All appeared calm and right on board the boat, as long as Annie could watch its course in the harbour. When it disappeared behind a headland, she returned home to look for it again. She saw it soon, and for some time, for it coasted the island to the northernmost point for the chance of being unseen to the last possible moment. It was evidently proceeding steadily on its course, and Annie hoped that the sense of freedom might be acting as a restorative for the hour to the dying woman. Those on board hoped the same; for the lady, when she had covered her face with a handkerchief, lay very still. "She looks comfortable," whispered the President to Sir Alexander. "Can you suggest anything more that we can do?" "Better let her sleep while she can, my lord. She appears comfortable at present." Three more hours passed without anything being observable in Lady Carse, but such slight movements now and then as showed that she was not asleep. She then drew the handkerchief from her face and looked up at Helsa, who exclaimed at the change in the countenance. The President bent over her, and caught her words-- "It is not your fault--but I am dying. But I am sure I should have died on land, and before this. And I have escaped! Tell my husband so." "I will. Shall I raise you?" "No; take no notice. I cannot bear to be pitied. I will not be pitied; as this was my own act. But it is hard--" "It _is_ hard: but you have only to pass one other threshold courageously, and then you are free indeed. Man cannot harm you there." "But, to-day, of all seasons--" "It _is_ hard: but you have done with captivity. No more captivity! My dear Lady Carse, what remains! What is it you would have? You would not wish for vengeance! No! it is pain!--you are in pain. Shall I raise you?" "No, no: never mind the pain! But I did hope to see my husband again." "To forgive him. You mean, to forgive him?" "No: I meant--" "But you mean it now? He had something to pardon in you." "True. But I cannot--Do not ask me." "Then you hope that God will. I may tell him that you hope that God will forgive him." "That is not my affair. Kiss my Janet for me." "I will; and all your children--What? `Is it growing dark?' Yes, it is, to us as well as to you. What is that she says?" he inquired of Helsa, who had a younger and quicker ear. "She says the widow is about lighting her lamp. Yes, my lady; but we are too far off to see it." "Is she wandering?" asked the President. "No, sir: quite sensible, I think. Did you speak, my lady?" "My love!" "To Annie, my lady? I will not forget." She spoke no more. Sir Alexander contrived to keep from the knowledge of the boatmen for some hours that there was a corpse on board. When they could conceal it no longer, they forgot their fatigue in their superstition, and rowed, as for their lives, to the nearest point of land. This happened, fortunately, to be within the territories of Sir Alexander Macdonald.