nxiously,
fearfully, all around her.

There was no one in sight anywhere. The apparition had vanished. Corona
and her uncle were alone.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE MEETING ON THE MOUNT.

"What is this? Am I mad? Have I seen a spirit? Oh, Clarence, what is
it?" cried Corona, in a tumult of emotion in which her life seemed
throbbing away as she clung to her uncle for support.

"Try to compose yourself, dear Cora," he answered, as he gently laid her
down on the mossy rocks, and went and brought her water from the spring
in his pocket cup.

She raised herself and drank it at his request, and then staring wildly
at him, repeated her questions:

"Oh, what was it? Who was here just now? Or was it--or was it--was
it--delusion?"

"For Heaven's sake, Cora, calm yourself. It was Regulas Rothsay who
stood here a moment ago."

"Rule himself, and no delusion! But, oh! I knew it! I knew it all the
time!" she exclaimed, still trembling violently.

"My darling Cora, try--"

"Where did he go? Where?" she cried, staggering to her feet and clinging
to her uncle. "Where? Oh, take me to him!"

"Do you see that log cabin on the plateau above us, Cora, to the right?"
he said, pointing in the direction of which he spoke.

Her eyes followed his index, and she saw a cottage of rough-hewn logs
standing against the rocky steep at the back of the broad ledge above
them.

"What do you mean? Is he up there? Is he up there?" she breathlessly
demanded.

"Yes; he is in that hut. I saw him climb the rocks and enter it, and
close the door. But, for Heaven's sake! compose yourself, my dear. You
are shaking as with an ague, and your hands are cold as ice," said
Clarence.

"In that hut, did you say? So near? So near?"

"Yes, dear Cora; but be calm."

"Take me there! Take me there! Oh, give me your arm, Uncle Clarence, and
help me. My limbs fail now, when I need them more than ever before. Ah!
and my heart fails, too!" she moaned, growing suddenly pale and fainter
as she leaned heavily against her uncle.

"Cora, darling! Cora, rouse yourself, my girl! This weakness is not like
you. Take courage; all will be well," said Mr. Clarence, caressingly,
laying his hand on her head.

She sighed heavily as she asked:

"How will he receive me? Oh, how will he receive me? Will he have me
now? But he must! Oh, he must! For I will never, never, never go down
this mountain side again without him! I will perish on its rocks sooner!
Oh, come, co