There coming out of my swoon I found my lady kneeling beside me, holding a cup from which she had poured wine between my lips. By the light of a candle which Stubbs had kindled I saw her face, ashy pale, but bending upon me so sweetly compassionate a look as shed upon my spirit abundant solace for my pain. I asked if all was well, and heard with no little amazement that an hour had gone since I shut-to the door, which the enemy had refrained as yet from anyways assaulting. I conjectured that they were biding their time till morning illumined the scene, being in no dubiety of the ultimate act, since they had us caged like rats in a trap. Indeed, they might wait for famine to vanquish us, unless perchance they had some dread of the return of Kedagh O’Hagan. That we could resist them long had no hope at all, for the upper doors might be forced more easily than the great door below, and we should be pressed back to the roof, where, overpowered by their greater numbers, we must succumb. It seemed that my eyes were the index to my thoughts, for looking earnestly upon me, the lady said— [Illustration: I FOUND MY LADY KNEELING BESIDE ME, HOLDING A CUP] "Good sir, you shall suffer no more for me. ’Tis not meet that a stranger lose his life in so poor a cause." "Nay, madam," said I, "the cause is good, and the stranger not so strange neither. Besides, what will you do?" "I will purchase your safety by yielding of the castle," said she. "And Rory Mac Shane?" I hinted. She winced a little, and a shudder ran through her. "There is always the lake," she said in a whisper. "O that I had a troop of Hilary Rawdon’s men, or Toby Caulfeild’s, or any other my companions?" I groaned out, as the meaning of her words smote upon my perception. And then, to ease the time, she questioned me of those friends I had mentioned; and as we talked of matchless doings by land and sea, beguiling thus our anxious spirits, the dawn crept upon us, and the sweet descant of a lark’s song floated in at the open window. "’Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,’" I said, using Will Shakespeare’s words. "Methinks that warble is of good augury for us." And as I rose stiffly to my feet, I heard faintly through the door the clash and rumble of armed men stirring below. "Get you upon the roof, mistress," I said hastily, taking my sword, and though I spoke masterfully, in a manner that had angered her before, she made no opposition, but flitted away, turning at the bend of the stair to give me a last look, mute but eloquent.