Englishmun!"

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW MR. ASHBY MEETS WITH A GREAT SURPRISE AND A VERY GREAT
CONSOLATION.

Ashby was alone in his chamber. His room opened from the lower hall,
and was directly beneath that in which Harry was confined. It was of
the same dimensions in all save height, in which respect it was much
inferior. The room had also a gloomier character, for the high
stonewalls, as they rose and arched overhead, had the aspect of some
cathedral crypt or burial-place. The windows here were narrow slits,
as above, through which the different court-yards might be seen. The
floor was of stone, and at one end there was a huge fireplace, very
similar to the others already mentioned, though not so high.

It had been a long, long day for Ashby. Evening came, and found him
weary and worn out with _ennui_. Without any occupation for his
energies, his mind preyed upon itself, and there certainly was
sufficient occupation for his fancy. His mind was in a whirl, and
speedily became a prey to every variety of conflicting feeling. He
remembered Katie's bright smile, and also the dark glance of Dolores.
He was jealous of the smiles which Katie had so lavishly bestowed on
Harry. He was offended with her for being so gay under such
circumstances. But, in his loneliness, there were other feelings
which were stronger than even this resentment and jealousy. There
were certain strange and indefinable longings after some society; and
the society which now seemed most desirable was the gentle presence
of Dolores. Her last looks remained deeply impressed upon his memory;
her last deep, earnest glance had sunk into his soul. He could not
throw aside this recollection.

Dolores was in all his thoughts, though he had tried to thrust her
aside.

He found himself continually comparing these two. Would Katie be so
glad at seeing him again as Dolores had been at meeting him? Would
Katie take so much trouble for the sake of speaking to him? On the
other hand, would Dolores be so gay, so happy, and so merry when torn
from him? and would Dolores look upon him in his loneliness with such
a smile of indifference and light-hearted mirth? Never! Dolores had a
deeper nature. In the glance of Dolores her inmost soul had been
revealed. At its recollection his nerves thrilled, his heart throbbed
faster. He longed to hear her voice again. And thus, as the hours
passed, the image of Katie faded away, and that of Dolores grew more
strongly defi