ushed it to sleep, the little child that,
after five years, had been born to Sir Murray.

"Hoot, lassie! and what do ye do here?"

"What do I do?" exclaimed Jane, fiercely, her half-frightened aspect
giving place to a look of rage. "I have come to ask that man what he
has done with my dear lady!"

"Hoot, lassie! do ye ken it's the laird?" exclaimed the alarmed
gardener; and then, stooping over her, he put his face close to hers,
and muttered to himself: "There isna a smell of the stuff on her mooth,
or I'd say she'd been at the whuskee."

"Stand aside, McCray!" she said hoarsely. "I want to ask him, I tell
you, what he has done with my dear lady."

After the manner of a woman of her class, she raised her voice as she
spoke; when, in alarm, the Scot darted to and closed the door, turning
the little inside bolt, and then hurrying back to his betrothed's side;
for there was something threatening in the baronet's looks, as he rose
from his chair, glaring the while at his wife's maid.

"Stand back, McCray!" cried Jane, hoarsely, as he laid his hand upon her
arm. "I've been silent all these months, but I'll speak now. Let him
strike me if he dares, but he dare not! See here!" she cried, "I've
brought your little one down to you, to see if it will do anything
towards melting your hard, proud, cruel heart, and making you tell the
truth! Tell me now, and at once, what you have done with my dear lady!"

"Take her away, and this instant!" hissed Sir Murray. "The woman's
mad!"

"Mad! No, I am not mad! Keep back, McCray; I won't go! Touch me
again, and I'll scream so as to alarm the house; and then all the
servants shall hear what I mean to say to you alone. I'm not afraid, I
tell you, and I will be answered. But, oh, Sir Murray!" she cried,
softening for a moment, "tell me where the poor thing is! What have you
done with her?"

"You Scotch wolf!" exclaimed Sir Murray, in a rage, to the gardener,
"why do you not take the mad fool from my sight?"

McCray placed his arm round Jane, and tried to lead her off; but she
struggled from him, and uttered a wild, piercing scream that made him
start aside, as if the shrill sound had pierced him like a sword.

"I will not go!" cried the girl, stamping with fury. "I will know
first! Do you think I am to be cheated and blinded by all this
pretended hunting to find my poor darling, ill-used lady? Why did you
come, with your pride and your money, to her happy home, and