The awful solemnity of the facts disclosed—the apparent death, the burial, veiled, softened as they were in the telling—overwhelmed her soul. She dropped her head upon her open hands, and neither moved nor spoke for a long time, or until Elsie came to her side, passed one arm earnestly over her shoulder, placed a cup of coffee at her lips with the other hand, bending her bright, loving face smilingly upon her the while. Then Alice lifted up her head, took the cup, and kissed the gentle hand that gave it. While Alice drank the coffee Dr. Hardcastle went out and attended to his mules. When he returned they all gathered around the breakfast table. It was during that meal that he proposed to Alice the plan of accompanying them, urging upon her the strong necessity of her doing so. Alice combated all his arguments as well as her instincts taught her. Dr. Hardcastle avowed his intention of accompanying her back to Mount Calm, and, remaining in the neighborhood, in case of her perseverance in her present intention of returning. Alice sought to dissuade him from that plan. Finally, after much talk, Alice agreed to accompany them on the first stage of their journey as far as Deep Dell, and remain there incognito, while he should return to Mount Calm, and ascertain the disposition of General Garnet, and, if possible and prudent, break gradually to him the fact of his wife’s unexpected restoration to life. Having agreed upon this plan Dr. Hardcastle made rapid preparations for the recommencement of their journey. They—he and Elsie—restored everything about the cottage to complete order; put out the fire, fastened up the cupboard, and the windows, and then the doors, and, tying a little purse of money to the door-key, by way of compensation for all they had used, hid it “under the stone by the doorstep,” as requested, entered the carriage, and commenced their journey. CHAPTER XXIX. THE CHILDREN OF THE ISLE. Their earliest steps have wandered from the green and fertile land, Down where the clear blue ocean rolled, to pace the rugged strand, They proudly flung the proffered bribe and gilded toy away, To gather up the salt sea-weed, or dabble in the spray; They shouted to the distant crew, or launched their mimic bark. They met the morning freshness there, and lingered till the dark; And still their souls are as they were, and as they e’er will be, Loving and wild as what they love, the curbless, mighty sea. _—Eliza Cook._