r among the roofs and chimneys. It was to his mind! He went out on
the roof, and mechanically took his way toward the nest of the music.
At the base of the chimneys he sat down, and stared into the darkness.
The lightning came; he saw the sea lie watching like a perfect peace to
take up drift souls, and the land bordering it like a waste of dread;
then the darkness swallowed both; and the thunder came so loud that it
not only deafened but seemed to blind him beyond the darkness, that his
brain turned to a lump of clay. Then came a silence, and the silence
was like a deeper deafness. But from the deafness burst and trickled a
faint doubtful stream: could it be a voice, calling, calling, from a
great distance? Was he the fool of weariness and excitement, or did he
actually hear his own name? Whose voice could it be but lady Arctura's,
calling to him from the spirit world! They had killed her, and she was
calling to let him know she was in the land of liberty! With that came
another flash and another roar of thunder--and there was the voice
again: "Mr. Grant! Mr. Grant! come, come! You promised!" Did he
actually hear the words? They sounded so far away that it seemed as if
he ought not to hear them. But could the voice be from the spirit-land?
Would she claim his promise thence, tempting him thither? She would
not! And she knew he would not go before his hour, if all the spirits
on the other side were calling him. But he had heard of voices from far
away, while those who called were yet in the body! If she would but say
whither, he would follow her that moment! Once more it came, but very
faint; he could not tell what it said. A wail of the ghost-music
followed close.--God in heaven! could she be down in the chapel? He
sprang to his feet. With superhuman energy he leapt up and caught the
edge of the cleft, drew himself up till his mouth reached it, and cried
aloud, "Lady Arctura!"

There came no answer.

"I am stupid as death!" he said to himself: "I have let her call me in
vain!"

"I am coming!" he cried again, revived with sudden joy. He dropped on
the roof, and sped down the stair to the door that opened on the second
floor. All was dark as underground, but he knew the way so well he
needed but a little guidance from his hands. He hurried to lady
Arctura's chamber, and the spot where the press stood, ready with one
shove to send it yards out of his way. There was no press
there!--nothing but a smooth, cold, damp wall