rs
with their escort must pass. Then at a given signal an attack would be
made. The escort would be of course very strong; but the Jacobites
would be stronger, and in all probability the mob, always ready for a
disturbance, would feel sympathy with the unfortunate prisoners, and
help the attacking party, or at least join in checking the Guards,
resenting their forcing their horses through the crowd which would have
gathered; so that the prospects looked very bright in that direction,
and the boy felt more and more hopeful.

Twice over the servant came to the door to tell the watcher that first
breakfast, and then lunch, was waiting for him in the room below; but he
would not leave the bedside, taking from sheer necessity what was
brought to him, and then resuming his watch.

The physician came at the end of three hours as he had promised, but
stayed only a few minutes.

"Exactly what I wished," he said. "Go on watching and keeping her
quiet, and don't be alarmed if she sleeps for many hours yet. I will
come in again this afternoon."

Frank resumed his seat by the bed, and then hastily pencilled a few
lines to Captain Murray, telling him that it would be impossible to
leave the bedside, and sent the note across by the servant, who brought
a reply back.

It was very curt and abrupt.

"Of course. I see your position. Sorry, for I should have liked him to
see you."

The note stung Frank to the quick.

"He thinks I am trying to excuse myself, when I would give the world to
go with him," he muttered.

A glance at the pale face upon the pillow took off some of the
bitterness, though, and he resumed his watch while the hours glided by.

At four the physician came again.

"Not awake?" he said; and he touched his patient's pulse lightly, and
then softly raised one of Lady Gowan's eyelids, and examined the pupil.

"Nature is helping us, Mr Gowan," he said softly. "But she ought to
have awoke by now, sir?"

"I expected that she would have done so; but nothing could be better.
She is extremely weak, and if she could sleep like this till to-morrow
her brain would be rested from the terrible anxiety from which she is
suffering. I will look in once more this evening."

Frank was alone again with his charge, and another hour passed, during
which the lad dwelt upon the plans that had been made, and calculated
that Captain Murray must be about starting on his mission to meet the
escort bringing in the prisoners.