At last they heard the sound of the opened gate, and a single horseman became slowly perceptible approaching through the gloom. Throwing down the chair she had been seated on, in haste and excitement, Agnes ran down stairs, and Martha and Rose, putting restraint upon themselves, followed a little more slowly. But they had not reached the hall when they heard the voice of John, reporting how Allenders had sent him on before to tell them that the coach had been detained much beyond its time, and that he himself was on the road, and would be immediately at home. Poor little Agnes turned from the door, and, hiding her face in Martha’s breast, wept quietly tears of deferred hope. And Rose went forward to the door in the darkness, anxious, if it were possible, to hear something of Harry’s looks from John. “Was my brother much wearied?” said Rose timidly. “The road is very dark. I am sorry you left him, John--he does not know the way so well as you.” “Allenders was very thoughtful-like,” said John, with a quick apprehension of what she meant; “and I ken the coach was lang after its time; but I dinna think Allenders was wearied, to speak o’. And he guides the horse better than ony ither body now, and he was very anxious to be hame.” She could not ask, nor be told more, and they went back to their window to watch again; while Rose, begging to be told whenever they heard Harry, had the fires hastily renewed, herself assisting sleepy Mysie, who, though she nodded by the kitchen fire would not go to bed, and leave them watching alone. CHAPTER XI. There’s a dark spirit walking in our house, And swiftly will the destiny close on us. SCHILLER. IT was nearly twelve o’clock when the Edinburgh coach reached Stirling, carrying Harry, much subdued and cast down, but in reality this time detained by obstacles over which he had no control. During all this journey he had been contemplating the grim strength of ruin face to face--feeling himself now utterly beyond help or hope, able to do nothing but sit down and wait for the final blow. The place at which he had appointed his servant to meet him was some distance from the coach-office; and taking his little valise in his hand, Harry walked with a heavy, weary step, much unlike his usual elastic one, to find John.