"
She kissed him very tenderly, then went away and left him sitting there
in his little chair, opposite the fire, alone in the large, splendid,
empty room.
* * * * *
Helen Bruce could not sleep that night. Either the day's excitement had
been too much for her, or she was disturbed by the wild winds that went
shrieking round the Castle, reminding her over and over again of what
the earl had just said concerning them. There came into her mind an
uneasy feeling about her father, whom for so many years she had never
left a night alone; but it was useless regretting this now. At last,
toward morning, the storm gradually lulled. She rose, and looked out of
her window on the loch, which glittered in moonlight like a sea of
glass. It reminded her, with an involuntary fancy, of the sea "clear as
glass, like unto crystal," spoken of in the fourth chapter of the
Apocalypse as being "before the Throne." She stood looking at it for a
minute or so, then went back to her bed and slept peacefully till
daylight.
She was dressing herself, full of quiet and happy thoughts, admiring the
rosy winter sunrise, and planning all she meant to do that day, when she
was startled by Mrs.
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