“Did you never hear of such a thing,” she replied, “as throwing over a part of the cargo to save the ship?”

“Bless you!  Bless you, Mary!” exclaimed Wilkinson, in a broken voice, as he hid his face upon his wife’s bosom.  “You have, indeed, saved me from shipwreck, body and soul, just as I was about to be thrown upon the breakers!  Heaven will reward your devoted love, your tenderness, your long-suffering and patient forbearance.  Thank God for such a wife!”

And the whole frame of the strong man quivered.

It was many minutes before either of them spoke; then Mr. Wilkinson lifted his face, and said calmly—­

“Yes, Mary, we will do as you propose; for you have spoken wisely.  I will need every dollar in my business that I can get.  And now let me say a few words more.  In times past I have not been as kind to you—­as considerate—­”

“Dear husband! let the past be as if it had not been.  You were always kind, gentle, loving”—­

“Let me speak what is in my mind.  I wish to give it utterance,” interrupted Wilkinson.  “In times past, I have too often sought companionship from home, and such companionship has ever been dangerous and debasing.  I have this day resolved to correct that error; and I will keep my resolution.  Henceforth, home shall be to me the dearest place.  And there is one more thing I wish to say”—­

The voice of Wilkinson changed its expression, while a slight flush came into his face.

“There is one habit that I have indulged, and which I feel to be an exceedingly dangerous one.  That habit I have solemnly promised, in the sight of Heaven, to correct.  I will no longer put to my lips the cup of confusion.”

Wilkinson was not prepared for the effect these words had upon his wife, who, instantly uttering a cry of joy, flung herself into her husband’s arms, sobbing—­

“Oh!  I am the happiest woman alive this day!”

CHAPTER XVIII.

To Ellis the trials of the next two weeks were of the severest character.  Yet, he kept himself away from drinking-houses, and struggled manfully to retain his feet under him.  In this he was only sustained by the kindness of his wife’s manner, and the interest she seemed to feel in him.  Had she acted towards him with her usual want of affectionate consideration, he would have fallen under the heavy burdens that rested upon him.  Scarcely a day passed in which he was not visited by Carlton’s agent, and fretted almost past endurance by his importunities.  But he steadily refused to take up any of the due-bills; at the same time that he promised to cancel them at some future period.  This did not, of course, suit the gambler, who sent threats of an immediate resort to legal proceedings.

Of all this Cara knew nothing; yet she could not help seeing that her husband was troubled, and this caused her to muse on what she had done with increasing uneasiness.  She no longer took any pleasure in the thoughts of new parlour carpets.  But it was too late, now, to retrace her steps of error.  The carpets were already in the hands of the upholsterers, and a few days would see them on the floor.