ad being that there
would be a _fracas_ brought on by the young man's imprudence. He looked
for the visitor, though, in vain, and turned back to enter the
dining-room, when the glass door looking out upon the carriage-drive was
thrown open, and Brace, pale and wild-looking, appeared.

"Gude save us! and how can ye be sae foolish, laddie?" exclaimed McCray,
hurrying to him. "Ye'll mak' sair wark of it a', and do naebody any
gude. If ye lo'e the puir bairn," he said, with a touching simplicity,
"gang yer gait, and let her be in peace, for ye'll break her puir sair
hairt if ye mak' a dust noo!"

"What?" whispered Brace--"has she not told you?"

"Told me?" exclaimed McCray. "Ah! stop, then! Gude save us, the
lassie's mad! Jenny! wife!--here, stop!"

But Alexander McCray's words might have been true, from the way in which
the housekeeper rushed into the dining-room, exclaiming, "Sir Murray--
Sir Murray!"

The pent-up excitement of years upon years was struggling for exit, and,
heedless of all present--of the confusion her presence created as the
baronet rose, glaring at her with a mingling of fear and anger--Jane
darted towards him.

"Where is McCray? Take this woman out?"

"No--no," she shrieked, excitedly. "Let no one dare to touch me! I
knew the truth would out some day; and now it has come--come in time to
stop this cruel wedding. It has been hidden from the eyes of man all
these years, but Heaven would not suffer that it should rest longer.
No!" she cried, as, clinging to Sir Murray, he tried to shake her
off--"it has come home to you at last. I will not leave go. You know
how I have kept my lips sealed; and now the time is come when they
should be opened. Sir Murray--my poor lady--has--"

Jane McCray's words became inaudible, as, dizzy with excitement, she
reeled and then fell, to lie insensible upon the carpet. The visitors
looked from one to the other; some sought to assist the housekeeper,
others made for the door; while, trembling himself, Lord Maudlaine
hurried to Sir Murray's side.

"In Heaven's name, what does it all mean?" the Viscount whispered.

"I don't know--I--I--What, you here?" exclaimed Sir Murray, as Brace
Norton appeared in the doorway.

"Tell him, McCray," said Brace, in a low voice. "Speak to him gently."

Pale and scared-looking, his ruddy, open countenance speaking the sense
of the painful duty he had to perform, McCray moved slowly towards Sir
Murray.

"What is it?