This last murmured invitation was addressed to Mrs. Noyes, who rose to her feet, but seemed to shrink from taking up any more prominent position. Indeed, the poor woman looked dreadfully embarrassed; her face was all aflame; instead of proceeding with her paper, she kept glancing helplessly towards the door, whither Mr. Ogden had gone to reconnoitre; and it was clear she could not bring herself to begin without an audience, or, rather, with that small audience that was a hundred times worse than none. And presently Mr. Ogden came back—his face black as thunder. He went up to the precentor’s box, and muttered something to the chairman. He returned to the elders’ enclosure, and said something to the two ladies—who seemed entirely bewildered. The next moment the four of them had filed out of the church, without a word. "Well, this is the most astounding thing!" Frank Meredyth exclaimed, when his party had also left their places, and got into the open air. "What is the matter with the people? Not a living soul has come near the place! No wonder the big Parliament-man was in a furious rage!" But Mary had turned to Kate Glendinning, who had fallen a step or two behind. "Käthchen," she said, in an undertone, "what is the meaning of all this? I can see perfectly well you know something about it." For indeed Käthchen was all tremblingly triumphant, and joyous, and also inclined to tears—half-hysterical, in short. "Mamie—Mamie," she said, between that laughing and crying, "I knew he could do it if he liked—and—and—I thought he would—for your sake—" "What are you talking about?" said Mary: but a sudden self-conscious look showed that she had guessed. "You needn’t be angry, Mamie," said Käthchen, her wet eyes shining with a half-concealed pride and delight; "but—but I was terribly frightened about what might happen to you; and yesterday I sent Big Archie out to Heimra—I told him to go as soon as the people had got into church—and I gave him a note. For I knew he would answer the message at once—and that he would see you came to no harm—" "Do you mean Donald Ross?" said Mary, rather breathlessly. "Who else could have done it?" said Käthchen, with something of reproach. "And I knew he would do that—or anything—for your sake. Oh, do you think I can’t see?—do you think I have no eyes?" Mary did not answer: she walked on in silence for a little while. But by and by she said— "Käthchen, don’t you think I ought to see Mr. Ross—before he goes back to Heimra?" END OF VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.