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It the young； strong； ruddy shepherd； the defender of his flock； who
was sent by God to kill the giant！ He was too little to wear Saul's
armour； but he could kill a man too big to wear it！ Thus meditated
Arctura as she climbed the stair； and her hope and courage grew。
A delicate conscience； sensitive feelings； and keen faculties；
subjected to the rough rasping of coarse； self…satisfied；
unspiritual natures； had almost lost their equilibrium。 As to
natural condition no one was sounder than she； yet even now when she
had more than begun to see its falsehood； a headache would suffice
to bring her afresh under the influence of the hideous system she
had been taught； and wake in her all kinds of deranging doubts and
consciousnesses。 Subjugated so long to the untrue； she required to
be for a time； until her spiritual being should be somewhat
individualized； under the genial influences of one who was not
afraid to believe； one who knew the master。 Nor was there danger to
either so long as he sought no end of his own； so long as he desired
only His will； so long as he could say； 〃Whom is there in heaven but
thee！ and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee！〃
By the time she reached the top she was radiantly joyous in the
prospect of a quiet hour with him whose presence and words always
gave her strength； who made the world look less mournful； and the
will of God altogether beautiful； who taught her that the glory of
the Father's love lay in the inexorability of its demands； that it
is of his deep mercy that no one can get out until he has paid the
uttermost farthing。
They stepped upon the roof and into the gorgeous afterglow of an
autumn sunset。 The whole country； like another sea； was flowing from
that that well of colour； in tidal waves of an ever advancing
creation。 Its more etherial part； rushing on above； broke on the old
roofs and chimneys and splashed its many tinted foam all over them；
while through it and folded in it came a cold thin wind that told of
coming death。 Arctura breathed a deep breath； and her joy grew。 It
is wonderful how small a physical elevation； lifting us into a
slightly thinner air； serves to raise the human spirits！ We are like
barometers； only work the other way； the higher we go； the higher
goes our mercury。
They stood for a moment in deep enjoyment； then simultaneously
turned to each other。
〃My lady；〃 said Donal； 〃with such a sky as that out there； it hardly
seems as if there could be such a thing as our search to…night！
Hollow places； hidden away for evil cause； do not go with it at all！
There is the story of gracious invention and glorious gift； here the
story of greedy gathering and self…seeking； which all concealment
involves！〃
〃But there may be nothing； you know； Mr。 Grant！〃 said Arctura；
troubled for the house。
〃There may be nothing。 But if there is such a room； you may be sure
it has some relation with terrible wrongwhat； we may never find
out； or even the traces of it。〃
〃I shall not be afraid；〃 she said； as if speaking with herself。 〃It
is the terrible dreaming that makes me weak。 In the morning I
tremble as if I had been in the hands of some evil power。〃
Donal turned his eyes upon her。 How thin she looked in the last of
the sunlight！ A pang went through him at the thought that one day he
might be alone with Davie in the huge castle； untended by the
consciousness that a living light and loveliness flitted somewhere
about its gloomy and ungenial walls。 But he would not think the
thought！ How that dismal Miss Carmichael must have worried her！ When
the very hope of the creature in his creator is attacked in the name
of religion； when his longing after a living God is met with the
offer of a paltry escape from hell； how is the creature to live！ It
is God we want； not heaven； his righteousness； not an imputed one；
for our own possession； remission； not letting off； love； not
endurance for the sake of another； even if that other be the one
loveliest of all。
They turned from the sunset and made their way to the chimney…stack。
There once more Donal set up his ladder。 He tied the clock…weight to
the end of his cord； dropped it in； and with a little management got
it through the wires。 It went down and down； gently lowered； till
the cord was all out； and still it would go。
〃Do run and get some more；〃 said Arctura。
〃You do not mind being left alone？〃
〃Noif you will not be long。〃
〃I will run；〃 he saidand run he did； for she had scarcely begun to
feel the loneliness when he returned panting。
He took the end she had been holding； tied on the fresh cord he had
brought； and again lowered away。 As he was beginning to fear that
after all he had not brought enough； the weight stopped； resting；
and drew no more。
〃If only we had eyes in that weight；〃 said Arctura； 〃like the snails
at the end of their horns！〃
〃We might have greased the bottom of the weight；〃 said Donal； 〃as
they do the lead when they want to know what kind of bottom there is
to the sea： it might have brought up ashes。 If it will not go any
farther； I will mark the string at the mouth； and draw it up。〃
He moved the weight up and down a little； it rested still； and he
drew it up。
〃Now we must mark off it the height of the chimney above the parapet
wall；〃 he said； 〃and then I will lower the weight towards the court
below； until this last knot comes to the wall： the weight will then
show us on the outside how far down the house it went inside。Ah； I
thought so！〃 he went on； looking over after the weight； 〃only to
the first floor； or thereabouts！No； I think it is lower！But
anyhow； my lady； as you can see； the place with which the chimney；
if chimney it be； communicates； must be somewhere about the middle
of the house； and perhaps is on the first floor； we can't judge very
well looking down from here； and against a spot where are no
windows。 Can you imagine what place it might be？〃
〃I cannot；〃 answered Arctura； 〃but I could go into every room on
that floor without anyone seeing me。〃
〃Then I will let the weight down the chimney again； and leave it for
you to see； if you can； below。 If you find it； we must do something
else。〃
It was done； and they descended together。 Donal went back to the
schoolroom； not expecting to see her again till the next day。 But in
half an hour she came to him； saying she had been into every room on
that floor； both where she thought it might be； and where she knew
it could not be； and had not seen the weight。
〃The probability then is；〃 replied Donal； 〃that thereabout
somewherethere； or farther down in that neighbourhoodlies the
secret； but we cannot be sure； for the weight may not have reached
the bottom of the shaft。 Let us think what we shall do next。
He placed a chair for her by the fire。 They had the room to
themselves。
CHAPTER LIII。
MISTRESS BROOKES UPON THE EARL。
They were hardly seated when Simmons appeared； saying he had been
looking everywhere for her ladyship； for his lordship was taken as
he had never seen him before： he had fainted right out in the
half…way room； and he could not get him to。
Having given orders to send at once to Auchars for the doctor； lady
Arctura hastened with Donal to the room on the stair。 The earl was
stretched motionless and pale on the floor。 But for a slight
twitching in one muscle of the face； they might have concluded him
dead。 They tried to get something down his throat； but without
success。 The men carried him up to his chamber。
He began to come to himself； and lady Arctura left him； telling
Simmons to come to the library when he could； and let them know how
he was。
In about an hour he came： the doctor had been； and his master was
better。
〃Do you know any cause for the attack？〃 asked her ladyship。
〃I'll tell you all about it； my lady； so far as I know；〃 answered
the butler。 〃I was there in that room with himI had taken him
some accounts； and was answering some questions about them； when all
at once there came a curious noise in the wall。 I can't think what
it wasan inward rumbling it was； that seemed to go up and down the
wall with a sort of groaning； then stopped a while； and came again。
It sounded nothing very dreadful to me； perhaps if it had been in
the middle of the night； I mightn't have liked it。 His lordship
started at the first sound of it； turned pale and gasped； then cried
out； laid his hand on his heart； and rolled off his chair。 I did
what I could for him； but it wasn't like one of his ordinary
attacks； and so I came to your ladyship。 He's such a ticklish
subject； you see； my lady！ It's quite alarming to be left alone with
him。 It's his heart； and you know； my ladyI should be sorry to
frighten you； but you know； Mr。 Grant； a gentleman with that
complaint may go off any moment。 I must go back to him now； my lady；
if you please。〃
Arctura turned and looked at Donal。
〃We must be careful；〃 he said。
〃We must；〃 she answered。 〃Just thereabout is one of the few places
in the house where you hear the music。〃
〃And thereabout the music…chimney goes down！ That is settled！ But
why should my lord be frightened so？〃
〃I cannot tell。 He is not like other people； you