ts of wind and rain.

"Help! Help! Help!"

There was no time to lose. The four men threw caution to the winds, and
dashed headlong into the winding passages of the dark old house.

* * * * *

When Rupert Vivian drove away from Netherglen, Kitty stood for some time
in the lane where they had been walking, and gazed after him with
painful, anxious interest. The dog-cart was well out of sight before she
turned, with a heavy sigh, preparing herself to walk back to the house.
And then, for the first time, she became aware that her husband was
standing at some little distance from her, and was coolly watching her,
with folded arms and an evil smile upon his face.

"I have been wondering how long you meant to stand there, watching
Vivian drive away," he said, advancing slowly to meet her. "Did you ask
him about his wife?"

Kitty thought of her conversation with Rupert at Strathleckie--a
conversation of which she had kept Hugo in ignorance--and coloured
vividly.

"His wife is dead," she said, in a smothered tone.

"Oh, then, you did ask him?" said Hugo, looking at her. "Is that what he
came to tell you?"

Kitty did not reply. She had thrown a shawl over her head before coming
out, and she stood drawing the edges of it closer across her bosom with
nervous, twitching fingers and averted face.

"Why did you come out in that way?" queried her husband. "You look like
a madwoman in that shawl. You looked more like one than ever when you
ran after that dog-cart, waving your hands for Vivian to stop. He did
not want to see you or to be forced into an interview."

"Then you have been watching me?"

"I always watch you. Women are such fools that they require watching.
What did you want to speak to Vivian about?"

"I will not tell you," said Kitty, suddenly growing pale.

"Then it is something that you ought not to have said. I understand your
ways by this time. Come here, close to me." She came like a frightened
child. "Look at me, kiss me." She obeyed, after some faint show of
reluctance. He put his arm round her and kissed her several times, on
cheek and brow and lips. "You don't like that," he said, releasing her
at last with a smile. "That is why I do it. You are mine now, remember,
not Vivian's. Now tell me what you said to him."

"Never!" said Kitty, with a gasp.

A change passed over Hugo's face.

"Who is with Vivian and your brother?" he demanded "Has Brian Luttrell
come back?"