured—were shouting for money to be thrown into the sea to test their diving powers, and boatmen were eager for customers. But the captain and the crew looked only for fresh passengers, and did but wait with dogged patience until they should arrive. Two young men were leaning over the side of the vessel, and watching the boats and the shore. “There are passengers coming,” said one. “It would indeed be strange if Miss Wentworth were among them.” “Too strange to be true, I imagine. She is probably in England.” “Yes. But she usually leaves Madeira about this time. I wish she might happen to be going with us.” “So do I, heartily. And, look—look at the lady in the second boat. She is very like her.” “How curious. It is really she. Let us see if we can help her.” They hurried to the gangway and welcomed with great cordiality a lady whom everybody seemed glad to see, not a young lady, however, but a placid, kindly-looking woman, tall and matronly, who was between fifty and sixty years of age. She thanked the young men who had eagerly offered their services, but she evidently did not recognise them nor quite understand their manifest pleasure.