’Who is coming with her? any one beside Will? have you come to say she hath found Andrew? has she indeed?’ I cried.

‘Ay,’ said Harry, ’he is found; but I fear we may lose him again.  Have you here a place, Lucy, here a dying man may lie softly and easily, the little time he has left?  If not, make one ready quickly—­but no stairs for him, remember.  I would help you, dear heart,’ he said tenderly, ‘were it not that I must keep watch here for their coming.’

I turned my lips to his hand, as I unclasped my arms from him; then I flew to do as he had bidden.  I dragged the coverings off our own bed and hastily spread a couch in that room where we commonly sat; I set lights, food, cordials in readiness on the table; then I ran back to the door, half afraid my Harry would have vanished like a dream; but there he was, watching yet; so I took my place beside him, and loaded him with questions about the finding of Andrew.  I learned he had a large share in it.

‘A poor seaman who loved me,’ he said, ’met me this morning when I landed at Woolwich; and he testified such extravagant joy on seeing me that I own I half thought him mad.’

‘Then what can you think of me?’ I put in; at which Harry said,—­

’Nay, Lucy, you were ice compared to this poor fellow.  He is one that hath tasted Andrew’s bounty, and that not long since; for his wife sickened of the Plague, and our Andrew at his own cost provided a physician for her, and many other comforts; and ’tis owing to that, the man thinks, that she is now sound and well.’

‘Where was this?’ I said, wondering.

‘Here, in London,’ said Harry.  ’Now close on this woman’s recovery came the seizing of Andrew, and ’tis but lately that the poor grateful sailor discovered how his benefactor had been lying long in Newgate, where he was thrown by one Ralph Lacy’s procurement.’

‘Ah!’ I said, ’that wretch! but he has paid for it, Harry.  But why could Althea never find Andrew before?’

‘I cannot tell by what devilish prompting it was,’ he said, ’that Lacy bore Andrew and every one else down, that his true name was not Golding, but Dewsbury—­William Dewsbury, as I think; and that he had shifted his name to avoid prosecution, having been once imprisoned already; and what our poor friend said to the contrary being slighted as a lie, his true name has never been given him.  So inquiry after him has been crippled; and not by this means only.’

’But if this sailor be so grateful, why did he not come to our poor friend’s help?’ I said indignantly; but Harry said, sighing,—­

’A destitute seaman! why, there be throngs of them and their wives starving in the streets, and cursing the navy officers because they cannot get their own hard wages.  And this was why my poor fellow showed such frantic joy on seeing me—­’twas for love of Andrew; he hurried his tidings on me, and bade me hasten to the gaol and relieve my friend; himself going there with me, else I had not sped so well.’