Part 81 (1/2)
”Very well! By all means!”
”I ask you again for her address, my lord.”
”Find it for yourself. You will not obey my orders: am I to obey yours?”
He turned on his heel, and flung to his door.
Donal went to lady Arctura. She was in the sitting-room, anxiously waiting his return. She had heard their voices, but nothing that pa.s.sed. He told her what he had done; then produced his provisions, and together they prepared their breakfast. By and by they heard the earl come from his room, go here and there through the still house, and return to his apartment.
In the afternoon he left the house. They watched him away--ill able, apparently, even to crawl along. He went down the hill, nor once lifted his head. They turned and looked at each other. Profound pity for the wretched old man was the feeling of both. It was followed by one of intense relief and liberty.
”You would like to be rid of me now, my lady,” said Donal; ”but I don't see how I can leave you. Shall I go and fetch Miss Carmichael?”
”No, certainly,” answered Arctura. ”I cannot apply to her.”
”It would be a pity to lose the advantage of your uncle's not knowing what has become of you.”
”I wonder what he will do next! If I were to die now, the property would be his, and then Forgue's!”
”You can will it away, I suppose, my lady!” answered Donal.
Arctura stood thoughtful.
”Is Forgue a bad man, Mr. Grant?”
”I dare not trust him,” answered Donal.
”Do you think he had any knowledge of this plot of his father's?”
”I cannot tell. I do not believe he would have left you to die in the chapel.”
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
RESTORATION.
The same afternoon, while Donal was reading to Arctura in the library, there came a loud ringing of the door-bell. Donal ran to see, and to his great delight, there was mistress Brookes, half wild with anxious terror.
”Is my leddy safe?” she cried--then clasped Donal in her arms and embraced him as if he had been her son.
>From the moment she discovered herself fooled, she had been imagining all manner of terrible things--yet none so terrible as the truth. There was no end to her objurgations, exclamations, anathemas, and interjections.
”Now I can leave you in peace, my lady!” said Donal, who had not resumed his seat.
”Noo ye can bide whaur ye are, an' be thankfu'!” said mistress Brookes.
”Wha daur meddle wi' ye, an' me i' the hoose! An' wha kens what the mad yerl, for mad I s' uphaud him, an' fit only to be lockit up--wha kens what he may do neist! Maister Grant, I cannot lat ye oot o' the hoose.”
”I was only going as far as mistress Comin's,” replied Donal.
”Weel, ye can gang; but min' ye're hame i' gude time!”