abel and, following it, low-toned entreaties that pierced
her anew with the utter abandonment of their supplication.

"Oh God," she prayed brokenly. "I am so tired--so tired--of waiting. Open
the door for me! Let me out of my prison! Let me find my beloved in the
dawning--in the dawning!"

Her voice sank, went into piteous sobbing. She crouched lower in the
depth of her woe.

Dinah stooped over her with a little crooning murmur of pity, and
gathered her close in her arms.

Isabel gave a great start. "Child!" she said, and then she clasped Dinah
to her, leaning her face against her bosom.

Dinah was crying softly, but she saw that Isabel had no tears. That
sobbing came from her broken heart, but it brought no relief. The dark
eyes burned with a misery that found no vent, save possibly in the
passionate holding of her arms.

"My darling," she whispered presently, "did I wake you?"

"No, dearest, no!" Dinah was tenderly caressing the snowy hair; she spoke
with an almost motherly fondness. "I happened to be awake, and I heard
you at the window."

"Why were you awake, darling? Aren't you happy?"

Quick anxiety was in the words. Dinah flushed with a sense of guilt.

"Of course I am happy," she made answer. "What more could I have to wish
for? But, Isabel, you--you!"

"Ah, never mind me!" Isabel said. She rose with the movement of one who
would shield another from harm. "You ought to be in bed, sweetheart.
Shall I come and tuck you up?"

"Come and finish the night with me!" whispered Dinah. "We shall both be
happy then."

She scarcely expected that Isabel would accede to her desire, but it
seemed that Isabel could refuse her nothing. She turned, holding Dinah
closely to her.

"My good angel!" she murmured tenderly. "What should I do without you? It
is always you who come to lift me out of my inferno."

She left the letters forgotten on the window-sill. By the simple
outpouring of her love, Dinah had drawn her out of her place of torment;
and she led her now, leaning heavily upon her, through the passage to her
own room.

Biddy crept after them like a wise old cat alert for danger. "She'll
sleep now, Miss Dinah darlint," she murmured. "Ye won't be anxious at
all, at all? It's meself that'll be within call."

"No, no! Go to your own room and sleep, Biddy!" Isabel said. "We are both
going to do the same."

She sank into the great double bed that Dinah had found almost alarmingly
capacious, with a sigh of e