sound. It came again
and again, at regular intervals.

"That is my uncle's step!" said Arctura in a scared whisper through the
dark.

It was plainly a slow step--far off, but approaching.

"I wonder if he has a light!" she added hurriedly. "He often goes in
the dark without one. If he has you must get behind the altar."

"Do not speak a word," said Donal; "let him think you are asleep. If he
has no light, I will stand so that he cannot come near the bed without
coming against me. Do not be afraid; he shall not touch you."

The steps were coming nearer all the time. A door opened and shut. Then
they were loud--they were coming along the gallery! They ceased. He was
standing up there in the thick darkness!

"Arctura," said a deep, awful voice.

It was that of the earl. Arctura made no answer.

"Dead of fright!" muttered the voice. "All goes well. I will go down
and see. She might have proved as obstinate as the boys' mother!"

Again the steps began. They were coming down the stair. The door at the
foot of it opened. The earl entered a step or two, then stopped.
Through the darkness Donal seemed to know exactly where he stood. He
knew also that he was fumbling for a match, and watched intently for
the first spark. There came a sputter and a gleam, and the match
failed. Ere he could try another, Donal made a swift blow at his arm.
It knocked the box from his hand.

"Ha!" he cried, and there was terror in the cry, "she strikes at me
through the dark!"

Donal kept very still. Arctura kept as still as he. The earl turned and
went away.

"I will bring a candle!" he muttered.

"Now, my lady, we must make haste," said Donal. "Do you mind being left
while I fetch my tools?"

"No--but make haste," she answered.

"I shall be back before him," he returned.

"Be careful you do not meet him," said Arctura.

There was no difficulty now, either in going or returning. He sped, and
in a space that even to Arctura seemed short, was back. There was no
time to use the file: he attacked the staple, and drew it from the
bed-post, then wound the chain about her arm, and tied it there.

He had already made up his mind what to do with her. He had been
inclined to carry her away from the house: Doory would take care of
her! But he saw that to leave the enemy in possession would be to yield
him an advantage. Awkward things might result from it! the tongues of
inventive ignorance and stupidity would wag wildly! He would take h