approaching night as they registered themselves upon the glass-panes
at her side. The windows gradually became more and more difficult to
see through; each time she looked it had grown a shade darker, until
at length the pure glass had changed, to her unmitigated satisfaction,
in hue from clear transparency to green, and from that to black.

At length the service was over. She hailed its conclusion with a sigh
of relief, mentally promising the new confessor but a small portion
of her favour if he were always as long-winded as he had been on this
occasion; and she anxiously awaited the moment when Sir George would
rise from his knees and lead the way out, so that she might carry
Dorothy off in safety.

The time came in due course. The baron rose; the others followed his
example, and as Lady Maude, less haughty than usual, led the way out
of the chapel, Margaret eagerly caught hold of her sister and led her
away in silence across the courtyard and into the hall.

CHAPTER XIX.

"THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE."

'Twere wild to hope for her, you say, I've torn and cast those words
away, Surely there's hope! For life 'tis well Love without hope's
impossible.

--COVENTRY PATMORE.

Father Philip had lain under the sod but one sunset before the fruits
of Margaret's intriguing began to make themselves apparent.

It was with a secret sense of misgiving that Manners received an
invitation, which he readily construed into a command, to attend the
baron in his private room, and it was with a fluttering heart that he
prepared himself to meet Dorothy's father. Nor were his forebodings
set at rest or in anywise lightened by the first view he got of the
baron.

Sir George was pacing up and down the room, but hearing the door open
he stopped suddenly, and when Manners entered he saw upon the knight's
face a look which at once struck a chill to his heart.

"Sit down, Manners, sit down," said the baron curtly.

He was nervous and excited, and as Manners obeyed the injunction
he clearly perceived this fact, and it afforded him a little
satisfaction.

"You wished to see me?" he exclaimed, breaking the awkward silence
which ensued after he had sat down.

"Eh, yes, I did."

Another long pause followed, which was painful alike to both.

The baron's agitation increased, and it did not need any great
exercise of shrewdness to guess the cause. The lover guessed it
intuitively, and deftly altered the topic which was just abou