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Cautiously listening to be sure the earl was not there； he ran to
the oak door； locked it； and brought away the key。 Then they went to
the room Arctura had last occupied。
The door was ajar； there was a light in the room。 They went softly；
and peeped in。 The earl was there； turning over the contents of her
writing…desk。
〃He will find nothing；〃 she whispered with a smile。
Donal led her away。
〃We will go to your old room；〃 he said。 〃The whole recess is built
up with stone and lime： he cannot come near you that way！〃
She made no objection。 Donal secured the doors； lighted a fire； and
went to look for food。 They had agreed upon a certain knock； without
which she was to open to none。
While she was yet changing the garments in which she had lain on the
terrible bed； she heard the earl go by； and the door of his room
close。 Apparently he had concluded to let her pass the night without
another visit： he had himself had a bad fright； and had probably not
got over it。 A little longer and she heard Donal's gentle signal at
the door of the sitting…room。 He had brought some biscuits and a
little wine in the bottom of a decanter from the housekeeper's room：
there was literally nothing in the larder； he said。
They sat down and ate the biscuits。 Donal told his adventures。 They
agreed that she must write to the factor to come home at once； and
bring his sister。 Then Donal set to with his file upon the ring： her
hand was much too swollen to admit of its being removed as it had
been put on。 It was not easy to cut it； partly from the constant
danger of hurting her swollen hand； partly that the rust filled and
blunted the file。
〃There！〃 he said at last； 〃you are free！ And now； my lady； you must
take some rest。 The door to the passage is secure。 Lock this one
inside； and I will draw the sofa across it outside： if he come
wandering in the night； and get into this room； he will not reach
your door。〃
Weary as he was； Donal could not sleep much。 In the middle of the
night he heard the earl's door open； and watched and followed him。
He went to the oak door； and tried in vain to open it。
〃She has taken it！〃 he muttered； in what seemed to Donal an
awe…struck voice。
All night long he roamed the house a spirit grievously tormented。 In
the gray of the morning； having perhaps persuaded himself that the
whole affair was a trick of his imagination； he went back to his
room。
In the morning Donal left the house； having first called to Arctura
and warned her to lock the door of the sitting…room the moment he
was gone。 He ran all the way down to the inn； paid his bill； bought
some things in the town for their breakfast； and taking the mare；
rode up to the castle； and rang the bell。 No notice was taken。 He
went and put up his animal； then let himself into the house by
Baliol's tower； and began to sing。 So singing he went up the great
stair； and into and along the corridor where the earl lay。
The singing roused him； and brought him to his door in a rage。 But
the moment he saw Donal his countenance fell。
〃What the devil are you doing here？〃 he said。
〃They told me in the town you were in England； my lord！〃
〃I wrote to you；〃 said the earl； 〃that we were gone to London； and
that you need be in no haste to return。 I trust you have not brought
Davie with you？〃
〃I have not； my lord。〃
〃Then make what haste back to him you can。 He must not be alone with
bumpkins！ You may stay there with him till I send for youonly mind
you go on with your studies。 Now be off。 I am at home but for a few
hours on business； and leave again by the afternoon coach！〃
〃I do not go； my lord； until I have seen my mistress。〃
〃Your mistress！ Who； pray； is your mistress！〃
〃I am no longer in your service； my lord。〃
〃Then what； in the name of God； have you done with my son？〃
〃In good time； my lord； when you have told me where my mistress is！
I am in this house as lady Arctura's servant； and I desire to know
where I shall find her。〃
〃In London。〃
〃What address； please your lordship？ I will wait her orders here。〃
〃You will leave this house at once；〃 said the earl。 〃I will not have
you here in both her ladyship's absence and my own。〃
〃My lord； I am not ignorant how things stand： I am in lady Arctura's
house； and here I remain till I receive her commands。〃
〃Very well！ By all means！〃
〃I ask you again for her address； my lord。〃
〃Find it for yourself。 You will not obey my orders： am I to obey
yours？〃
He turned on his heel； and flung to his door。
Donal went to lady Arctura。 She was in the sitting…room； anxiously
waiting his return。 She had heard their voices； but nothing that
passed。 He told her what he had done； then produced his provisions；
and together they prepared their breakfast。 By and by they heard the
earl come from his room； go here and there through the still house；
and return to his apartment。
In the afternoon he left the house。 They watched him awayill able；
apparently； even to crawl along。 He went down the hill； nor once
lifted his head。 They turned and looked at each other。 Profound pity
for the wretched old man was the feeling of both。 It was followed by
one of intense relief and liberty。
〃You would like to be rid of me now； my lady；〃 said Donal； 〃but I
don't see how I can leave you。 Shall I go and fetch Miss
Carmichael？〃
〃No； certainly；〃 answered Arctura。 〃I cannot apply to her。〃
〃It would be a pity to lose the advantage of your uncle's not
knowing what has become of you。〃
〃I wonder what he will do next！ If I were to die now； the property
would be his； and then Forgue's！〃
〃You can will it away； I suppose； my lady！〃 answered Donal。
Arctura stood thoughtful。
〃Is Forgue a bad man； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃I dare not trust him；〃 answered Donal。
〃Do you think he had any knowledge of this plot of his father's？〃
〃I cannot tell。 I do not believe he would have left you to die in
the chapel。〃
CHAPTER LXXVIII。
RESTORATION。
The same afternoon； while Donal was reading to Arctura in the
library； there came a loud ringing of the door…bell。 Donal ran to
see； and to his great delight； there was mistress Brookes； half wild
with anxious terror。
〃Is my leddy safe？〃 she criedthen clasped Donal in her arms and
embraced him as if he had been her son。
》From the moment she discovered herself fooled； she had been
imagining all manner of terrible thingsyet none so terrible as the
truth。 There was no end to her objurgations； exclamations；
anathemas； and interjections。
〃Now I can leave you in peace； my lady！〃 said Donal； who had not
resumed his seat。
〃Noo ye can bide whaur ye are； an' be thankfu'！〃 said mistress
Brookes。 〃Wha daur meddle wi' ye； an' me i' the hoose！ An' wha kens
what the mad yerl； for mad I s' uphaud him； an' fit only to be
lockit upwha kens what he may do neist！ Maister Grant； I cannot
lat ye oot o' the hoose。〃
〃I was only going as far as mistress Comin's；〃 replied Donal。
〃Weel； ye can gang； but min' ye're hame i' gude time！〃
〃I thought of putting up there； but I will do as my lady pleases。〃
〃Come home；〃 said Arctura。
Donal went； and the first person he saw when he entered the house
was Eppy。 She turned instantly away； and left the room： he could not
help seeing why。
The old woman welcomed him with her usual cordiality； but not her
usual cheerfulness： he had scarcely noted since her husband's death
any change on her manner till now： she looked weary of the world。
She sat down； smoothed her apron on her knees； gave him one glance
in the face； then looked down at her hands； and said nothing。
〃I ken what ails ye； Doory；〃 said Donal； 〃but i' the name o' him
'at's awa'； hearken til me。The lass is no lost； naither is the
Lord asleep。 Yer lamb 's been sair misguidit； sair pluckit o' her
bonny woo'； but gien for that she haud the closer by the Lord's
flock； she'll ken it wasna for want o' his care the tod got a grup
o' her。 It's a terrible pity for the bonny cratur； disgracin' them
'at aucht her！ What for winna yoong fowk believe them 'at speyks
true； but wull believe them 'at tells them little but lees！ Still；
it's no as gien she had been stealin'！ She's wrangt her puir sel'；
an' she's wrangt us a'； an' she's wrangt the Lord； but for a' that
ye canna luik doon upon her as upo' the man 'at's grown rich at the
cost o' his neebours。 There's mony a gran' prood leddy 'ill hae to
stan' aside to lat Eppy pass up； whan we're 'afore the richteous
judge。〃
〃Eh； but ye speyk like my Anerew！〃 cried the poor woman； wiping her
old eyes with her rough apron。 〃I s' do what I can for her； but
there's no hidin' o' 't！〃
〃Hidin' o' 't！〃 cried Donal。 〃The Lord forbid！ Sic things are no to
be hidden！ Sae lang 's she 's i' the warl'； the thing has to be
kenned o' a' 'at come nigh her。 She maun beir her burden； puir lass！
The Lord he'll lichten 't til her； but he'll hae naething smugglet
up。 That's no the w'y o' his kingdom！I suppose there's nae doobt
wha？〃
〃Nane。 The Lord forbid！〃
Two days after； Mr。 Graeme and his sister returned； and at lady
Arctura's request took up their abode at the castle。 She told them
that of late she had become convinced her uncle was no longer
capab