Beautiful and pale as the fabulous Naiad in the last agony of separation from her lover, she was seated so as to rest with her back against a part of the ruined wall, while her mantle, dripping with the water which her protector had used profusely to recall her senses, clung to her slender and beautifully proportioned form.
The first moment of recollection brought to her mind the danger which had overpowered her senses; the next called to remembrance that of her father.

She looked around; he was nowhere to be seen.

"My father, my father!" was all that she could ejaculate.
"Sir William is safe," answered the voice of a stranger--"perfectly safe, adn will be with you instantly." "Are you sure of that ?" exclaimed Lucy.

"The bull was close by us.

Do not stop me: I must go to seek my father!" And she rose with that purpose; but her strength was so much exhausted that, far from possessing the power to execute her purpose, she must have fallen against the stone on which she had leant, probably not without sustaining serious injury.
The stranger was so near to her that, without actually suffering her to fall, he could not avoid catching her in his arms, which, however, he did with a momentary reluctance, very unusual when youth interposes to prevent beauty from danger.