enter it alone after nightfall — even he not
being quite comfortable over his own
boldness. Therefore Harriet was left a good
deal to her own devices, and availed herself
so well of her opportunities as to discover in
her own room a good hiding-place for
whatever she wished to conceal. It was at the
head of her bed, behind the wainscot;
cobwebs that tapestried the door proved the
place to be either unknown or forgotten, and
upon that hint she chose it for her use.

All was at last ready, and nothing waited
for but the return of the Vixen. Day after
tiny, however, passed, and still there was no
signal on the wooded hill, while the increasing
civility of the servants, their determination
to escort the strangers on their walks, their
eagerness to be always at hand — forestalling
every want and wish — made it evident that
their suspicions were aroused, and that a
prompt departure was desirable.

The visitors had stayed a fortnight at
Caerinnys, when Harriet was roused from sleep one
night by the sound of voices almost at her
ear. She had once before fancied something
of the kind, but had persuaded
herself that it was only fancy, or the sighing
of the wind. To-night there could be
no mistake; so she rose softly out of bed,
flung round her the mantle I had given her,
which happened to be lying near, and groped
her way to the point from which the sounds
seemed to proceed. They led her to the
recess behind her bed. She opened the door
gently; a ray of light falling on the floor
from a chink in the wainscot with which it
was lined, pointed out whence the sounds
came, and, advancing carefully, she listened
with the most eager attention. At first, she
could not make out what they said, for there
were several speakers, and their language
and tones were difficult to follow; but at
length Jeffrey's familiar voice was heard,
and from what he said, she discovered that
they were completing a plot for the murder
of herself, her father, and mother, and the
regaining, in this way, of their lost control
over Lady Stewart and her fortune. The
day after the next was the time decided upon
for the execution of their project; and, with a
minuteness of detail that made her blood run
cold, everything was arranged for the
perpetration of the crime and its complete concealment.

Bold as she was, Harriet was yet only a girl
of seventeen; and, as the conviction forced itself
upon her that they were almost powerless to
av rt their impending fate, her senses failed
for an instant — faint and weak, she was
compelled to lean for support against the
wail. To her great horror, it yielded to her
touch; a door, similar to that which
communicated with her own room, suddenly
sprang open, and she found herself, without
warning, in the midst of the conspirators. For one
dreadful moment she gave herself up for lost,
but the sudden shock of danger had restored
her self-control. It was otherwise with those
on whom she had intruded. They leapt from
their seats with terror; superstitious awe
was manifest in their blanched faces, and,
with a murmured exclamation of
"Greenmantle! Greenmantle!" they rushed from
the room in wild disorder, throwing down
the table, and extinguishing the light in their
confusion.

Harriet perceived at once that she was, for
the present, safe. They had mistaken her
for the ghost supposed to haunt that part of
the house— It was even possible that their
foul project might be put to flight by the
supposed intervention of the spirit. In case
of one possible accident, however, she returned
swiftly to her chamber; and, taking especial
care to fasten both the doors of the recess,
and to conceal her mantle, she returned to
her couch. It was well that she lost no
time in doing this; for, a very few minutes
afterwards, one of the many doors of her
chamber was stealthily unclosed, and Jeffrey
crept in, with a candle in one hand and a
knife in the other. Through her half-closed
eyelids she could see him looking curiously
round the room, then coming to the bed.
She had presence of mind sufficient to keep
still, although she fancied that the knife was
at her throat, and drew her breath regularly;
even when the unfaithful steward passed the
candle once or twice close to her eyes.
Presently muttering, " It must have been
Greenmantle after all! " the traitor glided gently
from the room.

Harriet slept no more that night.
Immediate escape was the sole chance of life; but
how to leave Caerinny's without help from
the Vixen she could not imagine. Long
before it was light she was at her window,
straining her eyes in the direction of the
promised signal; although previous disappointment
left her little hope of seeing it. The
faint blue of dawn gradually stole over the
face of the earth; it changed to a warmer
hue, and then the sun, slowly rising from the
eastern horizon, gilded the tips of the distant
hills, touched the edge of the waters, and
rising higher and higher in the heavens,
shone full on the shore, the woods, the
signal-hill — the signal itself!

An exclamation of intense gratitude broke
from her lips. Near escape was possible,
but still there were great difficulties to be
overcome. Jeffrey's nocturnal visit showed
that his suspicions were aroused; and, though
lulled for the present, would revive upon
the slightest grounds. Experience had also
taught Harriet that it was almost impossible
to escape observation when he was on the
alert. The girl felt that her only chance was
to go instantly to Captain Culver. After last
night's orgies, probably, the servants would
sleep heavily during the early morning; but,
in au hour or two later they would be again
dogging her steps. Could she not go herself
to the bay ? The tide was already low, and