iselda's side.

"I am ready, my dear--I am ready," Graves said. "Show the way, boy. Have
you a torch handy?"

"No, madam; but I can find the way in the dark."

Then Mrs. Abbott called Zach.

"Quick, Zach! quick! light a torch, and light these ladies on their way;
or shall he call a chair, madam?"

"No," Griselda said, starting as if from a dream; "no. Now, Graves!"
Then pulling her hood over her face, and taking Graves's offered arm,
she said to Brian: "Lead the way; I am ready."

Zach trotted along with the link in his hand, keeping close to Brian,
and the two women followed. Neither spoke till they were well within the
shadow of the Alley, from which a noisy party of women and girls were
coming out.

Brian, who was in advance, stopped, and Griselda stopped also.

"Are you sure?" she asked in a low voice--"are you sure? Is there no
mistake?"

"There is no mistake. I wish there was--oh! I wish there was!"

Griselda seemed to be gathering strength now, for she left Graves's arm,
and followed Brian up the long narrow flight of stairs. The child Norah
had heard the sound of coming feet on the creaking staircase, and opened
the door of the attic, saying:

"He is quieter now." Then, with a sob: "Oh! Brian, Brian! you have been
such a long, long time; and have you brought her--the lady--the young
lady?"

"Yes, I am here," Griselda said; "yes. How is your----"

The word died away on her lips--that word that ought to bring with it
nothing but tender feeling of respect and love--that word which we use
when we speak of the highest and the best guardian for life and
death--"Father!"

Yes, that wild haggard man, who had sunk back in a lethargy after long
incoherent ravings, was the father of the beautiful woman who,
unfastening her cloak, let it fall from her on the floor of that
wretched room; and, kneeling, clasped her hands, and cried, in the
bitterness of her soul:

"Oh, that it was not true! Can it be true? Graves--Graves, tell me it is
a frightful dream, and not reality!"

"My poor dear!" said Graves, in a choked voice, kneeling by Griselda's
side, and putting her strong arm round her to support her. "My poor
dear! I wish I could tell you it was a dream; but bear up, and put your
trust in the Lord. It may be that He may save yonder poor creature as He
saved the thief, in the hour of death."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PLOT THICKENS.

The money which Griselda had brought the day before had added s