Mrs. St. Felix was much moved.

“But why tell me all this?” said she, at last; “it proves, certainly, that my husband was not hanged, which is some consolation, but now I shall be ever restless until I know what has become of him—­perhaps he still lives.”

“Mrs. St. Felix, you ask me why do I tell you all this?  I beg you to reply to my question:  having known this so long, why have I not told you before?”

“I cannot tell.”

“Then I will tell you:  because I did feel that such knowledge as I had then would only make you, as you truly say, unhappy and restless.  Nor would I have told you now, had it not been that I have gained further intelligence on board of a frigate which I this afternoon took into the Medway.”

Mrs. St. Felix gasped for breath.  “And what is that?” said she, faintly.

“The spy-glass was recognized by a person on board, who told me that your husband still lives.”

I ran out for a glass of water, for Mrs. St. Felix fell back in her chair as pale as death.

I gave her the water, and threw some in her face:  she recovered, and put her handkerchief up to her eyes.  At first she was silent, then sobbed bitterly; after a while she sank from the chair down on her knees, and remained there some time.  When she rose and resumed her seat, she took my hand and said, “You may tell me all now.”

As she was quite calm and composed, I did so; I repeated all that had passed between Sir James O’Connor and me, and ended with his wish that I should accompany her at once to Chatham.

“And now, Mrs. St. Felix, you had better go to bed.  I told Sir James that I would be down to-morrow morning.  I will come here at seven o’clock, and then we will go to the upper part of the town and hire a chaise.  Will you be ready?”

“Yes,” replied she, smiling.  “Heaven bless you, Tom! and now good-night.”

I did not go to my mother’s, but to an inn in the town, where I asked for a bed.  In the morning I went down.  As soon as Mrs. St. Felix saw me she came out, and followed me at a little distance.  We went up to where the chaises were to be obtained, and in less than three hours were at the King’s Arms, Chatham.  I asked to be shown into a room, into which I led Mrs. St. Felix, trembling like an aspen leaf.  I seated her on the sofa, and then asked to be shown in to Sir James O’Connor.

“She is here, sir,” said I.

“Where?”

“Follow me, Sir James.”

I opened the door of the room, and closed it upon them.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

     My Sister Virginia is at last placed in a Situation which is
     satisfactory to my Mother as well as to herself.

I remained very quietly in the coffee-room of the hotel, in case I should be sent for; which I presumed I should be before the day was over.  In the afternoon a waiter came to say that Sir James O’Connor wished to speak to me, and I was ushered into his room, where I found Mrs. St. Felix on the sofa.