It  was  a  hard  day,  that  day  of  being  among  them,  with
the  first  reservation  of  their  joint  lives  on  his  mind.  It  was
a  hard  matter  to  preserve  the  innocent  deceit  of  which  they
were  profomidly  unsuspicious.  But,  an  affectionate  glance
at  his  wife,  so  happy  and  busy,  made  him  resolute  not  to
tell  her  what  impended  (he  had  been  half  moved  to  do  it,  so
strange  it  was  to  him  to  act  in  anything  without  her  quiet
aid),  and  the  day  passed  quickly  ecway.  Early  in  the  even-
ing he  embraced  her,  and  her  scarcely  less  dear  namesake,
pretending  that  he  would  return  by-and-by  (an  imaginary
engagement  took  him  out,  and  he  had  secreted  a  valise  of
clothes  ready),  and  so  he  emerged  into  the  heavy  mist  of  the
heavy  streets,  Avith  a  heavier  heart.
The  unseen  force  was  drawing  him  fast  to  itself,  now,  and
all  the  tides  and  winds '  were  setting  straight  and  strong
towards  it.     He  left  his  two  letters  with  a  trusty  porter,  to


THE  LOADSTONE  ROCK.  283

be  delivered  half  an  hour  before  midnight,  and  no  sooner;
took  horse  for  Dover ;  and  began  his  journey.  "  For  the
love  of  Heaven,  of  justice,  of  generosity,  of  the  honour  of
your  noble  name  ! "  was  the  poor  prisoner's  cry  with  which
he  strengthened  his  sinking  heart,  as  he  left  all  that  was
dear  on  earth  behind  him,  and  floated  away  for  the  Load-
stone Rock.
THE  END  OF  THE  SECOND  BOOK.
BOOK     THE    THIRD.
THE  TRACK  OF  A  STORM.
CHAPTER  I.
IN   SECRET.
