down, she took her work,
but only for it to fall into her lap, as she tried to divine what would
be her best plan to adopt in connection with the strange information
which had the day before been imparted to her.

Book 1, Chapter XXXV.

A STORM AT MERLAND.

Sir Murray Gernon had, during the past few weeks, made a good deal of
use of his horses--another sign, the stablemen observed, of a returning
good state of things, for they were growing quite tired of doing nothing
but taking the horses out for exercise. But Sir Murray's rides were
only round and about his own estate: he never went far, though he was
out for hours at a time; and the day before there was again a fierce
look upon his face, as he caught sight of Jane Barker hurriedly leaving
Merland Hall.

"Of course!" he said; he might have known that before. Time proved all
things, and here, at length, was before his eyes the arrangement by
which letters and messages had been conveyed.

But he was, if anything, more than usually courteous to my lady that
evening at dinner. Sir Murray hadn't been in such a good temper for
long enough past, said one of the footmen; only my lady looked so ill
and sad, and shivered so. It was almost a pity she should have come
down to dinner.

Sir Murray had been out again, riding up and down forest paths, and by
copse edges, along by field and meadow; and always with his head bent,
and a watchful look in his eye.

About an hour after Ada Norton's visit to the Castle, Sir Murray slowly
walked his horse up to the door, and the footman ran down the steps, and
laid his hand on the animals neck.

"Stand aside a few minutes, William," said Sir Murray; and the groom,
who had also run up to take the saddle-horse, touched his hat and fell
back. "Well, what now?" he exclaimed hastily, for something in the
footman's face told of tidings.

"I thought I'd better tell you, Sir Murray," said the man, "her
ladyship--"

"Not--?" ejaculated Sir Murray, starting, and turning livid, as he
checked himself. "Has the doctor been sent for?"

"No, Sir Murray," said the man; "her ladyship ain't worse, only she went
out this afternoon."

"Well?" said the baronet. "That's all, Sir Murray," said the man,
timidly. "I was called away, and didn't see her go. I didn't know it
till just now, when one of the gardeners said he saw her go out, and he
thought the pony-carriage ought to be sent for her, as a storm was
coming on."

"She has not come