Nevertheless, just as they were getting into the boat to cross the surf, the affectionate old soul ran out upon the strand, and called to her “Amy Stuart!  Amy Stuart!” to the general’s great amazement as clearly as her own; and she held up a packet in her hand as they were pushing off, and shouted after her, “Child—­child! if you would have your rights, remember Jeanie Mackie!”

After that, succeeded the monotony of a long sea voyage.  The general at first seemed vexed about Mrs. Mackie, and often wished that he had asked her what she meant; however, his brow soon cleared, for he reflected that a discarded servant always tells falsehoods, if only to make her master mischief.

“The voyage over, Charles, with all its cards, quadrilles, doubling the cape, crossing the line, and the wearisome routine of sky and sea, the quarter-deck and cabin, we found ourselves at length in Plymouth Sound; left the Indiaman to go up the channel; and I suppose the post-chaise may be consigned to your imagination.”

CHAPTER IX.

How to clear it up.

In all this there was mystery enough for a dozen lovers to have crazed their brains about.  Emily might be a queen of the East, defrauded of hereditary glories, and at any rate deserved such rank, if Charles was to be judge; but what was more important, if the general had any reason at all for his arbitrary mandate prohibiting their love, it was very possible that reason was a false one.

Meantime, Charles had little now to live for, except his dear forbidden Emily, any more than she for him.  And to peace of mind in both, the elucidation of that mystery which hung about her birth, grew more needful day by day.  At last, one summer evening, when they had managed a quiet walk upon the sands under the Beacon cliff, Charles said abruptly, after some moments of abstraction, “Dearest, I am resolved.”

“Resolved, Charles! what about?” and she felt quite alarmed; for her lover looked so stern, that she could not tell what was going to happen next.

“I’ll clear it up, that I will; I only wish I had the money.”

“Why, Charles, what in the world are you dreaming about? you frighten me, dearest; are you ill? don’t look so serious, pray.”

“Yes, Emily, I will; at once too.  I’m off to Madras by next packet; or, that is to say, would, if I could get my passage free.”

“My noble Charles, if that were the only objection, I would get you all the means; for the kind—­kind general suffers me to have whatever sums I choose to ask for.  Only, Charles, indeed I cannot spare you; do not—­do not go away and leave me; there’s Julian, too—­don’t leave me—­and you might never come back, and—­and—­” all the remainder was lost in sobbing.