As his fearful instruments touched Grace's head, the voice of the sentinel at the nearest outpost was heard, giving the word in German which permitted Mercy to take the first step on her journey to England: "Pass the English lady!" The operation proceeded.

The voice of the sentinel at the next post was heard more faintly, in its turn: "Pass the English lady!" The operation ended.

Ignatius Wetzel held up his hand for silence and put his ear close to the patient's mouth.
The first trembling breath of returning life fluttered over Grace Roseberry's lips and touched the old man's wrinkled cheek.

"Aha!" he cried.

"Good girl! you breathe--you live!" As he spoke, the voice of the sentinel at the final limit of the German lines (barely audible in the distance) gave the word for the last time: "Pass the English lady!" SECOND SCENE .-- Mablethorpe House.
PREAMBLE.
THE place is England.
The time is winter, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy.
The persons are, Julian Gray, Horace Holmcroft, Lady Janet Roy, Grace Roseberry, and Mercy Merrick..