“‘T is woman’s work, Margaret!” he cried. “Tell him!”

More merciful than the men, she came to me at once, the tears running down her cheeks, and laid one trembling hand upon my arm. “She was a brave lady, Captain Percy,” she said. “Bear it as she would have had you bear it.”

“I am bearing it, madam,” I answered at length. “‘She was a brave lady.’ May it please your ladyship to go on?”

“I will tell you all, Captain Percy; I will tell you everything� . She never believed you dead, and she begged upon her knees that we would allow her to go in search of you with Master Rolfe. That could not be; my husband, in duty to the Company, could not let her have her