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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
into their sorrows； and share the elevating influence of grief
genuine and simple； the same in every human soul； was to draw near
to God。 She met him in his children。 For to honour； love； and be
just to our neighbour； is religion； and he who does these things
will soon find that he cannot live without the higher part of
religion； the love of God。 If that do not follow； the other will
sooner or later die away； leaving the man the worse for having had
it。 She found her way to God easier through the crowd of her
fellows； while their troubles took her off her own； set them at a
little distance from her； and so put it in her power to understand
them better。
One day after the fishing boats had gone out； rose a terrible storm。
Some of them made for the harbour againsuch as it was； others kept
out to sea； Stephen Kennedy's boat came ashore bottom upward。 His
body was cast on the sands close to the spot where Donal dragged the
net from the waves。 There was sorrow afresh through the village：
Kennedy was a favourite； and his mother was left childless。 No son
would any more come sauntering in with his long slouch in the
gloamin'； and whether she would ever see him againto know himwho
could tell！ For the common belief does not go much farther than
paganism in yielding comfort to those whose living loves have
disappearedthe fault not of Christianity； but of Christians。
The effect of the news upon Forgue I have some around for
conjecturing： I believe it made him care a little less about
marrying the girl； now that he knew no rival ready to take her； and
feel also that he had one enemy the less； one danger the less； in
the path he would like to take。 Within a week after； he left the
castle； and if his father knew where he went； he was the only one
who did。 He had been pressing him to show some appearance of
interest in his cousin； Forgue had professed himself unequal to the
task at present： if he might go away for a while； he said； he would
doubtless find it easier when he returned。
The storms were over； the edges and hidden roots had begun to dream
of spring； and Arctura had returned to her own room to sleep； when
one afternoon she came to the schoolroom and told Donal she had had
the terrible dream again。
〃This time；〃 she said； 〃I came out； in my dream； on the great stair；
and went up to my room； and into bed； before I waked。 But I dare not
ask mistress Brookes whether she saw me〃
〃You do not imagine you were out of the room？〃 said Donal。
〃I cannot tell。 I hope not。 If I were to find I had been； it would
drive me out of my senses！ I was thinking all day about the lost
room： I fancy it had something to do with that。〃
〃We must find the room； and have done with it！〃 said Donal。
〃Are you so sure we can？〃 she asked； her face brightening。
〃If there be one； and you will help me； I think we can；〃 he
answered。
〃I will help you。〃
〃Then first we will try the shaft of the music…chimney。 That it has
never smoked； at least since those wires were put there； makes it
something to questionthough the draught across it might doubtless
have prevented it from being used。 It may be the chimney to the very
room。 But we will first try to find out whether it belongs to any
room we know。 I will get a weight and a cord： the wires will be a
plague； but I think we can pass them。 Then we shall see how far the
weight goes down； and shall know on what floor it is arrested。 That
will be something gained： the plane of inquiry will be determined。
Only there may be a turn in the chimney； preventing the weight from
going to the bottom。〃
〃When shall we set about it？〃 said Arctura； almost eagerly。
〃At once；〃 replied Donal。
She went to get a shawl。
Donal went to the gardener's tool…house； and found a suitable cord。
There was a seven…pound weight； but that would not pass the wires！
He remembered an old eight…day clock on a back stair； which was
never going。 He got out its heavier weight； and carried it； with the
cord and the ladder； to his own stairat the foot of which was lady
Arcturawaiting for him。
There was that in being thus associated with the lovely lady； in
knowing that peace had began to visit her through him； that she
trusted him implicitly； looking to him for help and even protection；
in knowing that nothing but wrong to her could be looked for from
uncle or cousin； and that he held what might be a means of
protecting her； should undue influence be brought to bear upon
herthere was that in all this； I say； that stirred to its depth
the devotion of Donal's nature。 With the help of God he would foil
her enemies； and leave her a free womana thing well worth a man's
life！ Many an angel has been sent on a smaller errand！
Such were his thoughts as he followed Arctura up the stair； she
carrying the weight and the cord； he the ladder； which it was not
easy to get round the screw of the stair。 Arctura trembled with
excitement as she ascended； grew frightened as often as she found
she had outstripped him； waited till the end of the ladder came
poking round； and started again before the bearer appeared。
Her dreams had disquieted her more than she had yet confessed： had
she been taking a way of her own； and choosing a guide instead of
receiving instruction in the way of understanding？ Were these things
sent for her warning； to show her into what an abyss of death her
conduct was leading her？But the moment she found herself in the
open air of Donal's company； her doubts and fears vanished for the
time。 Such a one as he must surely know better than those others the
way of the Spirit！ Was he not more childlike； more straightforward；
more simple； and； she could not but think； more obedient than those？
Mr。 Carmichael was older； and might be more experienced； but did his
light shine clearer than Donal's？ He might be a priest in the
temple； but was there not a Samuel in the temple as well as an Eli？
It the young； strong； ruddy shepherd； the defender of his flock； who
was sent by God to kill the giant！ He was too little to wear Saul's
armour； but he could kill a man too big to wear it！ Thus meditated
Arctura as she climbed the stair； and her hope and courage grew。
A delicate conscience； sensitive feelings； and keen faculties；
subjected to the rough rasping of coarse； self…satisfied；
unspiritual natures； had almost lost their equilibrium。 As to
natural condition no one was sounder than she； yet even now when she
had more than begun to see its falsehood； a headache would suffice
to bring her afresh under the influence of the hideous system she
had been taught； and wake in her all kinds of deranging doubts and
consciousnesses。 Subjugated so long to the untrue； she required to
be for a time； until her spiritual being should be somewhat
individualized； under the genial influences of one who was not
afraid to believe； one who knew the master。 Nor was there danger to
either so long as he sought no end of his own； so long as he desired
only His will； so long as he could say； 〃Whom is there in heaven but
thee！ and there is