Primrose clasped her hands for a moment in wild despair. Already had her own warders and serving-men been some hours since despatched to the defence of the sacred building, together with a brave band of the stoutest and sturdiest villagers, and no other help was at hand. From the distant din of voices which reached her ear as she flung open the window and leaned out breathless with terror into the darkness, it was evident that the whole village had flocked to the scene of the riot, and the horrid glare of the leaping flames proved only too surely that the enemy had been too strong for the brave Bryn Afon guard. She turned from the window and glanced at her grandfather, and seeing by his peaceful countenance that his deaf ears had failed to catch the cry from below, or even her own startled exclamations of dismay, her resolution was quickly taken. No one but herself should break the news of this awful sacrilege to her lover, whose heart would well-nigh break at the hearing of such a deed. He had assured her he should return to the castle before nightfall, that she might know of his safety ere he took his way to the parsonage. She herself would slip out quietly under cover of the storm, and await him by the boatman's bridge, and break gently to him this act of wickedness ere other ruder tongues could reveal it. His way lay along the valley and through the dark woodlands the other side of the river. There was but little chance of his seeing the dreadful flames until he had crossed the bridge, since the greater height of the steep on which Bryn Afon stood would hide the farther hillside from his view. "Grandfather," she whispered in the old man's ear, "the rain has cleared a little, and ere it grows later I will steal down to the riverside and see that your bridge is safe for any night passers-by who chance to cross it. Percival must needs pass that way, and I fear somewhat for him, lest the storm should have worked damage, and rendered the footing dangerous. Ere long I will return. Do not fear for me, for the crowds have passed along to the other side of the village, and I shall meet no foe in the darkness. See, if you have need of aught, you have but to sound this gong which I leave at your side, and the maidens will wait on you. But prithee tell them not I have quitted the house, else they will fall into foolish terrors. Anon Percival and I will once more be at your side."