the meat of which it was made, wrapped some thin cakes which she had
baked into the fold of her plaid, and, beckoning her companion to follow
with a vessel of milk, also part of their provisions, she hastened
towards the garden.

"So, our fair vestal is stirring abroad?" said the only man she met, who
was one of the menials; but Catharine passed on without notice or reply,
and gained the little garden without farther interruption.

Louise indicated to her a heap of ruins, which, covered with underwood,
was close to the castle wall. It had probably been originally a
projection from the building; and the small fissure, which communicated
with the dungeon, contrived for air, had terminated within it. But the
aperture had been a little enlarged by decay, and admitted a dim ray of
light to its recesses, although it could not be observed by those who
visited the place with torchlight aids.

"Here is dead silence," said Catharine, after she had listened
attentively for a moment. "Heaven and earth, he is gone!"

"We must risk something," said her companion, and ran her fingers over
the strings of her guitar.

A sigh was the only answer from the depth of the dungeon. Catharine then
ventured to speak. "I am here, my lord--I am here, with food and drink."

"Ha! Ramorny! The jest comes too late; I am dying," was the answer.

"His brain is turned, and no wonder," thought Catharine; "but whilst
there is life, there may be hope."

"It is I, my lord, Catharine Glover. I have food, if I could pass it
safely to you."

"Heaven bless thee, maiden! I thought the pain was over, but it glows
again within me at the name of food."

"The food is here, but how--ah, how can I pass it to you? the chink
is so narrow, the wall is so thick! Yet there is a remedy--I have it.
Quick, Louise; cut me a willow bough, the tallest you can find."

The glee maiden obeyed, and, by means of a cleft in the top of the
wand, Catharine transmitted several morsels of the soft cakes, soaked in
broth, which served at once for food and for drink.

The unfortunate young man ate little, and with difficulty, but prayed
for a thousand blessings on the head of his comforter. "I had destined
thee to be the slave of my vices," he said, "and yet thou triest to
become the preserver of my life! But away, and save thyself."

"I will return with food as I shall see opportunity," said Catharine,
just as the glee maiden plucked her sleeve and desired her to be silent
an