“Troubled dreams haunted me as I lay in my hammock that night.  At last I seemed to be afloat on the wide ocean, on a single plank, tossing about with the hot sun shining fiercely upon me, and monsters of the great deep gathering around, eager for their prey.  I was weak, faint, and despairing.  In vain did my eyes sweep the horizon, there was neither vessel nor land in sight.  At length the sun went down, and the darkness drew nearer and nearer.  Then I could see nothing but the stars shining above me.  In this moment, when hope seemed about leaving my heart forever, a light came suddenly around me.  On looking up I saw a boat approaching.  In the bow stood my mother, and you sat guiding the helm!  She took my hand, and I stepped into the boat with a thrill of joy at my deliverance.  As I did so, she kissed me, looked tenderly towards you, and faded from my sight.  Then I awoke.

“The effect of all this was to subdue my haughty spirit.  As soon as an opportunity offered, I made every desired concession for my fault, and was forgiven.  And now I am writing to you, I feel as if there was something in that dream, Jenny.  Ah!  Shall I ever see your face again?  Heaven only knows!

“I send this letter to you in care of my grandfather.  I know that he will not retain it or seek to know its contents.  Unless he should ask after me, do not speak to him or any one of what I have written to you.  Farewell!  Do not forget me in your prayers.

“Mark Clifford.”

The effect of this letter upon Jenny, was to interest her intensely.  The swell of emotion went deeper, and the activity of her mind took a still higher character.  It was plain to her, when she next came into Mr. Lofton’s presence, that his thoughts had been busy about the letter she had received.  But he asked her no questions, and, faithful to the expressed wish of Mark, she made no reference to the subject whatever.

One part of Jenny’s service to the failing old man, had been to read to him daily from the newspapers.  This made her familiar with what was passing in the world, gave her food for thought, and helped her to develop and strengthen her mind.  Often had she pored over the papers for some news of Mark, but never having heard the name of the vessel in which he had gone to sea, she had possessed no clue to find what she sought for.  But now, whenever a paper was opened, her first search was for naval intelligence.

With what a throb of interest did she one day, about a week after Mark’s letter came to hand, read an announcement that the ship ——­ had been ordered home, and might be expected to arrive daily at Norfolk.

A woman thinks quickly to a conclusion; or, rather, arrives there by a process quicker than thought; especially where her conclusions are to affect a beloved object.  In an hour after Jenny had read the fact just stated, she said to Mr. Lofton, who had now come to be much attached to her—­