B.ARREN HONOUR.



just now," be answered; " and water
suits me best to-night."
  He filled a huge goblet and drained
it thirstily; the horses were announced
at that moment.   Beauclerc remem-
bered afterwards how carefully his com-
panion looked at girth and bit before
they mounted: all his thoughts and
energies were concentrated on one
point-how to reach Clydesholme as
soon as possible-he would not risk
the chance of an accident that might
delay them for a moment. Two grooms
followed them, to ensure a spare horse
in case of a break-down; and so they
rode out into the wild weather on their
dismal errand. It was a terrible jour-
ney, and not without danger; the road
was so steep and stony in places, that
few men even in broad daylight would
have cared to ride over it at that furi-
ous pace; and twice the horses were
off their feet in black rushing water.
Strong and tough as he was, geauclere
was almost too exhausted to keep his
saddle before they reached Clydesholme.
Nevertheless, he found breath and time
to give his companion all the details it
was requisite he should know.
  It appeared that the Earl had brought
his wife to Clydesholme, about a fort-
night back, on the pretext of making
preparations for a large party, which
was to assemble there immediately after
Christmas. During the whole of their
stay they had been perfectly alone. Her
health had been breaking faster every
day; while, from some inexplicable
cause, his temper had grown more con-
sistently tyrannical and savage in pro-
portion to Helen's increasing weakness
and physical inability to make even a
show of resistance. On the previous
evening had occurred a terrible scene
of brutal violence.  Early the next
morning the Earl had ridden forth, no
one knew whither, evidently still in
furious wrath. Shortly afterwards the
Countess had been seized with a cough-
ing-fit, which had ended in the break-
ing of a large blood-vessel. As soon as
she recovered strength enough to whis-
per an order, she had sent off an ex-
press for Grace Beauclere, who chanced
to be staying within a few miles. She



and her husband came instantly; but it
was only to find Helen's state hopeless
You know the rest.
  Alan listened to all this, but an-
swered never a word; indeed, he scarcely
spoke, except to ask some question
about the road, or to give some order
about increasing or moderating their
speed. Once Algy heard him mutter
aloud, " If we are only in time !"-and
when they had to halt for some minutes,
while a sleepy lodge-keeper was open-
ing the park-gates of Clydesholme, his
ear caught the fierce grinding of Wy-
verne's teeth.
  The broad front of the mansion was
as dark as the night outside, for the
windows of the Countess's apartments
looked over the gardens, but several
servants came quickly to answer the
summons of the bell. There was a
scared, puzzled look about them all.
Beauclere whispered to one of them,
and then turned to Alan with a gleam
of satisfaction on his face.
  ", We are in time," he said; " thank
God for that, at least. Stay here ont
minute, till I have seen Gracie."
  Wyverne waited in the huge gloomy
hall, with scarcely more consciousness
or volition left than a sleepwalker
owns. He allowed a servant to remo e
his drenched overcoat, and thanked the
man, mechanically; but he never knew
how or when he had taken it off.
  Beauclerc soon returned and led the
way through several passages into a
long corridor; at the further end of
this, light gleamed through a half-open
door. Algy did not attempt to enter,
but motioned Alan silently to go in.
  It was a large, dim room, magnifi-
cently furnished after an antique fashion,
and Grace Beauclerc was sittino there
alone. She looked wan and worn with
grief, and she trembled all over as she
locked her arms round Alan's neck,
holding him for a second or two closely
embraced, and whispering a warning in
his ear.
  "You must be very quiet and cau-
tious. She has hardly strength enough
left to speak. Call me if you see any
great change. I shall be here. The
doctors and nurses are close by; but



171