“You ought to know,” said he, hurriedly, “she will be long away, perhaps. He is very ill; has had an accident; lost the use of both legs――may be in great danger. Think what you will do in her absence.” “Stay here,” said Gwyneth, decidedly. “No, dear Miss Duncan, your brother mentioned it, approved my plan; let Lady Rupert fetch you to-morrow. I will arrange it all.” “Oh, what matters about us! it is for Hilary we must think; you go back with her?” “I will take charge of her to Portsmouth; will you not let me provide for your comfort too?” “You are very good to think of me! Now let me go to Hilary!” Mrs. Hepburn looked bewildered, stunned; she was trying to dress for her journey, while Sarah and Nest were packing a small carpet-bag. “Law, ma’am, don’t take on so; I dare say it is not so bad. Why should you expect the worst?” “I do not know what I expect, Sarah; please make haste. What I do not take, Gwyneth, you must send, if I want it. I don’t know now. Surely, it is time to go.” “Your shoes, Hilary, those slippers will not do for traveling,” said the sharp-eyed Nest. “Give them to me that I may pack them up; here are your boots!” The exchange was made; in two minutes more she was in the fly with Lord Dunsmore; than whom her own brother could not have been kinder or more considerate. They were just in time at the station, and were saved all the agony of delay. Once in the train, Hilary began to ask some questions; and Lord Dunsmore had to explain how he came to be connected with the affair. The news had been telegraphed early that the _Erratic_ was at Spithead, and then came the captain ashore in his gig――not the captain whom Lord Dunsmore, remembering Hilary, expected to see, but another, who brought the news that Captain Hepburn was sick, on the invalid list; on this the admiral immediately offered his tender to bring him on shore, and Lord Dunsmore had gone out in the vessel, partly from anxiety for the invalid, to take him late news of his wife, and partly, perhaps, from other motives. He introduced himself to the two passengers, offered his services in any way that would be of use, was most kindly received, and it was soon settled among the gentlemen that, while Maurice attended his brother-in-law to the lodgings in Southsea, which he had already sent on shore to secure, this new friend should set off by the next train, to bring back Hilary to the longing husband. “Lodgings!” said Hilary. “Can he not be moved home!” “I should hope he might eventually; but the first thing was to get him safe on shore. The lodgings are only taken for a week!” “And he――tell me――I can bear it now, what is the matter?” Hilary’s face showed how she had, by a strong effort, brought her mind to bear, and her lips to utter these words. “It was an accident, I understood; he hurt himself, and can not, at present, stand or walk; though I should not have known from his face there was any thing the matter. He is helpless.”