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had done the woman whom all had believed his wife。 Through the
marriage of the eldest with the heiress； he would make him the head
of the house in power as in dignity； and this was now almost the
only tie that bound him to the reality of things。 He cared little
enough about Forgue； but his conscience was haunted with his
cruelties to the youth's mother。 These were often such as I dare not
put on record： they came all of the pride of self…love and
self…worshipas evil demons as ever raged in the fiercest fire of
Moloch。 In the madness with which they possessed him； he had
inflicted upon her not only sorest humiliations； but bodily
tortures： he would see； he said； what she would bear for his sake！
In the horrible presentments of his drug…procured dreams they
returned upon him in terrible forms of righteous retaliation。 And
now； though to himself he was constantly denying a life beyond； the
conviction had begun to visit and overwhelm him that he must one day
meet her again： fain then would he be armed with something which for
her sake he had done for her children！ One of the horrible laws of
the false existence he led was that； for the deadening of the mind
to any evil； there was no necessity it should be done and done
again； it had but to be presented in the form of a thing done； or a
thing going to be done； to seem a thing reasonable and doable。 In
his being； a world of false appearances had taken the place of
reality； a creation of his own had displaced the creation of the
essential Life； by whose power alone he himself falsely created； and
in this world he was the dupe of his own home…born phantoms。 Out of
this conspiracy of marsh and mirage； what vile things might not
issue！ Over such a chaos the devil has power all but creative。 He
cannot in truth create； but he can with the degenerate created work
moral horrors too hideous to be analogized by any of the horrors of
the unperfected animal world。 Such are being constantly produced in
human society； many of them die in the darkness in which they are
generated； now and then one issues； blasting the public day with its
hideous glare。 Because they are seldom seen； many deny they exist；
or need be spoken of if they do。 But to terrify a man at the
possibilities of his neglected nature； is to do something towards
the redemption of that nature。
School…hours were over； but Davie was seated where he had left him；
still working。 At sight of him Donal； feeling as if he had just come
from the presence of the damned； almost burst into tears。 A moment
more and Arctura entered： it was as if the roof of hell gave way；
and the blue sky of the eternal came pouring in heavenly deluge
through the ruined vault。
〃I have been to call upon Sophia；〃 she said。
〃I am glad to hear it；〃 answered Donal： any news from an outer world
of yet salvable humanity was welcome as summer to a land of ice。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I am able to go and see her now； because I am no
longer afraid of herpartly； I think； because I no longer care what
she thinks of me。 Her power over me is gone。〃
〃And will never return；〃 said Donal； 〃while you keep close to the
master。 With him you need no human being to set you right； and will
allow no human being to set you wrong； you will need neither friend
nor minister nor church； though all will help you。 I am very glad；
for something seems to tell me I shall not be long here。〃
Arctura dropped on a chairpale as rosy before。
〃Has anything fresh happened？〃 she asked； in a low voice that did
not sound like hers。 〃Surely you will not leave me while。I
thoughtI thought。What is it？〃
〃It is only a feeling I have；〃 he answered。 〃I believe I am out of
spirits。〃
〃I never saw you so before！〃 said Arctura。 〃I hope you are not going
to be ill。〃
〃Oh； no； it is not that！ I will tell you some day； but I cannot now。
All is in God's hands！〃
She looked anxiously at him； but did not ask him any question more。
She proposed they should take a turn in the park； and his gloom wore
gradually off。
CHAPTER LIX。
DUST TO DUST。
The next night； as if by a common understanding； for it was without
word spoken； the three met again in the housekeeper's room； where
she had supper waiting。 Of business nothing was said until that was
over。 Mistress Brookes told them two or three of the stories of
which she had so many； and Donal recounted one or two of those that
floated about his country…side。
〃I've been thinkin'；〃 said mistress Brookes at length； 〃seein' it's
a bonny starry nicht； we couldna do better than lift an' lay doon
this varra nicht。 The hoose is asleep。〃
〃What do you say to that place in the park where was once a
mausoleum？〃 said Donal。
〃It's the varra place！an' the sooner the betterdinna ye think；
my lady？〃
Arctura with a look referred the question to Donal。
〃Surely；〃 he answered。 〃But will there not be some preparations to
make？〃
〃There's no need o' mony！〃 returned the housekeeper。 〃I'll get a
fine auld sheet； an' intil 't we'll put the remains； an' row them
up； an' carry them to their hame。 I'll go an' get it； my lady。But
wouldna 't be better for you and me； sir； to get a' that dune by
oorsel's？ My leddy could j'in us whan we cam up。〃
〃She wouldn't like to be left here alone。 There is nothing to be
called fearsome！〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 said Arctura。
〃The forces of nature；〃 said Donal； 〃are constantly at work to
destroy the dreadful； and restore the wholesome。 It is but a few
handfuls of clean dust。〃
The housekeeper went to one of her presses； and brought out a sheet。
Donal put a plaid round lady Arctura。 They went up to her room； and
so down to the chapel。 Half…way down the narrow descent mistress
Brookes murmured； 〃Eh； sirs！〃 and said no more。
Each carried a light； and the two could see the chapel better。 A
stately little place it was： when the windows were unmasked； it
would be beautiful！
They stood for some moments by the side of the bed； regarding in
silence。 Seldom sure had bed borne one who slept so long！one who；
never waking might lie there still！ When they spoke it was in
whispers。
〃How are we to manage it； mistress Brookes？〃 said Donal。
〃Lay the sheet handy； alang the side o' the bed； maister Grant； an'
I s' lay in the dist； han'fu' by han'fu'。 I hae that respec' for the
deid； I hae no difficlety aboot han'lin' onything belongin' to
them。〃
〃Gien it hadna been that he tuik it again；〃 said Donal； 〃the Lord's
ain body wad hae come to this。〃
As he spoke he laid the sheet on the bed； and began to lay in it the
dry dust and air…wasted bones； handling them as reverently as if the
spirit had but just departed。 Mistress Brookes would have prevented
Arctura； but she insisted on having her share in the burying of her
own： who they were God knew； but they should be hers anyhow； and one
day she would know！ For to fancy we go into the other world a set of
spiritual moles burrowing in the dark of a new and unknown
existence； is worthy only of such as have a lifeless Law to their
sire。 We shall enter it as children with a history； as children
going home to a long line of living ancestors； to develop closest
relations with them。 She would yet talk； live face to face； with
those whose dust she was now lifting in her two hands to restore it
to its dust。 Then they carried the sheet to the altar； and thence
swept into it every little particle； back to its mother dust。 That
done； Donal knotted the sheet together； and they began to look
around them。
Desirous of discovering where the main entrance to the chapel had
been； Donal spied under the windows a second door； and opened it
with difficulty。 It disclosed a passage below the stair； three steps
lower than the floor of the chapel； parallel with the wall； and
turning； at right angles under the gallery。 Here he saw signs of an
obliterated door in the outer wall； but could examine no farther for
the present。
In the meantime his companions had made another sort of discovery：
near the foot of the bed was a little table； on which were two
drinking vessels； apparently of pewter； and a mouldering pack of
cards！ Card…playing and the hidden room did hold some relation with
each other！ The cards and the devil were real！
Donal took up the sheeta light burden； and Arctura led the way。
Arrived at her room； they went softly across to the door opening on
Donal's stairnot without fear of the earl； whom indeed they might
meet anywhereand by that descending； reached the open air； and
took their way down the terraces and through the park to the place
of burial。
It was a frosty night； with the waning sickle of a moon low in the
heaven； and many brilliant stars above it。 Followed by faint
ethereal shadows； they passed over the grass； through the ghostly
luminous duskof funereal processions one of the strangest that
ever sought a tomb。
The ruin was in a hollow； surrounded by trees。 Donal removed a
number of fallen stones and dug a grave。 They lowered into it the
knotted sheet； threw in the earth again； heaped the stones above；
and left the dust with its dust。 Then silent they went back；
straight along the green； moon…regarded rather than moon…lit grass：
if any one had seen them through th