All is not yet known, there may be hope, but I dare not encourage it.

Tell her, Howard," he added, hastily, shrinking from her sorrowful glance, "I cannot." "Is it of Edward you would tell me?
Oh, what of him ?" she exclaimed.
"Oh, tell me at once, Mr.Howard, indeed, indeed, I can bear it." With the tenderness of a father, Mr.Howard gently and soothingly told her that letters had that morning arrived from Edward's captain, informing them that the young lieutenant had been despatched with a boat's crew, on a message to a ship stationed about twelve miles southward, towards the Cape of Good Hope; a storm had arisen as the night darkened, but still Captain Seaforth had felt no uneasiness, imagining his young officer had deemed it better remaining on board the Stranger all night, though somewhat contrary to his usual habits of promptness and activity.

As the day, however, waned to noon, and still Lieutenant Fortescue did not appear, the captain despatched another boat to know why he tarried.

The sea was still raging in fury from the last night's storm, but the foaming billows had never before detained Edward from his duty.

With increasing anxiety, Captain Seaforth paced the deck for several hours, until indeed the last boat he had sent returned.