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gathering of the brows； she gave no sign of suffering； nothing to be
called a cry escaped her。
Donal at the head and a groom at the foot； lifted the litter； and
with ordered step； started for the house。 Once or twice she opened
her eyes and looked up at Donal； then； as if satisfied； closed them
again。 Before they reach the house the doctor met them； for they had
to walk slowly。
Forgue came behind in a devilish humour。 He knew that first his ill
usage of Larkie； and then his preventing anything being said about
it； must have been the cause of the accident； but he felt with some
satisfactionfor self simply makes devils of usthat if she had
not refused to go out with him； it would not have happened； he would
not have allowed her to mount Larkie。 〃Served her right！〃 he caught
himself saying once； and was ashamedbut presently said it again。
Self is as full of worms as it can hold； God deliver us from it！
CHAPTER LXIX。
THE SICK…CHAMBER。
She was carried to her room and laid on her bed。 The doctor
requested Mrs。 Brookes and Donal to remain； and dismissed the rest；
then proceeded to examine her。 There were no bones broken； he said；
but she must be kept very quiet。 The windows must be darkened； and
she must if possible sleep。 She gave Donal a faint smile； and a
pitiful glance； but did not speak。 As he was following the doctor
from the room； she made a sign to Mrs。 Brookes with her eyes that
she wanted to speak to him。
He came； and bent over to hear； for she spoke very feebly。
〃You will come and see me； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃I will； indeed； my lady。〃
〃Every day？〃
〃Yes； most certainly；〃 he replied。
She smiled； and so dismissed him。 He went with his heart full。
A little way from the door stood Forgue； waiting for him to come
out。 He had sent the doctor to his father。 Donal passed him with a
bend of the head。 He followed him to the schoolroom。
〃It is time this farce was over； Grant！〃 he said。
〃Farce； my lord！〃 repeated Donal indignantly。
〃These attentions to my lady。〃
〃I have paid her no more attention than I would your lordship； had
you required it；〃 answered Donal sternly。
〃That would have been convenient doubtless！ But there has been
enough of humbug； and now for an end to it！ Ever since you came
here； you have been at work on the mind of that inexperienced
girlwith your damned religion！for what end you know best！ and
now you've half killed her by persuading her to go out with you
instead of me！ The brute was lame and not fit to ride！ Any fool
might have seen that！〃
〃I had nothing to do with her going； my lord。 She asked Davie to go
with her； and he had a holiday on purpose。〃
〃All very fine； but〃
〃My lord； I have told you the truth； but not to justify myself： you
must be aware your opinion is of no value in my eyes！ But tell me
one thing； my lord： if my lady's horse was lame； how was it she did
not know？ You did！〃
Forgue thought Donal knew more than he did； and was taken aback。
〃It is time the place was clear of you！〃 he said。
〃I am your father's servant； not yours；〃 answered Donal； 〃and do not
trouble myself as to your pleasure concerning me。 But I think it is
only fair to warn you that； though you cannot hurt me； nothing but
honesty can take you out of my power。〃
Forgue turned on his heel； went to his father； and told him he knew
now that Donal was prejudicing the mind of lady Arctura against him；
but not until it came in the course of the conversation； did he
mention the accident she had had。
The earl professed himself greatly shocked； got up with something
almost like alacrity from his sofa； and went down to inquire after
his niece。 He would have compelled Mrs。 Brookes to admit him； but
she was determined her lady should not be waked from a sleep
invaluable to her； for the sake of receiving his condolements； and
he had to return to his room without gaining anything。
If she were to go； the property would be his； and he could will it
as he pleasedthat was； if she left no will。 He sent for his son
and cautioned him over and over to do nothing to offend her； but
wait： what might come； who could tell！ It might prove a serious
affair！
Forgue tried to feel shocked at the coolness of his father's
speculation； but allowed that； if she was determined not to receive
him as her husband； the next best thing； in the exigence of affairs；
would certainly be that she should leave a world for whose uses she
was ill fitted； and go where she would be happier。 The things she
would then have no farther need of； would be welcome to those to
whom by right they belonged more really than to her！ She was a
pleasant thing to look upon； and if she had loved him he would
rather have had the property with than without her； but there was
this advantage； he would be left free to choose！
Lady Arctura lay suffering； feverish； and restless。 Mrs。 Brookes
would let no one sit up with her but herself。 The earl would have
sent for 〃a suitable nurse！〃 a friend of his in London would find
one！ but she would not hear of it。 And before the night was over she
had greater reason still for refusing to yield her post： it was
evident her young mistress was more occupied with Donal Grant than
with the pain she was suffering！ In her delirium she was constantly
desiring his presence。 〃I know he can help me；〃 she would say； 〃he
is a shepherd； like the Lord himself！〃 And mistress Brookes； though
by no means devoid of the prejudices of the rank with which her life
had been so much associated； could not but allow that a nobler life
must be possible with one like Donal Grant than with one like lord
Forgue。
In the middle of the night Arctura became so unquiet； that her
nurse； calling the maid she had in a room near； flew like a bird to
Donal； and asked him to come down。 He had but partially undressed；
thinking his help might be wanted； and was down almost as soon as
she。 Ere he came； however； she had dismissed the maid。
Donal went to the bedside。 Arctura was moaning and starting；
sometimes opening her eyes； but distinguishing nothing。 Her hand lay
on the counterpane： he laid his upon it。 She gave a sigh as of one
relieved； a smile came flickering over her face； and she lay still
for some time。 Donal sat down beside her； and watched。 The moment he
saw her begin to be restless or look distressed； he laid his hand
upon hers； she was immediately quiet； and lay for a time as if she
knew herself safe。 When she seemed about to wake； he withdrew。
So things went on for many nights。 Donal slept instead of working
when his duties with Davie were over； and lay at night in the
corridor； wrapt in his plaid。 For even after Arctura began to
recover； her nights were sorely troubled； and her restoration would
have been much retarded； had not Donal been near to make her feel
she was not abandoned to the terrors she passed through。
One night the earl； wandering about in the anomalous condition of
neither ghost nor genuine mortal； came suddenly upon what he took
for a huge animal in wait to devour。 He was not terrified； for he
was accustomed to such things； and thought at first it was not of
this world： he had no doubt of the reality of his visions； even when
he knew they were invisible to others； and even in his waking
moments had begun to believe in them as much as in the things then
evident to himor rather； perhaps； to disbelieve equally in both。
He approached to see what it was； and stood staring down upon the
mass。 Gently it rose and confronted himif confronting that may be
called where the face remained so undefinedfor Donal took care to
keep his plaid over his head： he had hope in the probable condition
of the earl！ He turned from him and walked away。
CHAPTER LXX。
A PLOT。
But his lordship had his suspicions； and took measures to confirm or
set them at restwith the result that he concluded Donal madly in
love with his niece； and unable； while she was ill； to rest anywhere
but； with the devotion of a savage； outside her door： if he did not
take precautions； the lout would oust the lord！ Ever since Donal
spoke so plainly against his self…indulgence； he had not merely
hated but feared the country lad。 He recognized that Donal feared
nothing； had no respect of persons； would speak out before the
world。 He was doubtful also whether he had not allowed him to know
more than it was well he should know。 It was time to get rid of
himonly it must be done cautiously； with the appearance of a good
understanding！ If he had him out of the house before she was able to
see him again； that would do！ And if in the meantime she should die；
all would be well！ His distrust； once roused； went farther than that
of his son。 He had not the same confidence in blue blood； he knew a
few things more than Forguebelieved it quite possible that the
daughter of a long descent of lords and ladies should fall in love
with a shepherd…lad。 And as no one could tell what might have to be
done if the legal owner of the property persisted in refusing her
hand to the rightful owner of it； the fellow might be seriously in
the way！
Arctura slowly recovered。 She had not yet left her room； but had
been a few hours on the couch every day fo