profusion were taught to trail. The interior, at all events, had a neat
and clean appearance, but several blackened ruins, loop-holed walls, the
upper part of which were thickly bespattered with bullet-marks, showed
that it had been lately the scene of, perhaps, a brief but desperate
encounter between the hostile forces. The inn where the British
commissioner was said to be was pointed out to him. It was a long low
building like the rest in the place; the ground floor being divided into
two compartments, one serving as a kitchen and common eating-room, the
other as a stable and sleeping-place for the muleteers; the upper part
consisted of one large room, with dormitories roughly partitioned off
round it. An English cavalry soldier was doing duty as sentry at the
door. He informed Morton that the colonel had gone out with some of the
authorities in the neighbourhood, but that the ladies were upstairs.

While Ronald was doubting what he should do, another man appeared and
begged that he would walk up and remain till the colonel returned.
Handing the bridle to his attendants with directions to them to wait for
him, he threw himself off his horse, and followed the servant through
the dark smoky kitchen to the stairs leading to the upper floor. His
heart beat more quickly than usual, for he had a hope, though a faint
one, that he was about once more to meet Edda Armytage, yet again he
thought it very improbable that Colonel Armytage would bring her and her
mother, accustomed as they had been to all the luxuries of life, into a
part of the country in which travelling was so inconvenient and
dangerous. Still they were in Spain. Of that Mrs Edmonstone had
assured Glover. He sprang up the steps. The door was opened. He
walked in with more than usual precipitation. At one end of the room
were several persons with cloaks over their shoulders, and, hat in hand,
sitting silent and solemn, evidently waiting the return of the
commissioner. At the further end, in the deep window recess, sat two
ladies. The back of one was turned towards him. The other was looking
down at a piece of work on which she was engaged. Though jaded and
looking very sad, her countenance was, he was certain, that of Mrs
Armytage. His quick step roused both the ladies. They turned round.
In an instant Edda's hand was placed in his. The rich blood mantled in
her cheeks, her eyes sparkled with pleasure. She forgot everything but
the happiness o