the closed eyelids rolled slowly down the furrowed cheeks.

"You have heard the particulars then?" said Sophie, addressing the
housekeeper. "And my brother and sister were there?"

"Yes, ma'am, and Master Horace, and Miss Rosie too. Yes; and some of the
men-servants. Mr. Dinsmore's man John was one o' them, and he's come
back, and frae him I learned a' was richt with our friends."

"Oh call him in and let me hear all he can tell!" entreated the old
lady.

The request was immediately complied with, and John gave a graphic and
in the main correct account of the whole affair.

His tale was to all his auditors one of intense, thrilling, painful
interest. They lost not a word and when he had finished his story the
old lady cross-questioned him closely. "Did he know who had warned Mr.
Travilla? were any of the raiders recognized?"

Both of these questions John answered in the negative. "At least," he
corrected himself, "he had not heard that any one was recognized: they
were all completely disguised, and they had carried away their dead and
wounded; both the shot and the scalded."

At that moment Mr. Dinsmore's family carriage drove up, and John bowed
and retired.

There were tearful embraces between the sisters and other relatives, and
between Rose and the elder Mrs. Carrington.

"I feel as if you had been in terrible danger." said Sophie, wiping her
eyes. "John has just been telling us all about it. What a mercy that Mr.
Travilla was warned in time!"

"By whom, Horace? if it be not an improper question," asked the old
lady, turning to Mr. Dinsmore.

"By a detective, Mrs. Carrington, who was secretly present at their
meeting and heard all the arrangements."

"He then knew who were the members appointed to be of the attacking
party?"

Mr. Dinsmore bowed assent.

"Was George one?"

"My dear madam I did not see the detective, but their raids are usually
made by men coming from a distance."

"You are evading my question. I implore you to tell me all you know.
George did not come down to breakfast; had evidently not occupied his
bed last night, and this seems to explain his absence. I know, too, that
he has bitterly hated Travilla since--since his arrest and imprisonment.
Will you not tell me? Any certainty is to be preferred to this--this
horrible suspense. I would know the worst."

Thus adjured Mr. Dinsmore told her George had been appointed one of the
party, but that he could not say that he was actually