按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
content to love him always； she said to herself； were there no
prospect of marriage； or even were there no marriage in question；
but would he continue to care for her love？ She did not think she
could expect that。 So with many tears she gave him upor thought
she did。 He had loved her； and that was a grand thing！
There was much that was good； and something that was wise in the
girl； notwithstanding her folly in allowing such a lover。 The
temptation was great： even if his attentions were in their nature
but transient； they were sweet while they passed。 I doubt if her
love was of the deepest she had to give； but who can tell？ A woman
will love where a man can see nothing lovely。 So long as she is able
still to love； she is never quite to be pitied； but when the
reaction comes？
So the dull days went by。
But for lady Arctura a great hope had begun to dawnthe hope；
namely； that the world was in the hand； yea in the heart of One whom
she herself might one day see； in her inmost soul； and with clearest
eyes； to be Love itselfnot a love she could not care for； but the
very heart； generating centre； embracing circumference； and crown of
all loves。
Donal prayed to God for lady Arctura； and waited。 Her hour was not
yet come； but was coming！ Everyone that is ready the Father brings
to Jesus： the disciple is not greater than his master； and must not
think to hasten the hour； or lead one who is not yet taught of God；
he must not be miserable about another as if God had forgotten him。
Strange helpers of God we shall be； if； thinking to do his work； we
act as if he were neglecting it！ To wait for God； believing it his
one design to redeem his creatures； ready to put the hand to； the
moment his hour strikes； is the faith fit for a fellow…worker with
him！
CHAPTER XXXIX。
THE CASTLE…ROOF。
One stormy Friday night in the month of March； when a bitter east
wind was blowing； Donal； seated at the plain deal…table he had got
Mrs。 Brookes to find him that he might use it regardless of ink； was
drawing upon it a diagram； in quest of a simplification for Davie；
when a sudden sense of cold made him cast a glance at his fire。 He
had been aware that it was sinking； but； as there was no fuel in the
room； had forgotten it again： it was very low； and he must at once
fetch both wood and coal！ In certain directions and degrees of wind
this was rather a ticklish task； but he had taken the precaution of
putting up here and there a bit of rope。 Closing the door behind him
to keep in what warmth he might； and ascending the stairs a few feet
higher； he stepped out on the bartizan； and so round the tower to
the roof。 There he stood for a moment to look about him。
It was a moonlit night； so far as the clouds； blown in huge and
almost continuous masses over the heavens； would permit the light of
the moon to emerge。 The roaring of the sea came like a low rolling
mist across the flats。 The air gloomed and darkened and lightened
again around him； as the folds of the cloud…blanket overhead were
torn； or dropped trailing； or gathered again in the arms of the
hurrying wind。 As he stood； it seemed suddenly to change； and take a
touch of south in its blowing。 The same instant came to his ear a
loud wail： it was the ghost…music！ There was in it the cry of a
discord； mingling with a wild rolling change of harmonies。 He stood
〃like one forbid；〃 and listened with all his power。 It came again；
and again； and was more continuous than he had ever heard it before。
Here was now a chance indeed of tracing it home！ As a gaze…hound
with his eyes； as a sleuth…hound with his nose； he stood ready to
start hunting with his listing listening ear。 The seeming approach
and recession of the sounds might be occasioned by changes in their
strength； not by any change of position！
〃It must come from somewhere on the roof！〃 he said； and setting down
the pail he had brought； he got on his hands and knees； first to
escape the wind in his ears； and next to diminish its hold on his
person。 Over roof after roof he crept like a cat； stopping to listen
every time a new gush of the sound came； then starting afresh in the
search for its source。 Upon a great gathering of roofs like these；
erected at various times on various levels； and with all kinds of
architectural accommodations of one part to another； sound would be
variously deflected； and as difficult to trace as inside the house！
Careless of cold or danger； he persisted； creeping up； creeping
down； over flat leads； over sloping slates； over great roofing
stones； along low parapets； and round ticklish cornersfollowing
the sound ever； as a cat a flitting unconscious bird： when it
ceased； he would keep slowly on in the direction last chosen。
Sometimes； when the moon was more profoundly obscured； he would have
to stop altogether； unable to get a peep of his way。
On one such occasion； when it was nearly pitch…dark； and the sound
had for some time ceased； he was crouching upon a high…pitched roof
of great slabs； his fingers clutched around the edges of one of
them； and his mountaineering habits standing him in good stead；
protected a little from the force of the blast by a huge stack of
chimneys that rose to windward： while he clung thus waitinglouder
than he had yet heard it； almost in his very ear； arose the musical
ghost…crythis time like that of a soul in torture。 The moon came
out； as at the cry； to see； but Donal could spy nothing to suggest
its origin。 As if disappointed； the moon instantly withdrew； the
darkness again fell； and the wind rushed upon him full of keen
slanting rain； as if with fierce intent of protecting the secret：
there was little chance of success that night！ he must break off the
hunt till daylight！ If there was any material factor in the sound；
he would be better able to discover it then！ By the great
chimney…stack he could identify the spot where he had been nearest
to it！ There remained for the present but the task of finding his
way back to his tower。
A difficult task it wasmore difficult than he anticipated。 He had
not an idea in what direction his tower layhad not an idea of the
track； if track it could be called； by which he had come。 One thing
only was clearit was somewhere else than where he was。 He set out
therefore； like any honest pilgrim who knows only he must go
somewhere else； and began his wanderings。 He found himself far more
obstructed than in coming。 Again and again he could go no farther in
the direction he was trying； again and again had to turn and try
another。 It was half…an…hour at least before he came to a spot he
knew； and by that time； with the rain the wind had fallen a little。
Against a break in the clouds he saw the outline of one of his
store…sheds； and his way was thenceforward plain。 He caught up his
pail； filled it with coal and wood； and hastened to his nest as
quickly as cramped joints would carry him； hopeless almost of
finding his fire still alive。
But when he reached the stair； and had gone down a few steps； he saw
a strange sight： below him； at his door； with a small wax…taper in
her hand； stood the form of a woman； in the posture of one who had
just knocked； and was hearkening for an answer。 So intent was she；
and so loud was the wind among the roofs； that she had not heard his
step； and he stood a moment afraid to speak lest he should startle
her。 Presently she knocked again。 He made an attempt at ventriloquy；
saying in a voice to sound farther off than it was； 〃Come in。〃 A
hand rose to the latch； and opened the door。 By the hand he knew it
was lady Arctura。
〃Welcome to the stormy sky； my lady！〃 he said； as he entered the
room after hera pleasant object after his crawling excursion！
She started a little at his voice behind her； and turning was more
startled still。
Donal was more like a chimney…sweep than a tutor in a lord's castle。
He was begrimed and blackened from head to foot； and carried a
pailful of coals and wood。 Reading readily her look； he made haste
to explain。
〃I have been on the roof for the last hour；〃 he said。
〃What were you doing there；〃 she asked； with a strange mingling of
expressions； 〃in such a night？〃
〃I heard the music； my ladythe ghost…music； you know； that haunts
the castle； and〃
〃I heard it too；〃 she murmured； with a look almost of terror。 〃I
have often heard it before； but never so loud as to…night。 Have you
any notion about it； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃None whateverexcept that I am nearly sure it comes from somewhere
about the roof。〃
〃If you could clear up the mystery！〃
〃I have some hope of it。You are not frightened； my lady？〃
She had caught hold of the back of a chair。
〃Do sit down。 I will get you some water。〃
〃No； no； I shall be right in a moment！〃 she answered。 〃Your stair
has taken my breath away。 But my uncle is in such a strange
condition that I could not help coming to you。〃
〃I have seen him myself； more than once； very strange。〃
〃Will you come with me？〃
〃Anywhere。〃
〃Come then。〃
She left the room； and led the way； by the light of her dim taper；
down the stair。 About the middle of it； she stopped at a door； and
turning said； with a smile like that of a child； and the first