e safer to wait
there if he could get no farther. But somehow he came to the foot of
his own stair, and sped up as if it were the ladder of heaven. He
threw himself on his bed, fell fast asleep, and did not wake till the
sun was high.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SCHOOLROOM.

Old Simmons, the butler, woke him.

"I was afraid something was the matter, sir. They tell me you did not
come down last night; and breakfast has been waiting you two hours."

"I should not have known where to find it," said Donal. "The knowledge
of an old castle is not intuitive."

"How long will you take to dress?" asked Simmons.

"Ten minutes, if there is any hurry," answered Donal.

"I will come again in twenty; or, if you are willing to save an old
man's bones, I will be at the bottom of the stair at that time to take
charge of you. I would have looked after you yesterday, but his
lordship was poorly, and I had to be in attendance on him till after
midnight."

Donal thought it impossible he should of himself have found his way to
the schoolroom. With all he could do to remember the turnings, he
found the endeavour hopeless, and gave it up with a not unpleasing
despair. Through strange passages, through doors in all directions, up
stairs and down they went, and at last came to a long, low room, barely
furnished, with a pleasant outlook, and immediate access to the open
air. The windows were upon a small grassy court, with a sundial in the
centre; a door opened on a paved court. At one end of the room a table
was laid with ten times as many things as he could desire to eat,
though he came to it with a good appetite. The butler himself waited
upon him. He was a good-natured old fellow, with a nose somewhat too
red for the ordinary wear of one in his responsible position.

"I hope the earl is better this morning," said Donal.

"Well, I can't say. He's but a delicate man is the earl, and has been,
so long as I have known him. He was with the army in India, and the
sun, they say, give him a stroke, and ever since he have headaches that
bad! But in between he seems pretty well, and nothing displeases him
more than ask after his health, or how he slep the night. But he's a
good master, and I hope to end my days with him. I'm not one as likes
new faces and new places! One good place is enough for me, says I--so
long as it is a good one.--Take some of this game pie, sir."

Donal made haste with his breakfast, and to Simmons's