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that of late she had become convinced her uncle was no longer
capable of attending to her affairs； that he was gone to London；
that she had gone away with him； and was supposed to be with him
still； though she had returned； and he did not know where she was。
She did not wish him to know； but desired for the present to remain
concealed。 She had her reasons； and requested therefore as a
personal favour that they would not once or to any one allude to her
being at the castle。 Mr。 Graeme would in the meantime be so good as
make himself acquainted； so far as possible； with the state of
affairs between her and her uncle。
In the course of the investigations thereupon following； it became
clear that a large portion of the moneys of the estate received by
his lordship were nowise accounted for。 Lady Arctura directed that
further inquiry should in the meantime be stayed； but that no more
money should be handed over to him。
For some time the factor heard nothing from his lordship。 At length
came instructions as to the forwarding of money； Forgue writing and
his father signing。 Mr。 Graeme replied； excusing himself as he
could； but sending no money。 They wrote again。 Again he excused
himself。 The earl threatened。 Mr。 Graeme took no heed。 His lordship
continued to demand and threaten； but neither he nor his son
appeared。 The factor at length wrote that he would pay no money but
to lady Arctura。 The earl himself wrote in reply； sayinghad he
been out of the country that he did not know she was dead and six
weeks in her grave？ Again the factor did not reply。
Donal rode back to Glashgar； and brought Davie home。 Lessons were
resumed； and Arctura took her full share in them。
Soon all about the castle was bustle and labourmasons and
carpenters busy from morning to night。 The wall that masked the
windows of the chapel was pulled down； the windows； of stained
glass； with never a crack； were cleaned； the passage under them was
opened to the great stair； lady Arctura had a small sweet…toned
organ built in the little gallery； and the mural stair from her own
room opened again； that she might go down when she pleased to play
on itsometimes； in south…easterly winds； to listen to the aeolian
harp dreaming out the music of the spheres。
In the process of removing the bed； much of it crumbled to dust。 The
carved tester and back were set up； the one over the great
chimney…piece in the hall； the other over that in Arctura's room。
The altar was replaced where the bed had been。 The story of the
finding of the lost chapel was written by Donal； and placed by
Arctura among the records of the family。
But it soon became evident that what she had passed through had
exercised a hurtful influence on lady Arctura's health。 She was
almost always happy； but her strength at times would suddenly desert
her。 Both Donal and mistress Brookes regarded her with some anxiety。
Her organ； to which she gave more labour than she was quite equal
to； was now one of her main delights。 Often would its chords be
heard creeping through the long ducts and passages of the castle：
either for a small instrument its tone was peculiarly penetrating；
or the chapel was the centre of the system of the house。 On the roof
would Donal often sit listening to the sounds that rose through the
shaftairs and harmonies freed by her worshipping
fingersrejoicing to think how her spirit was following the sounds；
guided by them in lovely search after her native country。
One day she went on playing till she forgot everything but her
music； and almost unconsciously began to sing 〃The Lord is mindful
of his own。〃 She was unaware that she had two listenersone on the
roof above； one in the chapel below。
When twelve months were come and gone since his departure； the earl
one bright morning approached the door of the castle； half doubting；
half believing it his own： he was determined on dismissing the
factor after rigorous examination of his accounts； and he wanted to
see Davie。 He had driven to the stables； and thence walked out on
the uppermost terrace； passing the chapel without observing its
unmasked windows。 The great door was standing open： he went in； and
up the stair； haunted by sounds of music he had been hearing ever
since he stepped on the terrace。
But on the stair was a door he had never seen！ Who dared make
changes in his house？ The thing was bewildering！ But he was
accustomed to be bewildered。
He opened the doorplainly a new oneand entered a gloomy little
passage； lighted from a small aperture unfit to be called a window。
The under side of the bare steps of a narrow stone stair were above
his head。 Had he or had he not ever seen the place before？ On the
right was a door。 He went to it； opened it； and the hitherto muffled
music burst loud on his ear。 He started back in dismal
apprehension：there was the chapel； wide open to the eye of
day！clear and clean！gone the hideous bed！ gone the damp and the
dust！ while the fresh air trembled with the organ…breath rushing and
rippling through it； and setting it in sweetest turmoil！ He had
never had such a peculiar experience！ He had often doubted whether
things were or were not projections from his own brain； he moved and
acted in a world of subdued fact and enhanced fiction； he knew that
sometimes he could not tell the one from the other； but never had he
had the apparently real and the actually unreal brought so much face
to face with each other！ Everything was as clear to his eyes as in
their prime of vision； and yet there could be no reality in what he
saw！
Ever since he left the castle he had been greatly uncertain whether
the things that seemed to have taken place there； had really taken
place。 He got himself in doubt about them the moment he failed to
find the key of the oak door。 When he asked himself what then could
have become of his niece； he would reply that doubtless she was all
right： she did not want to marry Forgue； and had slipped out of the
way： she had never cared about the property！ To have their own will
was all women cared about！ Would his factor otherwise have dared
such liberties with him； the lady's guardian？ He had not yet
rendered his accounts； or yielded his stewardship。 When she died the
property would be his！ if she was dead； it was his！ She would never
have dreamed of willing it away from him！ She did not know she
could： how should she？ girls never thought about such things！
Besides she would not have the heart： he had loved her as his own
flesh and blood！
At intervals； nevertheless； he was assailed； at times overwhelmed；
by the partial conviction that he had starved her to death in the
chapel。 Then he was tormented as with all the furies of hell。 In his
night visions he would see her lie wasting； hear her moaning； and
crying in vain for help： the hardest heart is yet at the mercy of a
roused imagination。 He saw her body in its progressive stages of
decay as the weeks passed； and longed for the process to be over；
that he might go back； and pretending to have just found the lost
room； carry it away； and have it honourably buried！ Should he take
it for granted that it had lain there for centuries； or suggest it
must be lady Arcturathat she had got shut up there； like the bride
in the chest？ If he could but find an old spring lock to put on the
door！ But people were so plaguy sharp nowadays！ They found out
everything！he could not afford to have everything found out！God
himself must not be allowed to know everything！
He stood staring。 As he stood and stared； his mind began to change：
perhaps； after all； what he saw； might be！ The whole thing it had
displaced must then be a fancya creation of the dreaming brain！
God in heaven！ if it could but be proven that he had never done it！
All the other wicked things he wasor supposed himself guilty
ofsome of them so heavy that it had never seemed of the smallest
use to repent of themall the rest might be forgiven him！But what
difference would that make to the fact that he had done them？ He
could never take his place as a gentleman where all was known！ They
made such a fuss about a sin or two； that a man went and did worse
out of pure despair！
But if he had never murdered anybody！ In that case he could almost
consent there should be a God！ he could almost even thank him！For
what！ That he was not to be damned for the thing he had not donea
thing he had had the misfortune to dream he had doneGod never
interfering to protect him from the horrible fancy？ What was the
good of a God that would not do that much for youthat left his
creatures to make fools of themselves； and only laughed at
them！Bah！ There was life in the old dog yet！ If only he knew the
thing for a fancy！
The music ceased； and the silence was a shock to him。 Again he began
to stare about him。 He looked up。 Before him in the air hovered the
pale face of the girl he hador had not murdered！ It was one of his
visionsbut not therefore more unreal than any other appearance：
she came from the world of his imaginationso real to him that in
expectant moods it was the world into which he was to step the
moment he left the body。 She looked sweetly at him！ She was come to
forgive his sins！ W