Then in his heart of hearts Nial knew that he had not the courage to say what he had to say. Sure, too, there was something he did not understand. After all, the woman he had seen on Cnoc-Ruadh could be no other than Anabal Gilchrist. And if _she_ could be drowned and yet come alive again, perhaps Torcall Cameron could--ay, was perhaps already up and, blind as he was, feeling blankly round the walls of the strange place he was in, to be out soon, and, later, in the dark, come striding into Màm-Gorm. "And father, Nial, and father? Is he in, or is he out upon the hill, with the gloom upon him this night again?" "It will be a strange thing that I am telling you, _Sorcha-nighean-Thorcall_, but one that will be glad and warm in your heart." "Speak." "There is ... there is peace now between Màm-Gorm and the woman Anabal, that is mother of Alan." "Peace!--oh, Nial! To Himself the praise of it! Oh, glad I am at the good thing that you say! Sure, glad am I!" "It is true. Ay, and he has gone over to Tornideon, and will sleep this night at Ardoch-beag." Sorcha stared bewildered. Even her joy at the news, which meant so much for her and Alan, was forgotten in sheer amaze. Her father go to Tornideon! her father asleep at Ardoch-beag! Words of his came to her remembrance: she, too, muttered, "My soul swims in mist." "Nial, is this--a true thing?..." "Ay." "Is it--is it--a true thing that he is up at Ardoch-beag, and will sleep there ... and ... and ... is at peace?" "Ay, sure, he is up at Ardoch-beag, and will sleep there, and sure, too, sure, he is at peace." A wonderful light came into the girl's beautiful eyes. Her twilight beauty was now as a starry dusk. "Nial," she whispered, "dear Nial, you and Murdo see to the milking of the kye for me this night ... do, dear good Nial, do! And you can ask Oona, too, to help you ... for ... for, Nial, all is well now ... and I can go to Alan ... oh, glad am I, and like as though a bird sang in my heart!" And then, before he realised what he had brought upon himself, before he could say a word of yea or nay, Sorcha had turned, and with swift steps was hurrying through the gloaming to where Alan still stood on the hillside, watching and dreaming, dreaming and hoping.