“He is gone, Commodore Waugh; lay him down; come away to your room,” said Henrietta, gently taking his hand.

Jacquelina, white with horror, was kneeling with clasped hands and dilated eyes, gazing at the ruin.  The old man’s glance fell upon her there, and his passion changed from grief to fury.  Fiercely he broke forth: 

“It was you!  You are the murderess—­you!  Heaven’s vengeance light upon you!”

“Oh, I never meant it!  I never meant it!  I am very wretched!  I wish I’d never been born!” cried Jacquelina, wringing her pale fingers.

“Out of my sight, you curse!  Out of my sight—­and may Heaven’s wrath pursue you!” thundered the commodore, shaking with grief and rage.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE BODY ON THE BEACH.

In the meanwhile, where was he whose headlong passions had precipitated this catastrophe? where was Thurston?  After having parted with his confederate, he hurried home, for a very busy day lay before him.  To account for his sudden departure, and long absence, and to cover his retreat, it was necessary to have some excuse, such as a peremptory summons to Baltimore upon the most important business.  Once in that city, he would have leisure to find some further apology for proceeding directly to France without first returning home.  Now, strange as it may appear, though his purposed treachery to Marian wrung his bosom with remorse whenever he paused to think of it, yet it was the remorse without humiliation; for he persuaded himself that stratagem was fair in love as in war, especially in his case with Marian, who had already given him her hand; but now the unforseen necessity of these subterfuges made his cheek burn.  He hastened to Dell-Delight, and showing the old man a letter he had that morning received from the city, informed him that he was obliged to depart immediately, upon affairs of the most urgent moment to him, and then, to escape the sharp stings of self-scorn, he busied himself with arranging his papers, packing his trunks and ordering his servants.  His baggage was packed into and behind the old family carriage, and having completed his preparations about one o’clock, he entered it, and was driven rapidly to the village.

The schooner was already at the wharf and waiting for him.  Thurston met many of his friends in the village, and in an off-hand manner explained to them the ostensible cause of his journey.  And thus, in open daylight, gayly chatting with his friends, Thurston superintended the embarkation of his baggage.  And it was not until one by one they had shaken hands with him, wished him a good voyage and departed, that Thurston found himself alone with the captain in the cabin.

“Now you know, Miles, that I have not come on board to remain.  When the coast is clear I shall go on shore, get in the carriage, and return to Dell-Delight.  I must meet my wife on the beach.  I must remain with her through all.  I must take her on board.  You will be off Pine Bluff just at dusk, captain?”