to its perch.

Barbara arose. She struck the globe with her staff. The pure lymph
became instantly tinged with crimson, as if blood had been commingled
with it. The little serpent could be seen within, coiled up and knotted,
as in the struggles of death.

"Again I say, beware!" ejaculated Barbara, solemnly. "This is ominous of
ill."

Sybil had sunk, from faintness, on the pallet. A knock was heard at the
door.

"Who is without?" cried Barbara.

"'Tis I, Balthazar," replied a voice.

"Thou mayest enter," answered Barbara; and an old man with a long beard,
white as snow, reaching to his girdle, and a costume which might be said
to resemble the raiment of a Jewish high priest, made his appearance.
This venerable personage was no other than the patrico, or hierophant of
the Canting Crew.

"I come to tell you that there are strangers--ladies--within the
priory," said the patrico, gravely. "I have searched for you in vain,"
continued he, addressing Sybil; "the younger of them seems to need your
assistance."

"Whence come they?" exclaimed Barbara.

"They have ridden, I understand, from Rookwood," answered the patrico.
"They were on their way to Davenham, when they were prevented."

"From Rookwood?" echoed Sybil. "Their names--did you hear their names?"

"Mowbray is the name of both; they are a mother and a daughter; the
younger is called----"

"Eleanor?" asked Sybil, with an acute foreboding of calamity.

"Eleanor is the name, assuredly," replied the patrico, somewhat
surprised. "I heard the elder, whom I guess to be her mother, so address
her."

"Gracious God! She here!" exclaimed Sybil.

"Here! Eleanor Mowbray here," cried Barbara; "within my power. Not a
moment is to be lost. Balthazar, hasten round the tents--not a man must
leave his place--above all, Luke Bradley. See that these Mowbrays are
detained within the abbey. Let the bell be sounded. Quick, quick; leave
this wench to me; she is not well. I have much to do. Away with thee,
man, and let me know when thou hast done it." And as Balthazar departed
on his mission, with a glance of triumph in her eyes, Barbara exclaimed,
"Soh, no sooner hath the thought possessed me, than the means of
accomplishment appear. It shall be done at once. I will tie the knot. I
will untie, and then retie it. This weak wench must be nerved to the
task," added she, regarding the senseless form of Sybil. "Here is that
will stimulate her," opening the cupboard, and taking a sm