Then her feelings overcame the poor girl, and she became insensible. They carried her to her cabin, and Lady Helena followed, to minister to her wants, while Robert kept repeating:
"My father! my father is there! I am sure of it, my lord!"
The witnesses of this sorrowful scene perceived at last that the two children had been the sport of an hallucination. But how undeceive their senses, which had been so strongly impressed? Glenarvan, however, attempted it, and taking Robert by the hand, said:
"You heard your father's voice, my dear boy?"
"Yes, my lord. Yonder, in the midst of the waves, he cried, 'Help! help!'"
"And you recognized the voice?"
"Did I recognize it? Oh, yes, I assure you! My sister heard and recognized it, too. How could both of us be deceived? My lord, let us go to his rescue. A boat! a boat!"
Glenarvan saw plainly that he could not undeceive the poor child. Still, he made a last attempt, and called the helmsman.
"Hawkins," asked he, "you were at the wheel when Miss Grant was so singularly affected?"