"Air. Brydell,” said Esdaiie, in the same
composed and reasoiiable voice, “1 have
reci.it -d my setwnce and nothing I may
say or do now can mitigate it. You will
therefore think me sincere when 1 ask
your pardon tor my conduct and tell you
that if I. live to get out of prison I will
li’.H.i a different life. Won’t you shake hands
With me, sir?”
Brydell, choking with emotion, held out
his hand and for the first time in tiie lives
of tl; • two young men they met in mutual
good will.
It was now tinr? for the Naiad to sail
for home, and Esdaiie had to be taken back
in her before he was consigned to prison.
He was la »t in solitary confinement and
tr- .iti’d rii/iiously but not unkindly. Bry
dell aske'i permission of the admiral to go
i Esdail’.: s cell every day for a few min
ute:. 'l’l'y would talk togetiu r and Bry
lieli bc;;an to see that Esdaiie was in
ti ■ 1 a. changed man. Tl’.’ ■: visits became
tii : one bright, spot in Esdaile’s hard lite,
;.:.d Winn at last, the ship reached New
York he felt that he had at least one friend
in the wollu.
i me night some .' ears after that. Brydell,
now one of the brightest lieutenants in
the navy, sat in lies pleasant quarters
writing. His wile sat near him uniter a
sol’ll.'- shad.d lamp reading. After a long
lenee, bi only by thi scratching of
Brydell’s f n, h turned to her and handed
her a paper.
