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his master's immediate supervision； came running to him to say that
Arkie was in the schoolroom and wanted to see him。
He hastened to her。
〃A word with you； please； Mr。 Grant；〃 she said。
Donal sent the boy away。
〃I have debated with myself all day whether I should tell you；〃 she
beganand her voice trembled not a little； 〃but I think I shall not
be so much afraid to go to bed if I do tell you what I dreamt last
night。〃
Her face was very pale； and there was a quiver about her mouth： she
seemed ready to burst into tears。
〃Do tell me；〃 said Donal sympathetically。
〃Do you think it very silly to mind one's dreams？〃 she asked。
〃Silly or not；〃 answered Donal； 〃as regards the general run of
dreams； it is plain you have had one that must be minded。 What we
must mind； it cannot be silly to mind。〃
〃I am in no mood； I fear； for philosophy；〃 she rejoined； trying to
smile。 〃It has taken such a hold of me that I cannot get rid of it；
and there is no one I could tell it to but you； any one else would
laugh at me； but you never laugh at anybody！
〃I went to bed as well as usual； only a little troubled about my
uncle's strangeness； and soon fell asleep； to find myself presently
in a most miserable place。 It was like a brick…fieldbut a deserted
brick…field。 Heaps of broken and half…burnt bricks were all about。
For miles and miles they stretched around me。 I walked fast to get
out of it。 Nobody was near or in sight； there was not a sign of
human habitation from horizon to horizon。
〃All at once I saw before me a dreary church。 It was old；
tumble…down； and dirtynot in the least venerablevery uglya
huge building without shape； like most of our churches。 I shrank
from the look of it： it was more horrible to me than I could account
for； I feared it。 But I must go inwhy； I did not know； but I must：
the dream itself compelled me。
〃I went in。 It looked as if nobody had crossed its threshold for a
hundred years。 The pews were mouldering away； the canopy over the
pulpit had half fallen； and rested its edge on the book…board； the
great galleries had in parts tumbled into the body of the church； in
other parts they hung sloping from the walls。 The centre of the
floor had fallen in； and there was a great； descending slope of
earth； soft…looking； mixed with bits of broken and decayed wood；
from the pews above and the coffins below。 I stood gazing down in
horror unutterable。 How far the gulf went I could not see。 I was
fascinated by its slow depth； and the thought of its possible
contentswhen suddenly I knew rather than perceived that something
was moving in its darkness： it was something deadsomething
yellow…white。 It came nearer； it was slowly climbing； like one dead
and stiff it was labouring up the slope。 I could neither cry out nor
move。 It was about three yards below me； when it raised its head： it
was my uncle； dead； and dressed for the grave。 He beckoned meand I
knew I must go； I had to go； nor once thought of resisting。 My heart
became like lead； but immediately I began the descent。 My feet sank
in the mould of the ancient dead； soft as if thousands of graveyard
moles were for ever burrowing in it； as down and down I went；
settling and sliding with the black plane。 Then I began to see the
sides and ends of coffins in the walls of the gulf； and the walls
came closer and closer as I descended； until they scarcely left me
room to get through。 I comforted myself with the thought that those
in these coffins had long been dead； and must by this time be at
rest； nor was there any danger of seeing mouldy hands come out to
seize me。 At last I saw that my uncle had stopped； and I stood
still； a few yards above him； more composed than I can understand。〃
〃The wonder is we are so believing； yet not more terrified； in our
dreams；〃 said Donal。
〃He began to heave and pull at a coffin that seemed to stop the way。
Just as he got it dragged on one side； I saw on the bright silver
handle of it the Morven crest。 The same instant the lid rose； and my
father came out of the coffin； looking alive and bright； my uncle
stood beside him like a corpse beside a soul。 'What do you want with
my child？' he said； and my uncle cowered before him。 He took my hand
and said； 'Come with me； my child。' And I went with himoh； so
gladly！ My fear was gone； and so was my uncle。 He led me up the way
we had come down； but when we came out of the hole； instead of
finding myself in the horrible church； I was in my own room。 I
looked roundno one was near！ I was sorry my father was gone； but
glad to be in my own room。 Then I wokeand here was the terrible
thingnot in my bedbut standing in the middle of the floor； just
where my dream had left me！ I cannot get rid of the thought that I
really went somewhere。 I have been haunted with it the whole day。 It
is a terror to mefor if I did； where is my help against going
again！〃
〃In God our saviour；〃 said Donal。 〃But had your uncle given you
anything？〃
〃I wish I could think so； but I do not see how he could。〃
〃You must change your room； and get mistress Brookes to sleep near
you。〃
〃I will。〃
Gladly would Donal have offered to sleep； like one of his colleys；
outside her door； but Mrs。 Brookes was the only one to help her。
He began at once to make observations towards determining the
existence or non…existence of a hidden room； but in the quietest
way； so as to attract no attention； and had soon satisfied himself
concerning some parts that it could not be there。 Without free scope
and some one to help him； the thing was difficult。 To guage a
building which had grown through centuries； to fit the varying
tastes and changing needs of the generations； was in itself not
easy； and he judged it all but impossible without drawing
observation and rousing speculation。 Great was the chaotic element
in the congeries of erections and additions； brought together by
various contrivances； and with daringly enforced communication。 Open
spaces within the walls； different heights in the stories of
contiguous buildings； breaks in the continuity of floors； and
various other irregularities； he found confusingly obstructive。
CHAPTER LII。
INVESTIGATION。
The autumn brought terrible storms。 Many fishing boats came to
grief。 Of some； the crews lost everything： of others； the loss of
their lives delivered their crews from smaller losses。 There were
many bereaved in the village； and Donal went about among them； doing
what he could； and getting help for them where his own ability would
not reach their necessity。 Lady Arctura wanted no persuasion to go
with him in some of his visits； and the intercourse she thus gained
with humanity in its simpler forms； of which she had not had enough
for the health of her own nature； was of high service to her。
Perhaps nothing helps so much to believe in the Father； as the
active practical love of the brother。 If he who loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen； can ill love God whom he hath not seen；
then he who loves his brother must surely find it the easier to love
God！ Arctura found that to visit the widow and the fatherless in
their afflictions； to look on and know them as her kind； to enter