But heeding nothing but the burden he bore in his arms, the old sailor strode on until he reached a convenient spot, where he threw the blanket off her face to give her air.

She had fainted—­the terror and excitement had been too great—­the reaction was too powerful—­it had overwhelmed her, and she lay insensible across his arms, her fair head hanging back, her white garments streaming in the air, her golden locks floating, her witching eyes closed, and her blue lips apart and rigid on her glistening teeth—­so she lay like dead Cordelia in the arms of old Lear.

Henrietta and Mrs. L’Oiseau, followed by all the household, crowded around them with water, the only restorative at hand.

At length she recovered and looked up, a little bewildered, but soon memory and understanding returned and, gazing at her uncle, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck and burst into tears.

She was then carried away into one of the best negro quarters and laid upon a bed, and attended by her mother and her maid Maria.

The commodore, with his wife, found shelter in another quarter.  And the few remaining members of the household were accommodated in a similar manner elsewhere.

It was near noon before they were all ready to set forth from the scene of disaster, and it was the middle of the afternoon when they found themselves temporarily settled at the little hotel at Benedict in the very apartments formerly occupied by Edith and Marian.

Here Jacquelina suffered a long and severe spell of illness, during which her bright hair was cut off.

And here beautiful Marian came, with her gift of tender nursing, and devoted herself day and night to the service of the young invalid.  And all the leisure time she found while sitting by the sick bed she busily employed in making up clothing for the almost denuded family.  And never had the dear girl’s nimble fingers flown so fast or so willingly.

Every day the commodore, accompanied by Dr. Grimshaw, rode over to Luckenough to superintend the labors of the workmen in pulling down and clearing away the ruins of the old mansion and preparing the site for a new building.

Six weeks passed and brought the first of August, before Jacquelina was able to sit up, and then the physicians recommended change of air and the waters of Bentley Springs for the re-establishment of her health.

During her illness, Jacquelina had become passionately attached to Marian, as all persons did who came under the daily influence of the beautiful girl.  Dr. Grimshaw was to accompany the family to Bentley.  Jacquelina insisted that Marian should be asked to make one of the party.  Accordingly, the commodore and Mrs. Waugh, nothing loth, invited and pressed the kind maiden to go with them.  But Marian declined the journey, and Commodore Waugh, with his wife, his niece and his Grim set out in the family carriage for Bentley Springs.  Jacquelina rapidly regained health and rushed again to her mad breaks.  After a stormy scene with the commodore, the latter vowed she should either marry Dr. Grimshaw or be sent to a nunnery.  To the convent of St. Serena she went, but within a week she was home in disgrace.