"She bears up wonderfully," answered Mr. Kyffin, "and even now she and her kind friend Mrs. Barbara Thornborough have gone to Mr. Pitt to endeavour, if possible, to see him, and obtain his warrant for your liberation." "Then I am sure she will succeed," exclaimed Harry, joyfully. "Do not raise your hopes too high, my boy, and yet I would wish to support and encourage you," remarked Mr. Kyffin. "My stay with you now must be short, as I promised to meet Miss Everard after she had had an interview with the minister. Even should he refuse, we must not lose heart. We must bring other influence to bear on him. However, Harry, I know you too well to think that there is any necessity to urge you not to despair. And now farewell. I purpose to return before long. I hope to bring good news, but you must not be disappointed if it is not as good as we wish. This mutiny, so happily quelled has been very serious, and might have proved most disastrous to the country. The nation therefore is naturally little inclined to look with leniency on those who took a part in it, especially on the leaders; and from your having been associated with Parker, you, in the ordinary course, could scarcely expect a pardon." Mr. Kyffin was gone, and Harry was once more left to his own thoughts. The hours passed wearily by, they seemed longer than any during his imprisonment. Sleep would not visit his eyelids. Anxiously he listened for every sound, hoping for the speedy return of his friend. Meantime Mabel, who had parted from Mr. Kyffin at Mr. Thornborough's house after their return from Windsor, prepared to set out with Mrs. Barbara, attended by the two seamen and Paul,--to Mr. Pitt's house at Putney. She waited but a short time to obtain a little refreshment which Mistress Barbara urged on her, and together they drove towards the residence of the minister, while Mr. Kyffin proceeded down the river to pay the visit to Harry which has been described. It was late in the evening when they arrived at the villa. The two ladies, sending up their names, earnestly requested that they might be admitted. Mr. Pitt was very much engaged, and could receive no visitors. "Is Lady Hester at home?" asked Mrs. Barbara. "Her Ladyship may remember me," she observed, turning to Mabel; "if she does, she will, I think, see us, and through her we may press our suit on her uncle." The two ladies waited anxiously for the return of the servant. "Lady Hester will see you, ladies," was the reply, and Mabel and her friend descended from the carriage. They were ushered into a handsome drawing-room, where Lady Hester was seated alone at a writing-table. "I remember you, Mistress Thornborough," she said, rising and coming forward in a gracious manner. "Tell me, to what cause am I indebted for the honour of this visit?"