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well as inwardly； so that he was even unable； during considerable
portions of his life； to tell whether things took place outside or
inside him。 Nor did this trouble himhe was past caring。 He would
argue that what equally affected him had an equal right to be by him
regarded as existent。 He paid no heed to the different natures of
the two kinds of existence； their different laws； and the different
demands they made upon the two consciousnesses； he had in fact； by a
long course of disobedience growing to utter disuse of conscience；
arrived nearly at non…individuality。 In regard to what was outside
him he was but a mirror； in regard to what was inside him a mere
vessel of imperfectly interacting forces。 And now his capacities and
incapacities together had culminated in a hideous plot； in which it
would be hard to say whether the folly； the crime； or the cunning
predominated： he had made up his mind that； if the daughter of his
brother refused to wed her cousin； and so carry out what he asserted
to have been the declared wish of her father； she should go after
her father； and leave her property to the next heir； so that if not
in one way then in another the law of nature might be fulfilled； and
title and property united without the intervention of a marriage。 As
to any evil that therein might be imagined to befall his niece； he
quoted the words of Hamlet〃Since no man has ought of what he
leaves； what is't to leave betimes？〃she would be no worse than she
must have been when the few years of her natural pilgrimage were of
necessity over： the difference to her was not worth thinking of
beside the difference to the family！ At the same time perhaps a
scare might serve； and she would consent to marry Forgue to escape a
frightful end！
The moment Donal was gone； he sent Forgue to London； and set himself
to overcome the distrust of him which he could not but see had for
some time been growing in her。 With the sweet prejudices of a loving
nature to assist him； he soon prevailed so far that； without much
entreaty； she consented to accompany him to Londonfor a month or
so； he said； while Davie was gone。 The proposal had charms for her：
she had been there with her father when a mere child； and never
since。 She wrote to Donal to let him know： how it was that her
letter never reached him； it is hardly needful to inquire。
The earl； in order； he said； to show his recognition of her sweet
compliance； made arrangements for posting it all the way。 He would
take her by the road he used to travel himself when he was a young
man： she should judge whether more had not been lost than gained by
rapidity！ Whatever shortened any natural process； he said； simply
shortened life itself。 Simmons should go before； and find a suitable
place for them！
They were hardly gone when Mrs。 Brookes received a letter
pretendedly from the clergyman of the parish； in a remote part of
the south； where her mother； now a very old woman； lived； saying she
was at the point of death； and could not die in peace without seeing
her daughter。 She went at once。
The scheme was a madman's； excellently contrived for the instant
object； but with no outlook for immediately resulting perils。
After the first night on the road； he turned across country； and a
little towards home； after the next night； he drove straight back；
but as it was by a different road； Arctura suspected nothing。 When
they came within a few hours of the castle； they stopped at a little
inn for tea； there he contrived to give her a certain dose。 At the
next place where they stopped； he represented her as his daughter
taken suddenly ill： he must go straight home with her； however late
they might be。 Giving an imaginary name to their destination； and
keeping on the last post…boy who knew nothing of the country； he
directed him so as completely to bewilder him； with the result that
he set them down at the castle supposing it a different place； and
in a different part of the country。 The thing was after the earl's
own heart； he delighted in making a fool of a fellow…mortal。 He sent
him away so as not to enter the town： it was of importance his
return should not be known。
It is a marvel he could effect what followed； but he had the
remnants of great strength； and when under influences he knew too
well how to manage； was for the time almost as powerful as ever： he
got his victim to his room on the stair； and thence through the oak
door。
CHAPTER LXXV。
THE PORCH OF HADES。
When Arctura woke from her unnatural sleep； she lay a while without
thought； then began to localize herself。 The last place she recalled
was the inn where they had tea： she must have been there taken ill；
she thought； and was now in a room of the same。 It was quite dark：
they might have left a light by her！ She lay comfortably enough； but
had a suspicion that the place was not over clean； and was glad to
find herself not undrest。 She turned on her side： something pulled
her by the wrist。 She must have a bracelet on； and it was entangled
in the coverlet！ She tried to unclasp it； but could not： which of
her bracelets could it be？ There was something attached to it！a
chaina thick chain！ How odd！ What could it mean？ She lay quiet；
slowly waking to fuller consciousness。Was there not a strange air；
a dull odour in the room？ Undefined as it was； she had smelt it
before； and not long since！It was the smell of the lost
chapel！But that was at home in the castle！ she had left it two
days before！ Was she going out of her mind？
The dew of agony burst from her forehead。 She would have started up；
but was pulled hard by the wrist！ She cried on God。Yes； she was
lying on the very spot where that heap of woman…dust had lain！ she
was manacled with the same ring from which that woman's arm had
wastedthe decay of centuries her slow redeemer！ Her being recoiled
so wildly from the horror； that for a moment she seemed on the edge
of madness。 But madness is not the sole refuge from terror！ Where
the door of the spirit has once been opened wide to God； there is
he； the present help in time of trouble！ With him in the house； it
is not only that we need fear nothing； but that is there which in
its own being and nature casts out fear。 God and fear cannot be
together。 It is a God far off that causes fear。 〃In thy presence is
fulness of joy。〃 Such a sense of absolute helplessness overwhelmed
Arctura that she felt awake in her an endless claim upon the
protection of her original； the source of her being。 And what sooner
would any father have of his children than action on such claim！ God
is always calling us as his children； and when we call him as our
father； then； and not till then； does he begin to be satisfied。 And
with that there fell upon Arctura a kind of sleep； which yet was not
sleep； it was a repose such as perhaps is the sleep of a spirit。
Again the external began to intrude。 She pictured to herself what
the darkness was hiding。 Her feelings when first she came down into
the place returned on her memory。 The tide of terror began again to
rise。 It rose and rose； and threatened to become monstrous。 She
reasoned with herself： had she not been brought in safety through
its first and most dangerous inroad？but reason could not outface
terror。 It was fear； the most terrible of all terrors； that she
feared。 Then again woke her faith： if the night hideth not from him；
neither does the darkness of fear！
It began to thunder； first with a low distant muttering roll； then
with a loud and near bellowing。 Was it God coming to her？ Some are
strangely terrified at thunder； Arctura had the child's feeling that
it was God that thundered： it comforted her as with the assurance
that God was near。 As she lay and heard the great organ of the
heavens； its voice seemed to grow articulate； God was calling to
her； and saying； 〃Here I am； my child！ be not afraid！〃
Then she began to reason with herself that the worst that could
happen to her was to lie there till she died of hunger； and that
could not be so very bad！ And therewith across the muttering thunder
came a wail of the ghost…music。 She started： had she not heard it a
hundred times before； as she lay there in the dark alone？ Was she
only now for the first time waking up to itshe； the lady they had
shut up there to diewhere she had lain for ages； with every now
and then that sound of the angels singing； far above her in the blue
sky？
She was beginning to wander。 She reasoned with herself； and
dismissed the fancy； but it came and came again； mingled with real
memories； mostly of the roof； and Donal。
By and by she fell asleep； and woke in a terror which seemed to have
been growing in her sleep。 She sat up； and stared into the dark。
》From where stood the altar； seemed to rise and approach her a form
of deeper darkness。 She heard nothing； saw nothing； but something
was there。 It came nearer。 It was but a fancy； she knew it； but the
fancy assumed to be： the moment she gave way； and acknowledged it；
that moment it would have the reality it had been waiting for； and
clasp her in its skeleton…arms！ She cried aloud； but it only came
nearer； it was about to seize her！
A sudden； divine change！her