donal grant-第76章

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he；　the　present　help　in　time　of　trouble！　With　him　in　the　house；　it
is　not　only　that　we　need　fear　nothing；　but　that　is　there　which　in
its　own　being　and　nature　casts　out　fear。　God　and　fear　cannot　be
together。　It　is　a　God　far　off　that　causes　fear。　〃In　thy　presence　is
fulness　of　joy。〃　Such　a　sense　of　absolute　helplessness　overwhelmed
Arctura　that　she　felt　awake　in　her　an　endless　claim　upon　the
protection　of　her　original；　the　source　of　her　being。　And　what　sooner
would　any　father　have　of　his　children　than　action　on　such　claim！　God
is　always　calling　us　as　his　children；　and　when　we　call　him　as　our
father；　then；　and　not　till　then；　does　he　begin　to　be　satisfied。　And
with　that　there　fell　upon　Arctura　a　kind　of　sleep；　which　yet　was　not
sleep；　it　was　a　repose　such　as　perhaps　is　the　sleep　of　a　spirit。

Again　the　external　began　to　intrude。　She　pictured　to　herself　what
the　darkness　was　hiding。　Her　feelings　when　first　she　came　down　into
the　place　returned　on　her　memory。　The　tide　of　terror　began　again　to
rise。　It　rose　and　rose；　and　threatened　to　become　monstrous。　She
reasoned　with　herself：　had　she　not　been　brought　in　safety　through
its　first　and　most　dangerous　inroad？but　reason　could　not　outface
terror。　It　was　fear；　the　most　terrible　of　all　terrors；　that　she
feared。　Then　again　woke　her　faith：　if　the　night　hideth　not　from　him；
neither　does　the　darkness　of　fear！

It　began　to　thunder；　first　with　a　low　distant　muttering　roll；　then
with　a　loud　and　near　bellowing。　Was　it　God　coming　to　her？　Some　are
strangely　terrified　at　thunder；　Arctura　had　the　child's　feeling　that
it　was　God　that　thundered：　it　comforted　her　as　with　the　assurance
that　God　was　near。　As　she　lay　and　heard　the　great　organ　of　the
heavens；　its　voice　seemed　to　grow　articulate；　God　was　calling　to
her；　and　saying；　〃Here　I　am；　my　child！　be　not　afraid！〃

Then　she　began　to　reason　with　herself　that　the　worst　that　could
happen　to　her　was　to　lie　there　till　she　died　of　hunger；　and　that
could　not　be　so　very　bad！　And　therewith　across　the　muttering　thunder
came　a　wail　of　the　ghost…music。　She　started：　had　she　not　heard　it　a
hundred　times　before；　as　she　lay　there　in　the　dark　alone？　Was　she
only　now　for　the　first　time　waking　up　to　itshe；　the　lady　they　had
shut　up　there　to　diewhere　she　had　lain　for　ages；　with　every　now
and　then　that　sound　of　the　angels　singing；　far　above　her　in　the　blue
sky？

She　was　beginning　to　wander。　She　reasoned　with　herself；　and
dismissed　the　fancy；　but　it　came　and　came　again；　mingled　with　real
memories；　mostly　of　the　roof；　and　Donal。

By　and　by　she　fell　asleep；　and　woke　in　a　terror　which　seemed　to　have
been　growing　in　her　sleep。　She　sat　up；　and　stared　into　the　dark。
》From　where　stood　the　altar；　seemed　to　rise　and　approach　her　a　form
of　deeper　darkness。　She　heard　nothing；　saw　nothing；　but　something
was　there。　It　came　nearer。　It　was　but　a　fancy；　she　knew　it；　but　the
fancy　assumed　to　be：　the　moment　she　gave　way；　and　acknowledged　it；
that　moment　it　would　have　the　reality　it　had　been　waiting　for；　and
clasp　her　in　its　skeleton…arms！　She　cried　aloud；　but　it　only　came
nearer；　it　was　about　to　seize　her！

A　sudden；　divine　change！her　fear　was　gone；　and　in　its　place　a
sense　of　absolute　safety：　there　was　nothing　in　all　the　universe　to
be　afraid　of！　It　was　a　night　of　June；　with　roses；　roses　everywhere！
Glory　be　to　the　Father！　But　how　was　it？　Had　he　sent　her　mother　to
think　her　full　of　roses？　Why　her　mother？　God　himself　is　the　heart　of
every　rose　that　ever　bloomed！　She　would　have　sung　aloud　for　joy；　but
no　voice　came；　she　could　not　utter　a　sound。　What　a　thing　this　would
be　to　tell　Donal　Grant！　This　poor　woman　cried；　and　God　heard　her；
and　saved　her　out　of　all　her　distresses！　The　father　had　come　to　his
child！　The　cry　had　gone　from　her　heart　into　his！

If　she　died　there；　would　Donal　come　one　day　and　find　her？　No！　No！
She　would　speak　to　him　in　a　dream；　and　beg　him　not　to　go　near　the
place！　She　would　not　have　him　see　her　lie　like　that　he　and　she
standing　together　had　there　looked　upon！

With　that　came　Donal's　voice；　floated　and　rolled　in　music　and
thunder。　It　came　from　far　away；　she　did　not　know　whether　she　fancied
or　really　heard　it。　She　would　have　responded　with　a　great　cry；　but
her　voice　vanished　in　her　throat。　Her　joy　was　such　that　she
remembered　nothing　more。




CHAPTER　LXXVI。

THE　ANGEL　OF　THE　LORD。

Standing　upon　the　edge　of　the　stone　leaned　against　the　wall；　Donal
seized　the　edge　of　the　slab　which　crossed　the　opening　near　the　top；
and　drew　himself　up　into　the　sloping　window…sill。　Pressing　with　all
his　might　against　the　sides　of　the　window；　he　succeeded　at　last　in
pushing　up　the　slab　so　far　as　to　get　a　hold　with　one　hand　on　the
next　to　it。　Then　slowly　turning　himself　on　his　side；　while　the　whole
weight　of　the　stone　rested　on　his　fingers；　he　got　the　other　hand
also　through　the　crack。　This　effected；　he　hauled　and　pushed　himself
up　with　his　whole　force；　careless　of　what　might　happen　to　his　head。
The　top　of　it　came　bang　against　the　stone；　and　lifted　it　so　far　that
he　got　head　and　neck　through。　The　thing　was　done！　With　one　more
Herculean　lift　of　his　body　and　the　stone　together；　like　a　man　rising
from　the　dead；　he　rose　from　the　crypt　into　the　passage。

But　the　door　of　the　chapel　would　not　yield　to　a　gentle　push。

〃My　lady；〃　he　cried；　〃don't　be　afraid。　I　must　make　a　noise。　It's
only　Donal　Grant！　I'm　going　to　drive　the　door　open。〃

She　heard　the　words！　They　woke　her　from　her　swoon　of　joy。　〃Only
Donal　Grant！〃　What　less　of　an　only　could　there　be　in　the　world　for
her！　Was　he　not　the　messenger　who　raised　the　dead！

She　tried　to　speak；　but　not　a　word　would　come。　Donal　drew　back　a
pace；　and　sent　such　a　shoulder　against　the　door　that　it　flew　to　the
wall；　then　fell　with　a　great　crash　on　the　floor。

〃Where　are　you；　my　lady？〃　he　cried。

But　still　she　could　not　speak。

He　began　feeling　about。

〃Not　on　that　terrible　bed！〃　she　heard　him　murmur。

Fear　lest　in　the　darkness　he　should　not　find　her；　gave　her　back　her
voice。

〃I　don't　mind　it　now！〃　she　said　feebly。

〃Thank　God！〃　cried　Donal；　〃I've　found　you　at　last！〃

Worn　out；　he　sank　on　his　knees；　with　his　head　on　the　bed；　and　fell　a
sobbing　like　a　child。

She　would　have　put　out　her　hand　through　the　darkness　to　find　him；
but　the　chain　checked　it。　He　heard　the　rattle　of　it；　and　understood。

〃Chained　too；　my　dove！〃　he　said；　but　in　Gaelic。

His　weakness　was　over。　He　thanked　God；　and　took　courage。　New　life
rushed　through　every　vein。　He　rose　to　his　feet　in　conscious
strength。

〃Can　you　strike　a　light；　and　let　me　see　you；　Donal？〃　said　Arctura。

Then　first　she　called　him　by　his　Christian　name：　it　had　been　so
often　in　her　heart　if　not　on　her　lips　that　night！

The　dim　light　wasted　the　darkness　of　the　long　buried　place；　and　for
a　moment　they　looked　at　each　other。　She　was　not　so　changed　as　Donal
had　feared　to　find　herhardly　so　change　to　him　as　he　was　to　her。
Terrible　as　had　been　her　trial；　it　had　not　lasted　long；　and　had　been
succeeded　by　a　heavenly　joy。　She　was　paler　than　usual；　yet　there　was
a　rosy　flush　over　her　beautiful　face。　Her　hand　was　stretched　towards
him；　its　wrist　clasped　by　the　rusty　ring；　and　tightening　the　chain
that　held　it　to　the　post。

〃How　pale　and　tired　you　look！〃　she　said。

〃I　am　a　little　tired；〃　he　answered。　〃I　came　almost　without　stopping。
My　mother　sent　me。　She　said　I　must　come；　but　she　did　not　tell　me
why。〃

〃It　was　God　sent　you；〃　said　Arctura。

Then　she　briefly　told　him　what　she　knew　of　her　own　story。

〃How　did　he　get　the　ring　on　to　your　wrist？〃　said　Donal。

He　looked　closer　and　saw　that　her　hand　was　swollen；　and　the　skin
abraded。

〃He　forced　it　on！〃　he　said。　〃How　it　must　hurt　you！〃

〃It　does　hurt　now　you　speak　of　it；〃　she　replied。　〃I　did　not　notice
it　before。Do　you　suppose　he　left　me　here　to　die？〃

〃Who　can　tell！〃　returned　Donal。　〃I　suspect　he　is　more　of　a　madman
than　we　knew。　I　wonder　if　a　soul　can　be　mad。Yes；　the　devil　must　be
mad　with　self…worship！　Hell　is　the　great　madhouse　of　creation！〃

〃Take　me　away；〃　she　said。

〃I　must　first　get　you　free；〃　answered　Donal。

She　heard　him　rise。

〃You　are　not　going　to　leave　me？〃　she　said。

〃Only　to　get　a　tool　or　two。〃

〃And　after　that？〃　she　said。

〃Not　until　you　wish　me；〃　he　answered。　〃I　am　your　servant　nowhis　no
more。〃




CHAPTER　LXXVII。

THE　ANGEL　OF　THE　DEVIL。

There　came　a　great　burst　of　thunder。　It　was　the　last　of　the　storm。
It　bellowed　and　shuddered；　went；　and　came　rolling　up　again。　It　died
away　at　last　in　the　great　distance；　with　a　low　continuous　rumbling
as　if　it　would　never　cease。　The　silence　that　followed　was　like　the
Egyptian　darkness；　it　might　be　felt。

Out　of　the　tense　heart　of　the　silence　came　a　faint　sound。　It　came
again　and　again；　at　regular　intervals。

〃That　is　my　uncle's　step！〃　said　Arctura　in　a　scared　whisper　through
the　dark。

It　was　plainly　a　slow　stepfar　off；　but　approaching。

〃I　wonder　if　he　has　a　light！〃　she　added　hurriedly。　〃He　often　goes　in
the　dark　without　one。　If　he　has　you　must　get　behind　the　altar。〃

〃Do　not　speak　a　word；〃　said　Donal；　let　him　think　you　are　asleep。　If
he　has　no　light；　I　will　stand　so　that　he　cannot　come　near　the　bed
without　coming　against　me。　Do　not　be　afraid；　he　shall　not　touch
you。〃

The　steps　were　coming　nearer　all　the　time。　A　door　opened　and　shut。
Then　they　were　loudthey　were　coming　along　the　gallery！　They
ceased。　He　was　standing　up　there　in　the　thick　darkness！

〃Arctura；〃　said　a　deep；　awful　voice。

It　was　that　of　the　earl。　Arctura　made　no　answer。

〃Dead　of　fright！〃　muttered　the　voice。　〃All　goes　well。　I　will　go　down
and　see。　She　might　have　proved　as　obstinate　as　the　boys'　mother！〃

Again　the　steps　began。　They　were　coming　down　the　stair。　The　door　at
the　foot　of　it　opened。　The　earl　entered　a　step　or　two；　then　stopped。
Through　the　darkness　Donal　seemed　to　know　exactly　where　he　stood。　He
knew　also　that　he　was　fumbling　for　a　match；　and　watched　intently　for
the　first　spark。　There　came　a　sputter　and　a　gleam；　and　the　match
failed。　Ere　he　could　try　another；　Donal　made　a　swift　blow　at　his
arm。　It　knocked　the　box　from　his　hand。

〃Ha！〃　he　cried；　and　there　was　terror　in　the　cry；　〃she　strikes　at　me
through　the　dark！〃

Donal　kept　very　still。　Arctura　kept　as　still　as　he。　The　earl　turned
and　went　away。

〃I　will　bring　a　candle！〃　he　muttered。

〃Now；　my　lady；　we　must　make　haste；〃　said　Donal。　〃Do　you　mind　being
left　while　I　fetch　my　tools？〃

〃Nobut　make　haste；〃　she　answered。

〃I　shall　be　back　before　him；〃　he　returned。

〃Be　careful　you　do　not　meet　him；〃　said　Arctura。

There　was　no　difficulty　now；　either　in　going　or　returning。　He　sped；
and　in　a　space　that　even　to　Arctura　seemed　short；　was　back。　There
was　no　time　to　use　the　file：　he　attacked　the　staple；　and　drew　it
from　the　bed…post；　then　wound　the　chain　about　her　arm；　and　tied　it
there。

He　had　already　made　up　his　mind　what　to　do　with　her。　He　had　been
inclined　to　carry　her　away　from　the　house：　Doory　would　take　care　of
her！　But　he　saw　that　to　leave　the　enemy　in　possession　would　be　to
yield　him　an　advantage。　Awkward　things　might　result　from　it！　the
tongues　of　inventive　ignorance　and　stupidity　would　wag　wildly！　He
would　take　her　to　her　room；　and　there　watch　her　as　he　would　the
pearl　of　price！