ssurances that he did not believe
her in any personal danger, if the report were ever so true, were thrown
away. Her consternation was about a different aspect of the matter.
She at once concluded that the cause of the Stuarts would be triumphant.
She saw in imagination all her enemies victorious--her husband and Lord
Lovat successful in all their plottings, high in power and glory; while
she, who could have given timely intimation of their schemes--she who
could have saved the throne and kingdom--was confined to this island
like an eagle in a cage. For some time she sat paralysed by her
emotions; then she rose and went in silence to Annie's dwelling. The
steward was just departing, and he seemed in the more haste for the
lady's appearance; but Annie stopped him--gravely desired him to remain
while she told the lady what it concerned her to know. She then said,
"I learn from the steward, madam, that it is known throughout Edinburgh
that you are still in life, and that you are confined to some
out-of-the-way place, though, the steward believes, the real place is
not known."

"It is not known," the steward declared; "and it is anything but kind of
you, in my opinion, Mrs Fleming, to delude Lady Carse with any hope of
escape. Her escape is, and will always be, impossible."

"I think it my business," said Annie, "to inform the lady of whatever I
hear of her affairs. I think she ought to have the comfort of knowing
that her friends are alarmed: and I am sure I have no right to conceal
it from her."

The steward walked away, while the lady stood lost in reverie. One set
of ideas had driven out the other. She had forgotten all about the
Jacobite news, and she stood staring with wide open eyes, as the vision
of her escape and triumph once more intoxicated her imagination.

Annie gently drew her attention to the facts, telling her that it was
clear that the ball of thread had done its duty well. The alarm had
begun with Mr Hope, the advocate. He had demanded that the coffin
supposed to contain the remains of Lady Carse should be taken up and
searched. When he appeared likely to obtain his demand, Lord Carse had
avoided the scandal of the proceeding by acknowledging that it had been
a sham funeral. Annie believed that now the lady had only to wait as
patiently as she could, in the reasonable hope that her friends would
not rest until they had rescued her.

At this moment Lady Carse's quick sense was caught by Ada