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naething 'atween them； an' he wudna harm the lassie to save his
life； an' a' the lave o' 't； 'at I couldna i' my hert but pity them
baithtwa sic bairns； doobtless drawn thegither wi' nae thoucht o'
ill； ilk ane by the bonny face o' the ither； as is but nait'ral；
though it canna be allooed！ He beseekit me sae sair 'at I foolishly
promised no to tell his faither gien he on his side wud promise no
to hae mair to du wi' Eppy。 An' that he did。 Noo I never had reason
to doobt my yoong lord's word； but in a case o' this kin' it's aye
better no to lippen。 Ony gait； the thing canna be left this wise；
for gien ill cam o' 't； whaur wud we a' be！ I didna promise no to
tell onybody； I'm free to tell yersel；' maister Grant； an' ye maun
contrive what's to be dune。〃
〃I will speak to him；〃 said Donal； 〃and see what humour he is in。
That will help to clear the thing up。 We will try to do right； and
trust to be kept from doing wrong。〃
Donal left her to go to his room； but had not reached the top of the
stair when he saw clearly that he must speak to lord Forgue at once：
he turned and went down to a room that was called his。
When he reached it； only Davie was there； turning over the leaves of
a folio worn by fingers that had been dust for centuries。 He said
Percy went out； and would not let him go with him。
Knowing mistress Brookes was looking after Eppy； Donal put off
seeking farther for Forgue till the morrow。
CHAPTER XXV。
EVASION。
The next day he could find him nowhere； and in the evening went to
see the Comins。 It was pretty dark； but the moon would be up by and
by。
When he reached the cobbler's house； he found him working as usual；
only in…doors now that the weather was colder； and the light sooner
gone。 He looked innocent； bright； and contented as usual。 〃If God
be at peace；〃 he would say to himself； 〃why should not I？〃 Once he
said this aloud； almost unconsciously； and was overheard： it
strengthened the regard with which worldly church…goers regarded
him： he was to them an irreverent yea； blasphemous man！ They did
not know God enough to understand the cobbler's words； and all the
interpretation they could give them was after their kind。 Their
long Sunday faces indicated their reward； the cobbler's cheery；
expectant look indicated his。
The two were just wondering a little when he entered； that young
Eppy had not made her appearance； but then； as her grandmother said；
she had often； especially during the last few weeks； been later
still！ As she spoke； however； they heard her light； hurried foot on
the stair。
〃Here she comes at last！〃 said her grandmother； and she entered。
She said she could not get away so easily now。 Donal feared she had
begun to lie。 After sitting a quarter of an hour； she rose
suddenly； and said she must go； for she was wanted at home。 Donal
rose also and said； as the night was dark； and the moon not yet up；
it would be better to go together。 Her face flushed： she had to go
into the town first； she said； to get something she wanted！ Donal
replied he was in no hurry； and would go with her。 She cast an
inquiring； almost suspicious look on her grandparents； but made no
further objection； and they went out together。
They walked to the High Street； and to the shop where Donal had
encountered the parson。 He waited in the street till she came out。
Then they walked back the way they had come； little thinking；
either of them； that their every step was dogged。 Kennedy； the
fisherman； firm in his promise not to go near the castle； could not
therefore remain quietly at home： he knew it was Eppy's day for
visiting her folk； went to the town； and had been lingering about in
the hope of seeing her。 Not naturally suspicious； justifiable
jealousy had rendered him such； and when he saw the two together he
began to ask whether Donal's anxiety to keep him from encountering
lord Forgue might not be due to other grounds than those given or
implied。 So he followed； careful they should not see him。
They came to a baker's shop； and； stopping at the door； Eppy； in a
voice that in vain sought to be steady； asked Donal if he would be
so good as wait for her a moment； while she went in to speak to the
baker's daughter。 Donal made no difficulty； and she entered；
leaving the door open as she found it。
Lowrie Leper's shop was lighted with only one dip； too dim almost to
show the sugar biscuits and peppermint drops in the window； that
drew all day the hungry eyes of the children。 A pleasant smell of
bread came from it； and did what it could to entertain him in the
all but deserted street。 While he stood no one entered or issued。
〃She's having a long talk！〃 he said to himself； but for a long time
was not impatient。 He began at length； however； to fear she must
have been taken ill； or have found something wrong in the house。
When more than half an hour was gone； he thought it time to make
inquiry。
He entered therefore； shutting the door and opening it again； to
ring the spring…bell； then mechanically closing it behind him。
Straightway Mrs。 Leper appeared from somewhere to answer the squall
of the shrill…tongued summoner。 Donal asked if Eppy was ready to
go。 The woman stared at him a moment in silence。
〃Eppy wha； said ye？〃 she asked at length。
〃Eppy Comin；〃 he answered。
〃I ken naething aboot her。Lucy！〃
A good…looking girl； with a stocking she was darning drawn over one
hand and arm； followed her mother into the shop。
〃Whaur's Eppy Comin； gien ye please？〃 asked Donal。
〃I ken naething aboot her。 I haena seen her sin' this day week；〃
answered the girl in a very straight…forward manner。
Donal saw he had been tricked； but judging it better to seek no
elucidation； turned with apology to go。
As he opened the door； there came through the house from behind a
blast of cold wind： there was an open outer door in that direction！
The girl must have slipped through the house； and out by that door；
leaving her squire to cool himself； vainly expectant； in the street！
If she had found another admirer； as probably she imagined； his
polite attentions were at the moment inconvenient！
But she had tried the trick too often； for she had once served her
fisherman in like fashion。 Seeing her go into the baker's； Kennedy
had conjectured her purpose； and hurrying toward the issue from the
other exit； saw her come out of the court； and was again following
her。
Donal hastened homeward。 The moon rose。 It was a lovely night。
Dull…gleaming glimpses of the river came through the light fog that
hovered over it in the rising moon like a spirit…river continually
ascending from the earthly one and resting upon it； but flowing in
heavenly places。 The white webs shone very white in the moon； and
the green grass looked gray。 A few minutes more； and the whole
country was covered with a low…lying fog； on whose upper surface the
moon shone； making it appear to Donal's wondering eyes a wide…spread
inundation； from which rose half…submerged houses and stacks and
trees。 One who had never seen the thing before； and who did not
know the country； would not have doubted he looked on a veritable
expanse of water。 Absorbed in the beauty of the sight he trudged
on。
Suddenly he stopped： were those the sounds of a scuffle he heard on
the road before him？ He ran。 At the next turn； in the loneliest
part of the way； he saw something dark； like the form of a man；
lying in the middle of the road。 He hastened to it。 The moon
gleamed on a pool beside it。 A death…like face looked heavenward：
it was that of lord Forguewithout breath or motion。 There was a
cut in his head： from that the pool had flowed。 He examined it as
well as he could with anxious eyes。 It had almost stopped bleeding。
What was he to do？ What could be done？ There was but one thing！
He drew the helpless form to the side of the way； and leaning it up
against the earth…dyke； sat down on the road before it； and so
managed to get it upon his back； and rise with it。 If he could but
get him home unseen； much scandal might be forestalled！
On the level road he did very well； but； strong as he was； he did
not find it an easy task to climb with such a burden the steep
approach to the castle。 He had little breath left when at last he
reached the platform from which rose the towering bulk。
He carried him straight to the housekeeper's room。 It was not yet
more than half…past ten； and though the servants were mostly in bed；
mistress Brookes was still moving about。 He laid his burden on her
sofa； and hastened to find her。
Like a sensible woman she kept her horror and dismay to herself。
She got some brandy； and between them they managed to make him
swallow a little。 He began to recover。 They bathed his wound； and
did for it what they could with scissors and plaster； then carried
him to his own room； and got him to bed。 Donal sat down by him； and
staid。 His patient was restless and wandering all the night； but
towards morning fell into a sound sleep； and was still asleep when
the housekeeper came to relieve him。
As soon as Mrs。 Brookes left Donal with lord Forgue； she went to
Eppy's room； and found her in bed； prete