n part Petronella's shrinking from strife and
danger, a shrinking that to Kate was inexplicable.

The night came and went in quietness and peace. The day passed
without any event. Kate paced impatiently up and down the big hall
as the sun went down in red and gold, sullen and lowering as it
neared the horizon, but shining to the last. She had not been
beyond the limits of the garden since Lady Humbert had gone. Now it
seemed as if a restless fit had come upon her, and grasping Cherry
by the arm, she cried:

"Let us go into the long gallery overhead and dance--dance--dance!
My feet are fairly aching for some exercise. Come thou and dance
with me."

Kate's word was almost always law to Cherry, though she thought it
a dreary place to select just at this hour of approaching darkness.
Still, there would be a little light glimmering in through that
long row of windows, and with Kate who would be afraid?

The key was in the door. The polished boards of the long ballroom
lay gleaming with ghostly shimmer in the fading light. The pictures
on the walls seemed to stare at the two intruders with cold
displeasure. Cherry shivered slightly as the chill struck her. It
seemed to her as if these stately knights and dames themselves must
surely come down from their frames at such an hour as this; and
silently disport themselves in this long gallery. She was glad to
feel Kate's arm about her as she commenced circling round and round
in her light and airy fashion. As the warm blood began tingling in
their veins the pace grew faster and faster, and Cherry's
chilliness and fear alike left her. Up and down, round and round,
flew the light girlish feet. The exercise was delightful to both
after the inaction of two long days. Up and down, round and round,
as though they would never tire; and as they danced the twilight
changed to night, and only glimmering moonbeams fell within the row
of windows, lighted the long gallery, and fell upon the flickering
figures of the two girls.

But their eyes had grown used to the darkness, and they heeded it
not. Cherry's thoughts had flown off to Cuthbert, Kate's to
Culverhouse. The rapid exercise stimulated thought, and both hearts
beat high with the glowing hope of youth. When at last they paused,
laughing and breathless, at the upper end of the long room, their
eyes were shining brightly, there was a vivid colour in their
checks. They only wished to gather breath and then on again.

"It is hot--it