Lawrence
Brindister standing on a height overlooking the voe. He was whirling
his arms wildly about as before, and peering down to ascertain who was
in the boat. When he discovered a female, he apparently guessed that
she was his cousin Hilda; and striking little Neogle, he turned the
pony's head, and rode off as fast as the creature could gallop. The
boat continued her course to the head of the voe.

A rough litter being formed, Hilda was conveyed to Captain Maitland's
house; but as she continued plunged in a state of stupor, Father Mendez
advised that she should at once be taken to her home. His advice seemed
so judicious, that Morton offered to carry her there in his boat.
Captain Maitland also expressed a wish to be of the party, and the next
morning, accompanied by Pedro Alvarez and Father Mendez, they embarked
for Lunnasting. The only person who appeared on the landing-place was
Lawrence Brindister. He stood, hat in hand, with a mocking expression
on his countenance, and he was beginning to address the party when his
eye fell on Hilda. Her appearance seemed to touch his heart, for he
said nothing, but, turning round, walked slowly back before them to the
castle.

It is needless to describe the dismay and astonishment which poor
Hilda's return excited in the establishment. Lawrence had evidently in
no way warned them of what had occurred. Bertha Eswick had need of all
her self-possession and presence of mind to perform her duty. It was
many days before Hilda returned to a state of consciousness! In the
meantime, Father Mendez took up his abode in the castle; and, from the
way in which Pedro Alvarez settled himself in his apartment, it looked
as if he also intended to be a permanent guest at Lunnasting.

CHAPTER TEN.

GUESTS AT THE CASTLE--THE HEIR OF LUNNASTING--LAWRENCE BRINDISTER'S
CAVE.

For a long time after Hilda's return to Lunnasting, Bertha Eswick feared
that the mind of her young mistress had gone for ever. All the aid
which medical skill could afford appeared to be of no avail; the only
person who had in the slightest degree the power of arousing her
sufficiently to speak was Father Mendez--the means he employed no one
could discover. He would sit with her in a turret chamber for hours
together; and after several weeks had passed, she was heard talking
fluently and rapidly with him; but as soon as she entered the hall,
where she took her seat as usual, she relapsed into the most per