rove that she was another person than that "demon wife" who had been
the cause of all his woes. Her soft glance, her gentle manner, her
sweet and tender expression--above all, the tone of her voice; all
these at once opened his eyes. In the course of their conversation she
had spoken in a low tone, often in a whisper, so that this fact with
regard to the difference of voice had not been perceptible; but her
last words were spoken louder, and he observed the difference.

Now the tumult grew greater, and the reports of the rifles more
frequent. The noise was communicated to the house, and in the rooms
and the hall below there were tramplings of feet, and hurryings to and
fro, and the rattle of arms, and the voices of men, in the midst of
which rose the stern command of Girasole.

"Forward! Follow me!"

Then the distant reports grew nearer and yet nearer, and all the men
rushed from the house, and their tramp was heard outside as they
hurried away to the scene of conflict.

"It's an attack! The brigands are attacked!" cried Mrs. Willoughby.

Dacres said nothing. He was collecting his scattered thoughts.

"Oh, may Heaven grant that we may be saved! Oh, it is the troops--it
must be! Oh, Sir, come, come; help us to escape! My darling sister is
here. Save her!"

"Your sister?" cried Dacres.

"Oh yes; come, save her! My sister--my darling Minnie!"

With these words Mrs. Willoughby rushed from the room.

"Her sister! her sister!" repeated Dacres--"Minnie Fay! _Her_ sister!
Good Lord! What a most infernal ass I've been making of myself this
last month!"

He stood still for a few moments, overwhelmed by this thought, and
apparently endeavoring to realize the full extent and enormous size
and immense proportions, together with the infinite extent of ear,
appertaining to the ass to which he had transformed himself; but
finally he shook his head despondingly, as though he gave it up
altogether. Then he hurried after Mrs. Willoughby.

Mrs. Willoughby rushed into Minnie's room, and clasped her sister in
her arms with frantic tears and kisses.

"Oh, my precious darling!" she exclaimed.

"Oh dear!" said Minnie, "isn't this really too bad? I was _so_ tired,
you know, and I was just beginning to go to sleep, when those horrid
men began firing their guns. I really do think that every body is
banded together to tease me. I do _wish_ they'd all go away and let me
have a little peace. I am so tired and sleepy!"

While Minnie