donal grant-第94节

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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