id you come alone and unattended
like this?'

'It was my humour.'

After a moment's silence, during which they moved on, she said, 'I have
thought of something which I hardly like to suggest to you. He said that
if I failed to come to-night he would wait again to-morrow night. Now,
shall we to-morrow night go to the hill together--just to see if he is
there; and if he is, read him a lesson on his foolishness in nourishing
this old passion, and sending for me so oddly, instead of coming to the
house?'

'Why should we see if he's there?' said her husband moodily.

'Because I think we ought to do something in it. Poor Fred! He would
listen to you if you reasoned with him, and set our positions in their
true light before him. It would be no more than Christian kindness to a
man who unquestionably is very miserable from some cause or other. His
head seems quite turned.'

By this time they had reached the door, rung the bell, and waited. All
the house seemed to be asleep; but soon a man came to them, the horse was
taken away, and the Duke and Duchess went in.

THIRD NIGHT

There was no help for it. Bill Mills was obliged to stay on duty, in the
old shepherd's absence, this evening as before, or give up his post and
living. He thought as bravely as he could of what lay behind the Devil's
Door, but with no great success, and was therefore in a measure relieved,
even if awe-stricken, when he saw the forms of the Duke and Duchess
strolling across the frosted greensward. The Duchess was a few yards in
front of her husband and tripped on lightly.

'I tell you he has not thought it worth while to come again!' the Duke
insisted, as he stood still, reluctant to walk further.

'He is more likely to come and wait all night; and it would be harsh
treatment to let him do it a second time.'

'He is not here; so turn and come home.'

'He seems not to be here, certainly; I wonder if anything has happened to
him. If it has, I shall never forgive myself!'

The Duke, uneasily, 'O, no. He has some other engagement.'

'That is very unlikely.'

'Or perhaps he has found the distance too far.'

'Nor is that probable.'

'Then he may have thought better of it.'

'Yes, he may have thought better of it; if, indeed, he is not here all
the time--somewhere in the hollow behind the Devil's Door. Let us go and
see; it will serve him right to surprise him.'

'O, he's not there.'

'He may be lying very quiet because