s he held Isa in his arm, and rattled the reins with
the other, so that the ponies plunged along furiously. "Puir bairns--
puir bairns!"

McCray's words were muttered, but Brace caught their meaning.

"Drive to the Hall," he said, hoarsely; "it is quite a couple of miles
nearer."

"Gude sake! I might just as weel commit a murder," muttered the Scot.
"But I shall commit one if I dinna get house-room for the lassie
directly. I'll e'en do as he says, if I dee for it. Get on wi' ye!" he
roared to the ponies, already speeding along like the wind, when, being
no inexpert Jehu, he kept them at a sharp gallop, till a few minutes
after, when he drew them up on their haunches at the door of Merland
Hall.

End of Volume Two.

Book 2, Chapter IX.

HOW DOCTORS RULE.

Pale and agitated, Mrs Norton hurried out, followed by the Captain, for
Brace's long absence had been causing them great uneasiness; but Mrs
Norton's agitation increased to a painful degree as soon as she saw in
what company he had: returned. Isa's state was the first consideration;
and dismissing every other thought, the insensible girl was borne to a
bed-room by Captain Norton, as reverently as if she had been something
holy, his lip quivering as he marked in the sweet features the
lineaments of the one whom he had so fondly loved. Whilst, with all a
mother's care, Mrs Norton tended her, taking the first steps towards
insuring the poor girl's recovery--steps but for which the services of
Dr Challen, for whom McCray had directly galloped off, would have been
in vain.

An hour after, when Isa had begun to show signs of returning animation,
her wondering eyes ranging from face to face--letting them rest longest
upon the soft, motherly countenance bent over her to kiss her so
tenderly--there came the sound of wheels, and Dr Challen hurried up to
the bedside, to express his approval of what had been done.

"And noo I must go and tell Sir Mooray," said McCray to Captain Norton.
"I thought I'd get the doctor first."

"I sent a groom directly you had gone," said the Captain.

"'Deed and you did weel," said McCray; "but I must stay here and face
him, sir, for he'll be over directly with my laird, there, like twa
roarin and rampagin' lions."

In effect, five minutes after, there was again the sound of rapid
wheels, followed directly after by Sir Murray Gernon's voice in the
hall.

"How dared you to bring her here?" he exclaimed, in a hoarse, harsh
voice