window. There were men below, and this made her apprehensive. She
hurried over, kissed the old man, passed from the room, and met her old
servant Hulm in the passage, who stretched out her hand in distress.

"What is it, Hulm?" she asked, a chill at her heart. "Oh, how can I tell
you!" was the answer. "Our fleet was beaten, and--and my master is a
prisoner." The wife saw that this was not all. "Tell me everything,
Hulm," she said trembling, yet ready for the worst.

"Oh, my dear, dear mistress, I cannot!"

"Hulm, you see that I am calm," she answered. "You are only paining me."

"They are to try him for his life!" She caught her mistress by the
waist, but Jessica recovered instantly. She was very quiet, very pale,
yet the plumbless grief of her eyes brought tears to Hulm's face. She
stood for a moment in deep thought.

"Is your brother Aaron in Boston, Hulm?" she asked presently.

"He is below, dear mistress."

"Ask him to step to the dining-room. And that done, please go to my
father. And, Hulm, dear creature, you can aid me better if you do not
weep."

She then passed down a side staircase and entered the dining-room. A
moment afterwards Aaron Hulm came in.

"Aaron," she said, as he stood confused before her misery, "know you the