“God of Heaven!” cried the latter, “what has happened?”

“I know not,” said Henry; “as God is my judge, I know not.  Flora, Flora, speak to us!  Flora!  Flora!”

“She has fainted!” cried Charles.  “Some water may restore her.  Oh, Henry, Henry, is not this horrible?”

“Courage! courage!” said Henry although his voice betrayed what a terrible state of anxiety he was himself in; “you will find water in that decanter, Charles.  Here is my mother, too!  Another visit!  God help us!”

Mrs. Bannerworth sat down on the edge of the sofa which was in the room, and could only wring her hands and weep.

“Avast!” cried the admiral, making his appearance.  “Where’s the enemy, lads?”

“Uncle,” said Charles, “uncle, uncle, the vampyre has been here again—­the dreadful vampyre!”

“D—­n me, and he’s gone, too, and carried half the window with him.  Look there!”

It was literally true; the window, which was a long latticed one, was smashed through.

“Help! oh, help!” said Flora, as the water that was dashed in her face began to recover her.

“You are safe!” cried Henry, “you are safe!”

“Flora,” said Charles; “you know my voice, dear Flora?  Look up, and you will see there are none here but those who love you.”

Flora opened her eyes timidly as the said,—­

“Has it gone?”

“Yes, yes, dear,” said Charles.  “Look around you; here are none but true friends.”

“And tried friends, my dear,” said Admiral Bell, “excepting me; and whenever you like to try me, afloat or ashore, d—­n me, shew me Old Nick himself, and I won’t shrink—­yard arm and yard arm—­grapnel to grapnel—­pitch pots and grenades!”

“This is my uncle, Flora,” said Charles.

“I thank you, sir,” said Flora, faintly.

“All right!” whispered the admiral to Charles; “what a figure-head, to be sure!  Poll at Swansea would have made just about four of her, but she wasn’t so delicate, d—­n me!”

“I should think not.”

“You are right for once in a way, Charley.”

“What was it that alarmed you?” said Charles, tenderly, as he now took one of Flora’s hands in his.

“Varney—­Varney, the vampyre.”

“Varney!” exclaimed Henry; “Varney here!”

“Yes, he came in at that door:  and when I screamed, I suppose—­for I hardly was conscious—­he darted out through the window.”

“This,” said Henry, “is beyond all human patience.  By Heaven!  I cannot and will not endure it.”

“It shall be my quarrel,” said Charles; “I shall go at once and defy him.  He shall meet me.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” said Flora, as she clung convulsively to Charles.  “No, no; there is a better way.”

“What way?”

“The place has become full of terrors.  Let us leave it.  Let him, as he wishes, have it.”

“Let him have it?”