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 none upon earth that I desire besides thee！〃
By the time she reached the top she was radiantly joyous in the
prospect of a quiet hour with him whose presence and words always
gave her strength； who made the world look less mournful； and the
will of God altogether beautiful； who taught her that the glory of
the Father's love lay in the inexorability of its demands； that it
is of his deep mercy that no one can get out until he has paid the
uttermost farthing。
They stepped upon the roof and into the gorgeous afterglow of an
autumn sunset。 The whole country； like another sea； was flowing from
that that well of colour； in tidal waves of an ever advancing
creation。 Its more etherial part； rushing on above； broke on the old
roofs and chimneys and splashed its many tinted foam all over them；
while through it and folded in it came a cold thin wind that told of
coming death。 Arctura breathed a deep breath； and her joy grew。 It
is wonderful how small a physical elevation； lifting us into a
slightly thinner air； serves to raise the human spirits！ We are like
barometers； only work the other way； the higher we go； the higher
goes our mercury。
They stood for a moment in deep enjoyment； then simultaneously
turned to each other。
〃My lady；〃 said Donal； 〃with such a sky as that out there； it hardly
seems as if there could be such a thing as our search to…night！
Hollow places； hidden away for evil cause； do not go with it at all！
There is the story of gracious invention and glorious gift； here the
story of greedy gathering and self…seeking； which all concealment
involves！〃
〃But there may be nothing； you know； Mr。 Grant！〃 said Arctura；
troubled for the house。
〃There may be nothing。 But if there is such a room； you may be sure
it has some relation with terrible wrongwhat； we may never find
out； or even the traces of it。〃
〃I shall not be afraid；〃 she said； as if speaking with herself。 〃It
is the terrible dreaming that makes me weak。 In the morning I
tremble as if I had been in the hands of some evil power。〃
Donal turned his eyes upon her。 How thin she looked in the last of
the sunlight！ A pang went through him at the thought that one day he
might be alone with Davie in the huge castle； untended by the
consciousness that a living light and loveliness flitted somewhere
about its gloomy and ungenial walls。 But he would not think the
thought！ How that dismal Miss Carmichael must have worried her！ When
the very hope of the creature in his creator is attacked in the name
of religion； when his longing after a living God is met with the
offer of a paltry escape from hell； how is the creature to live！ It
is God we want； not heaven； his righteousness； not an imputed one；
for our own possession； remission； not letting off； love； not
endurance for the sake of another； even if that other be the one
loveliest of all。
They turned from the sunset and made their way to the chimney…stack。
There once more Donal set up his ladder。 He tied the clock…weight to
the end of his cord； dropped it in； and with a little management got
it through the wires。 It went down and down； gently lowered； till
the cord was all out； and still it would go。
〃Do run and get some more；〃 said Arctura。
〃You do not mind being left alone？〃
〃Noif you will not be long。〃
〃I will run；〃 he saidand run he did； for she had scarcely begun to
feel the loneliness when he returned panting。
He took the end she had been holding； tied on the fresh cord he had
brought； and again lowered away。 As he was beginning to fear that
after all he had not brought enough； the weight stopped； resting；
and drew no more。
〃If only we had eyes in that weight；〃 said Arctura； 〃like the snails
at the end of their horns！〃
〃We might have greased the bottom of the weight；〃 said Donal； 〃as
they do the lead when they want to know what kind of bottom there is
to the sea： it might have brought up ashes。 If it will not go any
farther； I will mark the string at the mouth； and draw it up。〃
He moved the weight up and down a little； it rested still； and he
drew it up。
〃Now we must mark off it the height of the chimney above the parapet
wall；〃 he said； 〃and then I will lower the weight towards the court
below； until this last knot comes to the wall： the weight will then
show us on the outside how far down the house it went inside。Ah； I
thought so！〃 he went on； looking over after the weight； 〃only to
the first floor； or thereabouts！No； I think it is lower！But
anyhow； my lady； as you can see； the place with which the chimney；
if chimney it be； communicates； must be somewhere about the middle
of the house； and perhaps is on the first floor； we can't judge very
well looking down from here； and against a spot where are no
windows。 Can you imagine what place it might be？〃
〃I cannot；〃 answered Arctura； 〃but I could go into every room on
that floor without anyone seeing me。〃
〃Then I will let the weight down the chimney again； and leave it for
you to see； if you can； below。 If you find it； we must do something
else。〃
It was done； and