, the
near approach of death has brought about. When the angel Israfel
passes upon his wings of darkness, then the heart hears and is afraid!"

At these last words she showed a countenance as it were transfigured.
It was the first glimpse of her former madness that I observed about
the woman.

"But what do you wish me to do?" I asked, knowing well that she would
not seek me without a purpose.

"Your grandfather, Mr. Howard Stennis, is dying," she said solemnly.
"He has had a stroke, and may pass away at any moment. Two doctors
from Longtown and East Dene have come all the way to visit him. They
give no hope. But he gets no rest, crying out constantly that he
cannot die without seeing you. And you must come instantly. I am here
to beseech you. Behold in me the spirit of a father pleading for a
daughter's forgiveness."

She seized me by the arm. In a sudden access of terror, I wrenched
myself free, and instantly Miss Orrin began to sob. She sank on her
knees before me.

"I know I have no right to ask," she said. "You have been shamefully
treated, and have no need to forgive. But as you hope for pardon
yourself, hasten and come to your grandfather, that he may hear you
pardon him before he dies. If not, the sin of his uneasy spirit will
be upon your head! Besides"--her voice dropped to a whisper--"there is
something that he wishes to confess to you concerning your mother. It
is on his conscience. He cannot die without telling you. Come--come!
By the forgiveness you hope for yourself, or for those dear to you, I
bid you come!"

I lifted her up, and obeying a sudden impulse, I turned with her down
the lane which led from the corner where she had surprised me, away
from the school-house. I cannot tell you how I came to do it. I had
expected--why, I know not--some one else to meet me there. Well, I
suppose I may say--Joe Yarrow. And the thought that he was
philandering his time away with those Caws made me ready for almost
anything.

Besides, I had been to Moat Grange House before. I knew that Mr.
Ablethorpe went there regularly, and that he had services with the poor
mad folk. So I was not nearly so afraid of Aphra Orrin as I had been.

It was bright and clear still, though the morning was overcasting a
little, as we passed through the meadows. There is a private road most
of the way till you enter the woods of Deep Moat. The people of the
Moat Grange, therefore, never had any need to cross