heart accelerated her speed, and she ran
with hasty and light footsteps a considerable distance before either dog
or girl paused for breath. At length they did pause, and Barbara saw
with much satisfaction, that she had left far behind the shadow which
caused Blanche and herself so much alarm. She reached the Gull's Nest
without any misadventure, and now her object was to draw Robin forth
from the hostelry without entering herself. Through a chink in the outer
door (the inner being only closed on particular occasions) she
discovered Robin and his mother, and one or two others--strangers they
might be, or neighbours--at all events she did not know them. Presently
Crisp stretched his awkward length from out its usual coil, and trotted
to the door, slowly wagging his apology for tail, as if perfectly
conscious of the honour of Blanche's visit. Miss Blanche, in her turn,
laid her nose on the ground and snorted a salutation that was replied to
by a somewhat similar token from master Crisp. Robin, who was the very
embodyment of vigilance, knew at once there was something or someone
without, acquainted and on friendly terms with his dog, and he quietly
arose and opened the door without making any observation to his
companions. He was, indeed, astonished at perceiving Barbara, who put
her finger on her lip to enjoin silence. He immediately led her to the
back of the house, where none of the casual visiters could see them, and
she communicated her lady's message quickly but distinctly. She would
have enlarged upon the danger, and expatiated on the interest she took
in the cause of the Cavalier, had Robin permitted her, but she saw he
was too much distressed at the magnitude of the information to heed the
details, however interesting they might have been at any other time.

"But I don't understand it," at length murmured Robin; "I can't see it:
how could he possibly suffer Sir Willmott Burrell to place him in
confinement?"

"It was not he at all," replied Barbara; "it was Major Wellmore, and he
is at the Place now."

"Death and the devil!" exclaimed Robin, at the same instant pressing his
back against the wall beside which he stood: it instantly gave way, and
Barbara was alone--alone in that wild and most dreary-looking place.

She summoned Blanche, but Blanche was far away over the cliffs,
exploring, under Crisp's guidance, the nooks and intricacies of the
hills and hollows. She would have called still louder, but her quick