" the latter said, in a strangely incoherent way. "Is Miss
Gernon ill or--or--in Heaven's name, speak!" he cried, as if forcing the
words to leave his lips--"_has she fled_?"

"No, Sir Mooray," said the old Scot, in a low voice, as he spoke almost
tenderly, watching the change in his master's countenance the while, and
catching him by the wrist; and, as if foreseeing what would happen, he
placed his arm round him. "Sir Mooray," he whispered now, as the
baronet's eyes assumed a fixed and ghastly expression, "_they're
bringing my lady hame_!"

McCray's foresight was needed; for at those words--words that Sir Murray
Gernon seemed to have expected--he raised one hand to his cravat, and
then his knees gave way beneath him, and he would have fallen but for
the stout supporting arm of his old servant.

"It's apoplexy! Sir Mooray was seized so before. There, for Gude-sake,
my laird, don't stand glowering there like that, but rin and send a
groom for the doctor. Fetch pillows, will ye? and, ladies and
gentlemen, in Sir Mooray's name I ask ye all to gang hame; for this is a
sair nicht at the Castle!"

At the same moment there was seen through the darkness of the autumn
evening the flashing of lights in the park avenue, then they slowly
approached the bridge, passed over it, and a few minutes after there
were steps upon the gravel drive, and, headed by Captain Norton, hat in
hand, men bore softly into the great hall a hastily-contrived litter.
Then, guided by McCray, the litter was borne into one of the nearest
rooms, and slowly and in silence the men went out on tip-toe, leaving
present only Brace Norton, his father, and the old major-domo.

No word was spoken, but McCray softly stole to the door and closed it,
as, suddenly, Captain Norton fell upon his knees, resting his hands for
a few moments upon the litter, covered as it was with a white sheet; and
then, taking the hand stretched out to him by his son, he tottered from
the room; and those who looked upon his pale face saw that great scar
standing out plain and red, and that his eyes were wet with tears.

The weakness was but of a few minutes' duration; and as they stood in
the brightly-lighted hall once more, Captain Norton's voice was sharp
and short in its utterance, as he inquired of the state of Sir Murray
Gernon.

"I left them bathing his face, sir," said McCray; and he led the way
into the nearly deserted dining-room, where, breathing stertorously, Sir
Mur