Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

THE COUP D] GRACE. 169
"She is handsome enough for a duchess, and she is very quiet
and shy."
"'All the better. I shall offer not the slightest opposition.
She had better know what is in store for her."
" She shall; and the blessing of all the holy saints be on you!
I must go now. I must be up at dawn."
"Don't go yet, William. Think of the long night that is
before me. Sit with me, and let me get used to your voice. Tell
me about the horses, or anything, — only don't leave me alone
yet."
William sat down with him. They sat long and late. When
at last William rose to go, Cuthbert said, -
"You will make a good landlord, William. You have been
always a patient, faithful servant, and you will make a good
master. Our people will get to love you better than ever they
would have loved me. Cling to the old faith. It has served
us well so many hundred years. It seems as if God willed that
Ravenshoe should not pass from the hands of the faithful. And
now, one thing more; I must see Charles before he igoes.
When you go to wake him in the morning, call me, and I will go
with you. Good night! "
In the morning they went up together to wake him. His window was open, and the fresh spring air was blowing in. His
books, his clothes, his guns, and rods, were piled about in their
usual confusion. His dog was lying on the hearth-rug, and
stretched himself as he came to greet them. The dog had a
glove at his feet, and they wondered at it. The curtains of his
bed were drawn close. Cuthbert went softly to them and drew
them aside. He was not there. The bed was smooth.' Gone! gone!" cried Cuthbert. "I half feared it. Fly,
William, for God's sake, to Lord Ascot's, to Ranford; catch him
there, and never leave him again. Come and get some money
and begone. You may be in time. If we should lose him after
all, after all!"
William needed no second bidding. In an hour he was at
Stonnington. Mr. Charles Ravenshoe had arrived there at daybreak, and had gone on in the coach which started at eight.
William posted to Exeter, and at eight o'clock in the evening
saw Lady Ascot at Ranford. Charles Ravenshoe had been there
that afternoon, but was gone. And then Lady Ascot, weeping
wildly, told him such news as made him break from the room
with an oath, and dash through the scared servants in the hall
and out into the darkness, to try to overtake the carriage he had
discharged, and reach London.
The morning before, Adelaide had eloped with Lord Welter.
8