nxiously peering to right or left, he seemed to be at
fault, and turned sharply back to go in another direction, this time
almost at a run.

That he was much agitated was plain enough, for though his face, and
even his lips, were white, the veins in his forehead stood out in a
perfect network, his pulses, too, throbbing fiercely. Twice over a
heavy bead of perspiration trickled down his face, but he heeded it not,
but, evidently now settled upon the point he sought, he passed rapidly
along a by-path which led into one of the inner recesses of the wood.

Sir Murray had not left the garden ten minutes when, rising from his
work for an instant, McCray became aware of the flutter of a dress in
the distance, and the next instant made out that the wearer was Jane
Barker, who now signalled him to come to her.

"And me so busy, too," muttered the gardener. "I did say that all my
bit of courting should be done of an evening; and here's a temptation,
coming in the middle of the day. But there, gude save us, I must go
when she calls, if I lose my place."

"And there ye are, then," he said, as he reached the place where Jane
was anxiously awaiting him, "the brightest flower in the garden,
lassie."

"Oh, Alexander!" ejaculated Jane.

"Bless ye for that, my bairn! Ye've taken, then, to ca' me by my name
at last."

"Pray--pray make haste and help me. What shall I do?"

"Do, lassie," exclaimed the downright Scot. "Why, tell me what's the
matter."

"Yes, yes," cried the agitated girl. "You know my lady went out a
little while since."

"Ay, I saw her go."

"And then Sir Murray came down."

"To be sure, and he askit me the which way she'd gone."

"Yes, yes," cried Jane, "and I went up on to the top of the house on the
leads, and I've been watching him, and he's followed her."

"To be sure, lassie; and wadna I ha'e done the same if ye'd gone the
same gait?"

"Oh yes--no,--I don't know," said Jane; "but I don't like it, and I want
you to follow them."

"Me? Follow? What, go after Sir Mooray and my lady?" exclaimed McCray.
"Hoot, lassie, and have ye gone daft?"

"Daft! no!" cried Jane, angrily. "You must--indeed, you must go after
them. He came to me quite angry when he found that her ladyship had
gone out, and asked me where I thought she'd be; and I told him, like
the fool that I was; and I don't like things--I don't, indeed; and I'm
afraid there's mischief on the way."

"My dear bairn," said the thought