Herbert described these extraordinary events as occurring so rapidly, that it was not till he was established with his purchaser—­a man of some property, who lived on an estate at the edge of the Sahara desert—­that he had time to reflect on them.  Hoping that some of the officers or crew had escaped, and would take means to ransom him, he worked on from day to day for a whole year.  At last an Egyptian merchant came to visit his master, to whose servant Herbert entrusted a letter, addressed to the British consul at Alexandria.  This letter was fortunately delivered, and after a time, his liberty was procured.  The moment he got on board ship he wrote the epistle which was now being so eagerly devoured.

Dodbury sent instantly to Mrs Hardman such a letter as was calculated to break the news not too abruptly to her. No time was mentioned for Herbert’s arrival, so that suspense and some degree of uncertainty tempered the joy both father and daughter felt in making this communication.

Dodbury busied himself in corresponding with the navy-office to obtain Herbert’s release from the service; but to his mortification, a reply arrived, stating, as was announced before, that no such name was in the books.  It was, however, added, that a person entered as ‘H.  Hard’ was pressed on the identical day that Herbert was, and it was suggested that his name may have been misspelled.  That, however, remained to be seen.

By the time Mrs Hardman arrived at Coote-down, a second letter, addressed to her, had come from her son.  It was dated ‘off Havre,’ and mentioned the probable time of his reappearance in England.  The mother’s joy was intense; yet the news had not fallen like a shock upon her, as upon Catherine.  Holding fast by the daily hope that her son would some day reappear, the event was vaguely expected.  Hence she was filled with unalloyed delight.  All the old gaiety and pride of her disposition returned, and her first thoughts were expended on plans for once more receiving her son—­now, by right of inheritance, the possessor of Coote-down—­with a splendour to exceed that which welcomed him from France on attaining his majority. Nor was Catherine for a moment forgotten.  Every particular of the nuptials was sketched out, and every preliminary prepared.  Never were two minds so filled with happiness.

Dodbury started off a little before the time Herbert was to arrive at Portsmouth.  On arriving in London, he endeavoured to pave the way for Herbert’s discharge, by clearing up the mistake about the name.  Luckily, Lord Plympton held office, and a note from him to the proper authorities was of great service.  How eagerly were the lawyer’s letters to Coote-down looked for by its inmates!  The first announced that, thanks to Lord Plympton’s influence, everything had been arranged, and that, on producing Herbert, and proving him to be the representative of the name ‘Hard’ found in the list of seamen, his