hop was pleased, the
people were in good humour, some men began dancing, it seemed that the
cloud had blown over, and Mr Mountchesney sent up a bulletin to Lady de
Mowbray that all danger was past and that he hoped in ten minutes they
would all have disappeared.

The ten minutes had expired: the Bishop was still drinking ale, and
Mr Mountchesney still making civil speeches and keeping his immediate
attendants in humour.

"I wish they would go," said Lady de Mowbray.

"How wonderfully Alfred has managed them," said Lady Joan. "After all,"
said Lady Maud, "it must be confessed that the people--" Her sentence
was interrupted; Harold who had been shut out but who had laid down
without quietly, though moaning at intervals, now sprang at the door
with so much force that it trembled on its hinges, while the dog again
barked with renewed violence. Sybil went to him: he seized her dress
with his teeth and would have pulled her away. Suddenly uncouth and
mysterious sounds were heard, there was a loud shriek, the gong in the
hail thundered, the great alarum-bell of the tower sounded without, and
the housekeeper followed by the female domestics rushed into the room.

"O! my lady, my lady," they all exclaimed at the same time, "the
Hell-cats are breaking into the castle."

Before any one of the terrified company could reply, the voice of Mr
Mountchesney was heard. He was approaching them; he was no longer calm.
He hurried into the room; he was pale, evidently greatly alarmed. "I
have come to you," he said; "these fellows have got in below. While
there is time and we can manage them, you must leave the place."

"I am ready for anything." said Lady de Mowbray.

Lady Joan and Lady Maud wrung their hands in frantic terror. Sybil very
pale said "Let me go down; I may know some of these men."

"No, no," said Mr Mountchesney. "They are not Mowbray people. It would
not be safe."

Dreadful sounds were now heard; a blending of shouts and oaths and
hideous merriment. Their hearts trembled.

"The mob are in the house, sir," called out Mr Bentley rushing up to
them. "They say they will see everything."

"Let them see everything," said Lady de Mowbray, "but make a condition
that they first let us go. Try Alfred, try to manage them before they
are utterly ungovernable."

Mr Mountchesney again left them on this desperate mission. Lady de
Mowbray and all the women remained in the chamber. Not a word was
spoken: the silence was complet