f God had given her a property, he would not have
her forsake her post, but wait for him to relieve her. She must
administer her own kingdom ere she could have an abundant entrance into
his! Only he wished he were near her again to help her!

CHAPTER LXXII.

SENT, NOT CALLED.

He had been at home about ten days, during which not a word had come to
Davie or himself from the castle, and was beginning to grow, not
perhaps anxious, but hungry for news of lady Arctura, when from a sound
sleep he started suddenly awake one midnight to find his mother by his
bedside: she had roused him with difficulty.

"Laddie," she said, "I'm thinkin ye're wantit."

"Whaur am I wantit, mother?" he asked, rubbing his eyes, but with
anxiety already throbbing at his heart.

"At the castle," she replied.

"Hoo ken ye that?" he asked.

"It wad be ill tellin' ye," she answered. "But gien I was you, Donal, I
wad be aff afore the day brak, to see what they're duin' wi' yon puir
leddy at the muckle place ye left. My hert's that sair aboot her, I
canna rest a moment till I hae ye awa' upo' the ro'd til her!"

Long before his mother had ended, Donal was out of bed, and hurrying on
his clothes. He had the profoundest faith in whatever his mother said.
Was it a vision she had had? He had never been told she had the second
sight! It might have been only a dream, or an impression so deep she
must heed it! One thing was plain: there was no time to ask questions!
It was enough that his mother said "Go;" more than enough that it was
for lady Arctura! How quickest could he go? There were horses at sir
Gibbie's: he would make free with one! He put a crust of bread in his
pocket, and set out running. There was a little moonlight, enough for
one who knew every foot of the way; and in half an hour of swift
descent, he was at the stable door of Glashruach.

Finding himself unable to rouse anyone, he crept through a way he knew,
opened the door, without a moment's hesitation saddled and bridled sir
Gibbie's favourite mare, led her out, and mounted her.

Safe in the saddle, with four legs busy under him, he had time to
think, and began to turn over in his mind what he must do. But he soon
saw there was no planning anything till he knew what was the matter--of
which he had dreadful forebodings. His imagination started and spurred
by fear, he thought of many dread possibilities concerning which he
wondered that he had never thought of them before: if