er
to her room, and there watch her as he would the pearl of price!

"There! you are free, my lady," he said. "Now come."

He took her hands, and she raised herself wearily.

"The air is so stifling!" she said.

"We shall soon have better!" answered Donal.

"Shall we go on the roof?" she said, like one talking in her sleep.

"I will take you to your own room," replied Donal. "--But I will not
leave you," he added quickly, seeing a look of anxiety cloud her face,
"--so long as your uncle is in the house."

"Take me where you will," rejoined Arctura.

There was no way but through the crypt: she followed him without
hesitation. They crept through the little closet under the stair, and
were in the hall of the castle.

As they went softly up the stair, Donal had an idea.

"He is not back yet!" he said: "we will take the key from the oak door;
he will think he has mislaid it, and will not find out that you are
gone. I wonder what he will do!"

Cautiously listening to be sure the earl was not there, he ran to the
oak door, locked it, and brought away the key. Then they went to the
room Arctura had last occupied.

The door was ajar; there was a light in the room. They went softly, and
peeped in. The earl was there, turning over the contents of her
writing-desk.

"He will find nothing," she whispered with a smile.

Donal led her away.

"We will go to your old room," he said. "The whole recess is built up
with stone and lime: he cannot come near you that way!"

She made no objection. Donal secured the doors, lighted a fire, and
went to look for food. They had agreed upon a certain knock, without
which she was to open to none.

While she was yet changing the garments in which she had lain on the
terrible bed, she heard the earl go by, and the door of his room close.
Apparently he had concluded to let her pass the night without another
visit: he had himself had a bad fright, and had probably not got over
it. A little longer and she heard Donal's gentle signal at the door of
the sitting-room. He had brought some biscuits and a little wine in the
bottom of a decanter from the housekeeper's room: there was literally
nothing in the larder, he said.

They sat down and ate the biscuits. Donal told his adventures. They
agreed that she must write to the factor to come home at once, and
bring his sister. Then Donal set to with his file upon the ring: her
hand was much too swollen to admit of its being removed as it ha